Q: In the Apostles Creed, we say that Jesus “descended into hell” after he died on the cross. But why would Jesus go to hell if he was sinless? A: The short answer is that Jesus was not sent to hell as a consequence for his own sinfulness, but in order to free us…
With the resurrection of Jesus, time started over. Simply put, up until Jesus rose from the dead all things that died stayed dead. After Jesus’ resurrection, nothing stays dead anymore. Time has begun anew. Luke’s Gospel account of the resurrection begins with the words, “on the morning of the first day”. This is a double…
In her wonderful prayer of the ‘Magnificat’, Mary glorifies God who has “brought down the powerful from their thrones and raised up the lowly” (Luke 1:52). With these words, Mary testifies to the reversal of order inaugurated by the kingdom of her Son whereby worldly power structures and expectations would be turned on their heads…
“Spring is God’s quiet whisper to a weary world: I am still here. I am still at work. I am not finished yet,” writes Ronan Scully For me Spring is a season of renewal, reflection, and compassion. After the long, cold months of winter, there comes a moment, sometimes quietly, when the earth exhales. The…
Several bishops’ conferences around the world have echoed Pope Leo XIV’s call to pray for peace on April 11. During his “urbi et irbi” (“to the city and the world”) message on Easter Sunday, the Holy Father called for a prayer vigil for peace to be held Saturday at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.…
Beyond hopes for spiritual renewal and reconciliation in a country fractured by violence, Pope Leo XVI’s planned visit to Cameroon has sparked what the Archbishop of Bamenda describes as “an infrastructure miracle.” In a wide-ranging interview on PRC TV, Archbishop Andrew Nkea stated that the papal visit has served as an unmatched catalyst for socio-economic…
Thomas More: A Life and Death in Tudor England, by Joanne Paul (Penguin Books, £12.99 / Michael Joseph €32.00 hb) Thomas More has been a figure of such controversy as to make even the opening sentence of this review seem problematic: should he be entitled as St Thomas or Sir Thomas? In following the author of…
Ar mhothaís riamh go raibh rudaí imithe sa mhullach ort, ag obair nó i gcaidreamh éigin? Táimíd go léir taréis “droch lá sa oifig” a bheith againn. Sa bhaile b’fhéidir, nó B’fhéidir go mbaineann sé codhladh na hoiche dinn le barr buairt agus imní, gur mhaith linn rith agus ealú uaidh ar fad seachas seasamh…
Jiving With Wasps: New and Selected Poems, by Rita Ann Higgins (Bloodaxe Books, €16.95 / £9.95) Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people”, the poet Adrian Mitchell famously pronounced. Rita Ann Higgins doesn’t fall into that category. As readable and accessible a poet as the late Paul Durcan, she could fairly…
There is considerable evidence throughout Scripture, which supplies theological significance to the concept. Even today we see many embracing this activity with passion and the commitment of time and resources. Pilgrimage is a part of many of the great religions of the world, for in religion humanity seeks the answers to life’s core questions. Pilgrimage…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Fr John McCarthy