By Caroline Smith
When people reflect on their lives, often they find that there are specific individuals who have inspired them in word or action. In many cases, thinking of these ‘heroes’ also provides a reflection on faith, through the role that it may have played in their own lives and work, and the moral guide this provides to those inspired by them.
Heroes of the Faith features 55 prominent Australians describing the people – historical, political and religious – who have most influenced their lives, and considering how Christianity was revealed in their work and words.
The featured writers include people from across the spectrum of religious, legal, social justice and creative industries in Australia, including CEO of World Vision Australia, Tim Costello AO; writer, Dr Muriel Porter AO; and Walkley Award winner, Rowan Callick.
Each writer has chosen one particular hero to comment on and, unsurprisingly, several saints and religious leaders are included in the stories – from St Teresa of Avila, whose dedication to prayer is recorded by Carmelite Mother Superior, Ellen Marie Quinn; to Pope John XXIII, whom journalist Mark Brolly describes as bringing a progressive voice to the Catholic Church, thus setting the scene for the Second Vatican Council of 1962.
However, there are also political and human rights giants – such as Abraham Lincoln, who is remembered by former Supreme Court judge David Harper as a man bringing both a rational perspective and an abiding Christian moral code to the fight against slavery, as seen in his Emancipation Declaration of 1863.
Other notable entries include that of writer, Muriel Porter, who chooses for her hero a humble and caring family friend, Elizabeth Wakefield; or composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, whose role as a ‘preacher in sound’, giving praise to God, is recorded by Dr Andreas Loewe, Dean of Melbourne’s St Paul’s Cathedral.
Specifically Australian heroes include Arnhem Land priest, the Reverend Canon Michael Gumbali Wurramara AM, described by his biographer, Dr Murray Seiffert, as a pioneer who bridged the divide between Aboriginal culture and Western Christianity; and cartoonist, Michael Leunig, whose artwork has often featured contemplation of God and the role of belief in the world.
In terms of its origin, Heroes of the Faith developed from a series of articles published in the Melbourne Anglican (TMA) under the same name, which was then published in book format by Garratt Publishing, and edited by Roland Ashby.
Heroes of the Faith. 2015. Edited by Roland Ashby. Published by Garratt Publishing. $34.95. Copies are available from Christian bookshops and Garratt Publishing by contacting 1300 650 878 or go to www.garrattpublishing.com.au.