This article was first published in the book “Priesthood Today”, edited by Eamonn Conway. Brendan O’Rourke is a Redemptorist priest and psychotherapist. It is published here with the consent of the author.
Traditionally, this Sunday is called Laetare Sunday, which means ‘a day for joy’. Lent is half over, and the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus is nearer. At this midpoint of Lent, it is traditional to honour mothers, treasuring those still with us and praying for those we have lost to death.
After a very pleasant and enjoyable series of talks in various parts of the country, my ‘caravan’ is now coming to the capital. I am talking in the Stillorgan Park…
Clearly the ‘Francis effect’ is not making much impact on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as yet!!
praytellblog.com and the National Catholic Reporter are carrying reports that German Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has been dismissed by Pope Francis.
Mary Vallely, who states she’s a JC fan (yes, both!), would like to share this reflection for Lent.
On the Feast of the Annunciation this article might give an impetus to the discussion on women’s contribution to salvation history
Brendan Hoban’s article in The Western People argues that Irish Bishops may be too careful and too averse to risk. Instead, he says, they need to give the type of leadership people are asking for.
Today’s readings about water and thirst remind us that this is a baptismal season. During Lent, many people all over the world look forward to their baptism, while those already baptised prepare to renew their promises.
Sean O’Connaill deplores the bishops’ lack of transparency on the funding and independence of the national body for child protection that they set up (the NSBCCC), and hopes for the day when bishops will be accountable to their people.
Bill Tammeus, a Presbyterian elder, suggests a short list of disagreements Protestants might have with Pope Francis. (First published in the National Catholic Reporter on 19 March 2014: read original article and comments here.)
Just 12 days into the season of Lent, we keep the feast of Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. We mark the day by praising God the creator, who sustained Patrick, and who sustains the Church, in good times and bad.
The ACP Leadership Team welcome the publication by the Irish Bishops of a summary of the responses they received to the Synod survey, and note the similarity with the results produced by a similar survey on this website: all reveal a gap between church teaching and practice.
Now that we are ten days into the season of Lent, our goal is clarified in today’s liturgy. The Gospel of the Transfiguration reminds us that we are destined for glory. Like the disciples, we keep this glimpse of glory in our hearts in the dark days ahead. Resurection will follow, as surely as day follows night.
Gerry O’Hanlon SJ reviews Pope Francis’ first year and flags developments to watch out for. And he asks believers not simply to sit back and admire, but use the opportunities for dialogue Francis provides (first published in Irish Jesuit News).
Brendan Hoban argues that if a pre-nuptial agreement is part of the preparation for a marriage, then maybe it’s not a Christian marriage at all — because it implies the couple do not intend their marriage to last for life (first published in the Western People).
Bernard Cotter believes that reducing funeral liturgies to the question of whether or not they should include a eulogy misses the broader point: is a funeral Mass always pastorally appropriate?
Christa Pongratz-Lippitt reports Cardinal Lehmann’s challenging words, in this week’s Tablet
We celebrate the first Sunday of Lent. All over the world today, men and women are beginning a period of preparation for their baptism at the Easter Vigil. Like them, we spend Lent preparing to renew our baptismal vows at Easter, looking forward to our blessing with Easter water and to receiving the gift of a new start.
Kevin F Burke shares a reflection on blessings, which could form the basis of homiles during Lent/Easter.
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