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POWERHOUSE OF NO. 255 JUNE 2019 | 200,000 COPIES NATIONWIDE | WWW.ALIVE.IE | PRAYER PAGE 2 ALIVE!Actor, James Caviezel.

FROM PUB TO PULPIT PAGE 3

MUCH MORE THAN A MINUTE’S SILENCE FOR SRI LANKA PAGE 15 MOVIE LET US BE “BÂTISSEURS ON CHRIST DE CATHÉDRALES” PAGE 17 WILL ‘SHOCK

NUMBERS COUNT. SOME SEE PAGE 2 MORE THAN OTHERS THE AUDIENCE’ PAGE 20

Leo’s strange silence on Sri Lanka’s Easter massacre PAGE 4

• The content of the newspaper ALIVE! and the views expressed in it are those of the editor and contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Irish Dominican Province. 2 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019

discerning their vocation. They FROM PAGE 1 are hosting a ‘Vocation Discern- ment Day’ on June 8th, at their MOVIE ON CHRIST WILL Powerhouse of Prayer convent in Drogheda, where young women are invited to meet ‘SHOCK THE AUDIENCE’ LIAM O’CONNOR new vocations. opportunity, through prayer and with the sisters; for a time to pray, What is the attraction to join a study, to grow ever more deeply chat and ask questions. im Caviezel, who played Jesus contemplative order of Dominican in love with the Truth, which we “So, if you think this might be Christ in the box office sensa- ominican Nuns have been Nuns? discover to be a ‘who’ rather than what are drawn to; or would like tion The Passion of the Christ in Drogheda for almost “For some, it might be living a ‘what’ – Jesus Himself”, explains to know more – get in touch, come J told USA Today that the sequel 300 years. Deciding to in a community of faith, where Sr. Niamh OP, one of the youngest D along with your questions (and The Passion of the Christ: Resur- rebuild their Convent at a new Christ is at the centre of all activ- members of the community. confusion?). Chatting with us, rection will “shock the audience”. location in the town, after a tragic ity and rest. For others it is the They are a community of 19 at who have been where you might The Passion of the Christ cost fire a number of years ago, they attraction of ‘Truth’ - the motto the moment – young and not-so- be now, could help you find your only $30m to make while earn- have since attracted a number of of the Dominican Order – and the young, with two women actively way”, encourages Sr. Niamh. ing $611,899,420 worldwide, making it one the highest gross- ing non-English-language films of all time. Caviezel who will reprise the role of Christ in the new movie is not giving much away about the Photo: Cillian Kelly. movie, nor is director Mel Gibson. Although Gibson did tell a Christian audience in the US that the sequel will likely “delve into the spiritual realm. The Passion of the Christ was a movie about Jesus’ last 12 hours on earth. Its sequel will portray Jesus’ Resur- rection and the 40 days afterward up to His Ascension”, explains the actor/director. While Caviezel revealed to USA Today that he won’t tell movie goers how [Gibson is] going to go about it, however, “I’ll tell you this much, the film he’s going to do is going to be the biggest film in his- tory. It’s that good.” ‘Members of the Dominican community Filming of the sequel starts with Sister Niamh (on harp) taking some time out. this month and is due for release Easter 2020.

Women of Faith S   I JACK WALSH Kathy Sinnott, former MEP, EWTN host, and prominent Catholic activist, examined how woman today can model their lives on conference entitled Women of Faith the 3 Marys at the foot of the Cross. took place recently in Wilton, Cork, Frances Hogan, acclaimed Scriptural A following a similar conference for scholar, looked at “mulieris fortis”, great Catholic men, also held in Cork last year. women in Sacred Scripture. The initiative was taken, with the support Sr. Mary, Servant Sisters of the Home of of clergy, by women from the dioceses of the Mother, gave a reflection on Our Lady. Cloyne, and Cork and Ross, to mark the Sr. Mara Grace, Dominican Sisters, spoke one-year anniversary of the referendum on about women of extraordinary sanctity Pilgrimages of Faith and Culture abortion. The conference was booked out in through the ages. advance with over 200 women signing up The talks were followed by a Holy Hour of PILGRIMAGES OF ST PIO SAINTS OF from throughout , some from as far Eucharistic Adoration, during which priests th th pps afield as Donegal. heard Confessions. The day concluded with 17 July 2019 - €985pps 05 August 2019 - €885 7 nights from Cork Shrines of St. Philomena, St. Gerard The conference heard inspiring talks Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Majella & St. Pio of Pietrelcina about women of faith through the ages. Okolo, as chief celebrant at Holy Mass. WITH CASCIA & ASSISI 6 nights from th 26 July 2019 - €995pps MARIAN SHRINES OF ITALY 7 nights from Dublin 26th Sept 2019 - €799pps FEAST DAY PILGRIMAGE Castelpetrosa, Rome and Loreto Monastic Experience Weekend 20th Sept 2019 - €665pps 5 nights from Dublin 4 nights from Dublin PILGRIMAGE & SUN HOLIDAY OCTOBER MINI BREAK 17th Sept 2019 - €1,085pps th 9 Oct 2019 - €699pps Tuscany & Lake Garda 4 nights from Dublin 7 nights from Dublin A full listing of Pilgrimages to Italy available at www.marian.ie WE INCLUDE Mount St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary. Fully Escorted Packaged Pilgrimage - Spiritual Directors - Services of Marian Pilgrimages Rep. on the Ground - Return flights - Hotel Accommodation Religious Friday 24th – 26th June 2019 Programme - All Airport & local Taxes For men aged 20 to 40 who may be discerning a monastic vocation. Experience the rhythm of monastic daily prayer life. WWW.MARIAN.IE For further info or to talk about vocation discernment,contact Vocations Director, (01) 878 8159 | (028) 956 80005 | [email protected] Br Malachy, email: [email protected] or text info to 085 833 8503. Fully licensed and bonded tour operator TO142 JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 3

It was my god-mother who was always encouraging me, inviting Adoration me to go to prayer events in Ire- land and pilgrimages abroad. Conference From Pub to Pulpit “At one stage I started to pray again and I returned to Mass, LIAM O’CONNOR everyday life”, says Matthew Far- area. Later, when he attended but after three months I fell away in Knock rell, a soon to be ordained priest college in Athlone, he continued again, as with very little peer sup- and a former publican. working part-time in bars. port and no young adult Catholic JACK WALSH enjoyed the chat at the bar, Matthew is originally from But how did he end up consider- community nearby it was difficult the banter and the interest- Daingean in Co Offlay. He recalls ing the priesthood? to remain motivated.” “Iing stories. My father started that after leaving school he ini- “I stopped going to mass when I It was five years later, while postolate of Eucharis- the business and we grew up living tially worked in his father’s pub was 12. God was not on my radar; working in Wicklow, that Mat- tic Adoration is hosting above the pub. It was part of our as well as other bars in the Offlay not an important part of my life. thew got introduced to the Alpha Aa Eucharistic Marian Pil- course. Alpha is an eleven week grimage at Knock Shrine on 14 Photo: Cillian Kelly. programme that includes short and 15 June. They are naming it movies and small discussion ADOREMUS to stress the Eucha- groups, which act as a gentle ristic as well as the Marian aspect introduction to Christianity. of their pilgrimage. It was after Alpha that things “We see Adoremus as a rolling changed dramatically for Mathew: programme of adoration, talks, “I started to go on retreats and testimonies, mass, praise and went to confession – the first time worship, anointing, confessions, in a long time. I also joined a local rosary, and sharing as well as time prayer meeting run by Youth 2000, for quiet prayer and reflection. This which meant that I was now part of is an opportunity to meet and pray a community that included young with people from all over Ireland Catholics my age”, says Matthew. and beyond and of all age groups. Later on, it was at a Catholic Everyone is welcome”, says John, World Youth Day, led by Pope one of the organisers. Benedict, that Matthew encoun- Some of the speakers over the tered the Irish Dominicans. weekend will include Most Rev. Although with little knowledge of Archbishop , Most who the Dominicans were, he was Rev Bishop Phonsie Cullinan, Rev. already drawn towards the men- Patrick Cahill, Franciscan Sis- dicant orders, so the Dominicans ters of The Renewal, Living Water were a good fit, but also “Domin- Young Adults Prayer Group, James ican community life and prayer Mahon, John Howard, Brendan life, and their good solid teaching Cleary and Bartle Ó Curraoin. For attracted me”, he recalls. further details see their website Br. Matthew OP will be ordained Brother Matthew. www.eucharisticadoration.ie. a priest on 6th July. The courage Photo: Cillian Kelly. to be Catholic Cork City, one of the few public Corpus Christi processions left in Ireland

LIAM O’CONNOR Inchigeela (Uibh Laoire parish) in West Cork and was ordained in 1965. An accomplished road bowler n Sunday, 23 June, the he taught on the staff of St. Fin- church in Ireland cele- barr’s College, Farranferris, until Bishop at last Obrates the great Solemnity he became its President in 1975. year’s Corpus Christi Procession. of The Most Holy Body and Blood In 1997, the Holy See announced of Christ (Corpus Christi). John Buckley’s appointment as It takes courage in this new wjere he secular Ireland to proclaim one’s was installed at the Cathedral of faith publicly, however the Bishop St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork, on of Cork and Ross has courageously 8th February 1998. JOE WALSH TOURS done so every June for the past On June 30th Bishop John € twenty-one years. Buckley will be succeeded by Mon- Bishop John Buckley was born in signor Fintan Gavin. FOOTSTEPS OF SAINT PIO PILGRIMAGE f899 12 JULY | 7 NIGHTS pps

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families wiped out, of children in the phrase “easter their First Communion dresses worshippers” instead amongst the dead. Leo’s strange silence on of Christians, but at least they responded There was no tweet to the tragedy in a Sri Lanka’s Easter massacre from Leo Varadkar, no timely fashion. NIAMH UÍ BHRIAIN condemnation for the killing of Christians, no Four days later, most likely under expression of sympathy. as the Irish pressure from the growing criti- political Most of the Cabinet cism on social media, Leo Varadkar Hestablish- were also, seemingly, finally tweeted that he had (finally) ment become struck dumb, and written to the Sri Lankan Prime so anti-catholic rendered unable to Minister “to express our solidarity, that it can’t even our sympathy for the victims and sympathise with offer “thoughts and to offer our support following the Christians when they are bombed prayers” for Catholics Easter Sunday attacks.” He added in their churches on the holiest Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour. who had been killed. that freedom of religion was a hall- day of the year? The antipathy mark of a free society. towards all things Christian now There was no expression of sol- seems to be extended even to the 300 people are blown apart at victims of the most appalling ter- Easter services and our idarity with Christians, despite President Donald J. Trump welcomes the Prime rorist attacks, such as those who has no public comment to make? several studies including the recent Minister of the Republic of Ireland Leo Varadkar That is beyond bizarre, it is reveal- Pew Research Centre Report find- died when a series of deadly bomb- Thursday, March 14, 2019, to the White House. ings by Islamic extremists ripped ing. At some level, it’s clear that ing that Christians are the most families and lives apart on Easter when Christians are killed and persecuted religion in the world. Sunday in Sri Lanka. It’s a public expression of how Ardern about how they “might work persecuted, official Ireland wants The atrocities in New Zealand they, as representatives of their together to take on the root causes to turn a blind eye. The reason for and Sri Lanka should not have Typically, when respective countries, feel about the and enablers of such attacks.” He this appalling lack of solidarity is led to a contrasting of the levels appalling loss of life and the hor- also expressed his solidarity with unclear, but the contrast with the an atrocity on this of sympathy expressed towards rific violence endured. When 50 Ireland’s Muslim community. sympathy rightly expressed during scale happens, any section of society or religious innocent Muslims were shot dead That’s exactly what you’d expect other atrocities is certainly stark grouping. No-one wants that, and Prime Ministers while at prayer in two mosques An Taoiseach to do. No-one could and, frankly, it is deplorable. surely there’s enough empathy and Presidents react in New Zealand in a terror attack take issue with anyone expressing It’s hard to disagree with Michael and concern in the world to allow first on or that repulsed the world, an Taoise- the revulsion we all felt at what Kinsella of Aid to the Church in Need Ireland who told the Irish each of us to feel sorrow and soli- Facebook, because ach, Leo Varadkar, rightly issued a happened in New Zealand. speedy response on social media. But it makes what happened next Catholic that Mr Varadkar’s fail- darity for all victims of hatred and it’s the most immediate Along with other members of the quite extraordinary. ure to express sympathy was an persecution. But the actions of Mr. way of marking their Irish government, Mr. Varadkar On Easter Sunday, up to 300 outrage to our sense of identity as Varadkar left many people won- concern and of sending spoke of the “horrific, harrowing men, women and children were Christians and an affront to the vic- dering exactly what caused his tims of the bombings in Sri Lanka. failure to respond when hundreds solidarity and sympathy news from New Zealand” and his torn apart by a series of bombs set upset at the “islamophobic terror off by Islamic terrorists in Catholic Other political leaders, of Christians were massacred. to victims. attack in Christchurch”. He tweeted churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. It For many it seems that, in the that he had spoken to the Prime was heartbreaking and devastating such as Barack Obama, thinking of political elite in Ireland, Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda to see the reports come in of whole were criticised for using the lives of Christians don’t matter.

