This book by Pope Francis is published by a ‘mainstream’ publishing company and thus reaches a wider audience than would be usual for a papal publication. Joe Humphreys writing in The Irish Times ends his review with the words “If it helps, the Pope gets four stars from me!” 

 

Yet again Pope Francis reveals himself to be a very loving and genuine human being with a desire to share his experience of the hope and joy that the Gospel has brought to his life and ministry. We appreciate how the Pope’s own hope and joy were nurtured by the influences of his grandmother; the nun who helped him to find meaning in his own suffering; and of course the strong Ignatian influence that has shaped his spirituality as a Jesuit and now continues to shape the Church in a remarkable way.

 

This book outlines how this hope and joy can truly transform one’s life. The liberating and transformative revolution of the Gospel is encapsulated in its nine sections that contain very brief and accessible vignettes across the themes of: Change and Rebirth, The Dream of Beauty, Why God is Joyful, Freedom from Sadness, Joy has the Final Word, Ask the Right Questions and You will Find the Answers, Be Hope, The Gift Of A Smile, My Prayers. They are a treasure of insights that you can dip into at any time. It is not meant to be read like a novel, each reflection is only two to three paragraphs in length. It has plenty of stopping points to ruminate on. They offer us a road map on how to usher in hope and joy in the midst of some very trying situations such as poverty, the lack of peace, and the threat to the environment.

 

In a world still recovering from the pandemic the Pope has given the reader a book to discover hope and meaning. We are not supposed to carry burdens heavier than we already have, but to bear witness to a new, beautiful and surprising horizon – to share a joy that has been prepared for everyone. He gives some helpful direction in finding this joy and sharing it. Prayer and discernment are vital to him.

 

This book gives us a clear view of how the papacy of Francis offers a newness, a transforming renewal in living out the Gospel. His style and manner is conspicuously down to earth and straightforward and with a good dose of his characteristic good humour. “Christian Joy is generally accompanied by a sense of humour.” (P. 93) He tells a very funny story about the woman in Buenos Aires who told him that if he ever became Pope in the Vatican, he should get a small dog as a food tester! He also gives the reader an insight into the wisdom of his grandmother, the generous dispenser of good advice: “She, who was certainly no theologian, always told us children that the devil enters our lives through our pockets. And she was right.” (P. 182)

 

I was deeply moved and challenged by the Pope’s frequent references to how the gift of joy and hope is discovered in a personal encounter with Jesus and in being open to his continuing presence in one’s life. It is then that one is able to go out and sow the seeds of hope, “Faced with the pressure of events and trends, we would never be able to find the right path on our own.… And this is where the invitation from the Lord Jesus comes in.… He asks us if we want to travel with him on the journey, not to exploit us, not to make slaves of us, but to free us. Only together with Jesus, by praying to Him and following Him, do we find clarity of vision and the strength to move forward.” (P. 69)

 

Francis is the spiritual director par excellence who evokes deep responses because he shares so personally and directly from the depths of his heart, from a lifetime of self-reflection and work on himself. “I invite each of you to feel engaged not only in an external commitment towards others but also as a personal task within yourselves: let us think of our conversion. This is the only justice that generates justice.” (P. 136)

 

He also challenges the reader to hope without pessimism or doubt, to hope even in the midst of anxiety, to recognise the beauty all around us, and to let God show us how to deal with doubt and fear because: “God came to us to free us from the slavery of sin; He set his tent in our midst in order to share our existence, to heal our lesions, to bind our wounds, and give us new life. Joy is the fruit of this intervention of God’s salvation and love.” (P.131)

 

This book reveals a man of God who is seeking to touch human hearts with the Gospel message of hope and joy. We cannot live without it. I will be often dipping into this book to help myself and others become Missionary Disciples of hope and joy. Joe Humphreys was certainly on to something in his column, and it definitely get five stars from me!

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A Gift of Joy and Hope by Pope Francis (Translated by Oonagh Stransky) Published by Hodder & Stoughton 2022

Available in bookshops and online. 

