Remember the true meaning of Christmas – Pope Ahead of the Vatican Christmas tree lighting, Pope Francis expressed hope that the nativity scene in St Peter’s Square will serve as a reminder of what Christmas is truly about. A nativity scene “is a genuine way of communicating the Gospel, in a world that sometimes seems to be…
Sweet Treats This German gingerbread has the perfect balance of sweet and spiced. This version is even tastier as the biscuits are filled with raspberry. Other flavours like apricot or cherry, also work really well, or you can keep it simple and not fill them at all! Heart-shaped lebkuchen look extra decorative and would make…
We’re all familiar, I suspect, with the difference between justice and charity. Charity is giving away some of your time, energy, resources, and person so as to help to others in need. And that’s an admirable virtue, the sign of a good heart. Justice, on the other hand, is less about directly giving something away…
Arguments tend to arise at Christmas so try avoid them before they ruin the day, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Movies and adverts tend to idealise Christmas day; it’s thought that families come together to exchange hugs, presents and kind words in a charitable environment of love and understanding. The only tiffle there might be is over…
Sr Consilio Fitzgerald, founder of Cuan Mhuire, which provides addiction treatment services and residential rehabilitation to 3,000 people a year was presented with the Fifth Oireachtas Human Dignity Award at a ceremony in Leinster House on Thursday last, December 5. The Human Life, Human Rights and Human Dignity Award is presented annually by the Oireachtas…
Chai Brady speaks to an Irish missionary about the tense situation in embattled Bolivia An Irish lay missionary who is serving the local community in Bolivia is living through a political fiasco which has led to protests and violence that kicked off in October after a disputed presidential election. Anne Reilly of Viatores Christi was…
The ‘right to die’ cause is a strange one – we’re all going to die eventually so that right will be vindicated by everybody anyway. It’s not about the freedom, as distinct from the right, to commit suicide as that is no longer illegal, so it’s really about the right to kill, but that’s rather…
Our Books Editor Peter Costello makes recommendations for you to place in someone’s Christmas stocking… Hey Grandude by Paul McCartney (Puffin Books, £12.99) This is a fun book which granddads of a certain age will enjoy reading with the grandchildren. It is odd to think of Paul McCartney himself as a grandfather – how times…
This weekend marks the Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday. While Advent no longer has the penitential feel it once did, this weekend is a break from the sense of expectation and an invitation to rejoice in God’s presence amongst us. The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord is still two weeks away,…
The Last Right (15A) A Clonakilty man living in Boston transports the body of a man he only met for a few minutes to his final resting place in Rathlin Island with the police on his tail for corpse-snatching. It’s the kind of situation most of us find ourselves in sooner or later, right? Writer/director…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady
Brendan O’Regan
Peter Costello
Michael Kelly
Aubrey Malone