10,000 a year. Hospital: “It’s devastating to see these numbers and think of the many babies that will be killed,” the pro- expect 10,000 life group said. “In the past ten years Peter’s Pence or we saw the number of Irish women travelling for abortion fall by 50% abortions but now we are going to see the numbers not just increase but actu- Simon’s Cents? in Ireland ally triple, exactly as we warned in the referendum.” YES campaigners repeatedly olitical parties collect- per year denied that abortion rates would ing money at church gates rise, but now that has been shown were met with opposition ro-life groups have said the P to be just one more lie. recently as mass-goers reminded news that medics expect In 2017, 3,092 women with them that their colleagues in Dáil 10,000 abortions to take P Irish addresses had an abortion Éireann had voted for abortion. place every year in Ireland is in an abortion clinic in Britain, In Leitrim locals held signs shocking but not surprising. while 3,265 did so in 2016. Under saying “No money or votes for Photo: Leitrim Unite for Life. “So much for abortion being the new abortion legislation that pro-abortion parties” where ‘safe, legal and rare” - which is number is going to triple to 10,000 the political collections were to what voters were assured it would abortions per year, according to be held. “I felt that this was the be,” Life Institute told Alive! “A the Rotunda. absolute in bare-faced cheek, lot of people will experience voter “There was nothing in Simon voting for abortion, attacking regret at their Yes vote when they Harris’s abortion bill which the Church and people of faith hear this sad and profoundly trou- sought to help women or offer in the media, and then turning bling news.” them a better alternative than up at the church gates to collect A memo obtained under the abortion,” they added. “We can money off the same people who Freedom of Information Act only presume that, at a time when they’re endlessly captivating. shows the Rotunda Hospital board the HSE is in chaos and people are It needs to stop now,” one local expects the number of Irish abor- dying because they can’t access woman told Alive. tions to almost triple to 10,000 care, this government sees it as a Bishop has ques- a year. success that the only procedure tioned the practice of political Life Institute said that it was for which they’ve managed to parties collecting at church gates a travesty that the number of increase availability is abortion, and said it might be an opportu- Protesting Political Church babies to be killed by abortion which actually takes a life instead nity to challenge the policies of Gate Collections in Leitrim. was expected to rise from 3,300 to of curing anyone.” those who represent them. JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 5 Sisters ALIVE! NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT, PLEASE! All CREDIT CARD Payments accepted. CALL 01 404 8187 AIB, Tallaght • SORT CODE: 933317

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CAROL PAULS media and not watching TV, for €50 €25 €15 other € example, free us up to give more generously of ourselves to family, NAME ome will have heard of the parish and community,” said Phil Exodus 90 programme that one of the organisers. Smany Irish men did for 90 For the woman who takes up the ADDRESS days leading up to Easter Sunday. challenge she will spend at least 30 Others have started the programme minute a day praying a very simple to finish on the great Solemnity of Lectio Divina with the Gospel Pentecost. of that day’s Mass. This prayer TELEPHONE However, not to be excluded, encounter with the Lord through dozens of women in various parts his Holy Word forms the core of Please send your donation to: ALIVE! St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24 of Ireland have recently completed all the other disciplines which the the Daughters of Sion programme woman undertakes for the dura- which is the ‘sister’ of Exodus 90. tion of the programme. ANONYMOUS DONATIONS Daughters of Sion is a brand “In fact, without this prayerful €785: Church gate collection Cobh; €400: ML; €250: An; MW; €100: An; ND; new initiative, lasting 90 days, central focus, the whole Daugh- encouraging women to engage with ters of Sion endeavour would be €50: Co. Offaly; An; MM; Tramore; €30: ES; BF; An; €25: An; €20: An Dundalk; MO’R traditional prayer and fasting, so like a body without a soul”, con- Waterford; EC; An; €15: An; €10: BS; An; that they may grow in love for God cluded Phil. and for those God puts in their path. For more information check out If 8,000 people contribute just €20 each we can continue for another year. “The time we save through the their website www.daughtersofsion. Special thanks to all of you who donated to during May. disciplines of not going on social org. ALIVE! Ted Andrew RIP Kenyan science teacher, CAROL PAULS Elaina Perrotte recalled how “he to share the Gospel even further made sure God was the rock and than he could before. Father Peter Tabichi, foundation that kept our team Ted Andrew passed away on ed Andrew first joined NET together”. Thursday, the 25th of April in Ministries Ireland in the In late 2017, Ted was diagnosed Alberta, Canada, at 28 years of age. TSummer of 2015. Growing with cancer. Always hopeful, he He was a joyful and generous serv- wins global prize up in rural Alberta, the chance of a faced this challenge with all that he ant, who fought and committed mission year as far away as Ireland had. Even as his condition wors- himself wholly to the Christian life. Franciscan has won the erwise could not afford uniforms was an adventure of a life-time. ened, he persisted, working for Despite every challenge he faced, prize of greatest teacher or books. He spent a year travelling and NET, from his hospital bed and he trusted totally in the will of God. Ain the world. A science “It’s not all about money,” says putting on retreats for young people continuing to pour himself out for And in the wake of his death, Ted’s teacher from rural Kenya who is Brother Peter. He sees the chal- across Scotland, and another in the the sake of the youth of Ireland. He family, friends and fellow mission- of the Franciscan religious order lenges for children - and their Waterford & Lismore Diocese. His was interviewed on national radio, aries all find comfort in his words: was awarded a $1m prize for families - in places like Kenya fellow team member, and friend, finding in his illness an opportunity “with Jesus and one day at a time”. 2019, beating more than 10,000 to devote the years to education other candidates. where the cost of basic materi- Ted (top left) with his What makes Peter Tabichi so als compared to income for rural NET team when in great? Aside from devoting his farmers is very high. Waterford. life to God and to the educational vocation, he gives away most of his salary to help poor pupils go to school and to see ‘science is the JOE WALSH Photo: NET Ministries. way to go’ for their futures. TOURS He gives away 80% of his pay to support pupils, at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in PILGRIMAGE TO PADUA Pwani Village, Nakuru, who oth- • 27 August 2019 € Photo: The Varkey Foundation. • 4 nights f659 • Half Board pps • Fully escorted tour • Optional tour to Venice

Call 01 241 0800 Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 and TA 0689 Father Peter Tabichi. 6 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019

FAMILY LIFE SUMMERTIME, AND THE YOUTH FORUMWITH MARY SCOTT BORAS THE LIVIN’ IS EASY AOIFE DE CLÁR yourself, your marriage, and your children to Jesus through Mary. This will add a beautiful spiritual Are You in a Hurry to be a Saint? e’re between houses here dimension to your holiday. and most days I don’t If you are holidaying in Ireland ’m in a hurry to be a saint, gaze and huge smile said it all” she was saying so I could under- know whether I’m coming and plan on spending some time because I don’t know if I’ll Valeria’s life changed from the stand. She told me that she had W or going. But what I do know is traveling in your car, make sure “Ihave time” is a quote from moment she entered the school. decided that she wanted to become that summer holidays are on their to have faith based CDs. There’s a Saint Dominic Savio. One story She always had difficulties in her a Sister. I will always remember way and our structure and routine huge amount of children’s Catholic that has always touched me is of studies. It was a consequence of this precious moment.” is out the window for a couple of stories and dramas available online a girl who took this quote very her troubled childhood, but she She told her decision to her months. Thank God. to download. I find the best place much to heart. The Lord called did her best. If on a human level family. Her aunt said one day she As we pack up box after box (and to learn new songs is in the car on her at a very young age, her name Valeria’s life changed completely, came home and told her grand- then dump most of it because it’s all long journeys. It also stops a lot of was Valeria, she lived in Ecuador on the spiritual level it was totally parents in a mysterious tone that just clutter that we don’t need) my the squabbles. and was born in the year 2000. transformed. she had fallen in love and had a mind turns to keeping busy for the For night-time driving I find tra- boyfriend. Her grandmother was next couple of months. Summer ditional Mass hymns can help the Her childhood was very She had not yet curious and observed her, trying is right around the corner. No children wind down after a busy difficult. At only a little received her First to guess who her boyfriend might school. Yay! I love exploring with day’s adventure. You’ll appreciate over a year and a half Holy Communion. be. Valeria showed them a picture the children. Visiting historical it when you hear your child singing sites, forests, the seaside, trekking old, Valeria witnessed She prepared herself of her “boyfriend”… It was Jesus. a hymn while they’re doing their Her grandfather reacted imme- up hills to take in a great view. chores or drawing a picture at your her mother’s murder. very well and was diately saying, “Young man, take However, this summer will be kitchen table. Her father shot her able to receive Our care of my Valeria.” different. We’ll be busy settling mother and then into our temporary home and BACK AT THE RANCH Lord for the first Valeria was too trying to make it our own for the What I’m looking forward to escaped, abandoning time on December 8, young to enter as a short time until we move on again. most of all in this move, is plant- I want to try keep our family con- ing a Mary garden and building Valeria and her little 2012. From then on candidate, because sister, who was only a nected to their faith in fun ways. a little Grotto out the back of the she began to get to candidates have to be Summer offers great flexibility house. I’m not a great gardener few months old. know the Lord and His at least 16 years old and more opportunity for prayer. and certainly don’t have green So, as a family why not try make fingers but the children are really love. The Lord’s love and have their parents’ Valeria’s grandparents began cured all of her soul’s attending weekday Mass (or more) excited at the prospect of making written permission, so part of our summer schedule? their own little patch in the garden to take care of the girls after- wounds. wards. Valeria always called them she had to enter as an This along with the nightly family for them to enjoy and maintain Rosary is sure to keep us on track. over the summer. We will make “Mom” and “Dad” because they aspirant. treated their grand-daughters as One day, the Superior General Why not consider enrolling your this Mary garden within view of children in faith-based camps. our living room window so we can their own children. People that of Home of the Mother, asked These weren’t around ‘back in take pride in it while we are inside knew her say that after the trag- her if she remembered her moth- One morning they were working my day’. There’s a huge variety of the house too. edy Valeria was a very serious er’s death. Valeria’s answer was in the library. Valeria and another Catholic faith camps all around Ire- Last but not least, I aim to grow little girl. “She was a girl that that she had placed everything in girl were trying to get the mud out land today. Check them out. Your in my own faith over this summer. would get angry easily, and scared God’s hands and tried not to bring from underneath a big bookshelf children will make great friends We have a very big intention we those bitter memories to mind. full of encyclopaedias. Suddenly, her classmates with her incredibly here, who may be a great support hope will be granted soon. We have green eyes”. Her grandmother mentioned the bookshelf gave way and fell on them, along with the books. The to your children in later years. prayed and done endless novenas When she was 11, she asked to a few days after her death that Could you invite another family only to discover we never got what sisters came to help them. Jok- be admitted to a school ran by Valeria had encouraged her many to your home for a simple lunch we asked for. However, we have ingly they said, “Can you imagine Home of the Mother called “Holy times, saying, “Mom, you have and Rosary? It’s nice for our chil- gained more than we could ever if we were to die together?” family educational centre” in to forgive my father, because I dren to have friends that also pray have imagined. We have grown At lunch, the superior of the Playa Prieta, Ecuador. The school already have”. A friend of hers, the rosary over to play. closer to God through our prayers year had already started, but confirms this. “She always said community, used what had hap- and sacrifices and have surrendered pened that morning to ask, ON THE MOVE that His will be done and not ours. Valeria. “Imagine that what you said hap- Wherever you are traveling this We have no idea what God has in pens. Imagine that we were all to summer, consider adding a visit to store for us after the summer hol- die. Are we prepared?” Valeria a shrine. When you get there, pray idays but we trust that it will be a was the first to speak “I am ready the Holy Rosary and consecrate great adventure. and I am yearning for it. I want to see the Lord as soon as possible” Just a few hours later, at 6:58 p.m., a 7.8 magnitude earthquake demolished the main building of the school LAUS DEO They found the bodies of six ss deceased sisters about twen- ty-four hours later. Among them St Jude's Centre Carrigeen was Valeria, young Valeria, who s s pp had lived in such a way that Valeria’s story moved the sisters, that she had forgiven him, because the Lord would fulfil her every and all the more so when they she didn’t want to have any hate desire: to die at the age of fifteen, Pentecost Weekend June to die with the sisters, and to see learned of the family’s precarious or vengeance in her heart.” p p financial situation. She discovered the Lord’s call Him soon. Valeria was buried in Pueblo Thanks to the Missionary very early on. A young volunteer Inner Healing 5 day Retreat Groups of the Home of the Mother witnessed that moment. “One Nuevo on Monday, April 18th, (MGHM), they were able to spon- afternoon when I saw Valeria at 2016. They dressed her in a white sor Valeria’s family and give her school, she came up to me and tunic with a white handkerchief a scholarship. A sister who met told me she had something to say on her head, like a veil, imitating Prayer for Inner Healing them at the time remembers: to me. She seemed very excited. At the habit of the Servant Sisters of “They didn’t know how to thank first, when I couldn’t understand the Home of the Mother. Among p p us for everything we did for them. what she was telling me, I asked if the rubble, they found the per- Every time we took food to their I could get an Hermana (Sister) to petual vows cross of one of the 08-4543 3 0 or s house, her grandmother cried out translate. She asked me not to get Sisters. Valeria was buried with of gratitude. Valeria’s transparent anyone else, and simplified what this cross over her chest. JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 7

WHAT IS THE PARENT’S RIGHT for the education of their children, AND DUTY? strives to assist them in this task. Modern Ireland in Our Schools There are also many examples of While all parents have both the duty precedents set from the Courts in and the right to educate their chil- CHARLOTTE MCQUAID-BRUEN a norm, and against their wishes? relationship? Consent Ireland regarding the right of the dren, Catholic parents have also the Are there no minority rights when plus love? Consent plus child to be educated, and to have duty and the right to choose schools it comes to RSE? religious, moral and social educa- that can best promote the Catholic he recent talk of drastic fidelity? Consent plus As a parent, the RSE curriculum tion provided for, by the family. education of their children.” changes to Relationships that I’d like is one that protects my monogamy? If not, Firstly, our Constitution and Sex Education (RSE) in children from inappropriate mate- T why not? Is consent (Article 42) says “The State It is clear that the parent schools has caused a lot of online rial, explains rights and wrongs, acknowledges that the primary and is the primary edu- discussion, interviews on radio and and guides them on a path of life- all that matters? natural educator of the child is the on online platforms but limited long happiness in relationships. Is consent enough? cator, in terms of the Family and guarantees to respect column inches in the print media. My hope is that RSE would lead law of the Church and the inalienable right and duty of In Feb 2018, the NCCA was asked to more happy marriages, fami- Why deny that consent on its own parents to provide, according to the law in Ireland. The by Richard Bruton, the then Minis- lies and happy children! Isn’t that is the perfect recipe to feel abused, their means, for the religious and parent should be able ter of Education, to review RSE so what we all want for our children? exploited and used? Is it ok for your moral, intellectual, physical and to decide on a school as ‘to reflect modern Ireland’. What What type of RSE programme can 12-year-old to be taught that once s/ modernising has happened? Same- social education of their children.” deliver this? he consents then it’s ok to have sex according to ethos, and sex marriage and abortion? The Internationally we have further and there is nothing else that mat- protections in place. The Uni- then be able to trust erosion of the importance of the SOME MUSINGS FOR THE ters? What values should we teach versal Declaration of Human natural family unit and the right to PARENT that the school will with this? Consent plus what? Rights, Article 26 – (3) Says “Par- life of all? RSE should not be taught with- always teach according Surely it’s the parents’ job to teach ents have a prior right to choose the How can mainstream media, out reflecting the values of the this and pass on their values? kind of education that shall be given to that ethos, respect- who collectively encouraged ‘yes’ family the child belongs to. How It’s not ok for all of this knowl- to their children.” And Article 2 of ing the parents’ beliefs votes, not be more celebratory of do families instil in their children edge to be given to children without Protocol 1 of the European Con- the RSE changes that are happen- their own family value system if and not submitting to any moral/ethical values system. vention on Human Rights states ing? Why so little discussion? they are not the people teaching political ideologies. The It is worse if it is someone else’s that “no person shall be denied the There have been some news- their children about these impor- values that are being impressed parent should decide paper articles repeating the tant personal issues? right to education. In the exercise of Oireachtas Education Commit- upon your child, and these are any functions which it assumes in what material is age tee’s call for teaching abortion and A good example is the values that you don’t agree with. relation to education and to teach- appropriate and if it is pornography, as well as the erad- issue of consent, which The primary responsibility, and ing, the State shall respect the right appropriate at all. And ication of school ethos, but little right, for educating and for pro- of parents to ensure such education of substance because they do not is being pushed strongly. tecting the innocence of the child, and teaching is in conformity with they should instil their want the public to know. When teaching consent belongs to the parent. Schools their own religious and philosophi- family values while dis- What about the huge portion of are there any ideals cannot teach something contrary to cal convictions.” cussing issues of moral the electorate (and beyond) that being taught with it? a family’s own values. It is not right The protects us gravity and consequence. didn’t vote to have these changes for someone else to decide what is too. Canon Law (793) says: “The in our laws? Should this ‘modern- Consent plus marriage? age appropriate for your children. Church, recognising that parents ising’ be taught to their children as Consent plus committed That is your job as a parent. have the primary responsibility

