Lectio Divina continually invites us beyond ourselves, teaching us to recognise others in the text and to allow the Word to speak, says Fr Barry White Christianity is not, as Pope Benedict XVI so often reminded us, an intellectual system, a packet of dogmas, or a moralism. Christianity is an encounter, a love story;…
God’s love, always moving outward toward the most vulnerable, forms the backdrop to my own experience of encountering the poor says Fr Barry White Pope Francis’s call for “a Church which is poor and for the poor,” along with St Vincent de Paul’s reminder that “the poor have much to teach you,” inspired me to…
As we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the birth of St Oliver Plunkett (1625–1681), we also remember another great figure of ecclesial renewal: Ladislas Örsy SJ, who died earlier this year on April 3, at the age of 103. A Hungarian-American theologian and canon lawyer (1921–2025), Örsy was one of the most insightful interpreters of…
Walking with St John Henry Newman on the path of the ‘kindly light’ One Friday evening, running out of Mullingar along the Greenway towards Athlone, I turned at the 18km mark and began my journey back. The sun was just setting in a glorious blaze, leaving a red glow on the horizon before dusk fell…
When I think back on childhood, my grandfather’s garden in Rathkenny, Co. Meath often comes to mind. Hydrangeas, roses, lupins, and marigolds bloomed in neat order, a little world of colour and care. For me, it was something like a miniature Chelsea Flower Show—alive, vibrant, and ordered. It is no surprise that Scripture so often…
Pope Leo XIV’s first 100 days show a clear mission of unity, says Fr Barry White Political leaders are often judged by their first 100 days in office. While the papacy is not a political role, the early months of a pontificate offer a valuable moment to pause and reflect. Since his election, Pope Leo…
Each pilgrimage has marked a turning point in my vocation. This Jubilee in Rome, my first as a priest, was no different, says Fr Barry White From July 28 to August 3, I joined thousands of young pilgrims in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth—a festival of faith, fun and friendship. From the vibrant opening…
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, which premiered in Paris in 1875. A scandal at the time, Carmen revolutionised opera—no kings or noble heroines, but instead soldiers, smugglers and bullfighters. Bizet’s heroine, Carmen, is bold, unpredictable, and free-spirited, living by her own rules. She captivates Don José; whose obsessive love…
The resurrection of Peter At the end of The Georgics, Virgil retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice—a story of love, loss, and irreversible failure. After Eurydice dies from a snakebite on her wedding day, Orpheus charms the rulers of the underworld with music to win her back. They agree—on one condition: he must not…
I remember exactly where I was on August 15, 2004. Sitting in my grandparents’ house, all I wanted was to watch Match of the Day. Chelsea had played, and I was eager to see the highlights. But there was no football that morning—RTÉ was broadcasting a Mass from Lourdes, celebrated by a very frail Pope…