Travelling on Titanic with Father Browne is a very appropriate title for this book celebrating the 110th anniversary of the sinking of the ship on 15th April 1912. The pictures and written sources enable the reader to re-imagine the journey of Frank Browne from Southampton to Cherbourg and Cobh/Queenstown before the great ship, which was said to be practically unsinkable, set sail for America. The acknowledgements at the beginning of the book show that the author E E O’Donnell SJ has been thorough in his research having visited museums, people and places relevant to the story both in Ireland and the USA. 

 

The book will have great appeal to the visual learner and the photos are accompanied by concise detail in script enhancing the historical settings and background. The images appeared in newspapers around the world and after the 1912 disaster they became the collective memory of the tragic event. They reveal real people embarking and disembarking from tenders and ships as well as passengers of different classes and dress styles. Fr Browne was a keen observer of people as some of the best photographs illustrate.

 

Browne’s early life and career are well documented. He was a clerical student at the Jesuit Milltown Institute in Dublin in 1912 and had received a present of a camera from his uncle who was Bishop of Cloyne. The author explains that the Bishop was a father figure to Frank who lost his mother after birth and his father in a drowning accident when he was a teenager. The Bishop’s residence at Queenstown ensured Frank’s links with the sea port and with ships. The second gift was a ticket to sail on the voyage of Titanic on Deck A, first class, room A37, disembarking at Cobh. The reader can discern that Browne was a good people person, naming many in the pictures and it doesn’t come as a surprise to discover that he was offered a ticket by rich American passengers to travel across the Atlantic with them. However, when he sought permission from his Provincial the curt reply was “Get off that ship.” This is one of many ironies revealed in the book which adds to the fascination surrounding Titanic.

 

This publication is enhanced by the Foreword of Dr Robert D Ballard who discovered the wreckage in 1985. It is beautifully printed by GPS Colour Graphics, a Belfast-based print company incorporated in April 1912. Carolanne Henry, Communications and Marketing Executive with Messenger Publications points out that this company was formed “while Titanic was actually on the ocean, sailing towards its doom.” The book has photos and archival records from 42,000 film negatives which were discovered by the author in a case in the Jesuit archive in Dublin. Fr Browne had himself completed an album of Titanic in 1920 which contained 63 pages and 159 photographs. Together they help to produce a fuller understanding of the story of Titanic. Some photos that Fr Browne would have discarded as fuzzy or unsuitable are now revealed showing furniture, decor, rooms, dress, fashion, uniforms and people. A photo showing the last glimpse of captain Edward Smith looking down over a lifeboat appears like a portent of things to come as the lifeboat is central in the picture. Also the boy on deck playing with a spinning top is one of my favourites as it shows adults observing the child at play without realising that they were on camera. The photograph of the gym with the instructor on the rowing machine will be of interest to all fitness and rowing enthusiasts.

 

For students of history this book is a treasure because it lays out a clear and simple chronology of Titanic from contract and construction in 1908/9 to its launch in 1911 and fitting out and sea trials in 1912. Dr Ballard’s discovery of the wreck in 1985 was at a depth of 12,460 feet and the location of the wreck by his joint French-American expedition threw further light on the distances from possible rescue ships on that fateful night of doom. Copies of original telegrams from Titanic to the Russian ship SS Birma are included along with other material sources such as a ship menu received later by Fr Browne. The telegrams reveal the calm, methodical distress messages in handwriting with dual signatures sent from the Communications room which Fr Browne had photographed.

 

There are ironies pointed out in the book which add to the fascination and wonder about coincidences. When the ship split in two before it sank it split through the room on A Deck which Fr Browne had occupied on his voyage to Queenstown. Newspaper reports were positive at first until the scale of the tragedy became clear within a few days. Over 1,500 had perished and about one third of the passengers were rescued. This book contains copies of newspaper reports that Fr Browne collected and letters he received from people after the event. He gave numerous lectures and survivors provided their own descriptions of the atmosphere on deck as the tragedy unfolded. From one amazing letter regarding lectures about Titanic’s sister ship Olympic it is evident that The White Star Line management in Liverpool were anxious to steer lecture topics away from the Titanic in 1913: “…we do not wish the memory of this calamity should be perpetuated.”

