Not too long ago when a competitive spirit between Christians of different denominations was the order of the day and religious identity seemed more significant than it is now, there were accepted…
Brendan Hoban in his Western People column argues that for the Catholic Church the result of the referendum on same-sex marriage will matter less than the fall-out afterwards.
“Looking back on previous debates (on contraception, divorce, abortion) that divided the nation, neither side was prepared to take a long and respectful approach to the issues. Debates around difficult subjects and competing rights were marked by an absence of generosity on both sides.”
How is the constitution reform progressing?Miriam Duignan (Wijngaards Institute) was in Rome in August to attend the international WOW (Women’s Ordination Worldwide) meeting. Whilst there she delivered our proposed new…
Cherry Blossom: I drove down a street to meet a family in preparation for a funeral. The street is always very crowded with parked cars. Children can appear from anywhere…
ALCATRAZ: ‘Escape from Alcatraz ‘(1979) with Clint Eastwood, impressed many, and was a successful film. Seemingly, it aired recently on a South Florida PBS Station. Within hours, the Donald had…
Western People 23.7.2024 Once upon a time the annual announcement of priests’ changes – usually in June or July – was one of the high-points of the summer. Naturally it…
The Youth Of Age
…”I used to worry about sin;
now I have no time for this.
When I pick up the Scriptures,
the light streams out at me
The words tremble with life,
and shout:’Abundant Life.’
My memory is memorising:
all the strands are being drawn together.
I can now say:
‘I see, I hear, I know, I smile, I love.’
I see new words, hear new music, know in deeper tones,
I smile at my dreams, I love with the trees.
I see bright flames coming from human lips.
I see rippling water flowing in endless light.
No container on earth can keep this flowing.
All my life is now here in the palm of my hand:
I am child, maid, woman, crone.
I live it all, now more fully.
How can I now describe my lightsome life?
I see
I yearn yet.”
Hildegard of Bingen ( Praying with the Women Mystics, Mary T Malone, the Columba Press 2006)