Description
The object of this book is to provide an opportunity for voices of other religions to be heard as Australia celebrates its first Catholic saint – Mary MacKillop of the Cross. It is the first publication that seeks to bring together a representa- tive collection of contributions. Here are reflections on sainthood and he- roes of faith from within different reli- gious traditions and different Christian denominations. The direction given to contributors was that they illustrate how holy persons and heroes are es- teemed in their own tradition and how this might frame that tradition’s ap- preciation of Mary MacKillop. From this, it is hoped that the collection will provide an example of how she might contribute to the wider Australian reli- gious landscape. Herein, the reader will find critical yet appreciative reflections from Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist to Jewish and Muslim writers. Some have taken the brief as an opportunity to reveal more of the heroes and saints of their own tradition and how they came to be esteemed. Others have directly described how their own tradition esteems saints and heroes in general in order to bring distinct and evocative appreciations of Mary MacKillop, now given hues from a Protestant, Orthodox or Lutheran palette. But whether Baptist or Anglican or traditions beyond Christianity, the writers have extended the capacity of Australians to appreciate Mary MacKillop as an Australian saint and hero.
208 pages
