Irish Times columnist, Miriam Lord, has revealed that a book on St Patrick by Columban missionary, Fr Aidan Larkin, was gifted by the Taoiseach to US President Joe Biden when Leo Varadkar visited Washington for St Patrick’s Day.
Derry-born Fr Aidan died in 2019, not long after he completed his book.
In her column, Miriam Lord wrote: “The Spiritual Journey of St Patrick provides an insight into Patrick’s values, inspirations, spiritual journey and legacy through a re-examination of his writings. The author argues that his letters, rich in theological and spiritual content, have been scoured for historical information on dates and places but not properly examined to give his inner life and thoughts.”
She also highlighted that Fr Larkin was ordained in 1985 but he led a very interesting life before entering the priesthood.
He was an SDLP representative for Mid-Ulster in the power-sharing Stormont Assembly in 1973. He qualified as a barrister and went to work for the European Council’s legal service in Brussels.
After his ordination for the Dublin archdiocese, where he was chaplain to Trinity College, he went on to join the Columbans and served for many years in a shanty town in Chile.
According to the Irish Times journalist, “Fr Aidan’s scholarly work will be added to the collection in the US president’s guest house, in accordance with the long-standing tradition of heads of state and governments presenting books on their countries to the library in Blair House.”
Fr Aidan’s book, which is published by Messenger Publications, is due to be launched by Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, on 30th May.
Note from Messenger Publications:
Recognised and celebrated throughout the world, St Patrick is Ireland’s most famous ambassador. Yet we know little to nothing about him, other than that he was no friend to snakes. His writings, long scoured for historical information on dates and places, prove elusive in that respect.
However, The Spiritual Journey of Saint Patrick argues this very focus on the historiography of the writings has led to their neglect as an insight into his inner life and spirituality. And that their rich spiritual and theological content, well-versed in patristic theology, merits Patrick’s inclusion among that august group of theologians who established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of the Church–the Church Fathers.
Fr Aidan Larkin, building on the work of Columban priests before him, opens up new perspectives and presents a complete re-evaluation of Patrick as a true Father of the Irish Church.
Reproducing his Letter to Coroticus and the Confession in their entirety, he offers a wealth of patristic resonances. This reading of his letters affords insights into Patrick’s values, his inspirations, his spiritual journey as well as his spiritual doctrine that links him to the Fathers. Here indeed is compelling argument for a reevaluation and recognition of Patrick’s profound spiritual legacy.
Fr Aidan J. Larkin SSC (1946-2019) also wrote, Saint Columbanus: Pilgrim for Christ (Cumann Seanchais Arc Mhaca, 2012).
The Spiritual Journey of Saint Patrick by Aidan J. Larkin SSC (with a Foreword by Archbishop Eamon Martin) is published in Ireland and the UK by Messenger Publications. It is priced at €14.95/£12.95. Available in bookshops. You can also purchase from the Columbans by emailing: [email protected] or telephone: 00353 46 909 8275 or from Messenger Books: https://www.messenger.ie/product/the-spiritual-journey-of-st-patrick/