Posts

Showing posts from January, 2021

Somewhere...

Image
Somewhere there must be a ray of light that dispels the darkness of the future, a hope that does not permit itself to be slain by disenchantment, a faith that does not lose immediately faith in itself. Somewhere there must be an innocent child that demons have not conquered, a freshness of life which does not emanate rottenness, a happiness not founded on the misfortune of others. Somewhere there must be a wise wake-up call that alerts one to the dangers of self-destructing games, a gravity that one dares take seriously and a goodness whose root is not simply restrained evil. Somewhere there must be a beauty that continues to be beauty, a pure conscience that does not hide a solitary crime; there must be a love for life that does not speak an ambiguous language and a freedom that does not rely on the oppression of others. Maria Wine

When there are no words...

Let the people be cherished.  Let the stories be told.  Let the truth be heard.  Let the pain discomfort us.  Let the hurt be held gently but firmly in the sacred space of healing and resolve.  Let our hearts be infinite abysses of love and compassion.  Let our lips speak when needed and hush when it's necessary.  Let our eyes be opened to the blindness which enveloped our Church, our society, our country.  Let our ears hear with kindness and commitment, our response be of promise.  Above all, let it never happen again.  #motherandbabyhomes #KyrieEleison

Baptised-blessed-beloved

Image
"And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” You are God’s beloved. That word “beloved" means every inch of what it sounds like. In Greek it is, “agapetos” which means “loved with agape” – loved with a love that is deep, active, self-sacrificing and absolutely unconditional. This is a love that doesn’t have to be earned. This is a deep love that just is .God gives us life and unconditional love. We are told to give God – nothing. Nothing is demanded of us before or after in return. There is nothing we can do that will cause God to stop loving us. Nothing will cause that love to be taken away. Instead we get an invitation, one that we are free to embrace or ignore. God invites us just to trust in the gift, to trust in the active, unconditional love God has for each one of us. Just to trust in it. Happy feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the day where we recall our own Baptism, where we became part of a community of Christ, as be

Praying in reparation #rte

Image
On New Year's Eve, as the world prepared to bid goodbye to a very difficult year of 2020, in Ireland, many sat down in the comfort of their homes to watch some TV, hoping for something uplifting, hope-filled, positive to welcome in 2021. However, our national broadcaster RTE decided, once more, to reduce to 'comedy' our faith as Catholics and as Christians with a blasphemous clip about God and the Blessed Mother. It was deemed as satirical to accuse 'God of raping a migrant girl (Mary).' This clip made little of our faith, our beliefs, of Christmas, of the solemn feast of Mary, Mother of God. Equally importantly, it made little of rape, with little thought for women and men who have been through this horrific ordeal.  It made little of migrants who may have had to flee their homelands and often put themselves in dangerous situations where they risked being trafficked or used. The skit was supposed to be a parody but it shone a light once more on how our national bro