Sally Thomas Pořadí knih (chronologicky)

Kirsty Sain, aging housekeeper for the newly arrived young priest, assumes that despite this personnel change in her rural parish, her own solitary rounds will proceed as always. She will go to Mass, clean the rectory, go home again. She will keep herself to herself in the safely-hedged present and coexist in detente with the past. When a hairless, eyeless kitten is thrust upon her, an unlikely deterrent to the mice invading her house, she declares, "I am not going to love that thing." She has spent a lifetime armoring herself against the risks of affection. But between the hapless Father Schuyler, who teeters on the edge of breakdown, and the crises of the Malkins, a parish family whose cheerful chaos erupts in tragedy, Kirsty finds her own wounds broken open. Drawn against her will into the sufferings of these vulnerable lives, she returns to an old hero, the Elizabethan poet-priest Robert Southwell, whose "Mary Magdalen's Funeral Tears" provides a skeleton key to her own locked heart. In Southwell's words, "love is the fire" that renders all things new.

Exploring the interplay between the fleeting and the eternal, this collection captures the beauty of nature and human experience through the lens of time. The poet delves into themes of flesh, faith, and spirituality, particularly in the "Richeldis of Walsingham" sequence. Rich with insight and emotion, it offers readers a journey filled with hope, grace, and unexpected revelations, making it a profound reflection on life and love.

Set against the backdrop of the summer of 2020, the narrative explores the profound interconnectedness of individuals during challenging times. It delves into themes of community, resilience, and the essential support systems that emerge when faced with adversity. The story highlights personal and collective experiences that reveal the importance of solidarity and understanding in navigating a crisis, ultimately emphasizing our shared humanity.