 

An interesting account of his journey by Fr Browne himself is included from The Belvederian, a college publication that he founded. The reader gets a clear and concise account of the scale and majesty of Titanic. The poem In Memoriam at the end of the book is full of imagery of the open sea at night where The Ice King had slain his foe. Students of English, geography, communications, photography, history, physical education and engineering can all take insights from this book just as students of history and religious studies can benefit from tracing Fr Browne’s career after Titanic.

 

Titanic was described as a very Protestant-built ship in Belfast even though a number of Catholics worked on its construction. It seems ironic that a Catholic clerical student/ Jesuit priest would become so famous in showing the world the beauty of the ship’s interior and exterior! On reflection it seems right to conclude that this book is better for not highlighting this irony and other myths. It makes it a more universal read, free from anything untrue or sectarian. Every school would benefit from having a copy of this journey on Titanic with Fr Browne. The presentation and layout are excellent and suited to readers of all ages. It would make an ideal Christmas gift.

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Travelling on Titanic with Father Browne by E E O’Donnell SJ with Foreword by Dr Robert D. Ballard. 

Published by Messenger Publications www.messenger.ie

Available in bookshops and online. Hardback €25.00

The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse is written by Charlie Mackesy. The book opens with a brief Hello from the author. He introduces each character and alludes to some of the themes that emerge  later throughout the book.

 

The adventures of the boy and the mole begin to unfold as they gaze into the wild. It is springtime. The wild conjures up images of unchartered terrain hitherto unexplored. Spring awakens a sense of boundless energy bursting forth with endless possibilities. Confronted with the vastness of the wild, the mole encourages the boy to embrace it. Throughout the story the boy is curious about many things. He engages and wrestles with important concepts such as love, kindness, friendship, and life itself. The mole has a distinct liking for cake and is his ‘go to’ on occasions. As the story progresses and friendships are cemented, the cake pales in significance and is superseded by a hug. When the fox enters, he is already trapped and ensnared by an external wire from which the mole releases him. The fox is generally silent. The boy, the mole and the fox appear so tiny in comparison to the large horse. The horse is full of tenderness and kindness. The drawings depict a remarkably close connection between the other three and the horse. Often the horse is gently touching the boy’s head or all three may be sitting on his back. The close bond is further reflected in the drawing at the close of the story when the boy gently caresses the horse’s head as the mole and the fox look on.

 

This book is a treasure, a worthwhile addition to anyone’s library. It is a feast for the senses. Words crafted into thought-provoking sentences, embellished by evocative drawings, invite the reader into a world of mystery and enchantment. The absence of page numbers may indicate that this book is suitable for dipping into, rather than reading page by page, cover to cover. As pages fall open, a treasury of insights awaits the reader across all age groups. It is possible for children to grapple with the mysteries and concepts it offers at their level. The black and white drawings depict the various scenes and greatly serve the overall impact of the book. Mackesy, describes the drawings as “islands, places to get to in a sea of words.”

 

Mackesy nudges the reader to see each character, the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse, as an aspect of themselves. He writes: “I can see myself in all four of them, perhaps you can too.” There is ample opportunity for the reader to explore their own inner landscape against a backdrop of kindness and compassion. The use of soul-searching dialogues enables this process, for example: “What is the bravest thing you’ve ever said? asked the boy”. ‘Help,’ said the horse.” “What do you think success is? asked the boy.” “To love, said the mole.”

 

The characters tussle with concepts that have a widespread resonance: forgiveness, kindness, success, fear, ensnarement, freedom, silence, beauty, bravery, and love. Friendship is affirmed and valued. The boy asks: “What do we do when our hearts hurt?” The response is: “We wrap them with friendship, shared tears, and time, till they wake hopeful and happy again.”

 

To conclude, this book is delightful, challenging and evokes self-reflection. Perhaps, one character may have an appeal above and beyond the others. It is comforting to know that the horse is there for us too, guiding, holding, and caressing us on our way. We too can develop wings and fly. Enjoy, the adventure!

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The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.

Published by Ebury Press

Price: €12/£9/$10 approximately, prices vary.

Available from bookshops and online.

Denis Tuohy is a natural born storyteller as is clear to see in this fine collection of evocative and interesting reminiscences. The anthology draws primarily on his work as a broadcaster and journalist for over fifty years, covering news events and stories from around the world for the major networks and journals. In some of the pieces we catch a glimpse of his thespian endeavours in later life.

