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MONSIGNOR FINTAN GAVIN WELCOMED TO THE NO. 255 MAY 2019 | 250,000 COPIES NATIONWIDE | WWW.ALIVE.IE | ‘REAL CAPITAL’ PAGE 2 ALIVE!Actor, Neal McDonough.

“YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH” PAGE 3

US BISHOPS THANK PRESIDENT FOR MEXICO CITY POLICY PAGE 8 ACTOR LOSES ROLE GOD IS MUSIC PAGE 16

BECAUSE OF SEE PAGE 2

MAKING A ‘HOME’ IN CATHOLIC BELIEFS IRELAND PAGE 17

Simon Harris cuts funds to maternity safety measures in order to pay for abortion 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! MAY 2019 Monsignor Fintan

Photo: Cillian Kelly. Gavin welcomed to the ‘Real Capital’

LIAM O’CONNOR He said that he looked forward to the job and would be looking for guidance from Bishop Buckley as utgoing Bishop of Cork and he settled into the role. Ross, John Buckley, in wel- Bishop-elect Gavin was born Ocoming Dublin priest and in Dublin on 1 January 1966 he is the new Bishop elect Monsignor the second eldest of seven brothers Fintan Gavin to the Diocese also and sisters. His family roots are welcomed him to the Real Capital, in Marino, Saint Vincent de Paul which was received with laughter Parish, on the Northside of Dublin. from the congregation in a nearly He played hurling and football full Cathedral. with Saint Vincent’s GAA Club, Bishop Buckley opened his Marino, and was a member of address in Irish and continued by Marino Athletic Club. Bishop-elect mentioning all the wonderful ini- Gavin was ordained to the priest- tiatives and groups in the Diocese, hood by Bishop Éamonn Walsh, while thanking his priests for their Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, on 7 dedication in service to the people. June 1991. Bishop elect Monsignor Gavin The diocese of Cork and Ross now former Chancellor of the Dublin includes Cork City and part of Archdiocese spoke about how County Cork. It has a Catholic excited he is, but also how he was in population of 220,000 across 68 Bishop-elect of Cork & Ross, shock when told that Pope Francis parishes and its patron saints are Monsignor Fintan Gavin. had appointed him to this new role. Saint Finbarr and Saint Fachtna.

FROM PAGE 1 ACTOR LOSES ROLE BECAUSE Atheist to Priest JACK WALSH – that he put down to music and Dominicans in 2012 and will be OF CATHOLIC BELIEFS community rather than God. ordained to the priesthood in “One Sunday I went to Mass August of this year. and of Brothers, Desperate respected his decision and his discovered the new age on my own and at Communion Housewives and Suits star talent, as he has just finished a US movement and I found it time, although I wasn’t receiving BNeal McDonough recalls TV series with Irish actor Aiden “Ivery exhilarating; it was new the Eucharist, I experienced the how he was fired from the ABC Gillen, Project Blue Book, and will and exciting. At the same-time I presence of Christ. I felt at this TV Show Scoundrels for refusing star in the second series of the TV struggled with my belief in God moment intense joy as I could to engage in love scenes. “I was show Yellowstone alongside vet- and eventually stopped believing see who Christ was -God- and [surprised], and it was a horrible eran actor Kevin Costner, to be altogether in Him, seeing reli- this compelled me to start read- situation for me,” the actor, and aired in June. gion as a crutch people use, and ing scripture”. practicing Catholic, recently told also as a social construct.” Immediately his life com- Closer Weekly. These are the words of Br. Jesse pletely changed: “My life turned The actor recounts that from Maingot OP, an Irish Dominican then on he found it very difficult to around rapidly to the point that student originally from Trinidad get another role as people thought I started considering a vocation. he was a religious zealot. “I put God and Tobago. After this taste of Christ, I deep- and family first, and me second. When discussing this atheistic ened my prayer life and sought a That’s what I live by.” period of his life he recollects that religious order with a desire for It was reported that his stance he became disillusioned with his seeking truth and in a communal and subsequent sacking cost him faith because Catholics weren’t setting; and so the Dominican Actor, $1m in pay cheques. Fortunately, living the life they were preach- Order was the perfect fit.” Neal McDonough. Br. Jesse Maingot, OP. other producers and casting agents ing, and in particular a lack of joy Br. Jesse joined the Irish in the Faith. And, reflecting what one hears from many a young adult today, Br Jesse found faith boring, a religion of don’ts. “I felt burdened by not being free to do what I wanted to do, to me Catholicism equalled guilt”, he recalls. However, there was a turning point, when observing nature, he could see that there must be an Discerning a Vocation? objective true reality, which led The Dominican Order him think there might be moral and spiritual truths as well. CONTACT OUR VOCATIONS DIRECTOR Around the same time, Br. Fr Colm Mannion OP Jesse started going back to Mass 087 446 5344 through the invitation of a friend. He still had no belief in God, but Prayer. Study. Community. Preaching. found in Church a peace and joy MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 3 WITH COFFEE COMES JOY “You are worth so much” LIAM O’CONNOR

