2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Rose and father Mal developed a close relationship after she moved into the rectory. He says he's in love with her and she obviously has conflicted feelings. Your thoughts about this situation?

I want Rose to be happy. So it doesn't bother me if eventually they do end up together. I can see how Rose would be conflicted though due to her religious beliefs.

I've always felt sorry for Rose that her life has been so tied to the O'Connors and that she didn't seem to really have a life of her own (or not one that we were ever told about). I want her to be happy too but I'm not sure this is the path I would've written for her if I were the author. Rose's faith, in contrast to Cork's, has always seemed very strong and important to her so being okay with being the reason that a Priest breaks his vows seems odd.

Yeah, Rose's faith was a bit too devout for me to get her acceptance of a relationship with Mal. Maybe she was just content serving him and being in his presence rather than a relationship?

That's what I thought too, Jonetta. That she'd just be content being near him. It sounds though like Mal tried to take things a step further into having an actual physical relationship. It's hard for me to think that Rose wouldn't feel eternally guilty.

Now I'm not Catholic and I've never really understood the reason for why Catholic priests aren't allowed to marry. The heads of other religious denominations are allowed to marry. So the priest thing doesn't bother me, but I'm not Rose.

My husband is a scholar of Catholic history. The rule that mandated priests couldn't marry came about for financial reasons. They didn't want church assets passing down to spouses.

How very Christian of them. *snort*

Yeah, one of the many reasons he no longer practices:)

Jonetta wrote: "My husband is a scholar of Catholic history. The rule that mandated priests couldn't marry came about for financial reasons. They didn't want church assets passing down to spouses."

Thanks for that fascinating fact. So to save money priests weren't allowed wives. Maybe there might be a better love interest for Rose further down the track? It disheartens me a little at the thought that she spends the rest of her life looking after the O'Connors. I guess she enjoys it to a degree, but she was quite happy to go and work at the rectory to look after the priests.

I know. While it gives her purpose to take care of Jo and her family, working at the rectory seemed to give her life meaning. I feel so bad for her.