June 2026

The writer Umberto Eco had a personal library of around 50,000 books. He would have, no doubt, liked Hay should he have visited. He is quoted as saying, ‘It is foolish to think that you have to read all the books you buy, as it is foolish to criticize those who buy more books than they will ever be able to read. It would be like saying that you should use all the cutlery or glasses or screwdrivers or drill bits you bought before buying new ones.’

Most of us who have books around the house have a number which are unread. For me, it is a reminder of both my ambition and interests. Some provide memories of the place or occasion on which the book was purchased, or of the person who gave it as a gift.

I have heard it said that it was common to have a piano in the house in the past. The majority of homes would have had a Bible and perhaps a Book of Common Prayer,  gifted at some occasion such as Confirmation. I suspect that a majority of homes would lack a prayer book now, which is a shame. Like a book, purchased a decade ago and on the shelf, if it isn’t there it cannot be accessed in a time of need or when fancy takes.

Rather than bemoaning this, perhaps I should start gifting prayer books to people I know, and who I suspect don’t have one. It is my practice to gift a Bible from the Church to all those at whose Baptism I officiate. This was done so at mine, and I treasure this particular Bible.

There are, obviously, other books which can convey the faith well such as Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love or Dark Night of the Soul by S. John of the Cross. The Church has many treasures, including the written word, and we, I hope, are not only keen to share our treasures but also have them in our own homes.

Please God, let it be that the Blessed Saints, most particularly Our Lady, continue to pray for us!