wo young men with very dif- ferent stories, but with a Photo: Cillian Kelly. Tcommon mission to tell young people how much they are worth- Jason Osbourne and David Hunt are both members of the group Pure in Heart which was founded in the 1990’s with the vision of ‘Purity amongst the youth’. They are part of a team that A group of guests and volunteers at the thank you speaks in secondary schools and evening for BREW 132. parishes on the issue. Jason has returned recently to the faith. In Jason (left) and David (right) speaking with a couple of JACK WALSH college he was reading the likes alike. We want it to be a place young people at a recent of atheistic authors such as Chris- where people can experience a Catholic Conference. Photo: Cillian Kelly. presence of Christ’s joy while all topher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins, but then after the death of e are very excited enjoying good coffee”. At the same time, as his conver- than that. The prayer meetings and about our new Cáfe”, his grandfather he started to reflect There are several religious sion, he met some young Catholics adoration helped with this. It was smiles Courtney Hol- Orders and charities in the city more deeply on the meaning of life. “W in college and from there started when I moved to Dublin I started brook the manager of Brew 132, supporting the project, while This led him to read some east- going back to mass. It was these going to Pure in Heart”, he said. a new coffee shop in the centre of the Cáfe is being run by a com- ern philosophy and also Christian new friends that introduced him to Both men start their presenta- Cork city. mittee of young adults from authors such as C.S. Lewis and Pure in Heart. tion talking about one’s self-worth, Brew 132 is named after various different Catholic youth J.R.R. Tolkien. It was the book Hebrews 13:2 ‘Do not neglect to groups including Youth 2000, Mere Christianity by Lewis that had David Hunt on the other hand “people have no idea of their self- show hospitality to strangers, for Ignite, UCC’s Catholic Society, the most profound effect on him. was a Mechanical Engineer who worth anymore. The world tells you by doing that some have enter- Nightfever, Jesus Youth, and He recalls, “C.S. Lewis is a totally was in Cork for a number of years are not enough, encouraging young tained angels without knowing it.’ Juventutem, whose leader Pat- full blown super-naturalist: that where he met other young Catho- people to live up to the standards “It is a simple idea, a Cáfe where rick is looking forward to seeing God exists- Satan exists; heaven lics and started going to weekly they see in movies and magazines. young Catholic adults can come the Cáfe flourish. and hell exists. Along with his prayer meetings, which brought We tell the them the truth that they and meet their friends in a Chris- “It is a first for Cork and a fan- intelligent defence of the Faith and him deeper into his faith, “I had are worth so much more than the tian atmosphere, but also a place tastic opportunity. I look forward the confidence that he had in God, been going to mass on Sundays, world tells them”. where everybody should feel wel- to encouraging all my friends to this inspired me and led me back to however, I was a bare minimum To book Pure in Heart for your come, Christian and non-Christian drop in”. practicing the Faith”. Catholic and I needed to be more school or parish phone 01 662 9543. The only way is Up JACK WALSH “By visiting holy places of Rome, Ostia, and Bracciano alongside a programme which will include mass and the recitation he ancient tradition of Pilgrimage is of the Divine Office, pilgrims will have the deeply rooted in the Irish psyche. This opportunity to allow the Lord to reawaken Tfact has been recently acknowledged this upward call.” with old pilgrim ways being newly promoted As the Feast of St. Monica (August 27th) right across Ireland. and the Feast of St. Augustine (August 28th) Also with the growing interest in proba- fall during the pilgrimage, the places they bly the world’s most famous pilgrimage St will visit will be of significance to these two James’ Santiago de Compostela, there is no great Saints. wonder that pilgrimages for Irish youth are For instance, they will visit the Church of becoming more popular. St. Augustine and the ancient town of Ostia The Dominican Sisters in Limerick are where St. Monica died and where St. Augus- organising one such youth pilgrimage this tine left for Carthage. summer to Italy, and they are calling it the Also pilgrims will have free time in Rome Upward Call Pilgrimage. to visit other places of interest. “Our hope is Sr. Mara Grace OP explains the name: that by viewing these cities through the eyes “This pilgrimage will provide us with the of two great saints of the Church we may be opportunity to re-anchor or to more deeply inspired to follow Christ more closely in our anchor our lives on Christ by following the day to day life”, concludes Sr. Mara Grace. example of the saints who have gone before For more information on the trip contact us and seeking their intercession.” [email protected]