rality. After the Second Vatican pro-life efforts. Council, it appears that the word We must no longer hide our We need to identify as “Pro-Life” was introduced to try Faith, be afraid of mentioning God, and promote Catholic morals with- or exclude public prayer which is out mentioning the Catholic Faith. our strongest weapon. Pope St. Pius The word ‘Pro-Life’ arose from X explained that the goal of Catholic Catholic, not just Pro-Life. a secularisation of ethics and was Action was, in the words of St. Paul, born from the 1960s exaggerated “to restore all things in Christ,” optimism about the goodness of and was a three-stage process that BRIAN Ó CAITHNIA As nations and political leaders Ireland gained around 250,000 man and his lack of need for the began with Prayer, that led to Study, publicly confessed their submission new atheists between 2011 and true religion. and culminated in Action. to Christ the King and conformed 2018, and nearly all of them voted Can man be pro-life without From Constantine to Lepanto, is n the Old Testament, a recurrent their laws to the teachings of the for abortion. The Exit Poll also Jesus Christ? No, because man is not the great rallying cry for Chris- theme is how the Jews would Gospel, the value of human life in revealed a rapidly growing category a fallen creature and will always tian victory “In Hoc Signo Vinces”: intermittently stop worshipping general and the unborn child in called “Spiritual but not Religious.” I struggle to be good without the in this sign thou shalt conquer? the True God to start idolising particular was enshrined in legal Of this group, 92% of them voted grace of God. Nothing short of a The cross, a symbol of shame in the false gods of their neighbours, codes and customs. for abortion. Catholic revival can turn the tide the modern world, must again whether they be Baal, Moloch, It is the great testament of the Can man be pro-life without on the culture of death that now become the banner which we glory Adrammelech, Melqart and other Faith that only Christian coun- Jesus Christ? For a long time, I abides in Ireland. To end abor- to bear. Only the grace of God can Baalim. tries have ever truly managed to thought he could. I remember only tion, we must return to the rule of end abortion. That’s why instead of The primary characteristic of suppress abortion both legally and recently arguing to use non-re- Christ the King and the spread of calling ourselves Pro-Life, we must their worship of false gods was culturally. Is it any wonder that the ligious arguments and keep the the Faith must become central to simply call ourselves Catholic. that they would start sacrificing first country to re-introduce abor- Catholic content of pro-life activi- their children to these gods. In fact, tion to Europe since ancient times ties ‘low-key’. before the arrival of Jesus Christ, was the first nation to publicly I believed that man could be good the whole world was steeped in proclaim itself as an atheist state, without God or religion, and that abortion and infanticide. namely the Soviet Union? there was a special goodness in the JOE WALSH TOURS How did abortion come to an In the Referendum to remove Irish people. Since the referendum € end? It was the Christian under- the ban on abortion, some remark- of 2018, I realise my error of not from standing of the importance of able facts were revealed by the RTÉ YOUTH FESTIVAL MEDJUGORJE recognising the tree from its fruit. f grace for the soul that made abor- Exit Poll on the evening of the vote. It was our deep love of Íosa Críost FROM DUBLIN | 7 NIGHTS | 30 JULY 685 tion unthinkable across the lands On the topic of religious belief, it is an Mhaighdean Mhuire that pps UNDER 18’S that were until recently known as emerged that 96% of atheists voted made Ireland the wonderful nation • Return Aer Lingus flights & f Christendom. to repeal constitutional protection that it was, and like lightning falling airport transfers 650 To intentionally murder a child for the unborn child. from heaven, we became savages as • 7 nights accommodation close to St. James’s Church before baptism was to deprive that Atheism, which was once a sta- soon as we began to exclude Jesus child of the Beatific Vision of God. tistically insignificant minority in Christ from our public and private • Youth Festival programme and back-up of local team The unbaptised child that died Ireland, has been growing expo- lives, and especially our politics. of guides led by Philip Ryan would still reside in the paradise of nentially, doubling its numbers Pre-1960s, the word ‘Pro-Life’ Limbo, but that was not the reason between 2011 and 2016. It is esti- did not exist. One simply spoke For more information: www.joewalshtours.ie | 01 241 0800 God created that child’s soul, and mated that well over 500,000 Irish of Catholic morals or Protestant www.joewalshtours.ie | [email protected] | 01 241 0800 Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 and TA 0689 in compliance with the Package Travel so abortion was seen as a terrible people would register as atheists ‘morals’, or atheism, which was also and Linked Travel Arrangement Package Regulation 2018. crime against the Rights of God. on the census now. seen as permitting gross immo- 8 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019

dispersion, the result of pride that is likewise the only way in which April 2008). Let us give thanks separates men and women, had she creates unity, a unity that must to the Lord for the goals reached MONTHLY been overcome in the Spirit who grow. The Church in every time - in ecumenical dialogue thanks to Meditations is love and gives unity in diversity. and particularly in these nine days the Holy Spirit’s action; let us be Since the very first moment of her between the Ascension and Pen- docile, listening to his voice so that existence the Church has spoken in tecost - is spiritually united in the our hearts, filled with hope, may all languages - thanks to the power Upper Room with the Apostles and continuously seek the path that of the Holy Spirit and the tongues Mary to ceaselessly implore the out- leads to the full communion of all of fire - and has lived in all cultures, pouring of the Holy Spirit. Driven Christ’s disciples. Pentecost she does not destroy any of the var- onwards by his mighty wind she will In his Letter to the Galatians, St hese days of immedi- his presence. This promise became ious gifts, of the different charisms, thus be able to proclaim the Gospel Paul recalls that “the fruit of the ate preparation for the reality when, after the Resurrec- but draws all of them together in to the very ends of the earth. Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, “TSolemnity of Pentecost tion, Jesus entered the Upper a great, new unity that reconciles: This is why even in the face of kindness, goodness, faithfulness, encourage us to rekindle our hope Room, greeted the disciples with unity and multiformity. difficulties and divisions, Chris- gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5: in the Holy Spirit’s help so that we the words, “Peace be with you”, and The Holy Spirit, who is eternal tians cannot be resigned nor yield 22-23). These are the gifts of the may advance on the path of ecu- breathing on them said: “Receive charity, the bond of unity in the to discouragement. The Lord asks Holy Spirit that we also implore menism. We are certain that the the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20: 22). He Trinity, with his power of divine this of us: to persevere in prayer today for all Christians, so that in Lord Jesus will never abandon us authorized them to forgive sins. charity unites scattered humanity in order to keep alive the flame of the common and generous service in our quest for unity, since his Here, therefore, the Holy Spirit, thereby creating the vast multiform faith, love and hope which nour- to the Gospel, they may be a sign Spirit is tirelessly at work to sustain appears as a power for the for- community of the Church through- ishes the desire for full unity. “Ut of God’s love for humanity in the our efforts in striving to overcome giveness of sins, for renewing our out the world. In the days following unum sint!”, says the Lord. May world. Let us turn our gaze confi- every division and mend every tear hearts and our lives; and thus he the Ascension of the Lord until Pen- Christ’s invitation always resound dently to Mary, the Shrine of the in the living fabric of the Church. renews the earth and creates unity tecost Sunday, the disciples, with in our hearts. In this epoch of glo- Holy Spirit and through her pray: It was precisely this that Jesus where there was division. Further- Mary, were gathered in the Upper balization and at the same time of “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts promised his disciples in the last more, on the Feast of Pentecost Room to pray. They knew that they fragmentation, “without [prayer], of your faithful and kindle in them days of his earthly mission, in the the Holy Spirit showed himself in themselves could not create or ecumenical structures, institutions the fire of your love”. Amen. Gospel passage Jn 14: 16-17: he other signs: in the sign of a mighty organize the Church: the Church and programs would be deprived assured them of the help of the wind, tongues of fire, and the Apos- had to be born and organized by of their heart and soul” (Ecumen- - Benedict XVI, General Audience Holy Spirit that he would send to tles’ ability to speak all languages. divine initiative; she is not created ical Prayer Service and Meeting, St. Peter’s Square, Wednesday, continue to make them aware of This was a sign that the Babylonian by us, she is a gift of God. And this St Joseph’s Church, New York, 18 7 May 2008 California Bill Would 37,000 RECEIVED INTO Violate Seal of Confession CATHOLIC CHURCH IN US NORA SULLIVAN NORA SULLIVAN

proposed law in California aster 2019 saw more than would require priests to vio- 37,000 people welcomed A late the seal of Confession Einto the Catholic Church in under certain circumstances. the United States. California Senate Bill 360 While new Catholics may demands that priests report sus- be received into the Church at pected cases of child abuse or almost any point throughout the neglect disclosed in the confes- year, typically the Easter vigil She was born into her faith. Then sional. The law currently classifies represents the time at which most we baptized our son last year, so priests as “mandated reporters,” adult converts enter the Church I wanted to be able to share our those who, because of their pro- following their completion of faith with both of them.” fession, have a special legal the Rite of Christian Initiation of The 37,000 new Catholics obligation to disclose any suspi- Adults (RCIA.) also represent positive growth cion of child abuse. The current 2019’s number represents an for Americans of faith, in gen- law allows for an exemption on the increase on 2018, which saw eral. The United States remains grounds of penitential communi- Giuseppe Maria Crespi - Confession. 30,000 new US Catholics. This a majority Protestant country cations between an individual and growth is particularly remarkable with 70% of the population iden- their priest. an automatic excommunication ingrained in Catholic tradition and considering the tumultuous year tifying as Christian (including 72 According to the Code of Canon reserved to the Apostolic See; if he doctrine can be wiped away this American Catholics have endured million, or approximately 20%, Law (1388.1), a priest who violates does so only indirectly, he is to be easily by the state, no fundamen- amid the return of the sexual self-professed Catholics). How- the Seal of Confession “incurs punished in accord with the seri- tal rights of religion or conscience abuse scandal and the very public ever, the past few years have seen ousness of the offense.” are safe,” wrote Fr. Pietrzyk. resignation and laicization of The- a significant rise in the number of Senator Jerry Hill, a Democrat He went on to say, “To force odore McCarrick, the disgraced “nones”, a term used to describe ROME (4 nights) & ASSISI (3 nights). 11 – 18 June. representing the 13th district, pro- individuals to choose between the former cardinal. those who profess no religious PRICE €935.00 pps to include 3 dinners posed the legislation earlier this most sacrosanct part of their reli- Dioceses which ushered in the affiliation at all. FATIMA TO INCLUDE LISBON year. Senator Hill has defended gious beliefs and imprisonment largest number of new Catho- According to the Pew Research FOR ST. ANTHONY’S FEAST DAY 9 –14 June. PRICE €675.00 pps – full board the bill, stating, “The law should is what the Bill of Rights was lics included the Archdiocese of Center, this group now makes up FOOTSTEPS OF ST. PAUL IN MALTA apply equally to all professionals entirely meant to avoid.” Los Angeles, which welcomed in 22.8% of the the US population. Based in St. Julian’s. 15 - 22 September who have been designated as man- This is not the first time a 2,473 and the Archdiocese of Gal- 13% of this group consider them- PRICE €995.00 pps – half board basis dated reporters of these crimes state government has challenged veston-Houston in Texas, which selves former-Catholics. HEART OF SPAIN 13 – 20 September — with no exceptions, period. The the protected status of the con- welcomed 2,143. Like the Church in Europe, Madrid (4 nights) & Salamanca (3 nights) exemption for clergy only protects fessional. In 2014, the state of Among those received in the the Church in the United States PRICE €1,175.00 pps to include 4 dinners the abuser and places children at Louisiana tried a similar tactic Archdiocese of Galveston-Hou- has seen rapidly falling num- HOLY LAND – direct flight ex Dublin. further risk.” but the Louisiana Supreme Court ston was Alfredo Acosta, whose bers in recent years. However, 13 – 21 September. PRICE €1,695.00 pps – half board basis However, in a recent USA Today later ruled that a priest can not experience of intense sorrow and it should be noted that while the op-ed, Fr. Pius Pietrzyk, an assis- be compelled to report confiden- joy over the past two years led Church has seen a decline in the tant professor of canon law at St. tial information heard during him to the Catholic faith. He suf- West, there has been tremendous 36 Upper O’Connell St, Dublin 1 Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, confession. fered greatly following the deaths growth in other areas, most par- TEL (01) 878 3111 CA, warned against the dangers California Senate Bill has been of two of his brothers but also ticularly Africa. According to the www.maptravel.ie this bill represents, not simply to referred to Committee. If it sur- celebrated the birth of his son, New York Times, by 2025, one- Fully licensed and bonded by the Catholics but to all people of faith. vives this stage, it will be brought Benjamin. Mr. Acosta stated, “My sixth of the world’s Catholics are Commission for Aviation Regulation T.A. 0474 “If a core principle as deeply forward for debate. wife Gricelda is a cradle Catholic. expected to be Africans. FAITH AGENDA JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 9

