The Sunday Gospel On a sabbath day Jesus was invited for a meal to the house of a leading Pharisee (Luke 14:1). No table was considered blessed unless a scholar sat at it. The body will savour the delights of victual and vine all the more if the meal is salted with lively table-talk. In Luke’s…
The findings of the largest consultation process ever undertaken in the Church in Ireland – part of the synodal pathway – were sent to Rome this week. Here The Irish Catholic presents a summary of the 15 major themes of the report. Abuse as part of the story of the Church The scale of…
The Sunday Gospel Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. Last Sunday, we heard him say that he had come to bring fire to the earth and that he would have to plunge into the sea of suffering, a prospect that caused him great distress. Somebody came up to him and asked, “Sir, will there…
Soaring inflation and the impacts of Covid-19 are causing increasing strife in Lebanon, writes Chai Brady Despite Lebanon being considered by the World Bank as an upper middle-income country, they face a plethora of crises which are being acutely felt by the most vulnerable and discriminated in society. The country has seen the worst food…
The Sunday Gospel My inspiration this week takes the Second Reading (Hebrews 12:1-4) as a lead in to the Gospel of the day (Luke 12: 49-53). “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection.” I have often taken this sentence as the theme of…
Irish Catholic philosopher William Desmond warns that modern Ireland has desanctified life, writes Ruadhán Jones Reflecting on his return to Ireland in 1995, Cork-born philosopher William Desmond wrote that one sees home “in a doubled way” after a long time away. “There is no simple univocal home ever more.” I spoke to Prof. Desmond almost…
There is a misunderstanding regarding priestly celibacy, sexual frustration and the abuse crisis according to experts, writes Chai Brady If a random person walking down any Irish street were to be queried about the reasons behind the child abuse crisis in the Church, there’s a high chance they would say priestly celibacy was the cause.…
An extensive collection of the famed apologist’s personal belongings offers a glimpse into the mind of the man, writes Jason Osborne Fans of the ‘Apostle of Common Sense’ and the ‘Prince of Paradox’ Gilbert Keith Chesterton will be delighted to learn that the Notre Dame London Global Gateway has amassed a treasure-trove of the Catholic…
The Sunday Gospel “Character, like a photograph, is developed in darkness.” So said Yousuf Karsh, the great portrait photographer, who had extraordinary ability in balancing light and darkness to portray not only the outer visage but also the inner character of his subject. All three readings on this Sunday touch on the theme of faith…
Those in solitary confinement face higher risk of depression, anxiety and self-harm according to a new study from Queen’s University Belfast, writes Liam Fitzpatrick For a British prisoner in solitary confinement to have the same freedom of movement in his cell as a British mouse does in his cage, he would have to be two…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones