Monday, December 10, 2007

Cardinal Brady’s Christmas reading

Cardinal Séan Brady has told The Irish Catholic that his book choice this Christmas is Chiara Lubich’s Essential Writings.

Last weekend, in one of his first official functions as Cardinal, he launched the book at the Methodist College, Edgehill, in Belfast.

The large attendance included many members of the mainline churches including Revs Brian Fletcher and John Murrow (both former presidents of the Methodist Conference) and Dr. David Stevens of the Corrymeela community.

Cardinal Daly was also present at the event, and Cardinal Brady paid tribute to him for his contribution to the peace process.

Others in attendance included Bishop Anthony Farquhar, Mr. Mark Durkan and Fr. Oliver Crilly.

The Cardinal recalled meeting Chiara Lubich during synods in Rome at which she spoke and also during her visit to Ireland in 2004. And he commented on the timeliness of the spirituality of unity that she promotes because "ours is an era of unity and inter-dependence".

Referring back to the birth of the Focolare movement during the Second World War with a rediscovery of the Gospel, the Cardinal stressed to need to focus on the "one essential Good News" of the Gospel.

Rev. Calan Slipper, a focolarino and a Church of England priest, representing Focolare's New City publishing company, pointed to one of the central themes of Focolare spirituality, the presence of Risen Jesus in the midst of those gathered in his name through mutual love.

It is a presence intimately linked to the mystery of Jesus Crucified and Forsaken, recognised and loved in each division we meet, he said, leading to a new culture that enters into all walks of society from business to law, from politics to psychology.

At the end of the launch, which was marked by a tremendous joy, Cardinal Brady sat and signed copies of Chiara Lubich’s Essential Writings for about an hour.

Chiara Lubich’s Essential Writings is available from Veritas.
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