standards of good or evil. Only what is stronger than the other can assert We need to itself. Power is the only principle.” Church silent after As we see ever more in Ire- land, without God what is evil and destroys people becomes a matter take Benedict’s of course. We think a majority vote murder of God can make evil good. year ago a majority of God’s law. Only the casting and words to heart REFUSAL Irish people voted to counting of votes matters. Benedict noted the refusal to A deny Constitutional pro- This is a radical rejection of iven the awful scandals that ism and new attitudes in the area include responsibility to God as a tection to unborn children, and God from society and from our have rocked the Church for of sexuality. guiding principle in the EU consti- authorised politicians to legalise lives. With hardly a moment’s decades, and also the deep tution. Instead, God is regarded as the brutal killing of children in thought we became the mur- G the womb. derers of God, as German gulf between Catholic teaching and OPPOSE the party concern of a small group. the modern outlook on life, is it When Pope John Paul II was “This decision reflects the sit- Many dreadful things have philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche time to create a new Church? preparing his great letter, Verita- uation in the West, where God been done in the course of put it. Pope Benedict XVI, echoing the tis Splendor, for example, Franz has become the private affair of a Irish history, but this vote was More than a century later very thoughts of many Catholics, asked Böckle, the top German moral the- minority,” he said. the most evil thing ever. The few people have yet grasped this question in a remarkable arti- ologian, declared he would oppose The problem is in the Church appalling injustice was freely what this means, or the horror cle a few weeks ago. And he bluntly it “if it taught that some actions as well as the wider society. He committed by both young and of it. replied: “That experiment has already were always and in all circum- added: “We Christians and priests old, urged on by politicians Nietzsche asked: “How could been tried and has already failed.” stances to be classified as evil.” also prefer not to talk about God, and media. we drink up the sea? Who gave He was referring to a wide- That Böckle, and many others, because this speech does not seem The killing is now well under us the sponge to wipe away the spread movement that has been believed there is no longer any to be practical.” way, but in both society and entire horizon? What were we going on in the Church for the past need for martyrdom, “shows that How did this come about? It is the Church we go on as if noth- doing when we unchained this 60 years - a campaign to radically the very essence of Christianity is part of the despairing secularisation ing very important happened. earth from its sun? Whither is change the Church in the name of at stake here,” said Benedict. that has, for years, been corrupting Which adds greatly to the evil. it moving now? Whither are we “renewal”, to bring it into line with Meanwhile, in many places the the Church herself, Catholic educa- Another aspect of this story, moving? Away from all suns?” a world that has lost sense of God liturgy, the Mass, has been turned tion and many Catholic institutions. however, has received virtually Yes, we are now rapidly and ultimate purpose. into a man-centred community cel- Benedict wants Catholics to waken no attention from politicians, moving away from all light Involved in this campaign were ebration rather than a God-centred up, to put God and his law, and the Church or media: the major into a bleak, heartless, ruthless many misguided bishops, priests, act of worship. supernatural salvation that Christ shift in the foundations of our despair. If we want to see it. prominent lay people and lay Here we have the deepest source of brings, back at the centre of their lives. democracy. Might alone is right. groups. Many theologians played disarray in both society and Church, His article received much crit- We have decided that “the will Nietzsche added: “Must we a leading role. And the project is the revolt against God and his law. icism from theologians and of the majority” means we are ourselves not become gods on-going. “A world without God can only prominent lay figures. This indi- the supreme law-makers, and simply to appear worthy of this Benedict noted in particular be a world without meaning... In cates the hold secularisation still absolutely nothing may limit our great deed?” We have turned the “collapse” in Catholic moral any case, it has no spiritual pur- has on many minds and hearts. authority. What we decide, goes. to idol-worship, making our- theology which “left the Church pose,” said Benedict. But the former pope offers the In other words, we will not be selves the Supreme Being. This defenceless against the changes in “It is simply there and has neither only way to a true renewal of the limited or restricted by natu- is surely the ultimate in self-de- society,” especially moral relativ- goal nor sense. Then there are no Church and of our whole society. ral law (the law of reason) or by struction.

RELEASE OF UNPLANNED, TOWARDS A RENEWED VISION THE ABBY JOHNSON MOVIE OF CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY

ost American TV channels would not upernatural” is a word that has almost even accept adverts for the recently completely disappeared from Catholic Mreleased US movie, Unplanned. “Sspirituality. We rarely if ever hear, for Despite this it became the No. 4 film at the example, a homily that speaks about supernat- box office on its opening weekend, earning ural life or the supernatural means to salvation. some $6.1 million. If we come across the word now it is almost Starring actress Ashley Bratcher, the movie sure to be in a scary movie about evil forces, or tells the true life story of Abby Johnson. in the blurb for a sci-fi novel. In 2001, aged 21, Johnson became the Catholic theologians first started to use the youngest director ever of a Planned Par- word about the early 1200s. St Thomas Aquinas enthood abortion centre. But in 2009 she (died 1275) used it some 130 times in his great was shocked as she watched an abortion on work, the Summa Theologiae. But in the early 1960s the word went out of ultrasound. fashion in Catholic circles. This may have been She quit her job, joined the prayer vigils linked with a secularising tendency, a focus on outside the centre and has become one of this world, that began to creep into the Church the leading prolife voices in the US. at the time and has now become widespread. The film will not convert hardcore abor- The same tendency can be seen in a major tion supporters like the journalist who shift of emphasis in missionary work from reviewed it for the Guardian. But its remark- spreading the gospel to promoting justice & able story will open the eyes of many people peace or economic development. who are confused about the issues. This change has been a huge loss for Catho- Already more than 100 clinic workers lic spirituality. Little wonder then, that so many have sought help to leave the abortion people turn to mindfulness, yoga, reiki or what- racket, having viewed the movie. ever, in a confused search for soul nourishment. Johnson hopes that those who view it will Supernatural says that there is far more to each become committed “to do what they can to one of us than meets the eye, than the natural. It rescue these children, to protect the hearts tells us that God has raised us up to a new level of of these mothers, to rebuild families.” being, to a new dignity, to a share in God’s own life. In 2012 she, her husband and their family Heaven is our supernatural goal. In other were received into the Catholic Church. words, it is far higher than anything we could There seems to be no plan at the moment achieve by natural means. To get there we need to release the film in Ireland, but perhaps supernatural help from God - grace, the theo- some way can be found to use it here. logical virtues, infused prudence, and so on. Youtube has a 27-minute video, Unplanned: Supernatural reminds us that God is quietly Sneak Peek, including interviews and giving working in a wonderful way in the depths of every lots of background info on the movie. soul. We need to start using the word again. 10 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019

tues that she cultivated throughout through her intercession, and then her life. Both in her personal con- ask that the cause of her canoniza- duct and in her role as teacher, she tion be opened. transmitted her faith, her values This was formally begun in Guadalupe Ortiz - and her strength of character. She 2001. The Cardinal-Archbishop graduated and began teaching in of Madrid said in his opening a convent school in Madrid run address: “We see here a Christian by Loreto sisters, known as “las life of great appeal and great depth; a Saint in our Time damas Irlandeses” because many of great simplicity, which was not of them came from Loreto Abbey simply a matter of public appear- MICHAEL KIRKE, in Rathfarnham. ance.” He spoke of her spiritual FREELANCE WRITER ON When she met Fr. Josemaría qualities and the key moments WWW.GARVAN.CO Escrivá in 1944, the founder of of her life, one of which “was her Opus Dei, she found something to meeting with the founder of Opus give her life more meaning. She Dei, Josemaría Escrivá, which n a Madrid prison, 83 years ago, was inspired by those words of would open the path to her secular at the outbreak of the Spanish his, “Don’t let your life be barren. vocation to be a contemplative in ICivil War, a young woman suf- Be useful. Make yourself felt. the middle of the world.” fered an ordeal no one would ever Shine forth with the torch of your The Postulator of the Cause wish to endure. She accompanied faith and your love.” Guadalupe spoke of Pope John Paul II’s her father on his last night on requested admission to Opus Dei wishes that there be saints of our earth. At dawn he was executed by that same year. own times. “We consider that a firing squad. She then went to Mexico to help Guadalupe presents such a model. On 18th May last, in a packed sta- launch the work of Opus Dei there. She was an indefatigable worker dium in that same city, that woman, She returned Europe some years who confronted problems in a Guadalupe Ortiz, was declared later and in 1968, and after work- Christian way … In everything, her Blessed by the Catholic Church. ing in Rome, she came back to reasons for acting were love for The lives of saints are often Guadalupe Ortiz. Madrid to resume teaching. God and neighbour.” marked by tragedy and great suf- In the early 1970s her health In Rome, on 9 June 2018, Pope fering. We know, of course, that However, when Ortiz learned that every day. Continue being digni- deteriorated. Nevertheless, she Francis authorized the decree there is no such thing as holiness clemency would only apply to fied, honourable and good as you commented, “I have to be happy, approving a miracle attributed without a willingness to accept him and not to his junior officers, have always been, and remember because it’s good to recognize that to Guadalupe Ortiz. One night Christ’s Cross. Those who knew her he refused. that God knows why he has wanted one is not irreplaceable.” But her in 2002, a few days before an knew that this was a distinguishing On 7 September the family were things in this way.” Eduardo later heart condition worsened and operation that was to remove a characteristic of Guadalupe. notified that he would be shot at recalled the composure of Guada- her doctors decided to operate. malignant tumor, Antonio Jesús She was born in 1916. Her father dawn. They were allowed one last lupe during that dreadful night: Although the operation seemed Sedano prayed to Guadalupe. was a military man in Spain during visit. When they arrived he was in “She showed her spiritual forti- a success, she suffered a relapse, The next morning, the tumor had the war. He joined the rebellion led the chapel praying. They stayed tude when, at the age of 20, she went into a coma and died on disappeared. Subsequent medi- by General Franco but his post was with him until he was taken away accompanied her father on the 16 July, the feast of Our Lady of cal examinations confirmed this. very quickly overwhelmed by the at 4.30 a.m. On saying good-bye 7th of September until the early Mount Carmel. Antonio died twelve years later, counter-insurgents. to Guadalupe he asked for her morning of the day of Our Lady – Guadalupe was a distinguished in 2014, of heart disease. He was Ortiz was arrested, tried, and Rosary beads. the Nativity of Our Lady – when scientist and by all accounts a 88 years old. The cancer never condemned to be shot. His son He scribbled to them, moments he was shot in the Modelo Prison wonderful human being. Was she appeared again. Eduardo, who was actually a before being shot: “Be strong at in Madrid.” a saint as well? All who knew her member of the pro-Republic Pop- heart. Be united. Defend yourselves From her family, Guadalupe had had no doubt but that she was, Michael Kirke is a freelance writer. ular Front, appealed for clemency. in the tempests of life. Pray for me absorbed the faith and moral vir- and began immediately to pray See more at WWW.GARVAN.CO Hohenlohe: Stories of Faith Healing in Ireland in the 1820s

EUGENE DUNPHY being exploited by the Vatican to MIRACLES IN IRELAND Mary Dowell, ‘a lady of fortune’ promote Catholicism, but the faith- This story soon reached Ireland. from Merrion Square, suffered ful believed he was being used by James & Mary Lalor, from Cromo- from ‘a gradual paralysis’ which ollowing the RTÉ documen- Christ to cure. gue, Queen’s County (Laois), were confined her to bed. Following the tary, The Summer of Moving at a loss as how to cure their 12 directions of the Prince, Fr. Henry FStatues, many people know SISTER O’CONNOR year old daughter’s sleepwalking. of Arran Quay said Mass at her that Knock was the site of a mirac- In November 1820 Sr Barbara In desperation, James fashioned home, during which she got out of ulous apparition in 1879, and that O’Connor, a nun at New Hall Con- an effigy of his daughter: if she bed and pronounced herself cured. Saint Patrick is credited with a vent, near Chelmsford, Essex, was saw this while sleepwalking, he On the same day, the Prince also number of miracles long before, but hit with an agonising disease caus- believed, she would think it was a said Mass for Michael Read, a shoe- little is known of the many other ing her right arm to swell; her wrist family member and return to bed. maker from 14 Coal Quay, who had miraculous occurences in Ireland. alone had a 15” diameter. She lost Since he did not tell Maria that he debilitating rhuematism. While The passing of the Roman Catho- had made this ‘deterrent’, his ‘cure’ the use of the limb. attending Mass at Lower Exchange lic Relief Act 1829, which granted Though the surgeons John Bade- had drastic consequences. Street, Read was cured and walked Irish Catholics the right to sit in ley of Chelmsford, and William While pacing the house in the home without crutches. Westminster Parliament, was Barlow of Writtle, tried everything middle of the night, Maria awake Horton Cussen was cured of lock- largely due to the efforts of Daniel to help, they had little effect. when she bumped into the maca- jaw in May 1824: Sister Murphy, a O’Connell (the Liberator). With no hope of a cure, the bre doll. Such was her fright, she nun at Mount Carmel, Warren- Before the implementation of Abbess of New Hall wrote to Prince was struck dumb. Two doctors mount, was cured of tuberculosis the Act, newspapers in Ireland Alexander. He agreed to say Mass subsequently prescribed a series Prince Alexander of Hohenlohe- provided extensive coverage of for Sr Barbara on the 3rd May 1822, of electric shock treatments which Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst. in 1828. O’Connell’s speeches. They also provided another was said for her at proved ineffectual. Following the passing of the ran a series of detailed reports on the Convent at the same time. The Bishop of Kildare and Leigh- Relief Act, Prince Alexander’s mir- FROM MIRACLES the supernatural works of Prince As the priest held up the host lin alerted Prince Alexander to the acles petered out. In August 1836, TO EMANCIPATION Alexander of Hohenlohe (1794 during the Consecration, the ailing girl’s plight. Responding as ‘spiritual humorist Talbot Glascock, already –1849), a priest and nobleman nun felt a sudden crack in her counsellor’, he agreed to say Mass for More cures were imminent. Sister known for criticism of the Libera- based in Germany. right shoulder. Sr Barbara was Maria in Bamberg, provided another Francis de Sales was unable to walk tor, wrote a scathing letter to the The many newspaper editors pronounced ‘cured’. Dr. Badeley Mass was said for her at the same or talk due to a ‘disease of the nerv- Warder and Dublin Evening Mail, then were as damning in their published a pamphlet stating that time in Ireland. Maria attended the ous system’. As Prince Alexander wondering if the Prince could per- criticism of miraculous works as he and Dr. Barlow, though both Mass with Fr. O’Connor. During offered Mass for her in August 1823, form the ultimate miracle and nowadays. They suspected that Protestants, had witnessed a genu- Communion, she fell prostrate and she was cured at Mass at the Car- ‘make an honest man of Daniel this ‘Prince High and Low’ was ine miracle. resumed her speech. melite Convent in Ranelagh. O’Connell’. JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 11

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Pallotine Sister Cécire helping run a Health A Catholic girl from Fr. Gregory Kitemu from centre in Rwanda. Bihar State, India. Lodwar Diocese, Kenya.

