President Joe Biden is gifted St Patrick book after local launch

20 March 2024

A BOOK on St Patrick – launched last week in Downpatrick – was gifted to US President Joe Biden, according to the author’s brother.

Colm Larkin revealed that The Spiritual Journey of Saint Patrick by the late priest Fr Aidan Larkin was part of a collection of gifts given to President Biden by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on behalf of the Irish government last year.

The book, which has already sold around 1,000 copies, made its official Downpatrick debut at the Saint Patrick Centre on Wednesday evening.

Mr Larkin, a former advisor to the late Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, said The Spiritual Journey of Saint Patrick is now in the library of Blair House, a guest house for dignitaries visiting the US capital.

Mr Larkin welcomed the launch as he had promised his late brother, Fr Aidan, that he would make sure his manu on St Patrick was widely published.

The book examines Patrick’s view of the world through the eyes of his Christian conversion – and his relationship with God.

Mr Larkin said the book had a “double character” of scholarship and spiritual meditation.

“What you will find here is a prayerful examination of Patrick’s writings and what they reveal to us about his spirituality, his relationship with God, with faith, with exile, with renunciation, the big themes.

“We learn of Patrick’s gratitude to God and how the experience of God and being called by God transformed his life. We reflect on how Patrick’s faith in God allowed him to survive his many trials.”

Canon John Murray, Downpatrick parish priest, who spoke at the event, said the author made a case for St Patrick being included among the early Church fathers such as Jerome and St Augustine for his contribution to Christianity.

He commended the book to readers for its easy manner and its orthodoxy. “The figure of Patrick is forever youthful and relevant,” he added.

Dr Tim Campbell, director of the Saint Patrick Centre, welcomed members of the author’s family to the cen, tre.

He said the book had broad appeal and would be well-promoted to visitors. “We also have many American visitors and I look forward to sharing with them the fact that President Biden received a copy,” he remarked.

Elaine Kelly, a pilgrim guide on St Patrick’s Way and former barrister, said she would be recommending the guide to pilgrims as it contains St Patrick’s letter to Coroticus and confession.

“St Patrick’s own words are powerful and they are a great way to connect with the authentic apostle to Ireland, St Patrick, and how he had this amazing experience of God’s love and mercy,” she added.

Fr Larkin died in 2019 after a remarkable life as an SDLP Assembly for Mid-Ulster during the Sunningdale period in the 1970s, a barrister, a priest and a missionary.

Members of his family attended the launch including his brother Sean, sister Roisin and brother-in-law John.

The Spiritual Journey of Saint Patrick is published by Messenger Publications and costs £12.95.

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder