2828 California's Reluctant Prelate: The Life and Times of Right Reverend Thaddeus Amat, C.M. (1811-1878), by Rev. Francis J. Weber (read 23 Jan 1996) Amat was born in Barcelona, Spain, Dec 31, 1811, was ordained in Paris Dec 23, 1837, arrived in the US Oct 20, 1838, was consecrated bishop Mar 12, 1854, in Rome, and was bishop of Monterey (in 1859 the title of the diocese was changed to Monterey and Los Angeles) till he died May 12, 1878. This book had good things about it, but it hops around some chronologically. Amat talked quite a bit at the Vatican Council, and did some good there. He was an inopportunist--Weber says most American bishops were--and all in all I believe he was a good bishop, though he was probably a stubborn man. Not a bad book. ( )