Grace Thompson
I assume you are referring to the character Roberto in Donna Jo Napoli's 1997 novel 'Stones in Water'. The novel is set during World War II and follows two Italian boys, one of whom is Jewish, who are sent to a work camp. In the novel, Roberto and his friends Sergio and Memo help their Jewish friend Samuele hide his identity by removing his Star of David band and giving him a more Catholic-sounding name. It is not clear whether Roberto himself is Catholic, but given that he is Italian and that he helps his Jewish friend evade the Nazis, it is likely that he is.
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What You'll Learn
Archbishop Robert Casey's inauguration homily
Archbishop Casey's narrative choice carried a deeper meaning, alluding to the biblical figure of St. Peter the Apostle. Despite his imperfections, including denying Jesus and fleeing from the crucifixion, St. Peter rose like a "living stone," refocusing his faith on the Savior. This image of transformation and resilience resonated with Archbishop Casey's own journey, encouraging a congregation facing various challenges.
The new Archbishop, with his youth, vigor, and humble discipleship, embodies the hope that, with Jesus as the cornerstone, we can swim confidently into the depths of faithful discipleship. His episcopal motto, "Into Your Hands," reflects a deep trust in God's plan, echoing the words of Jesus on the cross and the nightly prayers of the faithful worldwide.
Archbishop Casey's homily served as a powerful reminder of the potential for personal growth and spiritual elevation within the community. Through his words, he wove together biblical imagery and personal experience, providing a message of encouragement and unity as he embarked on his ministry in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. His appointment as the Tenth Archbishop of Cincinnati, announced by Pope Francis on February 12, 2025, marked a new chapter in the Archdiocese's history.
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Archbishop Robert Casey's metaphor for discipleship
In his homily during his installation as the 10th Archbishop of Cincinnati, Archbishop Robert Casey drew upon the legacy of St. Peter the Apostle and his own growth in discipleship. Casey recounted a childhood anecdote of learning how to swim. He described how, despite his initial struggles and sinking "like a rock", he eventually learned to swim and make his way to the deep end of the pool. This experience served as a metaphor for his spiritual journey and growth in discipleship with Christ.
Archbishop Casey's metaphor highlights the idea of gradual progress and transformation. By drawing a parallel between his swimming lessons and spiritual development, he emphasizes that discipleship is a journey of continuous learning and growth. It involves facing challenges, overcoming obstacles, and persevering even in the face of setbacks or difficulties.
The choice of St. Peter as a reference point is significant. Despite his imperfections and denials of Christ, St. Peter ultimately rose to become a cornerstone of the Christian faith, as indicated by the name "Peter," derived from the Greek word for "stone." This aspect of St. Peter's story aligns with Casey's metaphor, as both narratives emphasize the potential for growth, transformation, and a renewed focus on one's spiritual path.
Archbishop Casey's metaphor for discipleship serves as a reminder that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. By sharing his personal experience and connecting it to biblical narratives, he offers encouragement and inspiration to others on their own spiritual paths. This metaphor also underscores the importance of resilience, perseverance, and a continued focus on one's faith, even during times of struggle or uncertainty.
Overall, Archbishop Robert Casey's metaphor of learning to swim as a boy reflects his understanding of discipleship as a process of gradual transformation and deepening one's relationship with Christ. By invoking the story of St. Peter, he emphasizes the potential for personal growth and the significance of remaining steadfast on one's spiritual journey, even amid challenges and imperfections.
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'Stones in Water' by Donna Jo Napoli
Stones in Water is a 1997 young adult novel written by Donna Jo Napoli. It is set during World War II and revolves around two Italian boys, one of whom is Jewish, who are sent to a work camp. The novel follows their struggle for survival, as they work to conceal the Jewish boy's ethnicity. Ultimately, one boy perishes, while the other manages to escape. The story commences with Memo, a young Venetian, inviting his friend Roberto to watch an American Western movie. Their Jewish companion, Samuele, is also invited and joins them.
As the three friends make their way to the movie theater, they are cautious not to arouse suspicion due to Samuele's Jewish identity. To enhance their disguise, Sergio, another companion, removes Samuele's Star of David band. They decide to divide themselves into two groups to further reduce the risk of drawing attention. One group consists of Memo and Roberto, while the other includes Sergio and Samuele.
