From Publishers Weekly
According to most historians, Washington's religious beliefs were private, pragmatic, and-like those of many of his compatriots-deistic. He spoke often of providence but rarely of Jesus Christ, infrequently attended religious services and did not take communion. On his deathbed, he summoned no clergy. Connell does not argue with these assessments; indeed, she seems entirely unaware of them. Her George Washington is a devout, prayerful saint of unimpeachable moral virtue, called by God to establish freedom, patriotism and private enterprise. She devotes more than 20 pages to reproducing the Rules of Civility, maxims from 16th-century French Jesuits that the 13-year-old Washington copied as a school exercise. Another 20 pages are given to "Daily Sacrifice," a collection of prayers Washington is alleged to have copied or written at age 20. (Connell does not mention that these are not included in his official papers because scholars doubt their authenticity.) With previous bestsellers such as Meetings with Mary and Angel Power, it is not surprising that Connell gives credence to a story that began circulating some 60 years after Washington's death about a Marian apparition and prophetic vision at Valley Forge, or that she tells the popular but unlikely story about a Catholic priest coming to Washington's deathbed. When she is not rehashing pious legends, the author recounts familiar stories (many of which are not faith-related); inexplicably reproduces the entire Declaration of Independence, which Washington neither wrote nor signed; and loquaciously emotes about her hero, whom she calls "America's mystical icon of heroic grace." Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
We all know George Washington the fearless leader, the brilliant general, our first president, and "The Father of Our Country". What we often overlook is Washington's deep spirituality. Now, in Faith of Our Founding Father: The Spiritual Journey of George Washington, best-selling author Janice T. Connell gives an in-depth examination of Washington's spiritual life. Drawing upon Washington's personal writings, public speeches, eyewitness accounts and letters, Connell reveals the practical, down-to-earth faith that guided him throughout his life. From narrow escapes on the battlefield to braving cold and starvation, Washington often credited his life to "the all powerful dispensations of Providence". In a world wracked by wars, terrorism, disease, starvation, immorality, and tyranny, the life of George Washington has a lot to teach us. The father of our country faced countless challenges throughout his life, not only on the road to establishing our nation, but also in his childhood, scarred by the early death of his father. It was George Washington's deep personal faith that allowed him to triumph over life's adversities, and it steeled him with the profound inner strength that carried him from the dark days of Valley Forge to the pinnacle of the Presidency. This spiritual biography includes the entire text of the Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, a text Washington learned by heart as a boy and that continued to guide his values throughout his life. In addition, it includes Washington's daily prayers. His prayer book, with a distinct prayer for the morning and afternoon of each day of the week, gave him comfort and strength all through his years. George Washington was no stranger to sorrow, cold, hunger, persecution, violence, or terrorism. His deep sense of spirituality allowed him to stand strong in the face of adversity and triumph in the darkest of times. His story can bring similar strength and comfort to us all.
From the Inside Flap
George Washington is the "Father of Our Country." A dedicated patriot, brilliant general, and gifted leader, he guided our fledgling nation through bitter revolution and became our first president. He was first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen. Above all, he was a deeply spiritual man. A devout Christian, Washington's religious beliefs influenced his life as a young surveyor on the dangerous frontier through his heroics as a militia leader in the French and Indian War to the dark days of Valley Forge and the triumph of the Presidency. He was held in the highest regard by his fellow citizens and history has canonized him as the most esteemed of the Founding Fathers. At the root of that esteem was his spirituality. In Faith of Our Founding Father, bestselling author Janice T. Connell examines the spiritual life of our first president. She takes us on a journey from his boyhood, scarred by the early death of his father, to the pinnacle of the Presidency. Washington was no stranger to sorrow, cold, hunger, persecution, violence, or terrorism. His great accomplishment was to face misfortune and conquer it. He achieved his victory by discipline, commitment, prayer, and the graced ability to bend his will under the yoke of Divine Providence. Faith of Our Founding Father contains the entire text of the Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, a text he learned by heart as a young schoolboy and which governed his code of behavior throughout his life. It also contains the full text of his daily prayers which provided him solace and enriched his faith until the day he died. In a world wracked by wars, terrorism, disease, starvation, immorality and tyranny, George Washington has much to reveal to us. His accomplishments and writing disclose that Providence was in him, around him, and always with him. George Washington's faith shines like a beacon to light the way for all to peace and liberty on earth and happiness thereafter.
