love – Dominican Friars Ireland

It is all the same mystery.

Archivist Author — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:29:44 +0000

The Irish Dominicans are always fond of recalling memories of past brethren. One particular memory is that of our brother William Barden, Archbishop of Isfahan of the Latins. Archbishop William was noted for his intense spiritual life and his deep insights into the Christian mystery. One day, just before the community processed out for Christmas Mass, […]

Who needs to be reminded of that?

Archivist Author — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:57:23 +0000

A few years ago I went to visit a friend. My friend looked at my crucifix with a certain distaste saying “You Catholics are always promoting that horrific and dark symbol of suffering, who needs to be reminded of that?”It is true that Catholics venerate and exalt the Crucifix to remind themselves of Jesus’s death […]

Love your neighbour as yourself

Archivist Author — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 10:00:46 +0000

Being in the Church can make life difficult. Having to throw in your lot with such a mixed bag of characters presents us with unpleasant possibilities: difficult fellow pew-dwellers, boring ceremonies, unwelcome teachings, constant demands on our charity… It’s hard not to sympathise with those who choose the more peaceful and exalted path of ‘spirituality’ […]

An Apprenticeship in Love

Archivist Author — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:00:46 +0000

It is a good thing for us that God’s ways are not man’s ways. God understands our weaknesses and still loves us. This is evidenced by the way Jesus takes Peter under his wing, promising to build His Church on Peter’s confession of faith. Such a turn of events might not have been possible according […]

“O unutterable Love”

Archivist Author — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:53:01 +0000

St. Catherine of Siena, in her conversation with God the Father, posed a question regarding creation; “Why did you create, you who are so perfect, who lacks and needs nothing?” The Father answers her saying that He creates us out of his overflowing goodness and love. Hence the creation is fundamentally a free […]

Thou shalt not not love

Archivist Author — Thu, 22 May 2014 17:45:36 +0000

There are many ways to come to know a society. How a society understands and presents itself to the world will be reflected in those things it values most. Various indicators reveal something of the forces that shape the way a society operates. Imagine a diplomat from a distant country, sent to establish relations […]

He was crushed for our iniquities

Archivist Author — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:52:38 +0000

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah: A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; One from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Yet ours were the grief He bore, our sorrows He carried; He was crushed for our iniquities; All of us like sheep have gone astray; […]