Ruadhán Jones explores a little-known Christmas treasure by JRR Tolkien JRR Tolkien exists in the minds of many as the creator the 20th century’s great epic, The Lord of the Rings. Epic in the breadth of its world building, epic also in the span of its action and, finally, epic in the scope of its…

Aontú leader and TD Peadar Tóibín opens up about faith, cancer and the future of the Church, writes Ruadhán Jones Aontú leader and Meath TD Peadar Tóibín made a name for himself in 2018 when he and one other Sinn Féin TD refused to toe the party line over the question of abortion. He was…

When we no longer see the natural world as something to be nurtured; the powerful seize and extract all they can from it while putting nothing back, writes Pope Francis In times of crisis and tribulation, when we are shaken out of our sclerotic habits, the love of God comes out to purify us, to…

Catholic comedienne and mother of six Jen Fulwiler speaks to Ruadhán Jones about Catholicism and comedy Militant atheist, computer programmer turned Catholic comedienne and mother of six – Jennifer (Jen) Fulwiler has led a busy life. To say the least, it wasn’t how she expected it to turn out. But now, having just released an…

Rather than cease operations in the face of this pandemic, Youth 2000 increased our ministry with young people writes Róisín O’Rourke One summer several years ago, I attended one of my first Youth 2000 retreats down in Clonmacnoise. It was Saturday evening during the healing and reconciliation service and I had received the Sacrament of…

The perceived key to happiness today is to change the world, but in reality the solution is to be transformed yourself writes Jason Osborne St Maximus the Confessor held that the world is a reflection of man, and man is a reflection of the world, and that has certainly been my experience. As the world…

Author Catherine Pepinster says new persecutions and old saints means martyrs still matter, writes Ruadhán Jones The concept of martyrdom has a rich heritage in the Christian tradition, and an equally impressive list of martyred saints. As Christ gave his life on the Cross for all humanity, martyrs from Roman times to today have lived his call…

Suicide awareness activist Elber Twomey tells Ruadhán Jones how faith helped her to cope with grief We don’t know how we will react to extreme situations until they happen. Most would be happy never to experience violence or death or personal tragedy. On July 6, 2012, Elber Twomey of Meelin, Co. Cork had to face…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Our journey through Advent has highlighted hope, the virtue that keeps us going through darkness and coldness. We are going through a winter under the restrictions of coping with the Covid-19 virus. It is a severe winter for the homeless and for people who have lost their…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Two great prophets stride into our liturgical readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, Isaiah and John the Baptist. We usually think of prophets as people who foretell the future but that is only partially true. The real meaning of prophecy is revealing and proclaiming God’s presence…