Nearer My God

This is the memoir of one man's faith. The renowned social and political commentator William F. Buckley Jr. turns to a highly personal subject -- his faith. And he tells us the story of his life as a Catholic Christian. Nearer My God is the most reflective poignant and searching of Bill Buckley's many books. In the opening chapters he relives his childhood a loving funny nostalgic glimpse into pre-World War II America and England. He speaks about his religious experiences to a world that has changed dramatically. He is unafraid of revealing the most personal side of his faith. He describes in his distinctive style the intimacy of a trip to Lourdes the impact on him of the searing account by Maria Valtorta of the Crucifixion the ordination of his nephew into the priesthood and gives a moving account of his mother's death. And there is humor as Buckley gives a unique hilarious view of a visit to the Vatican with Malcolm Muggeridge Charlton Heston Grace Kelly and David Niven. Personal though this book is Buckley has gone to others to examine new perspectives putting together his own distinguished 'Forum' and leaning on the great literature of the past to illustrate his thinking on contemporary Catholic and Christian issues.