Simon Lewis wrote a challenging article in The Irish Times recently about First Holy Communion. He was chatting over a few drinks to a psychologist, who was preparing for the sacrament by spending weeks doing up the house and garden and securing a bouncy castle, no easy feat. The worst part, she told him, was…
It’s funny how times change. The early 2000s were dominated by the Four Horsemen of the New Atheism, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins. Sam Harris wrote two books, The End of Faith (2004) and Letter to a Christian Nation (2006), and the others wrote one each, celebrating the end of religion…
The world was shocked by footage of a 48-year-old French sister being randomly attacked by a stranger in Jerusalem, who then returned to kick her on the ground. The attack took place outside the Cenacle, a site sacred to Jews and Christians, as it is believed to be the burial place of King David and…
Moya Brennan’s death saddened many people. Whatever the opposite of having notions is, Moya Brennan epitomised it. She had a God-given talent and used it in service of Him. After her death, Oliver Callan interviewed Donal Lunny, who collaborated with Clannad and later, Moya Brennan in her solo career. He said, “She carried it in…
Before Easter, Notre Dame, Indiana, posted on Facebook requesting that people not line up before 9 am for the Holy Saturday liturgy, which was set to begin at 9 pm. All attendees needed to be physically present by 6:30 pm. Why would people have to queue for 12 hours for a Holy Saturday liturgy? Room…
This Lent, my husband and I started watching The Chosen streaming series again. We are working through Season Four, although Season Five is already available. The Chosen is the first multi-season series based on the life of Jesus. It is the brainchild of Dallas Jenkins, a conservative Evangelical, who, along with Angel Studios, crowdfunded the…
Fashions in baby names can be revealing. The CSO has an online facility where you can check the popularity of various baby names, although it only goes back to 1964. Patrick was the second most popular boy’s name in 1964, and stayed in the top three until 1974, and in the top five until 1990.…
When the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s death was announced on February 17, people started forwarding a clip from Sesame Street in 1972. Jackson led black, white, Asian and Hispanic children sitting on the famous Sesame Street stoop in a call and response. Each sentence ended with “I am – somebody!” It was an iconic moment, not…
In Islamic thought, there is a concept called Ahl al-Kitab, meaning People of the Book. This primarily refers to Muslims, Jews and Christians, believers who have experienced divine revelation and codified it in a book. While there are large differences in how these three faith traditions understand the role of their sacred texts, books are…
As a woman named Breda, one of the many diminutives of Brigid, I feel protective of my patron. I have no problem with people who prefer to venerate the goddess Brigid, but I do wish they would also give due respect to Brigid the saint. The narrative that St Brigid is merely a Christianised, inferior…