Page 8 The Sower
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tevens's latest letter was to actor Ralph Macchio of
"The Karate Kid" fame. Stevens wants to talk
Macchio into playing the life of St. Aloyisius
Gonzaga, a young Renaissance prince who gave up
his title and fortune to become a Jesuit priest. Stevens is
working on a book about Ganzaga and wants to get Franco
Zeffirelli to direct the film. He wants Macchio because of
his Italian look and Zeffirelli because he directed "Romeo
and Juliet" and "Jesus of Nazareth." Ganzaga's life would
make a superb story, Stevens says, because of a conflict
between two brothers; one who was a saint and one who
was a scoundrel.
"Renaissance court life was more disgraceful than
anything that has ever happened on Dallas," Stevens says
chuckling.
Stevens also dreams of having a Catholic TV network
modeled after the Public Broadcasting Co. Not the kind of
show that evangelizes, he stresses, but for Catholic
education, historical programs, talk shows and drama. And
if the monastery was still in its beginning stage when the
next shuttle is launched, he would like to be the first priest
on the moon. After last year's shuttle tragedy, Stevens
says, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is
going to need a chaplain on the next shuttle.
"Imagine the first mass from space," he says wistfully.
"I could chant Gregorian chants from space."
And so if Tintern were to fail, Stevens would not
despair. He won't see it asli failure but as a beginning.
"When the advantages of success far outweigh the
disadvantages, one is a fool not to try," he says.
If the monastery doesn't pan out, Stevens says, and then
quickly adds, "even though it won't," it will not have been
in vain.
"What would I have lost?" Stevens chirps. "Absolutely
nothing. I go back to parish work. Somebody has got to
try.
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Mark Davis
Eric Gregory ' ,
Katherine Policky
Andrea Hoy