Mainly About Books by the books editor Recently we reviewed Elizabeth Mac Donald’s novel A Matter of Interpretation about Michael Scot and his lifelong interaction with the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (1195-1250), the Norman who ruled Sicily and Southern Italy, and was one of the leading figures in the political and…
As India continues to experience violent protests against a controversial citizenship law, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai has said citizenship should never be based on a person’s religion. “The ongoing controversy and demonstrations and counterdemonstrations concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act (are) a cause of great anxiety for all citizens and could harm the country,” Cardinal…
Mindful Living My parents watched the Late Late Show every Friday night and that show vied with the Riordans for top place in everyday conversation the following week. Both shows explored in their own way a changing Irish society. The whole culture of Irish society has changed in the intervening years, including the authority…
The Catholic Faith is anything but in decline in Ireland, writes Amy McCann The annual Youth 2000 Christmas retreat is, for many of its veterans, the highlight of a year filled with prayer groups, regional retreats and a vibrant summer festival. This was my first Christmas retreat, and it was not hard to see…
The founder of a pioneering pilgrimage to Lourdes for people living with disabilities has died. Bro. Michael Strode died on December 27. He was 96. Dr Michael Strode, or Bro. Michael as he was called after he became a Cistercian monk in later life, was born in Surrey in 1923 and trained to be a…
State Papers Echoes of the past from the archives As a consequence of the Wood Quay affair in 1970s and the social, political and environmental damage it did, the preservation of Ireland’s complicated heritage was on the minds of many in the late 1980s. There was then an idea promoted by a group which…
I pulled in to the airport drop-off zone with some trepidation. My wife was travelling overseas for an important course. This meant that our breastfed baby had to travel with her too. For nine whole days, I would be alone at home with the three bigger kids. The oldest two would be fine. They would…
Dear Editor, After reading Bairbre Cahill’s piece on ‘It’s time to end the sacramental production line’ (IC 12/12/19) I can only give you my own experience. Could I suggest that we bring the preparation into the schools rather than taking it out? I was one of those parents who just brought their children for sacraments…
Personal Struggle: Oppression, healing and liberation by Dr Seán Ruth (Atrium / Cork University Press, €14.95) The title may, for some, carry echoes of the 1970s. But in a sense the problems identified then by theologians and social activists have not gone away. They have got worse in many respects (especially in Latin American). Worse the…
A happy and celebratory New Year as we remember Beethoven’s 250th anniversary. Born in Bonn in December 1770, he was the second son of court musician Johann and his wife Maria Magdalena. Somewhat harsh and severe, Johann was Ludwig’s first teacher. The composer’s mother was a quiet and serious person and Beethoven was very fond…
Peter Costello
Rory Fitzgerald