The Sunday Gospel The Gospel according to Luke will be read at Sunday Mass this year. Today’s Gospel might well be called ‘introductions’. In two separate extracts we have Luke’s introduction to his writing (Luke 1: 1-4), followed by his introduction to the public ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:14-21). In classical style he addresses his…
Fr Frainc Mac Brádaigh SJ To say that Michael lived a very full life would be both an understatement and to miss the point. Well educated with five masters, one each in English, Reconciliation studies, and drugs and addictions and two in theology would only highlight his desire to understand but miss the point of…
No amount of talking and listening to each other will help the Church if those talking are uninformed or misinformed about matters of faith and morals, writes Dr John Murray No doubt the Church needs to improve its internal and external communication. And the synodal process, at diocesan, national, and global level might help to…
Actor Max McLean is to be credited with bringing Christian legend C.S. Lewis’ conversion to life on stage and on the big screen, writes Jason Osborne Few contemporary Christian authors or thinkers have gripped the Faithful’s, of all denominations, imagination like C.S. Lewis. The Northern Irishman’s story is increasing in resonance as the decades progress,…
Tuam’s new archbishop Dr Francis Duffy is looking forward to taking up his role, he tells Ruadhán Jones The tasks facing any new Irish bishop or archbishop are likely to be similar; declining vocations, a shrinking Church and a global pandemic. But despite the challenges, Archbishop Francis Duffy is looking forward to getting started, hoping…
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has deemed physician assisted suicide and euthanasia poor medical practice in a new paper, writes Jason Osborne The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland (CPsychI), the professional body for psychiatrists in Ireland, has come out against the proposed introduction of physician assisted suicide and euthanasia (PAS-E) to Ireland in a…
The Sunday Gospel Christmas may be gone but we are still celebrating the Epiphany, that is the manifestation of the divinity of Jesus. There were three great moments of revelation. First was the adoration of the Magi and the three symbolic gifts. Next was last Sunday’s reading of the Baptism of Jesus when the voice…
Birth of a State; the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Micheál Ó Fathartaigh and Liam Weeks (Irish Academic Press, €19.95/£17.99) The Treaty: the gripping story of the negotiations that brought about Irish independence and led to the Civil War, Gretchen Friemann (Merrion Press, €16.95) Apart from two commemorative stamps issued by An Post, the centenary of the signing of…
The stamps, and a commemorative First Day Cover (FDC) envelope, were designed by leading designer Ger Garland. The first features the signatures of the Irish Treaty delegates – Arthur Griffith (leader), Michael Collins, Robert Barton, Éamon Duggan and George Gavan Duffy, and the British representatives – David Lloyd George (Prime Minister), Austen Chamberlain, Lord Birkenhead…
Even in our weak and vulnerable human nature, we have a great capacity to love which can be released through the Holy Spirit, writes Martin McGee OSB Blessed Pierre Claverie OP was born in Algeria in 1938 in a lower middle-class district of Algiers. Pierre, the elder of two children, experienced a very loving and…
Ruadhán Jones