“Welcome to the desert of the real,” Morpheus tells Neo as he awakens from the computer-generated dreamworld into grim reality. The line, borrowed from Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard, captures a central modern anxiety: what if the world we experience is not real, but an illusion? In his work, Baudrillard – a French philosopher…
Q: Is it always wrong in every case to lie? What about the so-called ‘little white lie?’ I’m thinking of situations where you tell a person something you know is false to spare their feelings, when they’re likely never going to know the truth anyway. A: Our Catholic faith teaches us that lying is an offense against the…
The election of Robert Cardinal Provost as Pope has been met with a certain amount of warmth outside of the Church itself, which is surprising considering the profile of the man. In a time that sees the Church as an anachronism in the ‘developed’ world, an American ought to have felt like a step back…
My wife and I had the great fortune of being in St Peter’s Square as the sun was beginning to set behind the magnificent St Peter’s Basilica last Thursday evening. Having arrived for the evening ballot at 5pm and standing in anticipation with thousands of others, hope began to fade by 6pm for any sign…
The Augustinian mission in Nigeria brought widespread education that was essential for human development, Luca Attanasio hears Pope Leo XIV, besides a deep rootedness with South America, has a special bond with Africa developed through his many visits to the Augustinian missions on the continent both as Prior General of the Order (2001-2013) and as…
In his inaugural homily as Bishop of Rome and universal pastor of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to recommit to the mission of the Gospel with courage, humility, and trust in God’s grace. Preaching in St Peter’s Basilica before an international congregation of cardinals, clergy, and laity, the newly elected Pope reflected…
Dr Kieran J. O’Mahony OSA Robert ‘Bob’ Prevost OSA, now Pope Leo XIV, is a member of the Order of St Augustine, the first to be elected as bishop of Rome. The Order is an old one, going back to 1256, taking its inspiration from the great St Augustine of Hippo. Of course people wonder…
50 Irish pilgrims’ Faith did not go unrewarded as they witnessed white smoke in St Peter’s Square, writes Michael Kelly When we first organised our Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome almost a year ago, we could never have imagined we would be there for the election of a…
This is just what Christian inclusiveness is about: all are invited; not to ‘more of the same,’ but to something new, radical, and wonderful, writes Fr Chris Hayden Welcoming, openness, acceptance; inclusiveness, inclusion, inclusivity… these ideas have become part of the air we breathe. Their goodness is as taken-for-granted as that of fresh air, wholesome…
Diarmuid Lyng has always been more than a hurler. The former Wexford captain known for his pace and skill in the yellow and gold, has long traded the pitch for the sacred landscape of Ireland’s hills and heritage. These days, he’s more likely to be found deep in the wilds, guiding young people through Irish…
Michael Kelly