The Augustinian Friars in Britain
Our Hearts are Restless until they Rest in You, Lord
Augustinians in Print
‘Do We Still Need St Paul?’
By Kieran O’Mahony OSA
published by Veritas, €15.95 (£13.56).
Dr Kieran O’Mahony is an Augustinian and a Scripture scholar, head of the Department of Scripture at the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Dublin. His research interest is St Paul. Kieran is also involved in the pastoral presentation and use of Scripture.
Editorial Review
To answer the provocative question asked in the title of this book, Scripture scholar Father Kieran O’Mahony has researched St Paul’s background and his relevance for today. Putting flesh and bones on the icon that Paul has become, he reveals a rounded personality with recognizable human flaws. ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible.’ So said the people of Corinth about their Apostle 2000 years ago! (2 Cor 10:10)
Even so, through this fresh reading of Paul, Father O’Mahony’s aim is to develop our understanding of what the death and resurrection of Jesus means for us. He writes convincingly of the need to find an evolving model of redemption: a faithful God who is functionally alongside those we allow to be marginalized, those, like Jesus, ‘outside the city‘ and figuratively ‘crucified.’
He notes that while the Catholic Church offers a timeless wisdom we have no narrative of salvation which speaks our language to the concerns of our time. The book takes an accessible look at Paul’s mindset, his writing style and the organization of his arguments. When writing and preaching, Paul took careful note of the culture of his time in relation to religious, philosophical and political systems, and of popular patterns of speech. He emerges as a man of warmth, sensitive to his hearers and aware of their intelligence, their integrity and their authenticity. We discover the similarity between our journey of life and faith today and Paul’s encounter with Jesus and transformation.
With Paul’s responsive style as our benchmark, Father O’Mahony asks what would be different in the church and the world if we also were to interpret our very different culture in such a way as to make Gospel wisdom more user-friendly today.
- Kate Berrance. Reality magazine, November 2009 (taken from Veritas website)
‘The Gospel Makes Sense’
By Bernard O’Connor OSA
published by UKUnpublished RRP £8.99
(now at the printer and available soon)
A synopsis of the preface, quoted on the back cover of the book describes its purpose:
It is aimed at those who are vaguely interested in religion even in the broadest sense of the word, but who have been alienated by a bad experience or inaccurate teaching.
A lifetime of pastoral experience in different circumstances has given the author an appreciation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The spirit of his teaching, his interaction with people, everything about his personality is so inspiring, so beautiful, so positive.
The book deals with a few fundamental topics, but in no way are the subjects exhausted. It is hoped that these brief essays might open doors for those for whom they have been slammed shut and may stimulate them to investigate further.
The chapter headings are:
Preface
Religion
God
Jesus
The Gospel Makes Sense
The Church
Ritual
The Bible
Sex and Sexuality
Freedom
Difficult Questions: Contraception, In Vitro Fertilisation, Homosexuality, Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life, Suffering
How to Order:
Recommended Retail Price: £8.99 per copy.
Available to you if ordered direct :
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Europe: £8.49 per copy, including p&p.
Elsewhere: £9.99 per copy, including p&p.
10 copies or more:
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Elsewhere: £5.00 per copy plus £21 for p&p
Please make the cheque payable to UKUpublished and send the order to
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or online: www.ukunpublished.co.uk