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St. Gildard in 1879. scratched the ground to make the Her body was interred in the miraculous spring appear, whose crypt of the small chapel dedicated ears had heard the messages from to St Joseph which is within the Our Lady and whose lips have The Nevers Story confines of the convent grounds. repeated the Our Lady’s desired In the autumn of 1909, the work title to Fr. Peyramale, Parish Priest MORGAN SHARPE Lady, it would be fair to assume of the Episcopal commission look- of Lourdes at the time: ‘I am the that celebrity status would have ing into Bernadette’s reputation Immaculate Conception’. followed for Bernadette. However, for Saintliness, virtue and miracles Within the grounds of the con- ourdes, a small town in the the opposite occurred. with a view to canonisation was vent can be seen the beautiful South of France was privi- Over the period of eight years complete. Her body was exhumed grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes that Bernadette remained in Lleged to have our Lady appear and found to be incorrupt. This built in 1884, and is a reminder of Lourdes she was subjected to there 18 times between the 11th procedure was performed in 1919 the events of 1858. There is also insults, harassments, intimidation of February and the 8th of July in and again in 1925 with the same a museum where personal items 1858, to a poor, uneducated and but not once did she waver in her results. of St. Bernadette may be viewed, sickly young girl, whose name is testimony. including the chair where she died. now known around the world: Ber- In 1866, Bernadette Later in that year, her The private gardens also include nadette Soubirous. remains were placed the main convent where Bernadette During one of these appari- departed from Lourdes, spent her final year; at the bottom tions, a water spring mysteriously and never returned. in a bronzed glass of the garden there is a statue of appeared, and while the water has She travelled to Nevers, casket and placed our Lady known as ‘The Lady of the no medicinal properties in itself, it where she had decided Bernadette Soubirous. in the church of St Waters’, where Bernadette prayed has miraculous qualities. From the Gildard in Nevers. In daily until her failing health pre- time of its appearance, to the pres- to join the Sisters of nadette. While her failing health vented her from doing so. ent, millions of people, mainly sick Charity order, whose was always a concern, her novice 1933, Sr. Marie Bernard The Chapel of St. Joseph is in and suffering, have come to bathe mother house remains mistress, Sr. Therese Marie Vauzou was canonised and the centre of the garden, and this in the waters each year in the hope was determined not to grant Ber- her name reverted to is where St Bernadette’s body was of a cure. situated in that town nadette any celebrity status in the Bernadette. interred initially in 1879. The Holy While many miraculous cures to this day. convent. One of the many humilia- Cross Oratory where St. Bernadette have occurred and can be attested tions she had to endure during her died at 3pm April 1879, can still be to by the recipients, there are only The order was founded in 1680 time there was to have her name Nowadays, pilgrims visit Nevers visited, with her death bed replaced 70 that have been officially pro- by a Benedictine priest, Dom changed to Sr. Marie Bernard in in their thousands each day to by an alter and tabernacle. nounced as miracles, having gone Jean-Baptiste De-Laveyne, to serve order to shield the order from the venerate her body. It is here that While 11th February is commem- through a very rigorous testing the poor of the area at the time. attention her identity would bring, pilgrims kneel in front of the Incor- orated as the Feast of Our Lady of process by the Church. History tells us that life in the and this remained her name until ruptible body of St. Bernadette, Lourdes, it is also worth remem- Having been so privileged to see, covent was often very difficult for her death in Sainte Croix (Holy whose eyes had seen the Blessed bering that the 16th of April is the hear and converse with Our Blessed all there, but particularly for Ber- Cross) infirmary in the convent of Virgin Mary, whose fingers had Feast of St. Bernadette.

the evolution of SRHR in Ireland an evangelizing mission among At least, in those times, that help (this means if Ireland is aborting Ireland’s new ‘missionaries’ (albeit was usually up front, well inten- Irish Aid’s at home it should be funding it missionaries who stay in hotels and tioned, if not always the most overseas as well), amongst all rele- wear suits rather than living among appropriate. There were times vant departments and agencies will the poor and wear habits; who stay when help was given in exchange underpin our approach to human for a short time rather than a long for conversion but often help New Colonialism rights, gender equality, health and time; who want to convert the came from the desire to fulfil cor- SRHR issues. fabric of society to reflect a secular poral works of mercy. Sometimes DEREK RYAN and is pushing an aggressive sex- “Ireland also has a story to tell atheistic agenda rather than a The- missionaries were co-opted by ualisation of children through the (taking what has been learned istic one), there is duplicity in what imperial nation-state objectives, ominously titled ‘Relationship and here and transform culture where is happening. but often the only aim was to share n February 28th, An Taoise- Sexuality Education’ at home, they poverty enables acceptance of While pretending to promote the Kingship of Christ. ach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste have turned their sights on the Ireland’s new culture). The legal equality, this aid is using inequality The modern humanitarian spirit Oand Minister for Foreign poorest countries and the people in and constitutional process, the to purchase cultural change. While cloaks a new imperialism- one Affairs Simon Coveney launched the most difficult conditions in the role of grassroots campaigns and pretending to respect the views and that is comes in sheep’s clothing- Ireland’s new policy for Interna- world, to export abortion and sex civil society, the history of soci- opinions of those Ireland suppos- claiming to build a better world; tional Development, entitled ‘A education. etal change and the ongoing issues edly seeks to help, this new policy bringing ‘aid’ money to offer help Better World’. Building on the Using all the euphemistic lan- around the operation of the health is actively seeking to undermine it. while using the same money to legacy and lives of Ireland’s true guage at its disposal, the new system towards the realisation of There has been much to be com- change ‘social norms’- to under- missionaries, the philanthropic International Development Policy rights and women’s health will mended about Ireland’s overseas mine tradition, culture and belief agenda masks a new evangelisation says (comments in italics): inform our foreign and develop- work- from Columbanus, through systems- because the rich nations on behalf of secular Ireland- a new “We will launch a new initiative ment policy on these issues (it was to missionaries who have ded- know best and the poor need to be colonialism. around Sexual and Reproductive figured out here now other cul- icated their lives to the lives of converted anew. Now that the Fine Gael-led Health and Rights (SRHR) (this tures will be changed with Irish Africa, Latin America and Asia- in Even for those who think that government has succeeded in means abortion), incorporating money, the way Irish culture was times when holidays home were all the western, secular culture and all undermining every protection of our partnerships for health and transformed with foreign funds)”. but impossible, even through to the that it comes with it is best, surely the right to life of the unborn child HIV and AIDS … Coherence with While many may celebrate such latter day aid-workers in Concern, this approach is to be rejected? Is GOAL and Trócaire who save lives this what Ireland wants from its still on a daily basis. overseas assistance - a duplici- tous, underhand, brown-envelope Ireland’s new approach approach that seeks to export an to development is imperial agenda by stealth? There a throwback to the is much to commend about the

Photo: Infomatique. development of society in the west, ‘white man’s burden’ that was born of its Christian her- of the past where it itage, yet if Ireland’s overseas was assumed that the assistance was being delivered with people of the poorer a Christianising agenda, the liberal commentators would have much nations were unable to to say about adhering to the prin- help themselves and ciples of humanity, impartiality, needed to be directed neutrality and independence. by the well-meaning But when they are selling their own ideology, principle goes out white man. the window and might is right. JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 13

debate for them. They do not have If any criticism was due of Folau the choice because Israel Folau and and Vunipola it would be for not Billy Vunipola cannot convince God clarifying that their beliefs are that to change what is right and wrong. damnation is due to the action, the Izzy inciting hate Right and wrong exist because God homosexual act, rather than the exists and God determines. inclination. A longer argument with All of this of course hinges on atheists as to whether their beliefs whether you believe in God and are merely a choice, whether adul- what the rules of God are. Pascal’s tery for love is a choice, whether wager posits that humans bet with compulsive lying is optional or or Izzy not? whether drunks have any control their lives that God either exists or does not and that a rational of their choices are more nuanced DEREK RYAN person should live as though God when thought about. exists. If God does not actually It is a responsibility of a jour- exist, such a person will have only a nalist to ensure that the words srael Folau and Billy Vunipola, finite loss (some pleasures, luxury, printed are accurate and repre- possibly the two best rugby play- etc.), whereas he stands to receive sentative of the story told. Keane, Iers in the world right now, both of infinite gains (as represented by with even a cursory research into them of non-Anglo-Saxon origins, eternity in Heaven) and avoid religious teaching on homosexual- coming from the Pacific Isles, but infinite losses (eternity in Hell) ity, would have informed him that

playing rugby with Australia and Photo: Clément Bucco-Lechat. I do not know what Billy Keane’s it is the homosexual act that is the England, are being targeted for Photo: David Molloy photography. beliefs are but if he considers Pas- sin and not the inclination; and it their religious beliefs and having cal’s wager, surely his care and is acting on the inclination that is the audacity to air them publicly. concern for gay rugby players would the choice. Apparently it is no longer accept- require that he supports Folau and Instead Keane has chosen to able for public figures to hold Vunipola – and their right to speak ignore this and sought to fan the traditional religious beliefs, to out - rather than risk those players flames. Keane claims to be con- state them publicly, and to expect Israel Folau. Billy Vunipola. eternal life. cerned for the impact of the words to hold on to their jobs that have Of course, Keane may have no of Vunipola and Folau on young nothing to do with them. Com- to gays burning in hell, what did who they are and their opinions but beliefs, he may be agnostic or athe- rugby players in this life. His fail- mentator after commentator both they say? If their speech is not hate I will not support gay-marriage’. ist, but whatever he may think, at ure is to present the argument with internationally and here in Ireland speech, then what is it? This was his first sin, enunciat- best he can know no more about clarity – where he could have used has sought to misrepresent, either ing an opinion that was outside his position in a national news- For believers in a the afterlife than Folau and Vuni- through deliberate misrepresenta- the pale. And now he has repeated pola, yet seems willing to play paper to explain that Folau is not tion or stupidity what they have Christian God, the issue the sin. But to be accused of being roulette on behalf of others’ eternal inciting any bad action in this life both been saying. is not about agreeing a homophobe for wanting to warn lives- preferring for them the finite but rather suggesting that punish- his fellow human beings of the This is not new and is not a sur- or disagreeing. They pleasures in this life at the expense ment and judgment is for the next imminent risk of being eternally prise but the lack of restraint, the of infinite losses in the fires of hell. life. It is this life that offers the craven bloodlust and the lack are stating what is in damned is ironic. This may seem harsh - of course opportunity for redemption. By of accountability for egregious Surely, to hold such beliefs and the Bible and has been he probably does not prefer that omission Keane risks adding fuel untruths is evidently at a new level. to keep quiet, as many Irish Catho- a standard position of - but ultimately by demanding rather than dousing the fire. Billy Keane in the Sunday Inde- lics do now for fear of offending the silencing – and punishing - of For Vunipola and Folau, Billy pendent went to new depths (22nd monotheistic religions or incurring the wrath of the mob, Keane is inconsequential. The Vunipola and Folau, he prefers to April 2019). for millennia. They is more hateful than saying it out Sunday Independent is incon- take that information out of the loud. That would be true homo- sequential. It is unlikely Keane are not stating their public realm and remove the full Billy Keane gets it phobia. would have the guts of the half- approval or preference information of possibilities from wrong on Billy Vunipola hearted Munster supporter who of it. It just is. Is a failure to warn those that have to make the choice (Sunday Independent, challenged Vunipola, were they about damnation not as to how they live their lives. 21st April) and Israel in the same room, or even in the Approving or preferring it is nei- equivalent to pulling No commentators are same legal jurisdiction. Labelling Folau as has just about ther here nor there for them. It is down the warning sign taking exception to the someone a homophobe is a seri- every commentator on out of their control. It is a fact. It ous offence and in a functioning at the pier and standing apparent slur against the issue. But Keane is not something they can decide justice system, that respects and to change. It is not something they with your arms folded understand free speech, freedom gets it seriously wrong. drunks, adulterers, can choose to believe. as someone drives by liars, fornicators, of religion and the centrality of For Folau and Vunipola it is the intention, Keane would be the He calls Vunipola a homo- opposite of hate speech. It is love. at speed? thieves, atheists, one staring a loss of livelihood in phobe. He is no such thing. He It is charity. Both are issuing a idolators, because all the face. says Vunipola and Folau agree with warning. Folau initially called for The repeated soft-talk that Folau of these are seen as Fortunately for him, he is off the the burning of gay people in hell society to ‘REPENT and turn away has the right to his beliefs (but he choices, whereas as radar of people with more impor- because they are gay. They do no from your evil ways’ in relation to can’t say them) is meaningless tant things to do, and Ireland is such thing. genderless birth certificates. He obfuscation. It is a sop. If Billy homosexuality is not. increasingly concerned with per- He says that Vunipola is a public then said that ‘those that are living Keane took a few moments to think ceived offence than the intention of figure who may not support the in sin will end up in hell unless you about what is at stake for the rugby any act, turning the law on its head. punishment of gay people in this repent’. players he would understand that it life but has no problem with pun- This is standard religious fayre. is the opposite of homophobia that ishment in the hereafter. He does For a believer to pretend otherwise, is driving Folau and Vunipola. no such thing. or to state otherwise, is a derelic- If they were truly gay-hating they To call someone a homophobe is tion of duty to fellow man. It is the would stay quiet and let their fellow JOE WALSH TOURS a serious accusation and one that equivalent of – no, it is worse than man follow the road to perdition € is used regularly to end careers. - removing the warning signs lead- and revel in it privately, gleefully, Homophobia is said to mean a fear ing to the end of a pier because you high-fiving and fist-bumping. PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND or hatred of gay people. It hap- didn’t want to ruin a joyride. But they do not do that. They risk 27 SEPTEMBER | 6 NIGHTS | HALF BOARD f929 pened to John Waters. It is like telling a smoker to their careers. They risk mockery pps It was incorrect then and it is keep on enjoying the smoking and and derision. They risk their live- • Fully religious programme incorrect now. Billy Keane is a expect to have no health prob- lihoods. They risk the World Cup, FULLY journalist. Billy Vunipola is a rugby lems. It is much worse than that of the pinnacle of their careers. They • Led by a Spiritual Director ESCORTED player. Words are central to a jour- course. do this because, in their beliefs, TOUR nalist’s work. Folau posted a message on his they cannot stay quiet. • Visiting Aushwitz, the Saltmines and Yet, Keane will not lose his job for Instagram account that read “hell Saving others from damnation the family house of Pope John Paul II his loose interpretation and use of awaits” for “drunks, homosexu- is more important than all those words. But he wants Vunipola and als, adulterers, liars, fornicators, things. Theirs is not a lily-livered For more information call: 01 241 0800 Folau to lose theirs for something thieves, atheists, idolators”. In faith, it is real. For them, Satan that is not central to their work. 2017, Folau got in strife for saying and hell are real. God is real. They www.joewalshtours.ie | Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 and TA 0689 If they did not say they agree ‘I love and respect all people for don’t agree or disagree. It is not a 14 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019

