Holy Orders

About the Book

Holy Orders is a story of ordinary people struggling to transcend the conflicts of love and loyalty, fear and conscience, deception and scandal. The events take place in Khynyvale, a coal mining settlement of Irish expatriates in South Wales in the early twentieth century, but may occur anytime and anywhere human relationships abound.

This story is the intimate account of one man´s struggle through adversity and failure to spiritual liberation, through the courage of self-discovery. "Know thyself...and the Truth shall set you free."

Young Terrence Brennan entered the seminary, leaving his Irish Republican family to fight for Home Rule without him. After his ordination as a Catholic priest, he requested assignment to a small community of Irish expatriates, forced to leave their homeland and surrender their dreams of freedom from colonial oppression in order to survive.

Infused with academic zeal, Father Brennan is convinced that education will dispel the myths and superstitions which bred generations of hopelessness and which will bring his countrymen back to the faith of their childhood. Complicating his life are the unsettling feelings he develops toward two young people in his congregation.

Beth Rourke is entrusted to Brennan´s guardianship by her dying mother and consigned against her will to live in a convent as a potential novitiate. As she matures, both she and the young priest deny a growing attraction to each other.

Dan Kelly is an emotionally troubled boy whose widowed mother encourages her son´s friendship with the priest, hoping it will fill a void left by the suicide of his wealthy father.

Events compel Brennan to confront conflicting loyalties, betrayal, forbidden love and scandal, until he is driven to justify his ordination. Ultimately, events force him to question the authorities to which he must remain obedient: his country, his church, his conscience, and his heart. Which of these authorities constitutes the holiest of orders?

REVIEWS:

"HOLY ORDERS was both fascinating and surperbly researched. The personal conflicts of its characters and the plot´s historical backdrop gave me pause to reflect not only on my life, but also my own Irish heritage. The story is a refreshing departure from the norm and I feel Ms. Glenn has authored a truly remarkable work."
      --Bruce Fitzpatrick, Author of RULES OF THE GAME

"Written in a style worthy of Andrew Greely, HOLY ORDERS is a story of the clash between true spirituality, which deals with loving relationships, and pharisaic legalism as characterized by Canon Law. Truly a masterpiece demonstrating the effects of these two elements in our lives."
      --Father Frank Wanek, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

About the Author

“HOLY ORDERS was both fascinating and surperbly researched. The personal conflicts of its characters and the plot's historical backdrop gave me pause to reflect not only on my life, but also my own Irish heritage. The story is a refreshing departure from the norm and I feel Ms. Glenn has authored a truly remarkable work.” --Bruce Fitzpatrick, Author of RULES OF THE GAME “Written in a style worthy of Andrew Greely, HOLY ORDERS is a story of the clash between true spirituality, which deals with loving relationships, and pharisaic legalism as characterized by Canon Law. Truly a masterpiece demonstrating the effects of these two elements in our lives.” --Father Frank Wanek, Archdiocese of Los Angeles