90-year-old Irish Dominican Fr Gabriel Harty publishes new book
Fr Gabriel Harty, o.p., has recently published an autobiography of sorts but it is an account "through the rosary"
Fr Gabriel is one of Ireland’s better known Dominicans, is in his ninety first year and the title of this latest book of his is 'Heaven Sent - My Life Through the Rosary'. It is a book rich in the treasures of the Rosary.
Fr Gabriel, who was a diocesan priest before joining the Irish Dominicans in 1949, has spent all his priestly life as a preacher of the Rosary.
This latest book sets out how the Rosary is not only a contemplative prayer but a means of proclaiming scripture - 'the Gospel on its knees' as the famous French Dominican Lacordaire once said of the Rosary.
Fr Gabriel also demonstrates how the term 'Rosary' is not confined to Roman Catholicism and its method of meditation has certain aspects common to many faiths.
Being autobiographical, the book gives a real sense of the story of this friar's life in relation to the rosary, his cultivation and devotion to it and a deep exposition of the healing and grace for all who pray this great prayer.
A brief paragraph from a chapter entitled The Dominican Tradition of the Rosary will give the reader an insight of the importance for Fr Gabriel of the Rosary as a means of preaching for Dominicans. It goes like this:
'When a Dominican is clothed with the habit, he is invested with a large rosary beads to hang from his belt. He is like an army officer commissioned with a sword of office, as was David when given the very sword with which he had slain Goliath: "There is no other sword like that; give it to me." Any good preacher of the rosary is meant to use it not only for his own private prayer, but as an instrument of his missionary work and as a weapon for salvation. There is none like it.'
Warm congratulations to Fr Gabriel on his latest book.
For those interested in the Dominican vocation, the inspiration of friars like Fr Gabriel serve as a reminder that friars never retire!!
'Heaven Sent - My Life Through the Rosary' is published by Veritas and costs €12.99 - http://goo.gl/TSIey
ISBN13: 9781847303585
ISBN10: 1847303587