Wings for the Soul: Madonna stories to celebrate its 125th year, Christopher Gleeson SJ. WILKINSON PUBLISHING, ISBN 9781922810960.
Fr Chris Gleeson keeps distinguished and enduring company. Fathers Michael Watson, Eustace Boylan, Herbie Wilkins and Chris edited and wrote for Madonna for almost 100 of its 125 years. As with the previous editors he has brought to the magazine its distinctive conversational tone, a spirituality that speaks to the lives of its readers, addresses the events of the day, and shares insights drawn from the best writing. When we read Wings for the Soul, the collection of his contributions over the past 20 years, we are invited to revisit the ways in which we have read our times in the light of the Gospel and have responded to them.
The writing in this collection betrays a rare hospitality to people and to good words. In it many hundreds of people are mentioned, each with praise and gratitude. They include teachers, parents and students met in his work in Jesuit schools, his fellow Jesuits, friends and people in the news. Many people also find a place in this book through their words, including singers, poets, Biblical writers, novelists, journalists, children and saints. In each case their words are not only pertinent to the topic under discussion but illuminate it.
Readers of Wings for the Soul will be invited on a journey that leads to self-reflection and prayer. That is a rare gift. In this publication to mark more than 120 years of its publication they will also be able to celebrate all that is good in Madonna.