Press Releases23 Jan 04

New Book based on RTE's Holy Week series

NEW BOOK BASED ON RTÉ HOLY WEEK SERIES

23 January 2004

'The Day He Died' is the title of a new book by the former Dean of Kildare, Matthew Byrne, which looks exclusively at St Luke?s account of the passion giving us details that are absent from the other gospels.

Byrne develops some of the concepts touched upon in an RTÉ radio series of programs for Holy Week broadcast a few years ago. He presents the Gospel as Luke tells it thereby giving us a frank and honest account of the political, religious and cultural background to the events of Holy Week.

Ciara Doorley of Columba Press says: ?Matthew Byrne tries to read St Luke?s record without the prejudices which, for long enough, have coloured the way we see it. He gives us an insight into the feelings and sensitivities that shaped Luke?s view of things.?

In six chapters, Matthew Byrne takes the reader from the Last Supper to the Burial of the Lord adding in all the background colour and detail which makes the story come to life in all its horror and sadness.

The Very Rev Matthew Byrne was a freelance writer, presenter and producer with BBC Radio. In 1980, with his wife Weena, he came back to Ireland and took a post as School Chaplain in the King?s Hospital. He also began freelance broadcasting, producing and presenting with RTÉ. He has written for the Observer, Sunday People, Manchester Evening News, Irish Times and Irish Independent. His previous books include the bestselling Dublin and her People and Heaven Looked Upwards. He lives in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

The Most Rev Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, said: "This book encourages us really to engage with not only St Luke's account of the Passion, but with the One at the centre of it all. It is a gentle book allowing a real encounter with the Crucified Christ to take place. I look forward to using this book as part of my own observance of Holy Week 2004."

'The Day He Died' by Matthew Byrne is published by Columba Press and is priced at 7.99 euros.