John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux THE BURNING LOVE OF THE and John Paul II. The Song “became, both in Christian and Jewish litera- SCRAPS SACRED HEART OF JESUS ture, a source of mystical knowledge DEREK RYAN COLUMN and experience, an expression of the FR. JOSEPH BRIODY read at Passover. It was treasured in essence of biblical faith: that man can both Jewish and Christian tradition. indeed enter into union with God…” The Jewish Rabbi Aquiba (around 135 (Benedict XVI). VANDALISM IN FRANCE Wisdom Books A.D.) wrote that “the entire world was Two different Hebrew words are used he fire at the Notre Dame Part 16: not equal in value to the day in which The Song of Songs the Song of Songs was given to Israel. for love in the Song. The first word for Cathedral in Paris was well love indicates insecurity and uncer- publicised but what was little (or The Song of All of Scripture is in fact holy: but the T tainty, a love still searching and unsure known is that in the months prior Solomon) Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies.” of itself. The second word for love indi- to the fire there had been a spate of On the surface the Song seems to be cates stability, safety, focus on the other attacks against churches across the he title Song of Songs or Canti- about the natural love between man cle of Canticles is really a way of and woman. This was its basic mean- person’s good, and even sacrifice. This country. Photo: Daniel Vorndran. expressing the highest and best of ing: it was a collection of love poems second word for love would eventu- Though there is no evidence to The Nave of Saint- T ally be captured in the New Testament suggest, to date, that there is any Sulpice, Paris all – the greatest song of all. The book to be recited at a Jewish wedding feast. connection between what happened brings together a collection of love However, deeper meanings were rec- sense of love as self-sacrifice – the gift in Paris and these other attacks, the absence of even an songs or poems, some of which may be ognized in the Song, especially with of self. exploration of this possibility is very strange. Coincidences very ancient. Despite some concerns, it the realization that human love shares This love is revealed most fully on the happen, but even the coincidences are not mentioned. was received early into both the Jewish in God’s love (Roland Murphy). Both Cross of Christ and is the gift of Chris- Statues have been destroyed, fires started and desecra- and Christian Bibles. Jews and Christians agree that, given tian charity. “Charity” is not merely tion of the buildings and sacred hosts have all happened One of the difficulties is that theSong its place in the Bible, the Song is meant giving to those in need – important as multiple times. France of course is not immune to of Songs (Song) doesn’t seem to men- to remind us of the love of the Lord for that is. “Charity,” in the full Christian anti-Catholic sentiment which seems to arise frequently tion God at all! Only once is there a his people, of the love of Christ for his sense, is the love of God in us. It is God despite a bloody history of persecution of religious while possible vague allusion to God and that Church, and indeed of the passionate loving in and through us. Love truly is at the same time retaining a strong, if privatised, faith. is in Song 8:6 where it says that “love and intimate love of God for the indi- an undying “flame of the Lord” (Song The historic Church of St. Sulpice in Paris was set on is … a flame of Yah.” Here “Yah” seems vidual soul. 8:6). Perhaps the most vivid image of fire, although no one was injured and firefighters have to be an abbreviation for Yahweh, i.e., It is easy to see why the Song was so this divine charity is the burning love of confidently attributed to arson. St. Sulpice was used in the “the Lord.” loved down the ages by spiritual writ- the Heart of Jesus. June is the month of movie adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown. The Song was one of the five scrolls ers and mystics such as Saints Bernard, the Sacred Heart. At Saint-Alain Cathedral in Lavaur, an altar cloth was burned and crosses and statues of saints were smashed. In Nimes, vandals looted the altar of the church of expanding, one Notre-Dame des Enfants and smeared a Crucifix with A Day without Yesterday - of the greatest human excrement. discoveries of the Consecrated hosts were taken and found scattered last century. among rubbish outside the building. The Father of the Big Bang In 1931 Fr. Lemaître pro- DR. PAUL DELANEY static and eternal so he modified his posed an THE GIRLS OF BESSBOROUGH theory by adding a term which acts like expanding ‘fire- anti-gravity to stop the universe from works’ universe BC News ran a very lengthy piece on its website about You know the man on the left in eventually collapsing in on itself. with a different the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home after the 5th the photo, but who is the priest Enter Fr. Lemaître. He took a chang- shape: it had a beginning at a definite interim report from the Commission on these homes Yon the right? ing and expanding universe seriously. time in the past - a day without yes- B This is Fr. Georges Lemaître, the was released. The BBC did not focus on the main finding of In 1927 he discovered a universe that terday. We now know this as the Big the report the babies were not buried or thrown in a septic ‘Father of the Big Bang’. The story looks like Einstein’s in the past but Bang – a name first given disparag- tank but instead chose to focus on Bessborough. starts in 1915 when Einstein published expands in the future. ingly by his atheist colleague Hoyle. What is strange is that this British Broadcaster focusses his famous theory of gravity, General He also showed expansion would Unlike expansion, Lemaître had little on a home in Ireland when there were many, many similar Relativity, the first effort in over 200 solve a puzzle: distant galaxies were evidence for this beginning of things. such institutions in the UK in the 19th and 20th Century, years to improve on Newton’s theory seen to be receding from us and the He searched for proof over the next 30 established for exactly the same reasons, run by Catholic, from the late 17th century. further away they were, the faster they years. Only on his deathbed in 1966 Protestant and non-religious groups. The sun curves spacetime, with the were going. If you imagine marking did he hear that the cosmic microwave Mother and Baby Homes first appeared in England in curvature stronger the nearer you are dots on a balloon and then blowing background discovered by Penzias and 1891 under the guidance of the Salvation Army in London. to the sun. Rather than feeling New- it up, as it expands the dots behave Wilson was the remnant of the cosmic By 1968 there were a total of 172 known homes for unmar- ton’s force of gravity, planets move exactly as the galaxies do. Sit on any fireworks he had predicted. ried mothers, the majority run by religious bodies. around the sun because they are trying dot: all the other dots are receding and What is the reason for the lack of self-reflection and the to follow the straightest possible path further ones move away faster. Had Fr. Lemaître not died focus on Catholic Ireland? In the UK there is not the same in this curved surface. Lemaître showed that an expanding just as the evidence finally need for self-flagellation about its past; there is no previ- It is similar to a plane passing over space means galaxies recede with a veloc- emerged he may well ously dominant ideology that has to be purged from society the North Pole. The shortest and ity proportional to distance - Hubble’s to make room for a new secularisation; and of course it is straightest path is a line of longitude: Law before Hubble found it. Because have shared in Penzias easier to look outwards than inwards at times. not a straight line, but the straightest Lemaître published in a relatively obscure and Wilson’s Nobel Prize. Why does the BBC wonder ‘why did Ireland end up with curved one that can be followed while Belgian journal it languished unnoticed Fame has come slowly a system of mother and baby homes?’ when clearly there remaining on the Earth. until 1930 when his former supervisor are answers to be sought in England? Einstein’s theory said light rays Eddington brought it to the attention of though: only last year the should feel gravity too, such that the the English-speaking world. International Astronomical light from stars visually near the sun Union voted to rename Einstein initially had EUTHANASIA IN BELGIUM should distort like a stick in water as it the Hubble Law as the passes the sun and thus appear further difficulty accepting Hubble-Lemaître Law. ow that abortion is widespread and considered to be from the sun then they are. Lemaître’s idea: one report a right in Ireland, euthanasia is next. In Belgium, When this was first observed by has him saying that the Nwhere euthanasia has been legal, there is an esti- Eddington in 1919 the flurry of news- What do we learn from Fr. Lemaî- mated 1,000 deaths by euthanasia, but without explicit paper coverage made Einstein famous. maths is correct but the tre? He is one of many great scientists consent. Normally that would be called murder but the (The accuracy of the New York Times’ physics abominable!- who were religious - a Catholic Priest of morphing of reality by euphemisms means that murder is reporting was not helped by sending probably because he all things - which makes the unthink- now considered to be legal. their golf correspondent who proceeded ingly repeated assertion that there’s A new discussion taking place is ‘death by organ dona- to, err, make stuff up). disliked the idea of an an obvious intellectual incompatibil- tion’ where people seeking to be killed, instead of waiting Soon Einstein applied his theory to a expanding universe. ity between faith and science seem less until they are actually dead and then the organs harvested much vaster issue: wanting to know the and less plausible. (this can lead to damage to the high quality organs), they shape of the universe. He discovered Later he was said to have called his What exactly is the evidence for this can have their organs removed while alive- essentially his equations would not give a universe use of an anti-gravity term to prop idea? Galileo? That’s just one case, and being killed by organ donation. The world is going mad. of unchanging shape: instead it would up a static universe the ‘biggest blun- one can’t expect the Church to be perfect. grow or collapse. der’ of his life, for otherwise he would There are so many, many religious [email protected] Einstein expected the universe to be have predicted that the universe was scientists who are evidence against it… JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 15 Much More than a Minute’s Silence for Sri Lanka DEREK RYAN New Zealand occurred in a western the ways of life of the nature because it is contrary to how can actually be victims too- even country; in a place that is populated people of New Zealand. they want to be perceived. in polarised places far away where in the main by people like us; by But the evidence of this appar- We understand their they are very much the minority he juxtaposition of the people we consider to be civilised ent hypocrisy is clear on a daily and far from the levers of power. response in the west to the like us; they look like us; speak like acceptable codes of basis. The deaths in Afghanistan, However, at the same time, for Tmassacre of Muslims in us; they pretty much come from behaviour; the manners; Iraq, Syria, Libya, that occur daily, all Catholics, this concern cannot Christchurch, New Zealand, with the same lines of ancestry as us. the expectations of often on equal or greater scale to manifest itself in a wilful ignorance the killings in New Zealand, rarely that of Catholics in Sri Lanka has We have higher expectations of the plight of other groups who brought some focus on two related of ourselves and are genuinely community. get a mention. are suffering across the world. We issues that require some analysis, shocked and outraged when people The killings in Sri Lanka got many need to be consistent when hold- questions and answers. like us do bad things, in places We are, after all, ancestrally, in more headlines and column inches ing our own leaders to account in The out-pouring of sympathy like ours. quite close proximity to the people than those because of the relative their unwillingness to acknowledge and anger in the aftermath of the The flip side of this is that bomb- of New Zealand and Australia, if affinity we have with Mass goers the suffering of Christians while we Christchurch killings, on the 15thof ings, atrocities, war, in places like not geographically. This smells and the Easter celebrations. There March, where 50 people were Sri Lanka are perceived as being of a form of racism- but it is not. is something that rattles our cages ourselves give voice to the voiceless killed by a lone gunman, was cor- commonplace. Sri Lanka is not Someone in Cork is more shocked when an activity many of us take for that may not be Catholic- such as rect. It was a horrific act. Everyone like us. It is part of a different cul- at a crime in Cork, than Donegal; granted results in the deaths of hun- the invisible suffering of non-Chris- was rightly horrified tural setting. We don’t quite see the in Ireland than France; in France dreds in a far-away place. tians in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq. Of course there is a special In Sri Lanka, 253 However secular we responsibility to highlight and people were killed may have become, show solidarity to Christians when and up to 500 injured the memory of Easter their sufferings and persecution is in a coordinated Mass is still real, and ignored- or their identity as Chris- tians overlooked. It is incumbent on

Photo: Pete Souza. the activity of Easter bomb attack in three Christians in Ireland to speak up for churches and three Mass continues for Christians who have no voice. hotels. The majority millions here in Ireland. It is our responsibility to ask were killed in Churches For Catholics and why it took An Taoiseach so long to issue his condolences after the while celebrating Christians, there is rightly a concern for bombings in Sri Lanka, when it took Easter Mass. only hours to express solidarity fellow believers who and sympathy after Christchurch. It is not a competition about which are suffering across Our secularising government must is worse. They were both atrocities the world. It is not be held account for its reticence in but clearly the death toll and the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton speak a truism to say that recognising the Catholic identity scale of the attack in Colombo, Sri together on the South Lawn of the White House. Christians are now the of those killed. Why the silence for Lanka, was on a different level to the Sri Lankans but a rush to signal the massacre in Christchurch by a most persecuted group loudest on New Zealand? lone-wolf gunman. world in the same way, in general. (remember the Bataclan Theatre in the world. It is vital that the obfuscation of The reaction by, to speak loosely, Sri Lanka is in the same general massacre) than in Canada. It is Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the establishment, did not reflect location is Pakistan, Afghanistan natural discrimination- familiarity For many in the west to admit who both mysteriously managed these differences. If anything, and places where things go wrong. and solidarity in different spheres. this, is to choke on the words, to use the phrase ‘Easter Worship- the killings in New Zealand were These are the short-circuits our It may make us feel uncomforta- because Christianity has been the per’ in their delayed reactions to perceived as the greater crime, if brains lazily revert. Normal people ble to acknowledge this- and it can ascendant belief system in the the bombing, be called out. Such an measured in expressions of grief, don’t have time to be concerned and grate against our preferred percep- countries that have been globally insult- both in its ignorance and its sympathy, speed of expressions know about everyone, everywhere. tion of ourselves. But to pretend to dominant for centuries. As many intent - should be challenged and of condolences being delivered, care equally for everyone means Probably, we have lower of these countries try to shake off not go uncontested. Catholics do not column inches in newspapers and extending our empathy to its limits their Christian heritage, where worship Easter. They do not worship airtime on the news- certainly this expectations of places but spreading it so thin that it goes association with the age of empire; only at Easter. They do not identify was the case in Ireland. and people that we do no deeper than hashtags and likes. slavery, white supremacy (JFK as Easter Worshippers. They are But why is this? How is this not relate to as quickly. Those that condemn with greater claimed the white man’s burden) is explained. For many, it has been a vigour the deaths of Muslims in conflated with this heritage, empa- Christians. We are Christians. clear example of Christianophobia It is a lazy characteristic. New Zealand than the deaths of thy for Christians anywhere is hard Neither Obama nor Clinton that has become the norm in the But partly, this is Christians - Catholics – have not to enunciate. referred to the victims in New Zea- west. We will look at that shortly, human nature. We attempted to use that defence The narrative of a Christian land as Friday worshippers. They but there is a simpler explanation are more familiar, because it runs counter to the hegemony which gives credence were given the respect to have their that even the Christianophopes are cosmopolitan worldview that is to an identity-victimhood politics religion acknowledged. The least reluctant to use in their defence. though more distant not lived out in reality. They fear of all other groups, cannot admit that those that died in Sri Lanka The reason: because the attack in geographically, with acknowledging their own human that the perceived power-holders deserve is that same respect.

