The Sunday Gospel Blessed is the parish which has a catechumen on the final stages of the journey to Baptism at Easter. This Sunday’s Gospel, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, is the third story from John’s Gospel, chosen to throw light on the meaning of Baptism. First, at the well in Samaria, Jesus…
The actress Loretta Young, whose career started as a child and spanned decades, was a huge advocate of Catholic causes. The money she donated to some of them came from an unusual source – swear boxes. She arranged for these to be installed on the sets of films she was starring in. The idea was…
Notebook Fr John Harris Greetings from Assisi. I am here with a group of priests from different parts of the world on a spiritual retreat. Assisi is a place like very few in the world. The spirit of the person of St Francis permeates the medieval streets and it allows a person while walking in…
St Patrick’s Day has become more of a secular celebration than a religious one. The ‘St’ is often dropped and the horrible ‘Paddy’s Day’ has accelerated the process. And yet the spiritual side has co-existed, happily or uneasily. It’s always open to Christians to celebrate the spiritual side and ensure that in their families due…
Saint of the Week A week on from the feast of one of Ireland’s three patron saints – St Patrick – we have the feast day of one of his heirs, St Macartan. The first bishop of Clogher diocese, he became known as St Patrick’s “Threin Fhir”, or “Strong Man”, both for his dedication to…
Dear Editor, I agree with Mary Kenny’s views that opting for simple guidelines for fasting and abstinence for Lent are the best way to respond to the challenges of Lent. In my youth, fasting and abstinence and making our Easter duty seemed to be essential for doing a good Lent. However, some clergy have since…
The Politics of God: The Rise and Rise of Political Religion by T. P. O’Mahony, foreword by Dr Mary McAleese (Veritas, €19.00) T.P. O’Mahony was for many years the excellent Religious Affairs Correspondent for The Irish Press. After its demise, he has continued to comment on religious topics worldwide for many other publications as well as…
Ten years ago, bookmakers Paddy Power asked me to compile their papal election guide ahead of the conclave that would replace Pope Benedict XVI. It was mostly a bit of fun, but punters were in fact betting on who would become the next Bishop of Rome and the bookies naturally wanted some insight. As I…
Ivana Moral, aged 48, is a Spanish housewife who, earlier this month, made history in the Spanish courts. During the course of her divorce, Judge Laura Ruiz Alamino, awarded Senora Moral the sum of €204,624 in recognition of her having been a dutiful housewife for 25 years, and a mother of two who took care…
I wonder how women really feel, deep down, about their membership of the Church in Ireland. The synodal pathway process has challenged us all to discern how we live as Church in the future. The Pope was very clear that this was not intended to be a comprehensive review of doctrine, rather it is about how we…
Aubrey Malone
Brendan O’Regan
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
Nuala O’Loan