sold out Photo: Fr. Luuk Jansen OP.

Sister Beatrice OP on a recent hike for Catholic Youth in East Cork. 4 | ALIVE! MAY 2019

Another woman, Karen McEvoy The media wanted spent on abortion services since Simon Harris cuts funds to from Kildare, died on Christmas Savita’s death to be January of this year”. Day after giving birth to a baby girl This is almost beyond belief. in the Coombe maternity hospital. only about abortion The government is taking maternity safety measures money away from a vitally impor- Ms. McEvoy, who left The media wanted Savita’s tant strategy to ensure women do in order to pay for abortion behind three young death to be only about abortion, not die in pregnancy – and giving children, died of sepsis, and they exploited the tragedy it to funding abortion. There is no NIAMH UÍ BHRIAIN Limerick, who had given birth to a to build support for a change in clearer way of showing that their little boy, died in Cork University which also caused Ireland’s laws on abortion. They priorities do not lie with pro- Maternity Hospital. It is thought the death of Savita kept public attention on repeal- tecting women, but simply with uring the she suffered a severe epileptic sei- Halappanavar. ing the 8th amendment instead ending the lives of preborn babies. referendum zure, and was trying to raise the of addressing the growing crisis There was very little reaction campaign alarm when she collapsed on the around staffing issues, and the from women’s rights campaign- D In the wake of Ms Halap- last year, abortion floor of her room, trapping her baby development and implementation ers, such as the National Women’s panavar’s death, three separate supporters falsely underneath her. Baby Darragh also of protocols required to actually Council of Ireland, to the shocking inquiries found she died because of claimed that preg- died two days later, and was buried protect pregnant women from the news that funds for the National nant women in cradled in his mother’s arms. medical mismanagement of sepsis, risk of life-threatening sepsis. Maternity Strategy were being Ireland could only truly be safe if Just three nurses were on duty and those inquiries called for So the 8th was repealed, but scrapped. It seems women’s lives the 8th amendment was repealed. on the ward in the night Marie reforms in the sector, including the women will continue to die in Irish don’t actually matter that much The fact that Ireland, according Downey died, and they were tasked implementation of early warning maternity hospitals, often because anymore, now that the 8th has to the United Nations, was one of with caring for 31 patients. Like scoring systems. The HIQA report the real issues - staffing and been repealed and abortion pro- the safest places in the world for a many other maternity hospitals, noted that reforms to the system resources - are being ignored by the viders have got what they wanted. woman to have a baby was ignored staff in CUMH have been asking had not been implemented after media and political establishment or shouted down. A week before the the Minister for Health for years another woman, Tanya McCabe, who are fixated with abortion. It seems legalising vote, An Taoiseach Leo Vardakar for the resources they desperately died from sepsis in 2007 in a very Then, in April came the shock- abortion did not make told voters that pregnant women need, while some of the country’s similar case to that of Savita. ing revelation that funding for the pregnant women safer would die if abortion was not legal- leading Obstetricians have pointed The National Maternity Strategy National Maternity Strategy has ised. The 8th was repealed. out that the shortage of staff is group was tasked with the vitally been halted, because, it seems, after all. So did legalising abortion make endangering women and babies. important task of developing Simon Harris needs that money to pregnant women safer? It would Instead of resolving the staff- standards and processes to make provide abortions. Women are dying in maternity appear that it did not. Within three ing crisis and making sufficient sure that cases like Savita’s did not According to Róisín Molloy, hospitals. The government is halt- months of the abortion bill passing resources available to protect occur again, but Consultant Obste- a patient representative on the ing funds for desperately needed through the Dáil, two women died women’s lives, Simon Harris has trician Dr Sam Coulter Smyth National Maternity Strategy steer- measures to save women’s lives. It in Irish maternity hospitals in the devoted large swathes of his time to warned in 2014 that the necessary ing group, “the money that had is time for women in this country to most tragic circumstances. legalising abortion and then end- reforms identified after her death been intended to go on the mater- wake up and realise that they were In March, Marie Downey from lessly tweeting about same. were not being implemented. nity strategy was effectively being horribly deceived.

