The Wonder of the Word: Musings and reflections on the Christian Faith
Fr Vincent is an Irish Carmelite priest who has served in various Carmelite communities in Ireland and England over the past 52 years. Fr Vincent who is originally a native of Calry, in Sligo, is at present a member of St Therese Community in Clarendon Street in Dublin.
His book, which has been published and printed by the Avila Carmelite Centre, was launched in Dublin on December 8th and in his native community in Calry on December 17th. The book is supported by a range of generous donors, including several Oireachtas members. All proceeds of the publication will go towards four schools in Kolkata, India, which Fr Vincent has been supporting over the past 30 years.
Vincent left his homeplace on the shores of Lough Gill when he was just 12 years of age to go for his secondary education at Castlemartyr
College in County Cork. He admits that he was sometimes lonely and missed his family but he says that he got a wonderful education and had a very happy experience in the community that he joined. Without a doubt he brought with him the home spun wisdom and deep Catholic faith that he inherited from his parents, Jack and Nora. It is also clear that he brought a great love for the people and places of his native parish.
His book contains 50 chapters of reflections, woven with poetry, Psalms, homilies and 82 stories from his years of priesthood. He speaks of the “great outdoors, richly nourishing his spirit and his prayer life over the years”.
This is a book that the reader will dip into and invariably, will find wisdom, a message or a quote that resonates or that fits at a point in time. Fr Vincent often quotes, “We all come into the world as originals and end up as copies”, he acknowledges that he is a hoarder, and has collected stories, quotes, and words of wisdom, over the years, acknowledging that much of our knowledge is borrowed from others and from their life experiences.
What shines through the publication is the author’s joy in communication.
Dr Marie Muray the Clinical Psychologist and author at UCD says: “The topics covered are astounding, not only in their range, their erudition, their tone and intent, but in how each one invites readers into personal consideration of the world in which we live, the manner in which we do so, our culture, our values, ethics and ideologies against the timeless backdrop of the word of God. This book is not just a text to be read. It is a biblical exegesis and a literary delight threaded throughout with a stunning compendium of phrase and fable, poetry, psalm, and the author’s own love of language through which his luminous faith shines bright. If ever a book demonstrated the power and the glory of words, The Wonder of the Word achieves that.
“You may begin anywhere in this book but you will always find wealth in the words. The book is an invitation to contemplate the wonder of the ‘Word’ in your own way. It is not dogmatic. You may dwell on a homily for a week or carry a psalm all day. The essays cannot be ranked because within any one of them you may find that which you did not even know you sought. This is the magic of this book because what you need finds you as if readers are divinely guided to read what they need: to ‘happen upon’ what their heart require – salves for life’s wounds and thirst-quenching resources in an uncertain world. You bring yourself to this book and make of it your own ‘to pacify the soul’.”
The book is available locally in the parish office at St. Anne’s Church, Sligo and from Theresa O’Boyle, 087 9731536.