Arthur Downer was 12 years old in 1955 when he entered Redemptorist St Clements College, Limerick, Ireland as a full time boarding clerical student. He has received third level professional religious education.
The best memory from Cluain Mhuire Seminary in Galway is the following translation of St. Alphonsus’s Verita della fide – Chapter Two
Nemo dat quod non habet. (No one can give what they did not have!)
The existence of God is proved from the existence of created things, which could not exist if they had not had a first principle. We look at this land, men, beasts, mountains, seas, rivers and, plants. Then we look up, and we see sky, stars and planets. You ask: who ever made all these creatures?They can’t have their being out of nothing; because what is nothing, can do nothing, let alone give the being to those who don’t have it.
As well as spending five years of studying Logic, Philosophy and Theology, he effectively served an apprenticeship in the college printing workshop, Sancta Maria Press. Arthur Downer went on to establish Westside Press nearly 40 years ago. It is now a leading provider of trade printing services throughout Ireland and the UK.
Along with commercial printing, Arthur Downer started publishing “The Pope Speaks” in 1990 because he was impressed by the words of Pope John Paul.
He is equally impressed by the unique catechesis in Pope Francis’s sermons and publishes them every month.
“The Pope Speaks” is a 32 page booklet which publishes the Pope’s General Audiences and Angelus Reflections – as well as other important messages of Pope Francis. The current edition is here