The Abbey: A Story of Discovery

A story about finding strength in our faith when faced with struggle from New York Times bestselling author Reverend James Martin.   

In his debut novel, Reverend James Martin, SJ, provides a window into the spiritual journeys of three people seeking direction, showing us firsthand how God uses our worries, questions, and even anger to help us become whole.

As he did in his previous bestsellers, Martin once again crafts a book that incarnates deep spiritual wisdom while being accessible and full of humor and grace, with characters such as:


- A divorced single mom, Anne can sometimes barely cope with life and struggles to make sense of the death of her young son.
- A former architect who had a promising career, Mark works as a handyman and wonders how his life got off track.
- The abbot of the Abbey of Saints Philip and James, Father Paul sometimes questions how to best live a life that secludes him so thoroughly from the world.
- At a Pennsylvania abbey, this unlikely trio will discover the answers they seek—a miracle of hope and understanding that bears witness to the surprising power of God to bring healing and wholeness to our lives.

“With this beautiful, touching and utterly believable novel, seekers will be gently invited to encounter the divine and believers be encouraged to deepen their relationships with God. I loved this book and loved the characters!” -Richard Rohr, author of Everything Belongs