Articles - Book Reviews - Lavinia Byrne
 

"The Dome of Heaven", by Lavinia Byrne.
Published by Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-72239-8. Price £6.99.

Lavinia Byrne is well known as a regular contributor to Radio 4's "Thought for the day", and for her Lent book, "A Time to Receive". She has a gift for the gentle challenge, and she uses it to the full in this new book.

Her book is sub-titled; "A Prayer Course for Advent"; but it's much more than that. She actually covers the period from Advent Sunday through to the Epiphany. In doing so it spans the New Year, and this is quite deliberate. Advent is normally regarded as a time to prepare for the celebration that is Christmas. Lavinia has extended this Advent reflection to help it become also a preparation for the new Millennium.

Each section comprises a short introduction, followed by a passage from the Bible, a reflection on the passage, some prayers, and then a practical exercise. All that might make it sound like a hefty home-study pack, but it's actually quite short and straightforward. The sections are largely reflective, making more gentle demands on the readers mind and imagination than might otherwise be. Nevertheless, they do make demands, and if you're prepared to spend a little time and effort engaging with these daily reflections you stand to be enriched by the whole experience.

This book would make an excellent gift for anyone who usually prefers to prepare for Christmas spiritually, but mostly for anyone looking for something spiritual in this whole "Millennium" thing. It would also make an excellent gift for yourself. So, go on, give yourself a treat this Advent.

Jeremy

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