Carmen Ariza

"Carmen Ariza" by Charles Francis Stocking is a story about a young priest named Josè de Rincón working in Cartagena. Josè finds himself wrestling with feelings of sadness and doubt with the Church's teachings. Torn between his duties and a hunger for deeper faith, especially as he reflects on Christ’s lessons, the novel explores Josè's inner thoughts and sets the scene for a tough journey. He must choose between staying loyal to his family's traditions and following his heart toward truth and staying honest to himself, which hints at bigger problems he will face.