A Priest Forever: The Life of Eugene Hamilton

God bless Fr. Eugene Hamilton! I, being a seminarian, could not have found a better time to read the life of this saintly young man than now while I'm undergoing my Pastoral Year. In two years, I hope to be ordained a Priest for service in Miami, Florida. I happen to remember Gene vaguely as we grew up in our hometown Haverstraw, NY. I remember him as a young little boy serving mass at St. Peter's. I played and sang the guitar Mass at the parish.The book was very inspiring to me as a future priest. Gene's love for the faith and the Church inspired and rekindled my somewhat dry faith (a strange phenomena that happens to us seminarians as we undergo formation). Gene's spiritual life, commitment to celibacy, love for the liturgy, friendships, all helped to mold my own life and viewpoints. I highly recommend this book to all of us seminarians who need a spark, a ray of hope during those bleak dark nights that we seminarians undergo. Groeschel's book about Fr. Gene inspires us to continue on our call and strive for holiness in the priesthood. I couldn't help but cry when I read the section on how Gene died...such a holy death! I plan on visiting my hometown (my dad still lives there) and pay a visit to his grave.

When Mother Teresa passed away, it was obvious to anyone with even a pea-sized brain that she was ready. Her lifetime of good work and unwavering devotion to God through bold acts of faith had inspired the world for decades. There was very little sadness when she went home to a richly deserved reward.In A Priest Forever, we meet another individual who was thoroughly prepared to meet God. Unfortunately, there is great sadness in the life of Father Eugene Hamilton because his time on earth was so short and the promise of all the good work he could have done will never be fulfilled.From an early age, Gene Hamilton showed a maturity, grace, and reverent nature beyond his years. The tale offers no surprise by his decision to enter a seminary. Heartache awaits the reader as Gene is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and we witness his heroic battle to live and follow his dream of being ordained. When the facts obviously point to his not lasting long enough to complete priestly training, the Vatican responds to his seminary's and Cardinal O'Connor's request granting a rare dispensation allowing early ordination.Just days before this speeded up sacrament is to be bestowed upon him, Gene takes a major turn for the worse. Due to the quick thinking and actions of his brother and the bishop at his seminary, an impromptu ceremony was held on Gene's deathbed in his living room just three hours before his earthly existence ended. Catholics belief in the permanence of ordination so the title is apt. knowing that Father Eugene Hamilton-who never even donned priestly vestments in this life-is indeed a priest forever.As sad as the story is-knowing that he could not live out the dreams of his priesthood, seeing the family and loved ones left behind after the loss of this extraordinary 25 year old, and learning the pain that perdured throughout his final months-there is nonetheless a powerfully upliftng result from reading this book.His life will never be as well known as Mother Teresa, and he did not have the opportunity to touch nearly as many people, but in his brief quarter-century he set a brave example and was completely ready to meet God.

An extraordinary book masterfully written by Fr Benedict Groeschel. A book that touched my very soul. A book that every human being, including every priest, would do well to read. God is so good to have given us Fr Eugene Hamilton who taught us through Fr Benedict Groeschel how to carry our cross with Jesus. I can only pray to do as well. And, Fr Eugene's family? Incredible faith. What an example for all of us. Thank you God for the blessings and thank you Fr Benedict for this wonderful work. By the way, I have purchased several books that are now circulating with priests and lay people. I plan to keep them moving.

Eugene Hamilton's life was a life of faith. To me, a college student, it was a life of example. In a society that is seeing morals go into extinction, his life of adoration to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was a refreshing reminder that our life should be of service to God. To the seminarian, I can only imagine this book is a book of hope. Eugene proves that becoming a priest is not giving up a fulfilling life. His quest for the priesthood not only filled his life with grace, it allowed us, the reader, to taste how fulfilling a life of service to God can be. Thank you Eugene for your life. Thank you Fr. Groeschel for putting into words this powerful testimony.

It was my privilege to have Gene Hamilton as one of my best friends in college and in life. I was honored when Gene allowed me to be one of the first of his friends to know he was to begin studying to become a priest. In everything he did, Gene exemplified the priesthood, and I looked forward to the day that Gene performed his first mass. I visited Gene occasionally in the Seminary, and he was so at home and enthusiastic about his journey. As the sad news of his illness came, his enthusiasm never waned. His courage and eagerness to seek and serve the Lord was an unbelievable testimony to this young man's faith. Fr. Groeschel captures this in his book so perfectly. Gene's life and death had a profound impact on my own life. My mother suffered from cancer along with Gene, and they always asked about and prayed for each other. My mother prayed to Gene every day after his death. Gene's life inspired her own faith during her battle with cancer. Mom passed away three months ago, and there is no doubt in my mind that they are together in heaven praying for all of us who love them and continue to live in their memories. May this book serve to inspire the faith of each of us who read Gene's story.