 

This engaging and intimately readable book records twenty-two of Denis’s two-and-a-half-minute broadcast contributions to BBC Radio Ulster’s Thought for The Day (TFTD) with a linking retrospective commentary from the author. They invite the reader into key aspects of his personal, professional, and spiritual life. He has the very skilful journalist knack of relating to his audience the human-interest aspect of the story.

 

Listeners to the BBCs TFTD will be familiar with the necessity that each brief vignette has to be sharp and well structured, and must engage the imagination with what is happening in the world of news and beyond. Tuohy certainly achieves this; the absence of waffle or jargon is a feast for the eyes.

 

It is little wonder then that Denis receives a resounding endorsement and the highest accolade on the back cover from none other than John Humphrys, the great doyen of British broadcast journalism, who writes: “He is a hack of the old school – and in my book there is no higher praise. And he writes like a dream”.

 

That being said, I was slightly disappointed with his reflection on South Africa about an integrated Belfast singing group during the oppressive days of Apartheid. (Pg 17-18), I felt Denis could have given us much more; something that captured the insidious consequences of the dark history of colonialism and apartheid in the rainbow nation.

 

A riveting aspect of this book is that we do get to travel the world with Denis and read about his compelling encounters with notable characters. I was particularly captivated by his meetings with two larger-than-life personalities in the Belfast household of my youth – Margaret Thatcher and Muhammad Ali. As you may expect the hostile one was with the Iron Lady whilst the legendary world boxing champion pens a touching note to him: “To Denis from Muhammad Ali, death is so near and time for friendly action is so limited. Peace.”

 

In New York Tuohy covers the numbing aftermath of Martin Luther King’s assassination and in his linking commentary tellingly remarks: “more than half a century later, the turmoil following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis has shown how little fundamental change there has been in the country when it comes to race.”

 

The author’s advocacy here for dialogue and encounter that seeks to uphold the equal rights of all is admirable. It is a subject that is also central to Denis’s reflection on his acting role in Sam Thompson’s famous play “Over the Bridge“ about sectarianism and bigotry in the Belfast shipyard during the 1950s.

 

I was particularly moved by this reflection having listened many times to my own late father’s first-hand experience of this at the time, and recalling too the sectarian murder of my own brother in Belfast in 1972. But it also evoked many happy memories for me personally having treaded the boards myself on many occasions at the Belfast Group Theatre.

 

Throughout the book, there is a deep understanding and knowledge of the Christian faith by the author, and how transformative it can be when it is lived out. He gifts us with a remarkable story of how the famous choir master Gareth Malone encourages school children devastated by the Grenfell fire disaster to start a choir, and to write and perform a special song for their families and friends. It is a beautiful story of hope and a beautiful song of transformation in the midst of tragedy.

 

It is in reflections like these that we see the writer’s interior journey of spiritual and inner experience, and at times it is a very personal one.

 

It is profoundly captured in the author’s dedication of the book to his son Chris who died earlier this year and includes the evocative poem Wellspring written by Chris and the mystical photo on the cover of the book, taken by him in Richmond Park shortly before his death.

 

Denis probably has his own “Way of the Cross” in mind when he walks with two teenage guides as they recount their contemporary interpretation of the Stations of the Cross in the author’s home parish in Rostrevor, Co Down.

 

Towards the end of the book there is a timely reflection that seeks to connect the reader with the author’s experience of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on family life: “We’re getting to know more and more about each other’s daily lives than we did before.” How true!

 

This compelling and inspiring collection of encounters of immense human interest has enlivened and nourished my spirit. It has evoked many similar memories and aspirations from my own life experience and how graced it has been by the people and events within it.

 

It is an essential read for anyone interested in themselves, in the world around them, and in their fellow human beings.

 

Denis’s final line on page 77 says it all: “I have come to believe that we can indeed sense that wind of constant truth if we listen carefully to the different ways in which it speaks to us.”

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Streets and Secret Places: Reflections of a News Reporter by Denis Tuohy.

Published by and available from Messenger Publications. €12.95

www.messenger.ie

Also available from various online booksellers.