Contact With God by Father John Doe (Ralph Pfau) - 1959
Contact With God — Father John Doe (Father Ralph Pfau, 1959)
Published by The SMT Guild, Indianapolis
This is a 1959 first edition of Contact With God by Father John Doe — the pseudonym used by Father Ralph Pfau, one of Alcoholics Anonymous’s earliest and most beloved spiritual writers. A Catholic priest from Indianapolis, Pfau authored the famous “Golden Books” series and Sobriety and Beyond, which became staples in A.A. literature and among recovering alcoholics seeking spiritual depth.
In Contact With God, Father Pfau explores the heart of the Eleventh Step — improving one’s “conscious contact with God.” With his characteristic blend of humor, directness, and compassion, he guides readers through the practice of prayer, meditation, and spiritual awakening.
The book opens with his much-loved “Prayer Before Meditation,” and concludes with listings of his other published works and early RCA Victor recordings.
Collector’s Note:
Contact With God is among the rarest and least-known works issued under Father Pfau’s “Father John Doe” pseudonym. While titles such as Sobriety and Beyond and Sobriety Without End are widely recognized in A.A. circles, Contact With God was printed in much smaller quantities.
Because it was never reprinted and is seldom mentioned even among long-time A.A. members familiar with Pfau’s “Golden Books,” this booklet has become a highly sought-after and nearly forgotten piece of early A.A. spiritual literature. It represents a deeply personal extension of Pfau’s ministry — bridging Catholic devotion, early recovery spirituality, and the principles of the Twelve Steps at a time when such integration was groundbreaking.
Publication Details:
Copyright © 1959 by The S.M.T. Guild, Indianapolis
Imprimatur: Archbishop Paul C. Schulte, May 4, 1959
Softcover, 48 pages
Condition:
Very Good. Minimal wear overall. The felt-textured navy cover shows mild fading along the spine. Interior pages are clean and bright with light age toning. A pencil note on the front page correctly identifies the author as Fr. Ralph Pfau. Binding tight and square.
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