Tag Archives: Spirituality

Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, on Saturday 3 October 2020 during a visit to Assisi. The phrase ‘Fratelli Tutti’ is taken from the writings of St. Francis, one of the major inspirations for Pope Francis’ third encyclical, on fraternity and social friendship. The full text of the encyclical, the third of Pope Francis’ pontificate was released on Sunday ...

Often times, as the season starts to change, we sense the subtle shifting of the light to herald autumnal days and all the leave-taking that this can ask of nature and of us.  This changing rhythm can also herald a space for change in us. Perhaps a change in our way of seeing, being, discovering or responding to the needs ...

Reading the recent insights shared by Pope Francis at his Wednesday Audience on August 19th, where he reminds us that we must always keep in mind the “preferential option for the poor.” He said: “This is not a political, ideological, or partisan option” … rather, “the preferential option for the poor is at the centre of the Gospel.”  He goes ...

It is past mid-summer.  Our lives seem in these days to be juxta-positioned as part of a profound and challenging landscape of suffering humanity. Perhaps we have never been so inter-connected and so interwoven into the lives of others by the very separation we endure in this COVID-19 environment, that it challenges us to love and care for the other ...

The genealogy of Jesus in Mathew 1:1 – 17 names only five women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary.  For centuries people have been intrigued by the inclusion of these diverse and often unorthodox women.  This online course offered by Mount St. Anne’s Retreat and Conference Centre is an opportunity to explore their individual stories through scripture and art, and ...

Poetry Day Ireland takes place on Thursday 30 April 2020 and the theme this year is ‘There will be time’.  Whether you share a poem, read a poem, or programme your own online event, everyone is invited to join in and celebrate this day.  The fact that the theme for this day is on time could not be more apt ...

I love the concept of a litany as a poetic form of ‘call and response’.  Also the fact that it is both prayer, petition and pleading but with a comforting rhythm and trust that it will be heard and heeded.  The Greek origin of the word means “entreaty” or “supplication”. In prayer and religious ritual it has such positive cogitations, ...

Having read many pieces written in the past weeks about what is needed to maintain one’s sanity and balance in these perilous and challenging times that we are living now, it seems to me that what is needed is something more than maintaining our balance and well-being.  It is also about sustaining and nurturing our relationship with each other and ...

  At 12 noon today, Wednesday 25th March, 2020  on the Feast of the Annunciation of Mary, families, individuals and religious communities joined with bishops and priests from all over the island of Ireland in consecrating the people of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for strength and protection from the Coronavirus, Covid-19. This Consecration also coincided with an ...

Often one can get to know a person in a totally different way (aside from their public persona) from studying their writings.  St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching (17th March) and much is ‘greened’ and said and sung about him, oft times woven from and into myth and celebrations. Who was Patrick? I grew up nearby the familiar and often ...