The Proving Grounds: A Catholic on Ladder 17

Maura Gentry reviews an inspiring memoir by a Catholic firefighter.

The Proving Grounds: A Catholic on Ladder 17

By Benjamin O'Brien
Published by Ignatius Press

I never would have imagined that I would relate to a firefighter’s experience. As a stay-at-home mom and writer, my life looks far different from the long shifts of answering dispatch calls, training, and bunkroom banter. But as I read Benjamin O’Brien’s The Proving Grounds, I found inspiration in the unfamiliar and consolation in more than a few shared experiences.  

Throughout his career as a fireman, O’Brien faces not only a wide array of emergency situations, but also a colorful cast of characters within the firehouse. As the reader learns about the difficult situations he encounters, it becomes clear that it is a testament to his faith that his right-ordered morality and even his belief in God is intact after years of adversity. 

It’s not all trial, though. O’Brien also shares the joys of firehouse life: the camaraderie, the satisfaction in making a difference, and the food. When the hustle and bustle slow down, it’s obvious that the men care about each other and the people they serve.   

Just Around the Corner   

One of the most impactful quotes for me personally comes from a veteran fireman on one of O’Brien’s first dispatch calls. “Don’t get attached; the next call is just around the corner,” he shares.   

I can only imagine how easy it would be to get caught up in the story of everyone you help in such a high-stakes job. As I thought about this idea more, though, I found that it held profound advice for me as a mom, too. As a first-time toddler mom, I can feel my capacity stretching (and snapping) nearly every day. How incredibly easy it is to get caught up in our children’s emotions, or the emotions of those we are trying to help, whether in first responder situations or volunteering at the parish office.   

There is a simplicity in the idea of rising above the emotional temperature of the situation, but it can feel impossible when we are enmeshed in it. Again and again, the author shares how he chose to apply this advice in his work and in his home life.   

A Story with Universal Application  

The Proving Grounds is not just an inspirational tale, though it is certainly that. It is a well-written, thoughtful, and at times fast-paced memoir about life as a Catholic in the firehouse. O’Brien writes in an easy, conversational style that lent well to the stories he was sharing.   

I think this book would make an excellent gift for the men in your life, especially young men. It is so important for us to have good examples of men standing up for what we believe in secular settings. His story is also a testament to the power of authentic masculinity, as he leads his family and even some of his coworkers through trying situations.   

I have to admit, like I did at the beginning, that I was unsure of how relatable I would find O’Brien’s memoir. In fact, I asked to review it because I thought it would be so fun to review a book for CatholicMom.com that on the surface could be seen as aimed at a completely different audience. I was so pleasantly surprised by how deeply I connected with the difficulties of his everyday work as a firefighter.   

There’s a beautiful scene in the middle of the book in which the author captures the essence of his experience as a fireman through an interaction with a coworker. The coworker had been controlling and at times abusive, but O’Brien chooses to open his heart to this man’s story, rather than be jaded by their interactions.

I knew I would never be like him, but I could understand him, for I had carried for a short while a burden like the one he had carried his whole life. His had made him into something hard. I knew I would make a different choice. 

The Proving Grounds makes the powerful point that it’s the choices we make that define us, not the experiences we are handed.  

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Copyright 2025 Maura Gentry
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