Mags GarganDear Editor, I was very surprised to read that the Vatican has ordered Catholics to replace hugs and kisses with handshakes when they are offering the Sign of Peace.Pope Francis is banning hugs and kisses at Mass, and he has told bishops to draw up strict guidelines. The circular said churchgoers should be offered “practical…
Month: August 2014
Mixed messages on new missal
Dear Editor, I also share Mr Kieron Wood’s concern (Letters, Aug 7) that words such as “consubstantiation” would not be understood by ordinary Massgoers, but he can rest assured that it doesn’t appear in the new translation of the Ordinary Form of the Mass. The question now is should Mr Wood seek ‘forgiveness’ or ‘remission’…
Mary; the ‘epitome’ of the Gospel
Courtney McGrailCathal Barry takes a look at what the Church teaches about the proper veneration of Mary
Iraqi Christians dying in crowded camps
“We are facing risk of a real genocide and a human catastrophe.”
Not all fats are bad for you
There has been much talk in recent times about what fats are 'good' and what fats are 'bad'. Generally speaking, 'good' fats are unrefined animal fats, fat from fish, and certain fats from plants, such as avocados, nuts and certain tropical oils like extra virgin olive oil. They tend to include a higher proportion of…
Our Lady on the big screen
Aubrey MaloneThe depiction of Our Lady in films has usually been in a secondary capacity to that of Jesus for obvious reasons but there have been a few where she has indeed occupied centre stage, as it were. This was most apparent in The Song of Bernadette (1943) which featured Linda Darnell as the Virgin Mary. This…
Peace Vigil in Trim
A three-hour vigil and evening of prayer for peace in the Middle East will be held in St Patrick’s Church, Trim, Co. Meath, on Friday (August 15), the Feast of the Assumption. The special evening of prayer is being held in response to a plea from Pope Francis for people to “pray fervently for peace”…
Visions of Knock
Peter CostelloThe 135th anniversary of the visions at Knock, which falls on August 21, has brought into focus the whole question of visions, apparitions and the Church’s attitude towards such private revelations, and to Marian traditions as a whole. Knock is now numbered among the most famous visionary sites in the world, along with Lourdes…
The Faith in Scotland’s Western Highlands
When Dr John Watts was asked if he would write a history of the Diocese of Argyle and the Isles since its restoration as a Catholic diocese in 1878, he quickly realised that to make full sense, to extract the fullness of the history of the Faith in the highlands and islands, he would have…
Ireland’s special relationship with Our Lady
Michael KellyReflecting on Marian devotion