Against All Godds

Marvin M. Litvack

Description

The closeness of family and the nurturing of friendships are an inevitable part in any person's development as well as a myriad of different characters one meets during one's lifetime, which can bode well or have unforeseen consequences. So it was with our protagonist.
John Michael Morgan's thirst for a Catholic universe burned within him in which he envisioned a better world as he entered the sacred calling of priesthood.
The intelligence he conveyed to his congregants earned him their love and was noticed by the church hierarchy which catapulted him to Rome and the Vatican.
But doubts began to pervade his faith when answers to his uncertainties could not be reasonably given. His world of God and church came tumbling down and changed his life forever.
Without his white collar that defined him, he entered into a new persuasion of thought and purpose which propelled him to heights he could never have anticipated.
Filled with a new resolve, John Michael Morgan changed the unchangeable but not without significant life altering events. He is thrown into a world of intrigue, conspiracy, murder, political power and love.

Sujets

• Novel
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 12 avril 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665556828
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Against All Godds
 
 
 
 
 
MARVIN M. LITVACK
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
AuthorHouse™
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
 
 
 
 
 
© 2022 Marvin M. Litvack. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse  07/13/2022
 
ISBN: 978-1-6655-5684-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6655-5683-5 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6655-5682-8 (e)
 
 
 
 
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
This book is dedicated to my wife, children and grandchildren (especially to my son Michael who helped make the writing of this work easier)
Contents

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
 
John Michael Morgan wore his faith on his sleeve for everyone to see. But the unexplained intervened in his quest for a Catholic world and changed his perception of God and church.
But the faith he held sacred evaporated as the morning dew and he sought a new life and a fresh challenge.
With a brand new pursuit before him, he set about to change the world in a fresh concept of humanism, and beyond all expectations, he succeeded, but not without consequence.
A life filled at first with the finest of intentions, suddenly became entwined in intrigue, conspiracy, murder, political power and ……love.
Chapter 1

F ather John Michael Morgan looked over his Sunday morning Mass. He was as usual, confidently prepared. With his sermon neatly fitted within his loose leaf binder, he strode up to the lectern ready to uplift all the eager souls waiting for one of his stirring “Jesus loves you” messages for which he had become well known. His intimate reaching out to his congregants was what made him loved by all. His voice would carry well beyond the chapel walls delivering God’s holy message. His was the eternal vigilance against those who would deny scripture. He was the epitome of all that was Christian love and he was its guardian. He felt the Catholic world rested on his shoulders and he loved and relished it. This was his world.
John Michael was a fourth generation Bostonian Morgan. His great great-grandparents had come over in the late eighteen eighties escaping the poverty that pervaded Ireland in those days and made a life amongst the teeming squalor that was then Boston along with other immigrants of other backgrounds that made their way to the shores of this new found land. It mattered not where you came from or what you believed. One had to eat and feed their family and everyone had to make a living as best they could.
Belinda Morgan proudly held her new born son in her arms. “This here be my little priest.” She smiled.
“Aye that he be.” Concurred Thomas Patrick as they both coddled their infant son. Thomas and Belinda would at times use the brogue they had each grown up with listening to their own grandparents reminisces of the old sod.
“Never forget where ye come from.” The old ones would remind their grandchildren. “It be your heritage.”
Thomas and Belinda had each heard all the old stories many times before and though colorful and nostalgic to those who dreamt of the tiny people, the leprechauns ambling across the lush emerald green hills and meadows of the old country , America was home. The Celtic speech was colorful which they would use from time to time; but they were of this new world with their New England twang that set them apart from their New York cousins, the other Morgans.
Thomas Morgan was a tall man. Over six feet with muscles that belied his somewhat scrawny frame. Those who would incur his wrath felt his sting. The lesson was learned. Thomas Morgan may have been a man of peace but God forbid anyone challenging this quiet man.
The docks of Boston is where he first earned his keep as a stevedore and a union man. It wasn’t popular to belong to a union in those days and fights would break out between the management and the fledgling union. Chains and clubs were not uncommon when a dispute had to be resolved. Thomas never backed down from a fight and it was his strength and determination that eventually won the day when the union was finally accepted as a way of life and ensconced in the dealings that flourished on the docks of Boston.
Thomas quickly became the spokesperson and eventually president of his union and with the proper incentives, things were done. No one asked how Thomas kept things in line, for if one wanted to keep on working one had to shut his eyes to the deals that were made and the money that passed hands. Thomas had no aversion to making money, and he did; a great deal of money.
The Thomas Morgans for the first time became prosperous, moving the family to the affluent area of Forest Hills, settling on Hyde Park Ave. Thomas made sure that the girls went to fine Catholic schools and he couldn’t wait for the day when John Michael would enter the seminary. His life had already been planned for him.
John Michael looked about the cavernous hallway of St. Mathews Catholic Primary School, his first encounter with the beginning of his education to the priesthood. But first, he would have to overcome the stern nuns who would instill in him the will to learn and to learn well.
Language and mathematics weren’t too difficult for this fertile mind. However, his bright inquisitive nature attracted not only the teachers but also his classmates. They saw something different and unusual in this boy. He made friends easily and wasn’t too shy to give his opinion, even when not asked. Unfortunately, John Michael’s unorthodox questions raised a few eyebrows all the way to the principal’s office.
Father Shamus Conan was of the old order. A kindly man, but very strict when it came to Catholic upbringing and teachings. A student was not to question the truth of gospel but to gather it all in as a sponge and ask for forgiveness when any kind of thought would pervade one’s inquisitiveness to doubt scripture.
“Now my son.” boomed Father Shamus Conan, looking down at the frightened and bewildered John Michael as he sat in front of the towering figure of the principal. “Questions are fine when you need answers in mathematics or science, but not when it comes to gospel. Faith my son can never be questioned. Do you understand John Michael?”
John Michael sat there, stiffly staring at the floor and bobbing his head fearfully.
“There, there, my son.” Father Shamus Conan stroked John Michael’s head in reassurance that no harm would come to him. “You’re a fine boy from a fine family. I know you’re somewhat impetuous and want to know more than you should know at this time. It will all come to you when the time is right.”
John Michael had his warning from “ God .” No more would he question “ His ”authority.
Boston College with its Jesuit founding appealed to John Michael. As he entered Glasson Hall he felt content. He knew he was going to like it here.
John Michael, through his sheer force of personality, became popular amongst students and teachers alike. He cemented that attitude with a somewhat bizarre and humorous incident. The time when a baseball found its errant way onto the flat roof adjacent to his philosophy classroom. He climbed onto the roof from a window within the classroom to retrieve the ball. Upon reentering was caught by his teacher.
John Michael gallantly bowed to his classmates who cheered his cavalier attitude, then turned to his teacher and gracefully handing him the ball
“It is with vicarious concern that I was so chosen to enter where angels fear to tread.” John Michael bowed slightly and spoke as eloquently as he could.
The teacher at first scowled at John Michael’s attempt at humor then he simply broke up and laughed uproariously. “Mister Morgan. I’m sure the Lord must be watching over you for I simply cannot punish you for your selfless act on behalf of your fellow mates in retrieving this baseball.”
That selfless act defined his character as someone who would stand up and be counted.
College seemed to bring out characteristics in John Michael that he never knew he had. He was a problem solver of the first order. On the gridiron he was the quarterback’s favorite receiver as his Eagles won game after game. He excelled in track and field and was counted as a favorite to be on the US Olympic team.
John Michael inherited his father’s good looks and physique and his mother’s trap like mind and good sense. His bright blue Irish eyes were almost hypnotic. With such a combination, how could he fail? Hi