What do you think?
Rate this book
Towards Dawn: Essays in Hopefulness
Do we live in “post-Christian” times? Or has secularization run its course, the sun of a new day breaking on both the Church and the world?
In Towards Essays in Hopefulness, Bishop Erik Varden—a Trappist monk and the bishop of Trondheim in Norway—reflects on recent crises of the past and signs of hope for the future. Featuring essays on some of the most pressing subjects of the day for Catholics—evangelization, synodality, liturgy, blessings, the sexual abuse crisis, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and more—Bishop Varden unfurls “a blessed contagion” of hope rooted in authentic spirituality, the universal call to holiness, and the revelation of Christ, who makes all things new.
A compelling collection from one of the most impressive young voices of the episcopacy, Towards Dawn offers neither a bland optimism nor a bitter pessimism but a realistic, clear-eyed confidence that everything—even suffering, disappointment, and injustice—can be purposeful. We can move out of the meaninglessness and despair that surrounds us toward the Light that shines in the darkness. Here and now, hope glimmers.
In Towards Essays in Hopefulness, Bishop Erik Varden—a Trappist monk and the bishop of Trondheim in Norway—reflects on recent crises of the past and signs of hope for the future. Featuring essays on some of the most pressing subjects of the day for Catholics—evangelization, synodality, liturgy, blessings, the sexual abuse crisis, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and more—Bishop Varden unfurls “a blessed contagion” of hope rooted in authentic spirituality, the universal call to holiness, and the revelation of Christ, who makes all things new.
A compelling collection from one of the most impressive young voices of the episcopacy, Towards Dawn offers neither a bland optimism nor a bitter pessimism but a realistic, clear-eyed confidence that everything—even suffering, disappointment, and injustice—can be purposeful. We can move out of the meaninglessness and despair that surrounds us toward the Light that shines in the darkness. Here and now, hope glimmers.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2025
14 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Erik Varden
22 books40 followersErik Varden is a monk and bishop, born in Norway in 1974. In 2002, after ten years at the University of Cambridge, he joined Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Charnwood Forest. Pope Francis named him bishop of Trondheim in 2019.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 9, 2026
Hearing Varden speak a few months ago was a revelation. Reading him in the written word is just as satisfying.
December 9, 2025
A profound collection. Admittedly some of the reflections lacked context and so were deprived of the bite and power I’m sure Bishop Varden exercised in delivery. But most of them were significant, even deprived of context. His reflections on ‘The Scandal of Sanctity’ on ‘Blessing’ and on ‘Confirmation’ all served as excellent foundations for talks I have to give this year!
December 2, 2025
Bishop Varden is one of the greatest Catholic writers alive today. This book continues that trend, taking some neuralgic topics head-on.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews