I have traveled far and wide, far beyond the simple parish I envisioned as a young man. My obligation of service has led me into diverse yet interrelated roles: college teacher, theologian, president of a great university, counselor to four popes and six presidents. Excuse the list, but once called to public service, I have held fourteen presidential appointments over the years, dealing with the social issues of our times, including civil rights, peaceful uses of atomic energy, campus unrest, amnesty for Vietnam offenders, Third World development, and immigration reform. But deep beneath it all, wherever I have been, whatever I have done, I have always and everywhere considered myself essentially a priest. -from the Preface

About the Author

Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. (1917-2015) was president of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987. As an adviser to presidents, special envoy to popes, theologian, author, educator, and activist, Father Hesburgh was for decades considered the most influential priest in America. He is the author and editor of a number of books, including The Challenge and Promise of a Catholic University (University of Notre Dame Press, 1994).

Reviews

"Father Hesburgh should be on almost everyone's list of the most influential figures in American higher education over the past few decades. In these fascinating memoirs, he chronicles the transformation of Notre Dame from a somewhat mediocre midwestern university into a major national teaching and research institution. As president of Notre Dame for 35 years, he used that position as a platform to argue the truly critical issues not only within the academy, but outside as well. The chapters on his involvement with the Civil Rights movement and criticism of early Vatican policy on academic freedom at Catholic universities are most compelling. Recommended for all readers, especially in these days of seeming cynicism and doubt." -Library Journal

"The temptation is to subtitle this book 'Adventures of Superpriest.' If Father Hesburgh made it all up, it would still be a wonderful story, a compendium of what-ifs. . . . Its warmth and humanity are infectious, and most readers will not have the nerve to fight off the pleasure of going along." -Chicago Tribune

"Father Hesburgh says that each one of us can do something effective in the cause of a better world. God, Country, Notre Dame itself embodies an obvious refutation of the apathetic notion that 'in the modern world one person cannot make a difference.'" -Commonweal

"William F. Buckley might disagree, but the former university president is clear on the three most important things in life." -New York Magazine

"To read this book is to get acquainted with a great human being, as our Jewish friends say, a real mensch." -Provident Book Finder

Book Information
ISBN 9780268010386
Author Theodore M. Hesburgh
Format Hardback
Page Count 360
Imprint University of Notre Dame Press
Publisher University of Notre Dame Press
Weight(grams) 417g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 19mm