surability between living beings Paris expressed regret publicly that Sometimes Catholic Victimhood is Real. and concrete things. Emmanuel Macron failed to take Evident immediately was how the trouble to speak of the Catholics DEREK RYAN slaughter of nearly 300 Christians difficult it was for leaders to and their sadness. “It would have in Sri Lanka that she refers to in the acknowledge the Catholic heritage, been nice if there had been a little latter portion of her missal on the the Catholicity of the Cathedral, word of compassion for the Catholic he fire that gutted Notre Dame 24th of April, only days after the Sri particularly in France but also community because after all, it’s the Cathedral in Paris was met Lanka bombings. across the world. Catholics who make the Cathedral of Twith particular sadness by The Notre Dame fire was Sheridan states ‘But the air of Notre Dame live: it’s not a museum! Catholics and Christians who saw lamented for the loss of a beautiful victimhood and rush to judgment “If so many people come there, something happening in front of building and centuries of history, Photo: Levrier Guillaume. among a certain cohort of Chris- it’s because it’s a living space, their eyes that was not evident to all. not to mention holy items and con- tians sit poorly in a world where enlivened by the Catholics. And the Kathy Sheridan of secrated hosts, but quickly there a generous, public-spirited unity word Catholic is not a swear word! demonstrated how completely tone were commentators who wished of purpose was never more neces- It comes from the Greek ‘universal.’ deaf the Irish media can be when it to juxtapose the loss of a build- sary’, blind to the evidence that it We are here to proclaim a universal comes to Catholicism and Christi- ing with the absence of care for was the very acknowledgement of fraternity based on love. It’s really anity claiming ‘victimhood of some humanity, some claiming the reac- Christianity that was absent in the no problem to say just a little word The spire of Christians is not what the world tion was hysterical ‘it is only bricks public-spirited unity of purpose. of compassion for Catholics who Notre Dame in flames. needs’, seemingly oblivious to the and mortar’, as if there is commen- Archbishop Michel Aupetit of are suffering”. 16 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019 CULTURE

letter of the alphabet originated, although that form may well have been found in various aspects of secular poetry. Perhaps Guillaume Joyce Blooms with was inspired by none other than Jesus Christ, when He referred to Himself as the Alpha and the Lucia Anne Omega, being - as most Christians Joyce from know - the first and last letters of her passport. A Chaucer ABC the Greek alphabet. Preface writer, Louis Gillet, con- poem’ and brought it to the notice of PHILIP JOYCE, tinues, “It was worthy of the 13th her father. James caused his daugh- century, that century which dei- ter’s wonderful work and the 5-plus fied woman, to endow the Mother centuries-old hymn to be com- une the 16th, Blooms’ Day, will with the emblem of her Son.” Gillet bined in, some say, a tangible plea be an occasion to celebrate , yet continues, “ It is natural, in this to heaven for Lucia’s better health. again - in Dublin and the world connection, to consecrate, in order J It might also have been a devoted - the unique novel, Ulysses, written to sanctify them, all the intermedi- father’s efforts to ensure some form by my grand-uncle, James Joyce . ate letters, also.” Thus were used all of literary posterity for his daugh- Despite a Catholic upbringing - twenty-three relevant letters in this ter - in a ‘genre’ with which he was, and having been educated by the poem dedicated to Mary. (The let- himself, only too familiar. Christian Brothers at O’Connell’s ters ‘J’, ‘U’ and ‘W’ were not used.) A Chaucer A.B.C., being a hymn School and by the Jesuits at both So how did Joyce’s version come to the Holy Virgin in an English Clongowes Wood and Belvedere about ? Version by Geoffrey Chaucer from colleges - the latter in his native James and Nora Joyce had two the French of Guillaume De Deguil- city - James exhibited quite a neg- children, Giorgio, born in 1905 leville, with initial letters designed ative view, as illustrated in some of and named after a younger brother and illuminated by Lucia Joyce, his writing later on, of aspects of of James, George Alfred, who had was prefaced by Louis Gillet of the Catholic Church. died at the young age of 15 years l’Académie Francaise and published Perhaps it may surprise some in 1902 - and Lucia Anna, born by The Obelisk Press of Paris. It was readers, so, that one of the pieces on July the 26th, 1907 and named published, significantly, on July of literature with which he was so Q Verse in after the third century Italian 26th, 1936 - Lucia’s 29th birthday strongly associated in later life, Chaucers ABC martyr, Saint Lucia. - but also, as previously stated, on was a poem to the Blessed Virgin illustrated by Lucia Joyce. Lucia’s second Christian name, the coincidental Feastday of Saints Mary by Geoffrey Chaucer, who Anna, was presumably given to her Joachim and Ann, parents of the was regarded as a pioneer of the translated by a 15th century English the prayer poem in twenty-three on account of it being the Feast day Blessed Virgin Mary. modern English language- known Benedictine monk, John Lydgate of stanzas - each commencing with of Saint Joachim and Saint Ann - It was one of James Joyce’s last as A Chaucer A.B.C. parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bury, and emerged as ‘The Pilgrim- a consecutive letter of the alpha- involvements with a publication This story begins with a 14th cen- Both of the Joyce offspring were age of the Soul’. bet - which Chaucer translated and prior to his death in 1941. Lucia, tury-born French Cistercian monk, born in Trieste, north-eastern Italy, Chaucer would have been aware adapted to the version which my who remained a single person, Guillaume de Deguilleville, who was to where their parents came to live of this onerous opus of the French grand-uncle employed five centu- became a resident of a nursing Prior of the Abbey of Chaalis – now following their departure from the monk, the first part of which, La ries later - hence A Chaucer A.B.C. home in Northamptonshire, Eng- a restored museum known as the Art Emerald Isle. land and died on December 12th Musée Jacquemart-André in the Ile- Pèlerinage de la Vie Humaine (The This of poetry would have Lucia was deemed to have a Pilgrimage of the Human Life) been much sought after in the Eng- of 1982 - the Eve of the Feastday of de-France locality just north of Paris. form of schizophrenia. Despite Saint Lucia. She is buried in Kingst- deals with the temptations of Chris- lish royal courts of pre-Reformation Guillaume was a prolific - if this - or, perhaps, because of it - horpe Cemetery in that county. tian, (the traveller), by the two great times. It was a time of a great revival somewhat pedestrian - poet with she was extremely artistic with James Joyce’s sole direct heir ‘devils’, ‘Avarice’ and ‘Lust’. of the cult of the Virgin and the his best known work, Le Livre de physical expression, such as danc- is his grandson, Stephen, (born Christian’s friend and guide, Litanies, with the ringing of the Trois Pèlerinages - The Book of ing, and with a wonderful gift of in 1932), who lives in Ile de Ré, Three Pilgrimages - running to Grace of God, rescues him and Franciscan Angelus bells well estab- illustration. Amongst this latter France with his wife Solange. They 35,000 lines. invites him to pray for the inter- lished across the land. work were the beautifully styled do not have any children. The preface writer of James Joyce’s cession of the Blessed Virgin Mary It is not known for certain where letters of the alphabet. resultant work, the late Louis Gillet, with the words, ‘Voila comment the literary device of commenc- According to Gillet, Lucia was Philip Joyce is the grandson of states that this indigestible tome was prier dois’. Thus is introduced ing each verse with a consecutive aware of the Chaucer A.B.C. ‘prayer- Charles, youngest brother of James.

thing was superimposed on the Ireland in the 1980’s was a dif- ALIVE!’S TV REVIEW FOR THE MONTH statue.” ferent place to that of today, but Juxtaposing their sincere cer- instead of educating todays’ gen- tainty in what they had seen with eration on what was a complex the paddy-whackery emphasis on subject to be dealt with at the time, MOVING STATUES - the stories of the over-crowded by both the Bishops and the media, pubs, the parish-pump politics of the efforts were undermined by an getting the road upgraded, and unnecessary focus on trivialities, the ‘Grotto Burger’, essentially put which resulted in a field-day for THE SUMMER OF 1985 side-issues to the centre of what the twitterati to sneer at an Ireland could have been a much more sen- gone by. CAROL PAULS statues physically move in front of Stradbally, and Ballinspittle and sitive piece of work. their eyes. talked with the people who believe This phenomenon was reported they saw statues move and still TÉ’s moving statues in over 30 locations across the believe in what they saw. John documentary which explored country and lasted till Septem- Miller, who was a sceptical 20 year Rthe hysteria that gripped ber that year when suddenly the old at the time was one of those the country in the mid-80s was crowds died away and statues who testifies to this day that he saw Shrine to Virgin Mary near Photo: Unknown. surprisingly, for the times we live stopped moving. the statue of the Virgin Mary Ballinspittle, County Cork, in, no more mean-spirited than The documentary, while cer- “We went up in the car and Ireland, site of Moving statues some of the clips that were played tainly indicating which side of pulled in. We weren’t there for five phenomenon in mid 1980s. from 1985. the fence it stood on in terms of minutes when at the same time Hundreds of thousands of people whether there was any veracity in we both saw the statue turning. It gathered at grottos from Ballinspit- the claims of the little people, at was turning to the right, towards tle to Stradbally to witness moving least treated their stories with rea- the railway, but it wasn’t the statue statues. sonable respect, if at times being itself that was moving. The phenomenon which took slightly patronising. “It seemed to be a figure that over the country for a few months This programme featured sight- came down and made it appear as had people claim to have seen the ings in Monasterevin, Sligo, if it was moving; it was as if some- FAMILY AND MARRIAGE JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 17 Let us be “bâtisseurs de cathédrales”

âtir” is a French word that Giving a Catholic education to for truth and freedom. “Where did has no literal translation in our children is being a “bâtisseur”: they find what nobody was giving “BEnglish. It means to build, we help build the “intellectual them?” Delsol asks. but with a spiritual heart. We talk cathedrals” in their minds. We The stone quarries are near, in about the “bâtisseurs de cathédrales”, push back a barbaric society. We the form of good classical pro- those cathedral builders who not repel the culture of death. We bring grammes, readily available and only erected beautiful monuments, a stone to the cathedral of Euro- easy to follow, such as Mother of

but did so with their soul, in an Photo: LeLaisserPasserA38. pean civilisation. Divine Grace, Seton Home Study unstoppable movement of the heart Many of us can feel shy and School in the US, Cours Griffon, to God, high towards the heavens intimidated, and wonder how to Cours Sainte-Anne in France, etc. and across the centuries. pass on to our children what we Working with one child, one family The Frankish origin of this word, did not receive ourselves. In other at a time, these programmes help “bastjan”, perhaps explains why words, how can we give a Catho- to build those “intellectual cathe- French people see themselves as lic, classical education, which was drals”, as Xavier du Bellay, the “bâtisseurs”. Our first Catholic denied to us in the first place? director of Cours Griffon says. Franc king was Clovis, who was How on earth are we In his latest book, Cardinal baptised by Bishop St. Rémi on Sarah reminds us the words of Christmas night 508, along with supposed to be the Albert Camus upon receiving the 3,000 of his warriors. This was “bâtisseurs” when we Nobel Peace Prize in 1957: “Each France’s baptism, by God’s grace. generation doubtless feels called History teaches us however that don’t seem to have the stones to bring to the upon to reform the world. Mine the time of Clovis was the start knows that it will not reform it, but of centuries of darkness, with the building site? its task is perhaps even greater. It big invasions that ransacked the consists in preventing the world whole of Europe. Only Ireland Let us trust in God’s grace! from destroying itself.” and its monasteries were spared, Catholic philosopher Chantal The “bâtisseurs de cathédrales” and safeguarded the Faith for the Delsol, in “Catholic Culture in who started building Notre Dame whole of Europe. XXth Century France”, after a 800 years ago knew that they When the invaders were Chris- gloomy survey of the general reli- would not see it finished. They tianised and assimilated into new gious landscape, notes the young hoped in the Kingdom of God, nations, the grandiose time of the Fire in the frame of Notre Dame. generation of French Catholics, they counted on us to continue Roman and Gothic “bâtisseurs de inhabited by deep religious fer- their work. Each of us is called to cathédrales” came. That is when vour, are not afraid to be hated by be an heir to these “bâtisseurs”. Notre Dame de Paris, like so many in this reaction: “A mysterious com- The people’s humble poverty in mainstream media, and are thirsty others, was “bâtie”, built. munion seemed to fall at last on this prayers to save Notre Dame were With God’s grace, we can. people of France” wrote Fr. de Men- seemingly heard. Notre Dame, So on the night Notre thière. “The post-modern crowds, Our Lady, France’s main patron Dame burned, our old visitors of Notre Dame, who don’t saint, whispered in our ears that ancestry seemed to understand her, who lost the keys the structure was intact, and that to its significance, suddenly under- we must, with God’s grace, become Photo: Milliped. resurrect in us. In fear stood everything in the flames” said “bâtisseurs” again. that the whole structure Philippe de Villiers. “There was a For we are all called to be “bâtis- would collapse, the very strange atmosphere that night. seurs”, each in our own families, towers, the roof, the The spire that fell pierced our hearts. among our neighbours, in our The fire reminded us of our roots”, communities, in our countries. In keystone, the choir … he continued. France, in Ireland, everywhere. people spontaneously And at dawn, the word quickly started praying Ave spread: “the structure held on!” There are many ways Marias in the streets, Notre Dame did not burn to ashes, to build monuments nobody was killed, many artefacts to God’s glory: some chanting, were preserved. The Crown of others teaching it to Thorns was saved. cathedrals can be made passers-by who wanted King Saint Louis had obtained of stone and colourful to join in the prayers the precious Crown for our coun- stained glass, or they try. When it arrived in France, he can be in our hearts, but didn’t know how. walked, like a pauper, over 100km from Paris to Sens to exchange minds and souls. Political and spiritual Catholic his royal crown for the Crown leaders saw something very special of Thorns.

