Father Solanus: The Story of Solanus Casey, O.F.M. Cap. by Catherine M. Odell: A Book Review

Father Solanus: The Story of Solanus Casey, O.F.M. Cap. is a biography of this holy Capuchin priest, as the title suggests. It is written by Catherine M. Odell, who is also the author of Those Who Saw Her: The Apparitions of Mary and co-author of The First Human Right: A Pro-Life Primer. This book tells Venerable Father Solanus Casey’s story, a story that is beneficial to read since it is “so relevant and inspirational.”¹ Emphasizing both Father Solanus’ holiness and his normal human joys, this biography is enjoyable and uplifting.

The preface of the book gives the following insight regarding why the book is advantageous for the modern American Christian to read: “Father Solanus Casey is an awesome and yet accessible model for our modern times. His virtues and story “translate” especially well for today’s American Christians.”² The preface also provides the reader with a sneak-peak of what to expect in the rest of the work by describing some of the main characteristics of this holy man’s life as well as some of the recurring graces granted to people through his intercession. Some of the reasons that made this holy man so approachable are also listed in the preface. For instance, it says that he “loved baseball, hot dogs with onions, and could shoot a fair game of pool.”³

The front cover of the book is black with white and colored text and includes a painting of Father Solanus by Nancy Dendy Geerts. The cover of the book is designed by James E. McIlrath. The back of the book tells that the book includes a photo section and also gives a description of Father Solanus and examples of people whose lives he touched in a good way. Through its description of Father Solanus, the back cover of the book makes one eager to read the book. Additionally, the back of the book declares that the life of Father Solanus is understandable and inspirational to the modern man. This book is of a suitable size to be carried around easily, although perhaps not quite small enough to be considered pocket-sized. Also, being a paperback, it is not so heavy as to make travelling with it cumbersome.

This work is divided into twelve chapters with a photo section in the middle and a section called “Words and Wisdom of Father Solanus” near the end. This section is followed by the “Chapter Notes” and “Bibliography.” The chapter titles, except for the title of the last chapter, include the years which are covered in that chapter; this makes it very easy to figure out what happened to Father Solanus or where he was at any given time during his life. The last chapter, however, does not give the years it covers as it is the chapter dealing with what happened after the death of this holy man. The photo section, encompassing pages 125-147, gives pictures of this man, his family, people with whom he was connected, and places where he worked or was buried. The photos include explanations beneath them. The section titled “Words and Wisdom of Father Solanus” gives quotes from the holy man on various topics, such as gratitude, trust in God, suffering, and many others.

The style of this book is easily comprehensible to all readers as it is neither too abstruse to be understood, too dry to be captivating, nor too simple to be interesting. There are some unexplained references that may not be understood by all; however, they are not essential to grasping the overall themes of the book. There are also many references to historical events that influenced the life of this Capuchin either directly or indirectly. These references help the reader to place this man’s life and ministry within the larger history of the world. Also, many quotes are spread throughout the work; these give the words either of Father Solanus or of other people talking about him or about his works.

The main character in this work, predictably so, is Father Solanus Casey. This book tells of the life and doings of this “approachable holy man.”⁴ Through this man’s prayers and counsel many people found healing in their lives or resignation to the will of God in hardships and sorrows. Father Solanus Casey is shown, in this book, to be a lovable man with whom it is easy to empathize. The reader is led to realize the insignificance of this life and of its apparent troubles when one reads that this man, whose prayers healed so many, seemingly remained indifferent when faced with the possibility that his legs might need to be amputated.

A major theme running through the life of Father Solanus and through this book is Father Solanus’ gratitude to God. The reader can begin, perhaps, to experience some of this supreme gratitude to God when he reads that Father Solanus was able to thank God even for what would have seemed to others to be hardships. For example, Father Solanus wrote “Deo Gratias,” that is, “Thanks be to God,” in his journal next to the entry telling about the early death of his one-time girlfriend. At another time, he stated, “My whole body hurts, thanks be to God.”⁵ This Capuchin father was grateful to God for the ups and the downs of life. This gratitude of Father Solanus is woven throughout the book in the same way that it was woven throughout the life of this man.

This book is published by Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. and the year of publication is 1988. The ISBN number is 0-87973-486-8.

Images used:

First Image: Kiera Kelley, “Father Solanus by Catherine M. Odell,” scan, 27 April 2017.

Second Image: Kiera Kelley, “Father Solanus 1943 Photo with Message,” scan, 27 April 2017.

Third Image: Kiera Kelley, “Father Solanus SMA Enrollment Photo,” scan, 27 April 2017.

¹ Catherine M. Odell, Father Solanus: The Story of Solanus Casey, O.F.M. Cap. (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Inc., 1988), 208.

² Catherine M. Odell, preface to Father Solanus: The Story of Solanus Casey, O.F.M. Cap. (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Inc., 1988), 6.

³ Odell, preface, 6.

⁴ Odell, Father Solanus, 176.

⁵ Odell, Father Solanus, 197