A retired Vincentian priest from Perryville is receiving national attention after his latest book, Put Your Hands into Hers: Mary, Our Life, Our Sweetness, and Our Hope, was named one of the year’s best by The New York Times.
Fr. Ronald Ramson, C.M., has served as a Catholic priest for more than six decades and is a longtime member of the Vincentian order, also known as the Congregation of the Mission. Born and raised in Chicago, he made his way to Perryville in 1950 for his novitiate and later served in seminary leadership, parish ministry, and missionary work in Kenya. He has also worked as a seminary rector, spiritual director, and vocation director, and continued sharing spiritual insight through his regular columns appearing in the Republic-Monitor.
Now retired and living in the Apostle of Charity Residence in Perryville, Fr. Ramson remains active in local faith formation even as his writing reaches a national audience. His book, published by Twenty-Third Publications, reflects on Marian devotion as a pathway to deeper faith and spiritual renewal.
In its review of Fr. Ramson’s book, the editors wrote: “Is Mary a valid intercessor for today or a relic of the past, nice to know of, nice to look at, but nothing more? What do many pray? ‘Hail, holy Queen, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.’ Does Mary inspire our hearts and minds? Is she a vessel of hope? Do we feel a mother’s love? Three essential concepts intentionally run through this book, if not explicitly, a mother’s love, hope, and inspiration. In all the apparitions of the mother of Jesus to persons throughout the centuries, she has exemplified three qualities: a mother’s love, hope and inspiration. Yes, at times, she has given people a mission, but underlying that mission are those salient qualities.”
This recognition by The New York Times marks a rare national spotlight for a Perryville-based author and highlights the broad appeal of Ramson’s spiritual reflections.
We commend Fr. Ramson for the notable recognition he has received for one of his books, which can be special ordered at Read the Room, 9 E. Sainte Marie St., Perryville, as well as purchased on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble.
