Sobriety Without End

Doe, Father John (Ralph S. Pfau). Sobriety Without End. Indianapolis: SMT Publishing Co., (1957). First edition, 8vo, [4] [4] 5-363 [1] pp. A fine copy in its original jacket that has some sunning to its extremities and spine. Signed by the author on front free endpaper, "Sincerely Father Pfau." Father Ralph S. Pfau (1904-1967), better known in AA circles as "Father John Doe," was a pioneering Roman Catholic priest and one of the most influential early figures in Alcoholics Anonymous. He is widely recognized as the first Roman Catholic priest to get sober in AA (joining in 1943). Ordained in 1929 after studying at St. Meinrad Seminary, Pfau struggled with alcoholism shortly after entering the priesthood. Over about a decade, his drinking led to multiple removals from parishes and several nervous breakdowns requiring hospitalization. On his 39th birthday (November 10, 1943), he reached out to AA in Indianapolis after borrowing a copy of the Big Book from a parishioner's home. He achieved lasting sobriety from that point onward, despite ongoing challenges with depression. Pfau became a major bridge between AA and the Catholic community at a time when many clergy and parishioners were wary of the program. He authored numerous influential books under the pseudonym Father John Doe, including the popular Golden Books series (14 short booklets on spiritual topics, character defects, and recovery principles), Sobriety and Beyond, Sobriety Without End, and others. These works explored the spiritual roots of the 12 Steps and helped make AA more accessible to Catholics.…