It’s the birthday of author and former Jesuit priest John L’Heureux (b. 1934), many of whose short stories and novels explore themes of divine intervention (or interference), sanctification, and the miraculous in ordinary human lives.

L’Heureux was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts, to an engineer and a secretary, the second of two children. He trained as an actor, studied at Holy Cross College for two years, and then became a Jesuit novice in 1954. In those days, Latin was the required language for all conversation and all classes in the novitiate, and L’Heureux considers that he had “an enviable classical education.” (L’Heureux drew heavily on his first difficult year as a novice in his New Yorker story, “The Long Black Line,” May 21, 2018.) L’Heureux continued as a Jesuit for 17 years, during which time he was an editor at The Atlantic.

In 1970, L’Heureux requested laicization. (Laicization: to change to lay status; to free from ecclesiastical control. Ten life points for anyone who uses this word meaningfully in a conversation today. Saying, “I learned the word ‘laicization’ today,” does not count.) He wished to leave the priesthood because he wanted to make his own decisions, without guilt. His request was granted in 1971. L’Heureux then married Joan Polston, with Rome’s blessing, and they continue to be practicing Catholics, though he adds, “I’m practicing, but I’m not getting any better at it.” (Ba da BOOM.)

After leaving the Jesuits, L’Heureux taught writing and literature at Georgetown University, Tufts, Harvard, and (for over 35 years) Stanford. He’s published more than 20 books of fiction and poetry, including his latest novel, The Medici Boy (2014), about the great Italian sculptor, Donatello (not the eponymous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle; geez, I’m embarrassed you would even bring that up). He has also completed a novel, Lies, to be published posthumously.

L’Heureux’s most recent New Yorker short story, “The Rise and Rise of Annie Clark” (Oct. 8, 2018), is set in 1950 and tells the story of a devout and annoying woman who longs for some sort of sign from God (and some sort of relief from her family). She annoys her horrible children, she annoys her sister, she annoys the priest, and one can only imagine what God thinks—but one sort of finds out, near the end. Everyone should drop everything and read the entire story right here. It’s very funny.

Have a fine Friday, laicize or churchify as necessary, and stay scrupulously honest to the data.