the country “to compete with the Push for State to override parents on President Trump gives $1.7 million national abortion providers”. It says their goal is to provide children’s gender change to pro-life crisis pregnancy agency an alternative healthcare model “to break the relationship our he Minister for Employment 16 does not have parental or guard- he Trump administration The funds from the Department patients currently have with the Affairs and Social Protection, ian consent then the state should be has awarded $1.7 million to of Health and Human Services large abortion clinics by offering TRegina Doherty, is actively allowed intervene, subject to exist- Ta pro-life chain of pregnancy would also be used to expand women compassionate, holistic, considering introducing a system ing children’s rights legislation, to counselling centres, with a likely services including prenatal care, life-affirming healthcare, ulti- of gender recognition “for children vindicate the best rights of the child $3.4 million to follow in next two HIV/AIDS testing, ultrasounds, mately changing lives and the of any age”, following a Public Con- where appropriate,” they wrote. years, to assist with supporting to cancer testing, pap smears, STD culture one woman at a time.” sultation which consisted of just 92 Most people are unaware that the women seeking to continue their testing and treatment, adoption At the same time, the Depart- written submissions. public consultation has even taken pregnancy and the provision of referral and post-abortion sup- ment is expected to cut some Commentator David Mullins has place, and many parents would be other services. port, the group said, with special $60 million in funds to abortion revealed that the consultation was deeply concerned at proposals that The non-profit Obria Group, focus on disadvantaged individ- providers, Planned Parenthood, conducted in early January 2018 would enable the State to force par- based in Southern California says uals and families. Obria says it saying that family planning fund- and closed after less than 4 weeks ents to stand aside where mothers the money will help fund a chain operates 21 health clinics and 11 ing was not intended to be a slush on 5 February 2018. and fathers object to their young of crisis pregnancy centers. “Many mobile clinics in five states with fund for abortion businesses. “By any stretch of the imagination children undergoing gender change. women want the opportunity to 78 licensed medical professionals The abortion chain has been the this is not what a meaningful period There has been a sharp rise visit a professional, comprehen- providing comprehensive health subject of an ongoing contro- of public consultation looks like,” he in young people seeking gender sive health care facility — not an care services. versy for its alleged involvement said. “In fact it has all the appear- reassignment treatment in other abortion clinic — for their health Obria is open about its mission in the sale of aborted baby body ance of someone opening the door countries, with medical experts care needs; this grant will give to replace abortion clinics saying it parts, with executives seemingly to welcome in critical engagement cautioning against quick solutions. them that choice,” Kathleen Eaton seeks to provide life-affirming care caught on camera haggling over but who then slams it shut almost Psychoanalyst Dr Marcus Evans, Bravo, founder and CEO of The for all, with a vision to unite 200 of prices by undercover investigator, immediately thereafter. As alibis go who resigned from England’s only for removing an ideological agenda NHS youth gender clinic recently Obria Group, said in a statement. the top pregnancy centers across David Dalieden. from scrutiny; it’s pretty airtight.” said that he was concerned at the Mr Mullins said that practically speed with which treatment was all of the 92 submissions were carried out and said it was the JOE WALSH TOURS either from people or organisations “opposite of what needs to be done”. directly involved with or support- “Adolescence and childhood is ive of the transgender movement. a time when people are develop- PADUA, LORETO Fine Gael LGBT in its submis- ing socially and biologically - a time sion to the Gender Recognition when young people are identifying & SAN GIOVANNI Act Review Group requested that with different groups, and with male amendments be made to the Act and female aspects of themselves. € is an exciting new media platform • 20 May 2019 to permit children aged under 16 “There is pressure from the child f years of age to secure legal recog- who is in a distressed state, there is • 7 nights 899 for Life, Faith, Family & Freedom nition of gender by removing the pressure from the family and the pps • Half Board criterion relating to minimum age. peer group and from the pro-trans And LGBT advocacy group lobbies - and all of this puts pres- • Fully escorted tour ShoutOut, which counts Fine Gael sure on the clinician who may want Be part of it! Senator Jerry Buttimer as a Direc- to help the individual to resolve tor, submitted that the State should their distressed state by going www.joewalshtours.ie Call 01 8730465 to donate be allowed to force parents to stand along with a quick solution. [email protected] | 01 241 0800 Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 aside on gender change for chil- “There is a lot at stake here as and TA 0689 in compliance with the Package Travel and Linked dren under 16. these decisions have far reaching Travel Arrangement Package Regulation 2018. Challenge the consensus “Where a child under the age of consequences,” he said. MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 5 ALIVE! NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT, PLEASE! THE PROSPEROUS All CREDIT CARD Payments accepted. CALL 01 404 8187 AIB, Tallaght • SORT CODE: 933317

