THE P
RTAL
Book Reviews
November 2017 Page 18
Listening : Hearing the Heart by Robin Daniels
Review by Edwina Gillett , Editor of the Catholic Voice of Lancaster
We all think that we do it – listen , that is . But do we ? To listen well we need to focus fully on what is being conveyed to us . But how often do we mentally contrive , simultaneously , to develop our response or counter argument . Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Radio and TV debates and even in Parliament when talking over another ( sometimes even shouting , as if this becomes more convincing ) seems to be the norm . Does this sound familiar in our own daily lives ?
Listening by Robin Daniels takes us out of the daily hubbub and draws on a wealth of his own personal experience as well as writers , poets and scriptural texts , to help us find another dimension to listening - that is through the heart . He also explores how music can help and the importance of silence in the process .
It is not a long book , but it is full from start to finish of helpful material that takes the reader through a variety of situations and techniques that would be helpful to anyone wishing to improve their own ability to listen , but especially those involved in pastoral or counselling work .
Reunion Revisited by Mark Vickers
Review by Arnold Herron
After the Malines Conversations , it has been assumed that any talk of reunion between the CofE and the Catholic Church in England was thwarted by the Catholic Church . Fr Vickers , in this most excellent book , challenges that view . He seeks to show that it was in fact the CofE who did not take the idea of reunion between the two communions seriously .
So often , we are caught up with what we want to get across and we can become oblivious to what is being said to us . Is that true of our prayer life too ? If so , Robin ’ s book is for you too .
Published by Instant Apostle and available from : Marston 01235 465 500 enquiries @ marston . co . uk ISBN 978 1909728745 Price £ 8.99 plus p & p
Hampered by their support for the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910 , and Prayer Book revision , the Archbishops of Canterbury Randall Davidson and later Cosmo Gordon Lang dragged their collective feet .
Sir James Marchant , a Protestant Minister , did all he could to further the project for reunion , and at the same time , his own standing . That it ultimately
failed was not for the want of trying . Francis , Cardinal Bourne gave support to the project by proposing such people as Bishop Butler , The Revd Yves Congar , The Revd Bede Jarrett and others of similar calibre to represent the Catholic side .
With the absence of any suggestions from the CofE , it fell to a group of Anglo-Papists to carry the