The Ear of the Heart - Mother Dolores Hart O.S.B. and Richard DeNeut - An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows

The Ear of the Heart: 

An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows 

Mother Dolores Hart O.S.B. 

Richard DeNeut

Ignatius Press

ISBN 9781621642497 

eISBN 9781681491479

ASIN B00CQ8ATP0

This book was the book of the month for the Goodreads Catholic Book Club. I did start reading it in December but life got very busy and I did not finish the book until well into January. The book is an excellent read. It was fascinating ro read this life story, from her parents rocky relationship, shuttling back and forth between Chicago and California. Becoming Catholic and eventually entering a convent. 

The description of this book is:

“"Listen and attend with the ear of your heart." - Saint Benedict.

Dolores Hart stunned Hollywood in 1963, when after ten highly successful feature films, she chose to enter a contemplative monastery. Now, fifty years later, Mother Dolores gives this fascinating account of her life, with co-author and life-long friend, Richard DeNeut.

Dolores was a bright and beautiful college student when she made her film debut with Elvis Presley in Paramount's 1957 Loving You. She acted in nine more movies with other big stars such as Montgomery Clift, Anthony Quinn and Myrna Loy. She also gave a Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway play The Pleasure of His Company and appeared in television shows, including The Virginian and Playhouse 90. An important chapter in her life occurred while playing Saint Clare in the movie Francis of Assisi, which was filmed on location in Italy.

Born Dolores Hicks to a complicated and colorful Chicago family, Mother Dolores has travelled a charmed yet challenging road in her journey toward God, serenity and, yes, love. She entered the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut, at the peak of her career, not in order to leave the glamorous world of acting she had dreamed of since childhood, but in order to answer a mysterious call she heard with the "ear of the heart". While contracted for another film and engaged to be married, she abandoned everything to become a bride of Christ.”

The sections in the book are:

Preface

Introduction

Part 1: The Road to Bethlehem

Part 2: In the Open

Acknowledgments

Photographs

I really enjoyed this volume. My only struggle was work and life was terribly busy when the book club was reading it and I finished over 3 weeks late. Combine that with a few days in bed when I blew out my knee and it made it hard to read in time. I am glad I stuck with it and finished. I found it easy to read and follow as I was reading.

The story is very moving. Her time in Hollywood and on stage in New York were much more positive experiences than many actors and actresses we hear about. Her constant seeking of truth and good is inspiring. Her willingness to give up a blooming movie career and follow God’s still small voice is moving. It is a long volume with sections written by Mother Dolores and Richard DeNeut. Sometimes the pieces jump back and forth in time, but it does try and tell the progression of the story. Her heroic struggles with her mother’s addiction, and attempts at manipulation are handled with care and gentleness. 

I have had a copy of this book from Formed for a few years. The title and cover caught my attention as soon as I encountered it. But it kept hovering around the middle of my ‘to0be-read’ pile. I am very thankful the book club decided on it and that I would my way through, even if not with the club.

This is a book that will inspire, encourage and challenge readers. Her life and witness had immense impact at the time she entered the convent, and continued to do so. This book just solidifies that history. It is a biography that I can easily recommend.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!