February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — Following the runaway success of their new book of prayer, the Benedictine monks in County Limerick are planning a follow-up book to help people pray.
The pocket-sized "Glenstal Book of Prayer" has become a surprise hit, shooting to No. 1 in the bestseller list after just three weeks.
It is also set to hit the market in Britain, the U.S. and Australia and a version for the blind may be recorded.
"The sales and the interest in it are phenomenal. The first printing is already gone," said Fr. Simon Sleeman, the book’s editor.
Sleeman believes the demand for the book indicates a huge spiritual hunger in Ireland, also indicated by the extraordinary tour of the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux, which were viewed by 3 million people.
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"There is certainly something going on," Sleeman said. "People are looking for some form to a spiritual life that is not being represented very well in the traditional and normal forms. They are hungering for nourishment and looking for it everywhere.
"The prayer book fills a gap that was there in the market, but there is also a certain nostalgia about it."
"We had considered putting in instructions on how to pray, but now we are planning a another book on that.
"I am getting endless suggestions for further books, such as prayer books for schools and Christmas. There seems to be endless possibilities."
He said one of the reasons he was keen to put the book together was to have a graveside prayer. He had wanted something to say when he visited his father’s grave in Clonakilty, Co. Cork.
"It’s essentially a daily prayer book with a morning and evening prayer for every day of the week," Sleeman said. "It also has what I call prayer ‘stops’ for those who want to say a prayer at midmorning, midday, midafternoon and so on.
"Then there are familiar prayers that we grew up with. The ‘Our Father’ is given in Latin and Irish as well. There are also prayers for special occasions such as visiting the sick and there is a calendar of saints at the back.
"It sounds very big, but it is a slim volume that can fit in a handbag. The idea is that people can take it around with them."