Martin Scorsese, Priest of the Silver Screen
Since childhood, Martin Scorsese dreamed of becoming a priest. To him, the priesthood was more admirable than even the presidency of the United States.
Early Years in Little Italy
In 1953, 11-year-old Scorsese lived in a small apartment in New York City's Little Italy with his parents and older brother. His uncle lived in the same building, and his grandparents were nearby. Despite this close-knit family environment, the surrounding streets were harsh and intimidating.
The Lower East Side was filled with tough characters—loan sharks, swindlers, and roughnecks who guarded their corners, shared stories, and occasionally resorted to violence.
“I lived a life apart,” he later recalled. “I felt separate from everyone else.”
Scorsese rarely ventured outside due to severe asthma, spending much time observing the world from his bedroom window and absorbing every detail.
Religious Upbringing and Education
His Catholic parents, steeped in old-world traditions, encouraged him to receive a religious education. He attended St Patrick’s Old Cathedral school on Mulberry Street, where they urged him, “Go around the corner, go to school.” It was there that he discovered his true calling in life.
“Go around the corner, go to school,” they told him.
Though he once aspired to serve God from the pulpit, Scorsese ultimately practiced his faith through his work as a filmmaker, becoming a spiritual guide on the silver screen.
Summary: Martin Scorsese's early desire to be a priest transformed into a lifelong devotion expressed through his remarkable filmmaking rooted in faith and observation.