The Catholic Book Club discussion

7. Why does Max become a Catholic?

Max is drawn to Catholicism through the influence of his best friend (Adam) and his old teacher (Fischer).

As in Adam's case, I think Max's conversion is too sparely explained. It leaves the impression that it's not really a full conversion. This seems to be confirmed by the fact that, just after that, he falls in sin with Eva. I think his real conversion takes place during his trip with Adam after Adam's ordination.

In addition, Max stops going to mass when the priests start supporting the Nazi regime during the homilies, and apparently he never goes back, since at his death (at the beginning of the book) nobody seemed to know that he was a Catholic.

Mariangel wrote: "In addition, Max stops going to mass when the priests start supporting the Nazi regime during the homilies, and apparently he never goes back, since at his death (at the beginning of the book) nobody seemed to know that he was a Catholic."

True. Not even his wife knows. But when he sees himself near death, he asks for a Catholic priest and a Catholic funeral and dies a Catholic, the same as Lord Marchmain in Brideshead revisited. Another point of contact between the two novels.

A part of "Brideshaed Revisited" it would be very interesting to compare the Max evolution to the catholic faith with the evolution of Paul Selmer the main character of the Sigrid Undset`s novel "Burning bush" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Mariangel wrote: "In addition, Max stops going to mass when the priests start supporting the Nazi regime during the homilies, and apparently he never goes back, since at his death (at the beginning of the book) nobo..."

Yes, it might have been nice to counterpoint the priests who supported the Nazis against those who never did, many of whom ended up in Dachau, where many of them died.

Manuel wrote: "Max is drawn to Catholicism through the influence of his best friend (Adam) and his old teacher (Fischer).

As in Adam's case, I think Max's conversion is too sparely explained. It leaves the impr..."

I agree. It should have been a dramatic moment, but we get no information on the actual moment of conversion.

John wrote: "Manuel wrote: "Max is drawn to Catholicism through the influence of his best friend (Adam) and his old teacher (Fischer).

As in Adam's case, I think Max's conversion is too sparely explained. It ..."
There are very strange conversion. Claudel converted after listening the Magnificat, and Frosard he was communist and not baptized and he has not idea to the christianity, and he converted after entering in a catholic church. The grace sometimes is very complicate :-).

Fonch wrote: "The grace sometimes is very complicate :-). "

Absolutely!! And sometimes very mysterious. But in each of those instances, and in my own instance, the moment of grace is quite clear. Perhaps I should say, the working of grace. But in any case, we see Max's growing involvement with Catholicism, but then he is next a Catholic.

John wrote: "Fonch wrote: "The grace sometimes is very complicate :-). "

Absolutely!! And sometimes very mysterious. But in each of those instances, and in my own instance, the moment of grace is quite clear. ..."
Perhaps you should read the next novel to understand better the Max`s conversion. It is interesting to compare this conversion with the conversion of Charles Ryder and other fictional character Paul Selmer the main character of the Sigrid Undset`s novel "The Burning bramble".

Another big factor in Max's conversion is performing the St. Matthew Passion. And he seems to gain a great deal of understanding simply from attending Mass, at least he's able to explain a great deal to Anna.