Fr John's new book to be launched in Athlone this weekend

A new book by Franciscan priest Fr John O'Brien will be launched in Athlone's Shamrock Lodge Hotel this Sunday at 7.30pm.

Fr John is a prolific author of books which deal with themes such as love, suffering and healing. He was based in the Friary in Athlone for twenty years, from 1994 to 2014.

His new book is called 'With Thee Tender Is The Night' - a title taken from John Keats' poem Ode to a Nightingale.

Fr John said that in this book: 'I show God is love, but I also point out that we live in a world far from God. I show that this colours our perception. I use the psalms as a prayer to express our human condition and as a prayer for healing of our pain.'

He said the theme of the book ties in with the current Year of Mercy initiated by Pope Francis.

Walter Brueggemann, an influential American scholar and theologian described 'With Thee Tender Is The Night' as: 'A richly suggestive book in which (Fr John) has caused a convergence of so many different dimensions of life and faith.'

All are welcome to attend the book launch in the Shamrock Lodge on Sunday.