He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith

Andrew Crabtree
2 min readFeb 21, 2024

The life-changing story of Walter J. Ciszek

He Leadeth Me is a deeply personal and inspiring true story written by Jesuit Father Walter J. Ciszek, along with Daniel L. Flaherty.

Faith by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash

The book is a must-read for anyone looking for inspiration on how to approach and find meaning in life in any situation. I don’t want to give away too much, so I have kept the summary brief:

  • Captured by a Russian army during World War II, Father Walter J. Ciszek was convicted of being a “Vatican spy.”
  • He endured twenty-three agonizing years in Soviet prisons and labour camps in Siberia.
  • Through unwavering faith and reliance on God’s will, he found courage in prayer, which eased his loneliness, pain, frustration, and despair.
  • Despite the harsh conditions, he accepted the inhuman work in Siberian salt mines as labour pleasing to God.
  • Spiritual contemplation provided him with inner serenity amidst the “arrogance of evil” surrounding him.
  • The book inspires all Christians to trust in God even during their darkest hours.
  • As Father Ciszek asks, “What can ultimately trouble the soul that accepts every moment of every day as a gift from the hands of God and strives always to do His will?”.

This extraordinary testament of faith serves as a beacon of hope and resilience, demonstrating the power of unwavering trust in God’s providence.

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Andrew Crabtree
Andrew Crabtree

Written by Andrew Crabtree

I write about what I'm currently geeking-out over. What I read, watch and listen to, as well as my experiences as a Dad, Husband and Nuclear Energy Consultant.

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