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Please send your donation to: St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24 ALIVE! FR. CONOR MC DONOUGH OP confirm and ordain, then a walk- ing stick is a very practical bit of ANONYMOUS DONATIONS equipment indeed! In this way, ne of Ireland’s secret treas- the crozier is a reminder not so €300: An; €250: An; €200: An; €150: ML; €100: An; RO’S; €50: Granny Sligo; SMc; ures has recently gone on much of a bishop’s dominance, but Margaret Belfast; EO’C; An; €30: An; €25: An; €20: ATD Wexford; An; €10: Taiwo; Michael Odisplay at the National his call to serve. FP; An; Museum of Ireland: the Prosper- The crozier came to be associ- ous Crozier. Like so many precious ated with the shepherd’s crook, If 8,000 people contribute just €20 each we can continue for another year. objects from Ireland’s golden age and became in this way a symbol Special thanks to all of you who donated to ALIVE! during April. of Christian art, it was preserved of authority, but medieval croziers in a bog until its discovery in 1839. were often inscribed with remind- But it’s only in the last few ers that such authority is not believe or not. Because what if you months that members of the public simply a matter of bossing others are wrong and you don’t do what have been able to see it up close. around. Like the work of the UFC Hall of Famer, Bas Rutten shares Dating to about a millennium ago, you need to do in order to make shepherd, it involved both great it’s one of the oldest and most the next big step. You wanna take gentleness and great bravery. beautiful examples of an Irish style his journey to the Catholic Faith that risk? Not me, but I am pretty Inscriptions typically communi- crozier, made of yew wood and sure that once you learn about it, cate this by referring to the shape KEITH KAVANAGH the fence, stating: copper, with fine details in enamel you will be drawn to it.” of a crozier: “With the curved part, “I believe the reasons for faith and glass. It’s a work of ecclesiasti- Rutten was filming the movie gently draw them in; with the are so strong and clear that if cal art not only of national, but of ‘Here Comes the Boom’ in Las straight rod, govern in fairness; ormer UFC heavyweight a non-believer would give it a European, significance. Vegas, alongside writer and star and with the pointed end, wake up champion, Bas Rutten is the chance, they all would turn to What is a crozier? A purely lit- most successful heavyweight Kevin James. James invited the eral description would call it a the sleepy”. F faith. But unfortunately they actors on set to talks about faith With all this in mind, it’s easy in the history of the controversial don’t, they just repeat what other walking stick, or staff, used by a sport. He was also a champion and philosophy. It was at one of bishop, abbot, or abbess. We’ve to see why Irish metalworkers people say … I would love to wrestler, kickboxer, mixed martial these talks that Rutten was chal- all heard it referred to, standing and their patrons were keen to tell non-believers: Get off your artist and now successful Holly- lenged to read the Bible and begin for the bishop’s authority, in the adorn croziers so beautifully. As phones and computers, forget wood actor. praying. Coming back to the prac- expression, “a belt of the crozier”. the bishop who owned the Pros- Recently he has been speaking about YOURSELF one time and tice of his Catholic faith had a But croziers are more than just perous Crozier walked up the at Catholic Men’s conferences about your “likes” and other social positive effect on Rutten’s life: power symbols. The fact that they aisle of any of his churches, all telling men that they are needed media … and actually spend some “It changed my life in were originally walking sticks are eyes, including his own, would be to fight spiritually for the faith time reading/learning about faith everything I do, all for the better. a reminder that, in earlier times, drawn to the staff supporting him, and for their families. and the ultimate questions and My wife likes me way better now, when populations were more sed- and all minds, including his own, In an interview for ‘The Catho- purpose of life.” haha. I am much more relaxed entary, the bishop was unusually would thereby be reminded of his lic Gentleman’ blog, Rutten “After you’ve done that for and calculated and have a better mobile. If the bishop had to visit vocation to serve, to govern, to reached out to those sitting on 6 months, THEN decide if you understanding of things.” all the parishes in his diocese to provoke, and to console.

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Bas Rutten. Photo: Michael Dunn. 6 | ALIVE! MAY 2019

FAMILY MATTERS Natural Family Planning THE YOUTH FORUMWITH ÁINE KIRBY and Responsible Parenthood

The objective of the mortal PETER PERREM #10 “With regard to physical, How we see ourselves. world is to convince us that we are economic, psychological and social not loved and precious enough, conditions, responsible parent- and so we suffer all the tempta- ne question that is hood is exercised by those who How God sees us. tions which give us false hope. sometimes raised by couples prudently and generously decide I always think that if God, who attending the Nazareth to have more children, and by rom talking to so many other O created the earth, sea, sky and Family Institute Marriage those who, for serious reasons young people and from my millions of animals, cared enough Preparation Course in relation to and with due respect to moral pre- own experiences I think that F to create a special plan for my Natural Family Planning (NFP) is, cepts, decide not to have additional one of the biggest struggles we life I must be very precious in whether NFP, as presented on the children for either a certain or an have is how we see ourselves. So his eyes. God has created a spe- course, is in effect another form of indefinite period of time.” many young people might say ‘I cial plan for each one of our lives contraceptive when being used to “Responsible parenthood, as am not good enough’, or ‘I am not from the moment we are born. avoid a pregnancy. we use the term here, has one talented enough’, or even ‘I am When we are baptized the Holy The Fertility Care Natural Family further essential aspect of para- not smart enough’. Spirit becomes present within us Planning method, combined with mount importance. It concerns the So many young people convince to guide us through our journey. NAPRO technology, as presented objective moral order which was themselves of these lies and so You may ask yourself: ‘If God on the NFI weekend course, is a established by God, and of which they feel they have to act a cer- has created a perfect plan for all whole reproductive health care a right conscience is the true inter- tain way to fit in. There is so much of our lives then why do so many system. Since between one in five preter. In a word, the exercise of peer pressure out there to follow people suffer?’ The Lord does not and one in six couples in Ireland responsible parenthood requires the crowd- to look ‘cool’ and ‘fit cause suffering but allows it in have difficulty achieving a preg- that husband and wife, keeping in’. And the reason so many young it from. A priest once told me: our life so that we can grow closer nancy, or in bringing a pregnancy a right order of priorities, recog- people end up following the crowd ‘You have to be the light that to a successful birth, this approach nize their own duties toward God, is because they are unsure of their people want to follow’. Every to him. He is like a caring parent value and worth and they do not young person is longing for that who lifts their child up when they believe they are important enough. light because they are longing for fall and he wants us to gain from I always think that if we are Jesus. Where better to shine that our suffering. called to live like Jesus did, then light of faith and hope than in our But today so many young all we have to do is look at his schools and communities. people don’t follow God’s plan for attitude towards these things. If we have a relationship with them and when they suffer they Jesus never followed the crowd. Jesus we will know our worth. often do not know how to handle In fact, he stood out from the Isaiah 43:4 says ‘Because you it. If we follow God’s path for our crowd. But Jesus had a joy and are precious in my eyes, and lives of course we will still have peace that so many couldn’t honoured, and I love you, I give suffering but we will understand understand, and with that he has men in return for you, peoples in that the Lord will make good from inspired so many people. exchange for your life’. This bible our suffering and we will be able If other young people see us verse is so encouraging because to handle it with the Graces we with the peace and joy that only God is so direct in telling us that receive from Him. comes from Jesus then they will he loves us so much and that each ‘Fear not, therefore; you are of start to wonder where we get one of us are precious to him. more value than many sparrows’. has a very high success rate, and themselves, their families and also stays firmly within the moral human society.” guidelines of the Catholic Church. “From this it follows that they On the question of it being a form are not free to act as they choose Staying strong in my faith