Upon arriving at the theater, the boys settle in to watch the movie. However, their peaceful outing is abruptly interrupted when the Nazi army storms the theater. The movie goers, including the boys, are separated into different groups based on age and loaded onto trains heading north, their destination unknown. During the journey, Samuele, Memo, and Roberto take advantage of a stop to escape the train and use the bathroom. It is here that Samuele reveals his plan to leave the train, an idea that Memo believes is risky. Roberto, concerned for his friend's safety, points out that if anyone discovers Samuele's circumcision, his Jewish identity will be exposed, breaking the law.
To protect their friend, the boys decide to give Samuele a nickname, Enzo, hoping that it will sound more Catholic and less conspicuous. As the train continues its journey, it collects more Italian boys, all speculating about their unknown destination. Despite the challenges and dangers that lie ahead, the boys remain determined to survive and protect each other, especially Samuele, whose life hangs in the balance due to his Jewish heritage.
Stones in Water explores themes of friendship, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity. It received critical acclaim, with Publishers Weekly describing it as a "gripping" and "meticulously researched book." The novel also won the Golden Kite Award for fiction and the Sydney Taylor Book Award for older readers in 1998.
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The biblical meaning of water from the stone
In the Bible, it is said that the Israelites miraculously received water from a rock on two separate occasions (Exodus 17:1–7 and Numbers 20:1–14). Both times, Moses struck the rock, which then produced water. However, the text does not mention that the Israelites were followed by a water-giving rock. This has led to some interpretations that the rock is symbolic of Jesus, who is also referred to as the "Cornerstone".
In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul mentions a "spiritual rock" that followed the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. This has been interpreted by some, such as John Byron, as referring to the rock that Moses struck, and by others, such as in Pseudo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities, as a separate source of water that followed the Israelites.
Archbishop Casey, in his inauguration homily, drew upon the story of St. Peter, who, like a rock that sinks, denied Jesus and fled from the crucifixion. Through his growth in discipleship, St. Peter rose to become a "living stone", walking towards Jesus. This story serves as a metaphor for Archbishop Casey's own spiritual journey and a reminder that, with Jesus as the cornerstone, we can rise above our challenges and "swim confidently into the depths of faithful discipleship".
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Robert Stone, the novelist
Robert Anthony Stone was an American novelist, journalist, and college professor. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 21, 1937, to Homer Stone, who worked for the New Haven Railroad, and Gladys Grant, a teacher. Stone's parents separated when he was an infant, and he spent much of his early life in Catholic institutions, including a Catholic orphanage and a Catholic boarding school. Despite dropping out of high school, Stone pursued a career in writing and journalism, joining the Navy as a journalist at the age of 17. During his time in the Navy, he travelled to many places, including Antarctica and Egypt, and his experiences in pre-Castro Havana, Cuba, had a significant impact on his future writing.
After leaving the Navy in 1958, Stone enrolled at New York University but soon dropped out. He worked as a copy boy at the New York Daily News and began writing and reading poetry, catching the tail-end of the beat scene in Greenwich Village. In 1959, he married Janice G. Burr, and the couple moved to New Orleans, where they worked odd jobs and had a daughter, Deidre.
Stone's first novel, "A Hall of Mirrors," was published in 1967 and won both a Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship and a William Faulkner Foundation Award for best first novel. He went on to publish eight novels in total, including "Dog Soldiers," which won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1975, and "A Flag for Sunrise," inspired by a trip to Central America. Stone's works often engaged with religion, particularly Catholicism, and the darkness and magnetism of the Catholic Church.
In addition to his writing career, Stone taught creative writing at various universities across the United States, including Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, and Texas State University. He was a heavy smoker and suffered from severe emphysema later in life, passing away from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on January 10, 2015, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 77. He was survived by his wife of 55 years, Janice, and their two adult children, Deirdre and Ian.
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Frequently asked questions
Robert is one of the two Italian boys in the 1997 young adult novel "Stones in Water" by Donna Jo Napoli.
Robert is not explicitly referred to as Catholic in the novel "Stones in Water". However, he and his friends go to watch an American Western movie in a movie theater, where they are caught by the Nazi army.
"Stones in Water" tells the story of two Italian boys, one of whom is Jewish, who are sent to a work camp during World War II. The novel chronicles their struggle to survive, hide the Jewish boy's ethnicity, and eventually escape.
There is a famous Catholic named Robert G. Casey, who is the Archbishop of Cincinnati.
