While political and civil unrest France has punctuated life in France for quite a while, this unrest has increased in recent years. 2016 saw protests against labour-law reforms, which were marked by clashes between more radical demonstrators and police. Such clashes ushered in a new era with regard to street demonstrations. The Yellow Vest movement…
Charity (agape),” writes St Paul in his Letter to the Romans, “does no wrong to one’s neighbour; therefore charity is the fullness of the Law.” Charity does not denote any kind of love. It is a love whereby one sacrifices oneself for God and, consequently, for one’s neighbour. It is, moreover, a supernatural kind of…
The themes of wisdom, predestination, and eternal destiny are intimately connected with each other. God in His wisdom guides all things according to the designs of His Providence to the ends that are proper to them. In creating all things, He has endowed them with their distinct natures by which they seek their fulfilment. He…
The world is in turmoil. Europe is in chaos. Metaphorically speaking, a hurricane is raging all around us. How are we to respond? Certainly, there are those whose response is to enter into the fray. That can possibly be a legitimate reaction but it perhaps at times contributes to the chaos and confusion of our…
The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14). These words of St Paul lay bare the dynamics of the Christian life in which the Cross of Christ is central. The great mystics have…
For Catholics, true human freedom is possible only inasmuch as reason and will participate or share in God’s wisdom and providence writes Fr Kevin O’Reilly OP In recent times in Ireland and elsewhere, the legal protection for the unborn has been removed. Same-sex marriage has received constitutional recognition, and now there are moves to legalise…
Bro. Kevin O’Reilly OP A new musical prodigy has appeared in our midst: Alma Deutscher, an 11-year-old English girl, has been causing quite a sensation in the world of classical music. Although she prefers not to be compared with Mozart, it’s difficult not to think in these terms. Hearing is believing when it comes to…
The preacher’s role is communication