of contraceptive, there are number in the service of transmitting life, of important points to be made: as if it were wholly up to them to recent email I received from want to bring you up to know that turned to prayer. I think I was The use of Natural Family Plan- decide what is the right course to a reader encouraged me Jesus is your friend and that he brought up knowing that faith is 1ning, whatever method is used, follow. On the contrary, they are Ato write about how I have is not someone you have to be something that can make life so maintains the integrity of the con- bound to ensure that what they do stayed strong in my faith while scared of and you shouldn’t feel much easier and I’ve seen miracles jugal act and marriage vows, and corresponds to the will of God the being a part of a modern society. like you’re doing things just to in my family. I think when we wit- does not violate the ‘principle of Creator. The very nature of mar- Firstly, I have to say I was obey rules’. ness miracles it increases our faith. inseparability’’, that is the insep- riage and its use makes His will brought up in a Catholic house- From that moment on, when my I definitely have to give credit arable unity of the unitive and clear, while the constant teaching hold and went to Mass every Mom said she wanted me to treat to the retreats such as Youth2000 procreative dimensions of the con- of the Church spells it out.” week. From a young age my par- Jesus as a friend, I could better that I attend because I have made jugal act within marriage. # 16 “If therefore, there are ents taught me a lot about the understand how she had so much so many friends who share my The Theology of the Body, well-grounded reasons for spacing faith and what was right and faith. I have definitely looked at a faith. If I didn’t have them I defi- taught and developed by St. births, arising from the physical or wrong. I always believed in God lot of the battles my Mom has had nitely wouldn’t be as strong as I am. John Paul II, represents a thor- psychological condition of husband but I noticed that there were a lot to face and how faith has carried If you are a young person who is ough defence of this principle as or wife, or from external circum- more worldly temptations when her through. I knew if faith can do struggling with your faith I would annunciated in Humanae Vitae stances, the Church teaches that I went to secondary school and that for someone else it can do it really recommend these retreats. (cf. # 12). It also articulates married people may then take found myself going through the for me too. Overall I feel my faith has had its and develops the anthropologi- advantage of the natural cycles motions with my faith. And so when I experienced suf- times of weakness but if we treat cal and theological basis for this immanent in the reproductive However, I always remember fering in my life I felt like Jesus Jesus as our friend everything principle, on which the Church’s system and engage in marital inter- one day my Mom said to me: ‘I was a friend to me and I always comes that bit easier. teaching, which forbids the use of course only during those times that artificial contraceptives or sterili- are infertile, thus controlling birth sation, is based. in a way which does not in the least able and how his love is holding offend the moral principles which Music recommendations on to you, and how he is always As to the question of spacing We have just explained.” with you even when you are dis- 2 or postponing conception, It should be clear from this that, eeing as I love music so how important we are to him. It tracted or anxious. It says that no either temporarily or indefinitely, while natural family planning much, I decided to write the principle of ‘responsible par- might be used wrongly, that is with is all about our worth in the eyes fear you have or lie about your- about one or two songs that of God, and how that worth is enthood’ should be applied. This a contraceptive mentality, if it is S self will keep him away from you, I have been listening to recently what matters. is very well articulated by Paul VI used in accordance with the moral which I find really encouraging. The second song is called ‘Even which is so true. in Humanae Vitae through the principles articulated above, that The first song is called ‘You When You’re Running’ by Cast- I hope that these songs help Encyclical but in particular under is the objective moral order, it Say’ by Lauren Daigle. This song ing Crowns. This song is all about you as I find them very encourag- two paragraphs, where the nuances does not represent another form is all about how God see us and how the love of God is inescap- ing during Lent. of interpretation are apparent: of contraception. MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 7

