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popular novel, 'the shack' discussed at aquinas roundtable at shrine

The novel, “The Shack,” by William P. Young, has captured more than one million readers through word of mouth as well as in bookstores. The self-published religious fiction describes a man’s journey through his grief at the murder of his daughter to God — called Papa — at the “shack” where his daughter was murdered.

Dominican Father Dominic Holtz spoke to close to 200 people who attended the Jan. 26 program as part of the Aquinas Roundtable series hosted at the shrine.

A best-seller, it has become popular with Catholic readers but its author comes from what Father Holtz described as an evangelical Protestant background.

However, “the heart of the book promotes the core of Christian belief in relationship,” Father Holtz said.
People who attended the program said they wanted to know more about the book and the Catholic perspective on its message, they said.

Not without its critics, the author, who is personified in the main character, Mack, his murdered daughter, Missy, and the narrator, meets Papa, Jesus and the Holy Spirit at the place where his daughter was killed. He struggles over a period of time to accept ideas of forgiveness and relationships on several levels: Mack to his daughter, Mack to his own father and Mack to the Trinity.

The author’s message was developed over time and details spiritual truths he has learned, Father Holtz said.
Father Holtz also illuminated the background of the author, explaining that Young had dealt with abuse in his own life and while the author points out the need and the importance of forming a relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit and living that relationship, Catholics could find richer and more profound writings in the Catholic tradition.

Father Holtz points to St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her “Story of the Soul,” as well as writings of Mother Teresa of Calcutta as examples of writings that are “accessible” to Catholic readers.

“Both (these women) handle some of the same questions” as those raised by Young “in a richer and more profound way,” Father Holtz said.

For more information about the Aquinas lecture series go to the shrine’s web site: www.snows.org or to the Aquinas web site: ai.edu.