Brian Fahy reflecting on the life of Alphonsus Liguori comments that ‘Life is not perfect, but our lives can be brilliant all the same.
I often wondered what happened to all the priests and brothers and sisters who left years ago. Their going would look like desertion when in fact it was a search for life. ‘
Our thanks to Thomas O’Loughlin for permission to publish his article on our website. It first appeared in ‘Liturgy, Volume 42, Issue 3,’ Catholic Diocese of Auckland. It is available on the website of the University of Nottingham. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47628/8/Eucharist%20Yesterday%20and%20Tomorrow%20NZ.pdf
Seamus Ahearne casts a cold eye on ‘The present day chaos of bureaucracy (that) almost drowns our souls.’; ‘the great competition going on between the ‘essential’ aspects of life and the nonsense of paperwork or meetings to protect our backs.’
Seamus asks of our celebration of Eucharist ‘Do we find it prayerful ourselves (as priests)?
Of the political he says “The Government gets strangled by stray issues. … So much of it is an avoidance of the real problems.”
But then the sight of a “little cowslip. It stops me. And I gasp. What stops other people? … I think our job … is to open eyes, hearts, imaginations and then to help each other, see. Then real worship will follow. Then the Scriptures will come alive. Then Communion will happen. Then our faith will be confirmed.”
The recently published ‘Whistle Blower’ by Pádraig McCarthy will be launched on Tuesday, 01 May, 3.30 – 4.30pm. in the Glass Room Suites at the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (entry via Fire Restaurant).
John J Shea again writes to Pope Francis and the Council of Cardinals on the issue of the ordination of women.
John says to Pope Francis “You kept insisting: “dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.” In fact, you said: “dialogue fearlessly.”
Yet, there is not nor has there been any dialogue—fearless, gender inclusive, or otherwise—on the ordination of women, arguably the most important issue in the church. As Supreme Pontiff can you call now for synodal dialogue and end the appalling silence of our church?”
Chris McDonnell writes, in the Catholic Times 13 April, on the significance of ‘breaking the bread’ together.
“It is important that we recognise that we not only receive the Risen Christ but share that experience with each other.”
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called Good Shepherd Sunday, because the readings are about the care we receive from Christ, our true shepherd, a care Christians are invited to copy. Today is also the day of prayer for vocations.
We’re two weeks into the Easter season now, but the Good News of the season continues to reverberate in the Liturgy. Joyfully we worship God who raised our Saviour from the dead.
Seamus Ahearne takes a look at current happenings and decides that we should ‘Accentuate the Positive’.
“never mind what has happened or is happening or how church people are characterised – we still are missioned and graced by God. We need to believe in ourselves. We need to get on with life. We may age. We may not have replacements. But faith goes on. God goes on. The sun still rises. The daffodils still fight their way out of the ground and are heard and seen despite the bad weather. Why can’t we do the same? Get on with it. “
Seamus also confirms that he won’t be the next Archbishop of Dublin!
After six years of suspension from public ministry, without even the semblance of due process, Tony Flannery writes that “the memories of that time come back clearly, and I know that there is still a residue of hurt, regret and sadness.” ….
“I do actually believe that my Redemptorist superiors, or indeed the Irish bishops, if they really wanted to, could do something in this present very different climate in the Church, to get the sanctions against me lifted, and to restore my good name.
My biggest complaint from the beginning was the unjust and unlawful procedures that were used to judge and condemn me.”
Pope Francis has issued his apostolic exhortation “Rejoice and Be Glad; On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World.”
It includes a little advice about how misuse of technology can prevent holiness.
“115. Christians too can be caught up in networks of verbal violence through the internet and the various forums of digital communication. Even in Catholic media, limits can be overstepped, defamation and slander can become commonplace, and all ethical standards and respect for the good name of others can be abandoned. The result is a dangerous dichotomy, since things can be said there that would be unacceptable in public discourse, and people look to compensate for their own discontent by lashing out at others. It is striking that at times, in claiming to uphold the other commandments, they completely ignore the eighth, which forbids bearing false witness or lying, and ruthlessly vilify others. Here we see how the unguarded tongue, set on fire by hell, sets all things ablaze (cf. Jas 3:6).”
Association of Catholics in Ireland are planning a pre-World Meeting of Families public event for Saturday, 14 April 2018 at the Hilton Hotel, Charlemont Place, Dublin 2.
Pádraig McCarthy reminds us that Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on 4 April 1968, at the age of 39.
“On the 50th anniversary of his death we could be challenged today just as much as then by his words.”
A link to the RTE Prime Time programme “Is the Church verging on schism?”
https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/prime-time-30003251/10858801/?ap=1
News Item of Interest;
The Irish Examiner of 03 April 2018 carries an article titled “Special Report – Diocese by diocese: The state of the Catholic Church on the island of Ireland today”
Brendan Hoban writes in his weekly Western People column, and in the Irish Examiner of 03 April, of the changing Ireland we live in:
“While most people are content to try and navigate the uncertain currents of the modern world, the leaders of the Catholic Church seem reluctant to enter its choppy waters. They don’t seem to be able to let go of the anchors that once stabilised the foundations around which we built the Church of the past but that now bind us to the wisdom of a different world.”
Homily of Archbishop Eamon Martin for the Mass of Chrism –
“We must not think we have always to be in control, always to be ‘the fixers’, the ones with all the answers, forgetting that we too are human; we have our own sinfulness, vulnerabilities and needs. It is not a sign of weakness as a priest to admit that you sometimes fail, or need help and accompaniment.”
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