Description
After years spent in Paris, William Hemmick was asked by the Vatican to come to Rome. Ultimately, he became the only American Canon of St. Peter’s Representing the Knights of Malta to the Holy See.
It was he who performed the nuptials of American film star Tyrone Power and Linda Christian. He also converted the future Queen Astrid of Belgium. Although, many stories and famous people permeate Hemmick’s life through the events of both world wars, this is not only the story of one individual. It is a personal glimpse at an epic era in history, from WWI to Paris between the wars, to WWII and its aftermath.
Reviews for Patriot Priest
Patriot Priest: The Story of Monsignor William A. Hemmick, The Vatican’s First American Canon (Rock Hill, SC: Strategic Media Books, 2013), softcover, table of contents, bibliography, notes, 270 pp. This is the biography of the author’s great-uncle, Msgr. William Hemmick (1886-1971). Born in Pittsburgh, he was raised in Europe and was pro- claimed “The Patriot Priest of Picardy” for his actions in World War I. He became successively the first American canon of two Roman basilicas – St. Mary Major and St. Peter’s. Hemmick was also a representative of the Knights of Malta to the Holy See. He converted the future Queen Astrid of Belgium, and officiated at the Roman marriage of Hollywood actor Tyrone Power and starlet Linda Christian
More Reviews
Patricia’s book Patriot Priest has been awarded the New York Book Award and the Global Book Award
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I read your encomium to your uncle and enjoyed it immensely. An extraordinary amount of thought and research went into the biography to make it a proverbial page-turner. What a Mensch! Patrician elegance, a faithful friend, an astute mind, unwavering courage, deeply engaged in the momentous events of two world wars with Popes, Princes, and Diplomats–the list goes on and on. How lovely to know you share the same accomplished gene pool. Joseph Roccasalvo, S. J. — # — This true story of an extraordinary American, Msgr. William A. Hemmick, is a journey through the 20th century history of Europe. As a Catholic priest, Msgr. Hemmick served the soldiers in the front lines of WWI. Post- WW I, Msgr. Hemmick remained in Europe through the turbulent 1920s and 1930s and through the turmoil of WW II in Italy. A cosmopolitan man, Msgr. Hemmick traveled widely and befriended kings, popes and celebrities. This book is a worthwhile read for both history buffs and those interested in the Catholic Church during this critical period. Lucy Russell — # — Patricia Daly-Lipe puts us back in time to 1916, where we are caught up in the bloody, unrelenting trench warfare of World War I. The PATRIOT PRIEST is the true story of her great uncle, a Catholic priest who lived through the nightmare of a war that couldn’t be won or lost, but had to be endured. His steadfast sense of duty in the face of death and destruction is especially moving to us today, as we try and make sense of the endless wars that rage around us, and the inevitable moral question of whether we should “get involved.” Donna Evers, Consulting writer, |
