A native of Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, monk and author Dom
Laurence Walsh has been contemplating the stained glass
windows of Mount Saint Joseph Abbey for over sixty years.
Here he presents the fruit of several years’ research into the
history of the windows, shares stories of the saints’ lives
and missions, and allows us a glimpse into his personal
refl ections on the impact of these “books of golden
instruction.”

Lumen Christi chronicles the stained glass windows
in the abbey church, infirmary oratories and college
chapel. It is a riveting journey situated in the context of
external events and circumstances, from the pre-monastic
origins of Mountheaton in Co. Offaly (once part of the Ely
O’Carroll territory) to the modern monastic campus of
monastery, guesthouses, college and farmyard.

At the heart of Mount Saint Joseph is the abbey church.
The foundation stone of this imposing edifice was laid in
1879, it was dedicated and opened for worship in 1881 and
solemnly consecrated in 1884.

The monks who came to Mountheaton in 1878 were
Trappist or Cistercian monks, followers of the Rule of St
Benedict, and known for their strict and austere lifestyle.
Somewhat surprisingly we fi nd that the monks set about
installing stained glass depicting saints and biblical scenes
into windows of their newly built church. In fact these
windows were planned from the outset and formed an
integral part of the design of the structure.

This attractive volume, records in words and pictures
the story and history of these remarkable stained glass
windows and their inspirers, designers, fabricators and
donors. The lavish colour photographs of the windows are
complemented by illustrations from the Abbey’s extensive
collection of books, missals, paintings and historical
documents.

Lumen Christi is essential reading for anyone with an
interest in spirituality, Irish history and the craft of stained
glass fabricators Earley & Powells, John Hardman & Co.,
Harry Clarke Studios and The Abbey Stained Glass Studios