“What in the world does the title of new book 23-1/2 Degrees Away from God mean?” a reader might ask. Why that precise measurement? The book’s subtitle offers a hint: Returning to the Light.

Father James “Jim” Sullivan, the author, explains that science “tells us that the Earth tilts 23-1/2 half degrees on its axis away from the sun on December 21,” the year’s darkness day with the least amount of light. Our own “experience of weak and fallen human nature” tells us the human person, because of original sin, to some degree “also ‘tilts’ away from the Light, that Light, of course, being God.”

In amazingly colorful yet simple ways, with lots of memorable examples, Father Sullivan shows how everyone can tilt their degrees back toward that Light.

The many life-giving lessons are built on true-life examples. Several have to do with Father Sullivan’s personal experiences and his own family life, beginning when his father was growing up in Ireland before emigrating to America.

“Life at that time — on the farm and in the cities — was a life of faith in Jesus. Faith was in the air in the very life and breath of society,” writes the author. “It was an unusual person who did not practice a life of faith.” His father would vividly recall “walking eight miles on a cool summer evening, and from open windows hearing from house after house people praying the Rosary. ... [I]t was natural for families to pray the Rosary nightly together as regular as the rising sun.” Their “tilt” was rightly directed.

The stories pick up in Waterbury, Connecticut, where Father Sullivan grew up and where he now serves as rector of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. These are not mere nostalgic reminiscences, but real homey events that offer timeless lessons. Each becomes an excellent example of what both individuals and families can do to strengthen and grow in their faith.

One especially memorable event recalls his father leading the family to Sunday Mass, walking to church through a deep, unplowed snowfall. That example and paternal leadership was a positive lesson in strong faith that echoed with the family for years to come, as Father Sullivan emphasizes more than once. Once in church, the author recalls seeing his father there and how important it was to him, as from his 12-year-old heart “came an earnest prayer to God, asking that He be important to me too.” Father Sullivan recalls, “God answered that prayer.”

Incidents like this echo throughout, including insights and stories from the days he was in business with his brother before entering the priesthood, highlighting manual labor, in the steps of St. Joseph. His insights show how “working hard is both noble and virtuous.” These tales are easy to relate to, with each offering a spiritual lesson.

No matter the time and place, these incidents and examples show there can be blizzards of blessings that continue in various ways during life, both from seeing the right example and giving it.

Speaking about families, he reminds that children, he explains, “want to see God in their parents, and in a particular way, in their fathers.” Then the “axis of humanity that tends to tilt away from God will again turn toward the Light, and families and societies will blossom.”

Father Sullivan has both a conversational tone that quickly tell readers everything is definitely coming from the heart, plus a down-to-earth, Book of Wisdom way of dealing with aspects of life. Speaking about career choices, he notes how they can begin with random, teenage part-time jobs. “Everything in life starts small. Nothing starts big,” he writes. “They were small, but huge, ultimately, like the pivotal moments of life are rarely recognized immediately.”

An early one for him was starting a home contracting business with his brother. In a sense, it inspired the chapter on trades and manual labor in the steps of St. Joseph. His insights show how “working hard is both noble and virtuous.” Some stories from his contracting days are humorous, easy to relate to, and have a spiritual lesson. Whether here or elsewhere, at the proper moment a verse from Scripture pops up to add emphasis and spiritual understanding.

Proper enthusiasm for the faith and great joy permeate these chapters to show how to minimize or eliminate that tilting away from the true Light. “What makes faith attractive is when it is lived authentically by normal everyday working people who are filled with joy,” Father Sullivan explains. “We all desire happiness, and when we see it lived and expressed in another person, we begin to say to ourselves, I want what she has, or, What is it that makes him so happy?”

Those who know him see that he is an example of such joy. That is exactly what comes clearly through — a joyful faith that tilts directly toward the Light, the Son.

At the same time, everything comes from the heart beautifully in this book. That includes seeing realistically what needs to be done if people change the angle of the “tilt.” If the world is going to convert back to Christ, “society’s attitude toward ... marriage, family, human sexuality ... must drastically change.”

Among the other gems: how to correct someone with real “fraternal charity.” Speaking of fraternal charity, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly of the Knights of Columbus highly endorses this book.

Hope finds a home in these pages, too.

“We pray for the gift Divine hope that the world tilts toward the Lord and comes to a knowledge and love of God and of His Son Jesus Christ, of the Savior of the world,” Father Sullivan explains. “With Divine hope the future is not a life tilted away from God, but one that faces him, and allows us, by grace, to be drawn into his merciful light and love.”

From any angle, this book will surely help right any tilt.

23-1/2 Degrees Away from God

Returning to the Light

By Father James Sullivan

Highbury Press

169 pages, $22.95

To order: EWTNRC.com (Item: 70719) or call (800) 854-6316