Dragons
A Roman Requiem
Anarchy. Revolution. Heart-pounding danger.
It is the time of the Second French Republic. Rebels have dethroned King Louis Philippe. The forces of atheistic secularization are surging across Europe, and once again the Society of Jesus finds itself in the crosshairs.
Within the Roman College, adorned with the IHS emblem and guarded by dragons carved in stone, Jesuit priests persist in prayer and study. But uncertainty hangs heavy in the air. Will they be suppressed yet again, driven from Rome and forced into hiding? Will their young seminarians advance to ordination – or face martyrdom instead?
In this powerful historical drama rooted in real events and populated by true-life characters, you will observe the inner workings and hidden struggles of the Church as lived out by the saints and sinners involved. Political intrigue, theological controversy, and personal sacrifice all unfold against an electrifying backdrop of revolution and war.
At the heart of the story stands the devout, humble, quietly heroic priest Fr. Luigi Colonna. Inspired by St. John Berchmans, Fr. Colonna seeks sanctity in fidelity and obedience, even as tensions mount within the Church herself. Through his trials and Christlike mercy, we see how grace works in souls and how even hardened hearts can be transformed.
While revolution rages outside Rome, the Jesuits labor tirelessly within, advancing astronomical research, helping draft the document supporting the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception under Pope Pius IX, and later defending the papacy itself. Yet opposition rises – not only from secular powers but from voices within the Church resisting doctrinal development and questioning Jesuit influence.
Divisions deepen. War spreads. The faithful ask in anguish: Are the gates of Hell prevailing? Yet, through the fog of confusion and conflict, hope flashes forth like lightning across a darkened sky. There are dragons – but there are also dragon slayers.
In this sweeping tale of courage, fraternity, and unwavering faith, you will discover the beauty of spiritual fatherhood, how both courage and conversion are possible in the face of peril, and who is the ultimate victor in all conflict and the real power guiding all history.
Endorsements
“With vivid storytelling and deep historical insight, Fr. Joseph Carola, S.J., draws readers into a pivotal chapter in the life of the Church, the papacy, and the Society of Jesus. Dragons: A Roman Requiem is a deeply engaging work that will captivate clergy and laity alike, as well as scholars and serious readers seeking truth, spiritual depth, and drama.”
Diane Montagna
American journalist based in Rome, accredited to the Holy See; co-founder of The College of Cardinals Report
“Dragons is a compelling story—and a beautiful expression of family piety for the Society of Jesus. It’s told from history by one of the most illustrious Jesuits of our time. Almost two centuries have passed since the episodes in this novel, yet every page rings familiar and true.”
Dr. Scott Hahn
Fr. Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology; Founder and President, St. Paul Center
“Father Carola brings to life a moment in Church history that today is little known and even less understood, suffusing it with spiritual—and thoroughly human—drama. Theologians will be tickled to recognize familiar names become flesh-and-blood characters—a few of whom turn out to be quite the characters—but all readers will be moved by a story of faith put to the test and grace silently and relentlessly at work.”
Fr. Anthony R. Lusvardi, S.J.
Professor of Theology, Pontificia Università Gregoriana
“An elegiac re-creation of the decline and fall of a Rome that once was, memories of which still haunt the Rome that is.”
George Weigel
Distinguished Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
“A fascinating and erudite tale set in an atmosphere of great emotional tension. The fall of the Papal States and the dawn of the Kingdom of Italy heroically lived by a Jesuit Father ‘family member.’”
Prince Prospero Colonna
The Colonna Palace, Rome
“The great struggle for Christendom during the nineteenth century comes to life in Joseph Carola’s novel on the doomed Jesuit resistance to the Italian Risorgimento. The author’s tremendous erudition, fresh literary craft, and lifetime of experience allow Dragons to breathe Rome’s not-quite-forgotten past: the repose of her chapels, the intrigue of her palaces, and the tumult of her streets.”
Sam Zeno Conedera, S.J.
Assistant Professor of History, Saint Louis University
“For years, I have treasured Fr. Carola’s theological writings. That he has now produced a novel has me staying up late reading it!”
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop Emeritus of New York
Details
| Dimensions | N/A |
|---|---|
| Weight | N/A |
| SKU | 7179 |
| SKU | d17186 |
