Mary Kenny
Just as the coronavirus (Covid-19) took hold in America – and all over Europe – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, familiarly known as Harry and Meghan, launched their new project. This is a charitable foundation called ‘Archewell’, and it will replace their previous ‘Sussex Royal’ brand, which, having chucked their relationship with British royalty, they have been disallowed from using.
‘Archewell’, Meghan and Harry have explained, derives from the Greek word for a ‘source of action’. They said: “We connected to this concept for the charitable organisation we hope to build one day and it became an inspiration for our son’s name.” Archie, of course, is their 11-month-old little boy.
It’s not yet clear what ‘Archewell’ will do by way of charity works. The world pandemic has marginalised many endeavours, and Harry and Meghan are still developing their plans. It will very likely include campaigning for climate change action – though, with bitter irony, Covid-19 has already cleansed and sweetened the global air by virtually collapsing the airline business – mental health, women’s aid, migrants’ assistance and perhaps projects for disabled soldiers, if Harry has his input.
A degree of ridicule has arisen for ‘Archewell’. Does the ‘Duchess of Do-Good’ not know that there are thousands of other charities in the world which have already put their energies into all these good causes? I have heard mental health campaigners grumble that these royal princes – William as well – have waded into this field without knowing much about the complexities of schizophrenia, psychotic disorders or bi-polar depression. They lost their mother at an early age, which was desperately sad, and a deep grief. But it is not the same as having a serious mental health illness caused by brain dysfunction or psychotic episodes triggered by drug use.
Still, Meghan and Harry’s ‘Archewell’ project is interesting. Their statements have included the explanation that they want “to do something of meaning, to do something that matters”.
Significant
This is a really significant phrase, it seems to me – it might even be said to contain an aspiration and a philosophy which touches the human condition. Isn’t that what so many people, everywhere, want: “To do something of meaning, to do something that matters”? Viktor Frankl, the Austrian neurologist and survivor of the Nazi death camps even wrote a book about that deep, insistent quest, Man’s Search for Meaning.
Meghan and Harry’s escape to Los Angeles – from the rather more soberly rustic charms of provincial Canada – has been mocked in view of the location’s association with Hollywood, glamourous beaches and designer shopping. Yet behind it all, there is a search for a ‘meaningful’ life, which is not an ignoble idea.
To some extent, I would also suggest it is a replacement for religion. When religious faith weakens, or religious leaders seem more like social workers, then a new urge arises in the hearts of reflective people to find meaning and depth.
Nevertheless, Meghan and Harry turned down an Australian request to name a life-saving firefighting aircraft “Archie”. Meaning or no meaning, the abiding principle of intellectual property rights endures: ‘keep control of the brand’!
l I was surprised by the number of people who followed a ‘Pray for Boris’ social media message when the British Prime Minister was struck down with Covid-19. A young woman appeared at Westminster with the slogan written across the front of her bicycle.
Boris’ deputy, Dominic Raab, who is a Christian, said at every press conference “our thoughts and prayers are with him”, as did his colleagues Michael Gove and Teresa May.
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It is well known that the evangelisation of Ireland was accomplished without martyrs – the Irish took to Christianity so naturally that there was no struggle and no bloodshed. But St Donnán, who died in the year 617, does count as an Irish saintly martyr, according to Pádraig Ó Riain’s detailed Dictionary of Irish Saints.
Donnán was among the Irish holy men whose mission was in Scotland, and he and his community on Eigg, an island on the west coast of Scotland just off Argyle, were surprised by robbers while they were singing psalms. They were martyred when their church was burned. Several churches in Scotland still bear Donnán’s name, and his feast day is April 17.