Book Thoughts: The Third Secret

The Third Secret: A Novel of Suspense by Steve Berry


My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable, quick read. The plot focuses around the third secret of the Marian apparition at Fatima. The book presupposes that there was more to the secret than what was released by the Vatican and Pope John Paul II in 2000. As the story develops, the qualities of faith and devotion as well ambition and greed for power are displayed by the characters, mostly Catholic cardinals and priests, which creates an interesting juxtaposition of good and evil. If one is so inclined, I think the story would make one think more intensely about Fatima and various traditions with the Catholic faith....not necessarily in either a good or bad manner towards either, but just think about them. For me, any work of fiction that gives you some pause to think and reflect about something, whatever the light, has value. So I enjoyed this book beyond just the story.

As to what it makes me think regarding these topics (and not to go into too much specifics as it would give certain things away), it impresses on my mind that when it comes to matters of faith, it always remains, solely, a matter of faith. What I mean is that regardless of how much pursuit we give to clarifying spiritual matters intellectual, to de-construct them in efforts to wrap or finite minds around it, that pursuit only takes us so far. Inherent in our finite minds is a specified limitation, and after that limitation, comes faith, one way or the other (faith in no god is still a "faith"). And what strikes me from the novel and the characters it depicts, is that assuming others, based on public displays of faith for God or in no god, or the lack thereof, says little about what doubt or conviction, in either direction, lays in the unspoken part of that person.

I often assume conviction in others; I witness their displays and assume that they feel something that I never really have, and not sure if I will. Its often not something I dwell on too much; I have faith that all serve different purposes, and mine is not to be a "feeling" sort, or even based in compassion, as opposed to a almost pure intellectual approach. The book reminds me that I should not assume that others, despite what their public displays or discussions in large groups might hint at, may and probably do experience doubt from time to time, perhaps to the extent that I do. Intellectually, I view doubt and faith as always attached, almost like one cannot exist without the other. Or maybe better put, to doubt is not to be without faith, and to have faith is not to be without doubt. This has often been my approach. The book, through my reflection, suggests to me that I should perhaps apply the same scrutiny I give to religious and spiritual matters, to people's display of the same, and come to the conclusion that things are not always what they seem at first glance.