Courtney McGrailThe Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged people to find time in the hectic schedule of shopping and Christmas preparation to pray. As he launched the Irish bishops’ 2016 online Advent calendar (www.catholicbishops.ie) this week, Dr Martin said: “As Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of our Lord, I encourage the faithful, notwithstanding our hectic schedule over the coming weeks, to make time to pray – alone and with loved ones – and by so doing to draw nearer to Christ.”
Pointing out that this year’s calendar also includes content from Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) and his new Apostolic Letter Mercy and Peace, Archbishop Martin invited the faithful to “reflect on the information provided…especially the themes of love in the family as well as mercy and peace”.