From the Back Cover
"Faithful commitment to daily duty makes Americans targets for a new kind of warfare, hideous in its sleuth, deceit, and monstrosity. Americans who die at their posts to defend freedom do not die in vain. God always brings good out of evil. Their sacrifice on the frontier of liberty unmasks segments of the world inhabited by lost souls wallowing in the darkness of revolution, steeped in greed, selfishness, avarice, envy, lust, and hatred. The perpetrators send their executioners to the four winds but they will not prevail. They never have in the past, not since Cain killed Abel. Washington's spirit reaches through the centuries to remind every freedom loving person of the sacred duty to rout evil from the planet."—Janice T. Connell
About the Author
Janice T. Connell is an attorney and financial consultant. She is a bestselling author of nine books and resides in Washington, DC, and Arizona. She is a frequent guest speaker to groups in the United States and abroad.
Faith of our Founding Father: The Spiritual Journey of George Washington FROM THE PUBLISHER
A devout Christian, Washington's religious beliefs influenced his life as a young surveyor on the dangerous frontier through his heroics as a militia leader in the French and Indian War to the dark days of Valley Forge and the triumph of the Presidency. He was held in the highest regard by his fellow citizens and history has canonized him as the most esteemed of the Founding Fathers. At the root of that esteem was his spirituality.
In Faith of Our Founding Father, best-selling author Janice T. Connell examines the spiritual life of our first president. She takes us on a journey from his boyhood, scarred by the early death of his father, to the pinnacle of the Presidency.
Washington was no stranger to sorrow, cold, hunger, persecution, violence or terrorism. His great accomplishment was to face misfortune and conquer it. He achieved his victory by discipline, commitment, prayer, and the graced ability to bend his will under the yoke of Divine Providence.
Faith of Our Founding Father contains the entire text of the Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, a text he learned by heart as a young schoolboy and which governed his code of behavior throughout his life. It also contains the full text of his daily prayers, which provided him solace and enriched his faith until the day he died.
In a world wracked by wars, terrorism, disease, starvation, immorality and tyranny, George Washington has much to reveal to us. His accomplishments and writings disclose that Providence was in him, around him and always with him. George Washington's faith shines like a beacon to light the way for all to peace and liberty on earth and happiness thereafter.
SYNOPSIS
"Faithful commitment to daily duty makes Americans targets for a new kind of warfare, hideous in its sleuth, deceit, and monstrosity. Americans who die at their posts to defend freedom do not die in vain. God always brings good out of evil. Their sacrifice on the frontier of liberty unmasks segments of the world inhabited by lost souls wallowing in the darkness of revolution, steeped in greed, selfishness, avarice, envy, lust, and hatred. The perpetrators send their executioners to the four winds but they will not prevail. They never have in the past, not since Cain killed Abel. Washington's spirit reaches through the centuries to remind every freedom loving person of the sacred duty to rout evil from the planet."—Janice T. Connell
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
According to most historians, Washington's religious beliefs were private, pragmatic, and-like those of many of his compatriots-deistic. He spoke often of providence but rarely of Jesus Christ, infrequently attended religious services and did not take communion. On his deathbed, he summoned no clergy. Connell does not argue with these assessments; indeed, she seems entirely unaware of them. Her George Washington is a devout, prayerful saint of unimpeachable moral virtue, called by God to establish freedom, patriotism and private enterprise. She devotes more than 20 pages to reproducing the Rules of Civility, maxims from 16th-century French Jesuits that the 13-year-old Washington copied as a school exercise. Another 20 pages are given to "Daily Sacrifice," a collection of prayers Washington is alleged to have copied or written at age 20. (Connell does not mention that these are not included in his official papers because scholars doubt their authenticity.) With previous bestsellers such as Meetings with Mary and Angel Power, it is not surprising that Connell gives credence to a story that began circulating some 60 years after Washington's death about a Marian apparition and prophetic vision at Valley Forge, or that she tells the popular but unlikely story about a Catholic priest coming to Washington's deathbed. When she is not rehashing pious legends, the author recounts familiar stories (many of which are not faith-related); inexplicably reproduces the entire Declaration of Independence, which Washington neither wrote nor signed; and loquaciously emotes about her hero, whom she calls "America's mystical icon of heroic grace." (Nov.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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