February 1st, the feast of Imbolg in the old Celtic year, marked the beginning of spring. It was Christianised and adapted as the feast of St Brigid and many rituals still associated with the feast are best understood in the light of their pagan Celtic origins. After a Foreword on [...]

Missionary work in Ireland, a land of veritable barbarians, was far from easy for Patrick.

Desmond Forristal gives a lively account of the life of Oliver Plunkett from young priest in Rome through his travels to Ireland. We follow him through his ministry as archbishop, the disguises he adopted, his experience as a fugitive, his imprisonment in Dublin, his trial in London and final execution [...]

When Irish Christians are captured and enslaved by a British chieftain, Coroticus, also a Christian, Patrick asserts the full power of his episcopacy to condemn this heinous act.

Bernard Cotter OP gives us very brief accounts of some of our favourite saints. Saints give us hope. They’ve known raw fear and terrible worry. Some have done bad things and been hard to live with. This book will amuse and encourage you.

Patrick’s self-giving was total, and it bore immediate fruit in the many Irish men and women who entered consecrated life as a consequence of his mission.

Robert Ellsberg’s book is a collection of women saints whose lives and spiritual gifts down through the ages are recounted with respect and with depth. By briefly looking at their lives, it makes a serious contribution to the newly emerging consciousness of the full equality of women in the Church, [...]

Although he acknowledges the risk of commercialisation, Father Paul Andrews SJ is sure there is a real place for images, symbols and popular devotions in all true spirituality.

This book is a selection of extracts from the letters of Mary Aikenhead – one for every day of the year – containing wisdom inspiration and challenge, reflecting her deep spirituality. She founded the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1815 to work with the poor and most vulnerable people.

Archbishop of Dublin during the takeover of Ireland by the Normans and King Henry II, his efforts in the peace process and his frustration with King Henry probably caused his early death. Highly honoured at Eu in Normandy, France, where he died. Kevin Doran, parish priest of Glendalough, tells his [...]

The Passionist Fathers have put together nine meditations which were give during the Novena of Hope in the Church of St Paul of the Cross. They commemorate the life and spirit of the man who by his simple holiness captivated the people who came to the same church during his [...]

Edith Stein was canonised on October 11th 1998. She was a Jew who studied philosophy and then became an atheist, but through the example of the deep faith of a Protestant widow and her own reading of St Teresa of Avila, she became a Carmelite nun. At Auschwitz she was [...]

This book is a real effort to distinguish between the problems and perspectives of the hagiographer on the one hand and the historian on the other. Thomas O’Loughlin’s book tries to get the best value from both.

Henry Peel OP traces the life of Fr Peter Higgins, a Dominican priest who was martyred in Dublin in 1642, during the days of the penal laws.

This biography of Saint Charles of Mount Argus gives us some ideas of the inner struggles through which he learned the compassion for which he became so famous. It is high quality hagiography, contains some beautiful illustrations and the accounts of the miracles that led to his canonisation.

Pier Giorgio Frassati lived for only twenty four years. Yet his life was so full of love for the poor that when he died the poor of Turin all flocked to his home to touch him like a relic. John Murray traces his life.

This is an edition and translation of the 10th century Middle Irish text “The Birth and Life of St Moling” (“Geinemain Moiling ocus a Bhetae”) with analysis and commentary by Presentation Sister and Irish scholar Máire B. de Paor. In approaching this work she warns against looking for objective historical [...]

He is the Franciscan priest whom Pope Benedict canonised during his visit to Brazil.

Cardinal Newman may be declared “blessed” later this year. But it is difficult to know who he was and what he stood for. Newman preached on some of the controversial issues that still divide Christians. Roderick Strange, Rector of the Pontifical Beda College, Rome, introduces us to the man and [...]