Local priest brings Jesus to people

Rev. Joseph Girzone, a retired priest of the Albany Diocese, has had a fascination with Jesus since childhood. Eventually, that fascination turned into a desire to make Jesus real to all people -- and if book sales are any indication, Father Girzone has been successful in turning that desire into reality.

Since the mid-1980s, his books, which include "Joshua" and several sequels, have been bestsellers on the Christian Book Sellers List and the Religious/Inspirational List. "Joshua" was also named by the New York Times as one of the "bestsellers that last."

The books have been translated into nine languages, with translations currently underway for sales in Spain and the Czech Republic.

Hungry for God

The success of his books indicates something to Father Girzone: "There is a hunger for Jesus," he said.

The author himself claims to have focused on Jesus "since my First Communion. When I was first ordained, I tried to focus on Jesus: What would Jesus do? How would Jesus treat people?"

Before long, the priest felt the need to write about Jesus. "There was a gnawing need inside of me to write a portrait of Jesus if he were here today," he explained. "I began to feel that God was pushing me to write a portrait of Jesus."

After researching the Gospels and praying, he began his efforts. His goal is to help modern people know Jesus in the same way that Jesus' contemporaries saw Him.

Christ's comfort

"People weren't afraid of Jesus," Father Girzone said. "He accepted them as they were, looked upon them as friends. (People) were made to feel good about themselves. Their life changed when they knew Him."

Today, the desire to know about Jesus is great and spans all Christian faiths, Father Girzone said. "We need to bring Jesus back into focus. We don't know Jesus," the priest stated. "We rarely hear sermons about Jesus -- how He thinks and what He feels."

The priest tries to convey the human qualities of Jesus. "There was a toughness about Jesus in facing hardships and obstacles," he explained. "There was a gentleness and beauty. He was also very manly."

Bridging the gap

Father Girzone's book sales span many faiths and cultures. After a talk in Alabama for Southern Baptists, the author was told, "You gave us Jesus. We study Scripture but don't get to know Jesus."

The Chinese have also responded to Girzone's work. While China is a communist country, Father Girzone has found that many people there are open to learning more about Jesus and God.

One Chinese official present at the Congressional Prayer Breakfast told Father Girzone of her understanding of God after learning from the priest: "God is not mean, not angry. (God) is filled with love, is a gentle God."

For those who want to learn more about Jesus, Father Girzone encourages them to turn to the Gospels. "Go back and read the Gospels," he said. To religious leaders, he urges, "Refocus on the Gospels. Whet people's appetite about Jesus."

Parables teach

There is much we can learn from Jesus, Father Girzone said: "In the story of the woman at the well, He sees something good in her life and picks her as a disciple for that country."

Even though the woman was a Samaritan, was married several times and was living with a man, Jesus saw good in her, the priest said. This is different than the way sinners are treated today.

"We cut them off," he said. "We make them feel they're just not our type. If Jesus chose to embrace sinners, who are we to say a sinner can't embrace Jesus?"

(Father Girzone will be signing copies of his latest book, "Joey," the true story of a young man's faith, April 6 at 2 p.m. at Barnes and Noble bookstore.)

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