Apasionante relato autobiográfico de las terribles experiencias vividas por un joven seminarista en las SS de Hitler al comienzo de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Un seminarista en las SS es el apasionante relato autobiográfico de las increíbles aventuras vividas por un joven seminarista franciscano reclutado forzosamente por las SS de Hitler al comienzo de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Sin traicionar a sus ideales cristianos, Gereon Goldmann fue capaz de completar su formación sacerdotal, ser ordenado, y ejercer secretamente su ministerio con los soldados católicos alemanes y con las víctimas civiles inocentes atrapadas en los horrores de la guerra. El Padre Goldmann cuenta las múltiples ocasiones en que escapó de una muerte segura gracias a ayudas providenciales, sus experiencias en los tribunales de guerra en los que fue juzgado, su vida en el terrible campo de prisioneros en Kasr-Es-Souk, en el Marruecos francés, la diabólica persecución que él y sus camaradas católicos sufrieron a causa de su fe, etc.

We had to do it. We had to reprint this book. Rarely has a book had such an impact on so many of us here at Ignatius Press. It is one of the most powerful and moving books we have come across. If you can only buy one book this season, this must be the one.

Here is the astonishing true story of the harrowing experiences of a young German seminarian drafted into Hitler's dreaded SS at the onset of World War II. Without betraying his Christian ideals, against all odds, and in the face of Evil, Gereon Goldmann was able to complete his priestly training, be ordained, and secretly minister to German Catholic soldiers and innocent civilian victims caught up in the horrors of war. How it all came to pass will astound you.

Increible relato autobiográfico. Increible pero real, de un seminarista que tuvo que enrolarse en el ejército aleman, durante la segunda guerra mundial. Su fe en el poder de la oración, su fe en Jesucristo, le hizo sobrellevar las dificultades de la guerra, los problemas con los anticatólicos nazis, y los que pasó como prisionero de guerra. Problemas que en más de una ocasión, le llevaron hasta la mismas puertas de la muerte, bien en bombardeos, bien en el frente de combate, bien una vez prisionero. Su fe le llevó a ordenarse sacerdote franciscano en plena guerra, con un permiso extraordinario concedido por el mismísimo Papa.
Terminó su vida con una labor heróica como misionero con gente pobre en Japón, donde se preocupó de que la gente se acercara a Dios, realizó una labor ingente de promoción social entre la gente que Dios le iba poniéndo en sus manos.
Una obra que prueba que los milagros no son cosa del pasado y que realmente si "tuvieramos fe como un grano de mostaza, le diriamos a esa montaña que se moviera y se movería..." El Padre Goldmann movió muchas montañas, con su oración y su fe en Dios. Libro recomendable al ciento veinte por ciento ( )

This is one of the most heartening books I have ever read. It unequivocally and powerfully gives testimony to God's reliability and faithfulness. It especially demonstrates God’s intervening goodness in adverse circumstances – often impossible situations - for that imperfect human creature who serves God selflessly for the salvation of souls and to relieve human suffering on earth. Nearly every short chapter is full of suspense. Many reveal how the main character maintained boldness and integrity while being in the midst of war, and moreover, while serving opposing forces. The war milieu brings one to ponder the few things that are basic - the things that are important and lasting, and that which is delicate and fleeting - life itself. It profiles the human frame, its extraordinary capacity for good and evil. One cannot avoid re-thinking life - its purpose, its possibilities, its beauty, its moral and immoral dimensions, its light and darkness, its goodness and evil - and the choices they bring - - and the thinness which separate all of these dimensions. And yes, what about God, is there One, and where is he, and how and when does he act?

Our bookclub has been revived and most of us were not looking forward to the discussion of our second book, The Shadow of His Wings by Gereon Goldmann. Since bookclub is predominantly made up of co-workers, we have the opportunity to engage in pre-discussions and the consensus was that this book sucked.

However, being that none of us had picked the book, we were unsure as to whether this month's hostess (who had picked the book) would agree with our assessment.

There was an almost audible sigh of relief from all around the table when she started the conversation by remarking on how utterly disappointed she was with the book. She had been enticed by a jacket blurb which we all agreed made the book look promising.

We spent the rest of the evening lambasting the book and the author. It did, however, make for a spirited conversation and provided an opening to veer onto tangents about living in Germany, visiting Japan, and the emotional repercussions of war. ( )