Vulnerable Faith by Jamie Arpin-Ricci

An excellent example of how the life of an ancient Celtic Christian can be relevant today for spiritual transformation, Vulnerable Faith by Jamie Arpin-Ricci - Paraclete Press.

With so many books being written and published these days it is difficult to know which ones to go for and which ones to leave until another time. Here, in ‘Vulnerable Faith’ you find a book which should definitely be one to go for. Interweaving the life of St Patrick, told with wonderful literary expression (and a little poetic licence) which brings this ancient story to life; the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous; and his own expression of the Christian faith, Arpin-Ricci unfurls deep spiritual truths about a life of transformation in an entertaining and easy to read way.

Through his writing in Vulnerable Faith Arpin-Ricci leads us to ask ourselves some hard but necessary questions. He asks in the introduction “How do we become the kind of people who embrace this transformation and step into the fearless love of selfless service to God and neighbour?”, and continues throughout the book to provoke us into asking ourselves such things as are we part of the propagation of ‘pseudo-community’ within our faith collective?; and to look closely at the authenticity of our own transformation with and through God; he challenges us to accept our weaknesses and failings to gain personal and community growth; as well as much more.

Having had a revelatory moment speaking with someone who saw the links between the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and the life of Patrick, Arpin-Ricci seamlessly brings these two things together to give us sage guidance for our own journey and our own transformation.

“If you see a need for transformation in your own life” he says at the end of the introduction “this is your invitation to take some time to explore what greater faithfulness by the people of God – a more costly faithfulness, a risky and vulnerable faithfulness – might look like.”

‘Vulnerable Faith’ is an excellent example of how the life of an ancient Celtic Christian, such as Patrick, can be relevant to us in today’s world, and how it can be an inspiration towards exciting transformation not only in our own lives, but in the church as a whole.