THE WORD OF GOD FOR JUNE Renewing the face of the Earth BRENDAN CLIFFORD O.P. is where we feel at ease, in our own leading us into a deeper zone of our western world to come out The Catholic Church in Ireland place, with the food and drink and trust and love. This may be your of its comfort zone. On the first has been taken out of its comfort entertainment we want, doing the experience too. Pentecost there were people in zone. Not long ago it had excessive You send forth your Spirit and things we like to do, with no one The poverty of others near and Jerusalem from many different power and authority in the land. they are created and you renew bothering us. far, calls us to give up many com- parts of the world, speaking many Now our church is a little closer to the face of the earth. Big events take us out of our forts. To quote again: different languages. When the the church as it was after Pente- (Psalm 104: 30) comfort zones, like getting mar- “Jesus hopes that we will stop Holy Spirit descended, they all cost. We are smaller, we have little ried, becoming a parent, taking sheltering ourselves from human came together and they under- power, and many do not share our he Holy Spirit takes us out up a new job, being an active misfortune around us and instead stood what the apostles were values. We are a humbler Church. of our comfort zone. That church member, losing a loved enter into the reality of other peo- saying. There is one language And we remember that the Holy Tis what Pope Francis says. one, coping with illness or old ple’s lives and know the power of that the Holy Spirit enables Spirit brings freshness, imagina- Notice how this may be true in age. When the Spirit takes us out tenderness.” everyone to understand: the lan- tion and newness. your experience. Our comfort zone of our comfort zone he is always The migrant crisis is calling guage of love. Come, Holy Spirit! 18 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019

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the cities which they returned to – articulated by Pope Pius XI. Doro- points which had been empha- LIVES OF THE SAINTS even as far away as Seattle on the thy was patient, but also somewhat sized by the Popes in their social North West Coast. Nor was it just frustrated by this. encyclicals, made many Catholics a national phenomenon. Editions “How hard a thing it is”, she think we were Communists in dis- DOROTHY DAY of the paper and houses for the wrote, “to hear such criticisms guise, wolves in sheep’s clothing.” victims of the Crash started up in made. Voluntary poverty was only In other words, many Catho- Australia and Britain. found among the Communists; lics, then as now, did not properly PART 29 tality there. In this way, houses Needless to say, not everyone the Negro and white man on the understand or know much of started in Boston, Rochester, Mil- understood what this movement masthead of our paper suggested the basic teaching of their own xpansion of the Catholic waukee, and other cities. was all about. Like any organi- communism; the very word Church. Worker Movement brought Within a few years there were zation at that time with the word “worker” made people distrust There were others at the oppo- its own problems. In New thirty-three houses of hospitality “worker” tagged on to it – and an us at first. We were not taking E site extreme – who thought they York they were soon forced by and farms around the country. organization seeking to mobilize the position of the great mass of represented some kind of new the increasing rent of three apart- One of the reasons for the rapid workers as a social force in soci- Catholics, who were quite content ments and one store to move growth was that many young ety - suspicion of the Red menace with the present in this world. mystical asceticism. One good into a house on the poorer West people were coming out of col- of communism attached itself to They were quite willing to give and well-meaning woman asked Side. About twenty of them now lege to face the prospect of no them. The outbreak of the mur- to the poor, but they did not feel Dorothy one day, “Do you have lived and worked from this new job. If they had started to read derous conflict of the Spanish Civil called upon to work for the things ecstasies and visions.” Dorothy accommodation. In the summer, The Catholic Worker in college, War did not help alleviate this cli- of this life for others which they answered rather abruptly – an young college girls and men from they were ready to spend time as mate of suspicion. themselves esteemed so lightly. abruptness she regretted after- around the country came for volunteers when they graduated. The Catholic mainstream was Our insistence on the values of wards – “Yes, visions of unpaid months to help them. Some of Some of them were writers and itself not quite up to speed on worker-ownership, on the right bills.” Dorothy was nothing if not these then returned to their own contributed to the paper; others the Church’s own social teaching of private property, on the need a person whose feet were firmly cities to start houses of hospi- started up editions of the paper in which was now being so actively to de-proletarize the worker, all on the ground. JUNE 2019 ALIVE! | 19

CROSSWORDPRIZE CROSSWORD NO. 235 • JUNE 2019 CRYPTIC CLUES: €25 for the first correct entry out of the bag. Entries before Wednesday, 12th June. Kids Corner €25 One entry per family. Winner & answers next month. NO. 235 Dia dhaoibh a pháistí, 1 2 3 4 5 Summer is almost here, the days COLOURING COMPETITION - WIN €10 189 are getting longer and the weather 6 7 is getting warmer. One thing we all love to do when summer arrives is 8 9 to go on holidays with our fami- lies, enjoy time off from school and have fun with our friends. Some- 10 11 12 times we remember too that Jesus

is our friend and that He enjoys 13 spending time with us and wants

us to be happy with our friends and 14 15 16 family just as He was with His. Jesus gives us the seasons and 17 the nice weather. He wants us to be filled with joy and love for Him. 18 19 20 21 It is important to remember too that Jesus loves everyone. Did you 22 know that the symbol for love is 23 24 the heart which is why during the summer we celebrate a feast day called the Sacred Heart of Jesus to

remind us of just how much Jesus 25 loves each one of us. Slán go fóill, ACROSS DOWN ✃ Aisling 1. RunACROSS after having less hair? Nonsense! (10) 1.DOWN Blade used to fit this type of light bulb? (7) 8. Stubborn1. Run manner after of having dependent less (7) hair? 2.1. Bread Blade for theused brain? to (4) fit this type of WORD WHEEL 9. MotherNonsense! has IFA run (10) by criminal group (5) 3.light Cause bulb? to be loved (7) after finish on organ (6) How many words can you find? 10. Gave money during fasting period (4) 4. Bottle that Jim honed in a different way (8) 11. Laugh8. Stubborn at radio presenter manner going ofto Mecca (4) 5.2. However, Bread FAI for dismantled the brain? in Bulgarian (4) capital (5) Can you find the 9 letter word? 12. Adependent quiet wood (3) (7) 6.3. Sounds Cause like tohow be to takeloved in entire after geographical finish 14. Costume9. Mother for the has more IFAhealthy? run (6) by onfeature organ (7,4) (6) Here’s a hint: You can receive this 15. Producecriminal weapon, group we hear, (5)for Japanese feudal leader (6) 7.4. Change Bottle sum that in order Jim to honedget weapons in (7-4)a when you go to Mass. 18. Feverish10. Gave but attractive! money (3) during fasting 13.different Maybe push way in if needed(8) to complete task (6,2) 20. Terribleperiod man, (4) the one with the van! (4) 16.5. Wreath However, of flowers FAI for silverdismantled returning to in right 21. Brigid loses passport on ship (4) country (7) 23. Start11. upLaugh without ata meal radio (5) presenter 17.Bulgarian His services maycapital be used (5) to make 14 Across (6) 24. Lougoing loves tohimself Mecca in Belgian (4) city? (7) 19.6. Dance Sounds to make like one howpaler? to(5) take in

✃ 25. Police12. Achief quiet is a snake? wood (10) (3) 22.entire Certain geographical user is upset (4) feature (7,4) 14. Costume for the more 7. Change sum in order to get NAME SOLUTION TO MAY CROSSWORD: healthy? (6) weapons (7-4)MAY CROSSWORD WINNER: ACROSS: 1.Panache 5. Hacks 8. Trove 9. Potsdam 10. Holster ADDRESS 11. Outdo15. Produce12. Sister 14.weapon, Office 17. we Extra hear 19. ,Estates 22.13. Hermits Maybe pushJames in if neededMcGarry, to 23. Banjofor Japanese 24. Noble 25. Nursery.feudal DOWN: leader 1. Pitch(6) 2. Noodlescomplete 3. Cleft taskGracepark (6,2) Heights, 4. Export18. Feverish5. Hats off 6. but Cadet attractive! 7. Someone (3)12. Stephen 13.16. Evasive Wreath ofDrumcondra, flowers for Dublin silver 9. AGE 15. Intense20. Terrible 16. Reason man, 18. Throb the 20. one Tuber with 21. Story. returning to right country (7) the van! (4) 17. His services may be used to Return to ALIVE! St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24. NAME21. Brigid loses passport on make 14 Across (6) ship (4) 19. Dance to make one ADDRESS CAN YOU UNSCRAMBLE THESE WORDS? COLOURING COMPETITION 23. Start up without a meal (5) paler? (5) CRMHSITAS SEATER LOHY PSITRI USJES YMRA WINNER FOR APRIL WAS: 24. Lou loves himself in Belgian 22. Certain user is upset (4) Kate Higgins, city? (7) Woodland View, 25. Police chief is a snake? (10) TELEPHONE

Dillons Cross, Co. Cork. CHRISTMAS, PENTECOST, EASTER, HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS, MARY JESUS, SPIRIT, HOLY EASTER, PENTECOST, CHRISTMAS, Age 6. ANSWERS: Solution to ALIVE! St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

DUMBAG WRITES... LETTERS FROM A MASTER TO A TRAINEE TEMPTER

getting on their Facebook soap-box Vices like pride, sloth, envy and gym or Teddy TheologianSolution ranting to May Crossword: Social media to have a good self-absorbed rant greed proliferate, to name but a few. about Pope FrancisAcross: on Twitter, 1.Panache YOU 5. Hacks CAN 8. ALSO about whatever is ruffling their Imagine it: souls pouring over wounding the body Troveof Christ, 9. Potsdam do 10.FIND Holster 11. feathers. It doesn’t leave to much their friends’ seemingly perfect they not realise ChristOutdo has already 12. Sister 14. Office 17.ALIVE! Extra 19. Estates 22. Hermits 23. mayhem room for God with all that ego. lives and feeling the reactionary won, but we can still drag souls ONLINE Banjo 24. Noble 25. Nursery. Oh what potential for misery, pinch of inadequacy. Souls then down along the way?Down: 1. Pitch 2.Visit Noodles our website 3. Greetings ghastly Smithers, Smithers! We can get souls to repeat that cycle by posting their It’s true, CatholicsCleft can, 4. Exportlike 5. Hats off 6. tune out of their day to day lives, own cyber-perfect life, causing Saint Maximilian Kolbe, use this want to speak to you about the Cadet 7. Someonewww.alive.ie 12. Stephen distracted by the artificial com- their friends to perpetuate the “me” generation - the social modern media to 13.spread Evasive the 15. Intense 16. Reason 18. Throb 20. Tuber 21. media users. munities in cyber space. They will cycle. On and on they go- not to Gospel and do so much disgust- Or like our Facebook page I ultimately miss their life happen- mention the time wasting. Story. ing good for building up the Body Facebook, Instagram, Twit- ter and personal blogs are great ing before their eyes. Just think of the sloth. Sitting of Christ, but hopefully Smithers, facebook.com/ tools to get souls absorbed in As Saint Therese of Avila said at your desk at work, hours on if we keep them distracted and alivepaper themselves and not God. They are “God walks amongst the pots and the clock ticking by while souls wholly looking inwards, they’ll wonderful distractions from the pans,” meaning that God is to be scroll through Facebook. Think of never know. still small voice of God. found in the ordinary wonder of parents ignoring their kids while In between all those tweets, self- the day to day. We can use social trolling parenting blogs. Imagine Until next time, ies and status updates, there isn’t media to stop this at all costs. students in the library using the much space for listening for God’s This inward looking self-absorp- free WiFi for instagram rather Diabolically Yours, voice in the day-to-day ordinar- tion embodied by the world of social than online journals. iness of their lives- whether it’s media, isn’t just a great distraction And then there’s pride, Pride is posting about their latest diet plan from God but a fantastic opportu- a big one, Smithers. Whether it’s on their personal wellness blog or nity to grow some horrible vices. the Joe Soap posting selfies at the Dumbag 20 | ALIVE! JUNE 2019 SPORT

Still human, still alive. Still needs your voice. STAND FOR LIFE at Ireland’s largest pro-life rally in support of the right to life of every human person - especially the smallest and most vulnerable of all, unborn babies. No vote, no act of parliament can ever make it right to kill a child - so join us to show your opposition to Simon Harris’ extreme abortion law, to call for a better answer for mothers and babies, and to remind the nation that we, the 723,632 who proudly voted NO to this unjust and barbaric law, haven’t gone anywhere and we will continue to stand for life and against abortion. Stand for Life; 2pm, Saturday July 6th, Parnell Square, Dublin. STAND FOR LIFE 01 8730465 / 028 90278484 [email protected] 2PM SATURDAY 6 JULY DUBLIN For more information, to book a seat on a bus, or to find out how you can help, see www.rallyforlife.net or phone 01 8730465 (ROI) / 028 90278484 (NI). Please DONATE at 01 8730465. The Rally For Life is organised by Life Institute, Precious Life & Youth Defence. Numbers count. Some more than others

wo footballers who would have Argentine manager, Marcelo Bielsa. Photo: Angelo Orsi. preparation was key to his life, as graced any era continue to A sometimes controversial figure, was his deep Catholic faith. Track up notable numbers. In he earned great respect for order- Long before his death, he was scoring the equaliser against Inter ing his team to deliberately concede using his wealth and fame to help on April 27th, Cristiano Ron- against Aston Villa on April 28th disadvantaged children. In keep- aldo registered his 600th goal in feeling his players acted in an ing with his wishes, his sister club football. unsporting fashion to go 1-0 up. Viviane founded the Ayrton Senna With his two goals against Liver- His slightly eccentric, but pas- Institute to continue this work pool, Lionel Messi moved onto 600 sionate, persona conceals a man after his death. goals for Barcelona. He has scored of integrity, self-reflection and a A film-documentary called Senna 34 league goals before the month of strong moral code. was made about his life. Towards the May, the latest securing a 26th La He is also a man of faith. When Ayrton Senna celebrating his victory at the 1988 Canadian end of the film, Formula One race Liga title for Barca. he was manager of Athletic Bilbao Grand Prix alongside Alain Prost and Thierry Boutsen doctor, Sid Watkins describes the Messi has a number of religious in Spain, Bielsa and his wife visited last few conversations they shared tattoos on his body, including one a small community of contempla- greatest strengths or his greatest can be a coaching and playing phi- and what he found at the scene of of Jesus Christ. Cristiano is well tive nuns at the St Clare convent in weaknesses”. losophy or style; with Christianity, it the crash as being of an undoubtedly known for carrying with him a set of Guernica. During the visit, he dis- He is also known for his team is faith based on truth. mystical, spiritual, quality. white rosary beads. cussed his faith and revealed that ethos and heavy emphasis on rep- Lombardi may well have secured Senna is revered to this day in The number of Hail Marys said in one of his aunts was a nun, and that etition and getting the basics, the a sixth championship success Brazil. In 2014, 47% of people in his the Joyous, Sorrowful and Glorious she was the reason that his faith in fundamentals, right. (while he was with the Washington home town of São Paulo selected Mysteries (153) mirrors the number prayer grew. Sport has often been referred to Redskins) but was taken ill and suc- him as the biggest sporting name of days between May 13th and Octo- American Football coach, Vince as a good metaphor for spiritual cumbed to cancer aged 57. in Brazil, well ahead of great foot- ber 13th, the first and last dates that Lombardi, a one-time seminar- life. Challenges, opposition, injury, It was a life cut short. One cut baller, Pelé. Our Lady appeared at Fatima. ian, achieved legendary status after respect and support for each other, even shorter was that of Formula Two quotes from Senna are: And, as the Gospel reading from winning five championships with working as a team, or community, One racing driver, Ayrton Senna, “If you have God on your side, John 21, 1-19 on May 5th reminded the Green Bay Packers, including having goals, and getting those who died in a crash during the San everything becomes clear, and us, the number of fish caught by the first staging of the Super Bowl basics and fundamentals referred Marino Grand Prix when aged 34. Wealthy men can’t live on an the apostles in the Sea Of Tiberias in 1966. The Super Bowl trophy is to right can all be cited in defence of His death occurred exactly 25 years island that is encircled by poverty. after Jesus appeared to them was now known as the Vince Lombardi this view. ago on May 1st. We all breathe the same air. We 153, also, apparently, the number Trophy. Lombardi knew that repetition A deeply religious man, Senna must give a chance to everyone, at of known nations on earth at that Lombardi was a tough, demand- and practice bred habit and, also, was also charismatic, engaging least a basic chance.” time, indicating Our Lord’s call for ing, but successful, effective and that a good coach could help pre- and articulate. Three times an F1 The Ayrton Senna Institute has faith to be universal. motivational coach. Feared and vent habit from developing into world champion, his career brought given a chance, along with hope, to Rosario, which translates from revered in equal measure, he once complacency. immense joy across the globe, millions in the 25 years of its exist- Spanish as rosary beads, is the said that he “didn’t know if his Such an approach enables a strong not least to his country of Brazil. ence. Some numbers do, indeed, name of the home town of Leeds’ impatience and drive were his foundation to be laid. In sport this Thorough physical and mental count for more than others.

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