A stained glass window from St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland, featuring saints Laurence O’Toole, Patrick, Bridget, Kevin, and in the lower row the Muredach, Dympna, Asicus, and Columbkill. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Andreas F. Borchert. Thomas Merton, the great American spiritual writer of the last century, told the story of a conversation with a friend that changed his life. His friend asked him one day what he would like to be in life. Merton answered: “A good Catholic”. His friend reminded him that his desire was too narrow and too…
