Entertainment isn’t always life-giving. Recently, after a funeral, I spoke with a man, he was probably in his late 30s or early 40s. He was Irish and had been raised a Catholic. His story is all too common among our fellow Irish Catholics. He had received all the sacraments of initiation, Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.…
Justin robinson OSB An Armenian flag fluttered atop a pile of rubble in the cool evening, a welcome respite from the khamsin storm which had oppressed Jerusalem with days of hot dusty clouds coming from the deserts of Arabia. Hundreds of people shared a delicious buffet meal in the shadow of the flag and…
In a document that covers an enormous amount of ground, the Church risks upsetting and assuaging critics on both sides of the societal divide as it addresses the fundamental issue of human dignity in the latest Declaration from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Dignitas Infinita. What is the meaning of human dignity?…
This is the year of the regular biannual art exhibition in Venice bears the title ‘Foreigners Everywhere’. Opened on April 20 it runs until November 24. This year sees a return to the original post-war format of national pavilions. The result has been an increase of interest from many new countries outside Europe, especially in…
So many modern controversies involve clashes between conscience and state, between the Government and the governed, between conflicting world views. Issues of Conscience v. the State were central to the Terrence Malick film A Hidden Life (Channel 4, Sunday) – the true story of Catholic conscientious objector Franz Jagerstatter in Austria during World War II.…
Sr Anne Marie Walsh SOLT “Your beliefs don’t make you a good person. Your behaviour does.” This is a meme that floats around Facebook every so often, but the idea has been around from the beginning of time. It’s been noted that the devil believes in God but is no better off for it. Just…
Dear Editor, I’m delighted and welcome Dublin airport’s decision to reverse the ban on the blessing of planes airside. It’s unfortunate that the initial announcement was made at all. The sudden change, and then reversal in policy was bizarre, particularly considering the longstanding relationship between parish and airport. Fr Des Doyle’s remarks about the supportive…
Q: I have a confession question. I have heard that past sins, either venial or mortal, even after confessing them stay with you somewhat and only ‘really’ get dismissed after your soul is scrubbed clean by time in purgatory. So would someone with a very bad past who does a turn-around, goes to Confession and…
A recent NSO concert at the NCH had the orchestra’s principal conductor Jaime Martín directing a Slavonic programme through music by Smetana (Vltava, a marvellous musical picture of that river as it flows through the Bohemian countryside and celebrating the composer’s bicentenary this year), Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations had Madrid-born Pablo Ferrández as…
People are asking for reasons to believe, so let’s give it to them, writes Eoin McCormack Recently I attended a ‘Meetup’ event in Dublin city centre. For anyone unfamiliar with the concept, ‘Meetup’ is a social media platform for organising events and gatherings for people with similar interests. This event, being advertised to take place…
Peter Costello
Brendan O’Regan