which has, as its primary focus, instinct and one that protects and based abstinence-only sexuality The New Relationships and “sexuality as a … source of sat- nourishes children every day. It is education approach.” isfaction and pleasure”. not a bad thing! Abstinence based education Sexuality Education (RSE) It continues – “review of research is based on science. It takes into There is no discussion in the area of parents and sex com- account extensive research into the Curriculum: What’s Happening? about responsibilities, munication provides evidence of a psychological, physiological and morals, ethics or values traditional, heteronormative emotional aspects of sex, as well as CHARLOTTE MCQUAID-BRUEN Education and Skills, can now and stereotypical approach in the obvious outcome of pregnancy. discuss, debate and make amend- the home context”. It uses all the research to advocate ments to the Bill. The report explains that this Why are the authors surprised for the best outcome, and explains here are two parts to the This committee published a approach “doesn’t aim to change that this approach to sex education exactly how to reach that ideal! changes being proposed to report in January of this year, call- behaviour. Rather its focus is is prevalent in most homes? Most TRSE in our schools. Firstly, ing for the removal of ethos as a on behaviour preparation or homes have a traditional set-up The NCCA dismisses there is a bill before the Dáil, barrier to RSE and to include more development.” This is problematic and heteronormative parents, so abstinence-based when the actions aren’t good and proposed by Ruth Coppinger education on LGBT relationships, they will have that approach when sexuality education. and Paul Murphy which seeks LGBT specific sexual health issues, need to be challenged! rearing their children! to eradicate ethos. Secondly the gender identity and the spectrums As parents we challenge problem- The research paper gives some National Council for Curriculum thereof. atic behaviour with our children, as credit to parents and families, It’s important to note that this and Assessment were asked to do If you are horrified at this, you and when it comes up - every day, admitting rightly, that most young NCCA research paper, in its brief ref- a major review in April 2018 by might want to look into what is every week, every month. This is an people in Ireland would rather have erence to abstinence-based sexuality the then Minister of Education, already taught in your child’s innate reaction as a parent. It’s what sexuality-based information given education, is extremely dismissive of Richard Bruton. Its reports so school – a lot of this is already we do. Every day we guide our chil- to them by their parents and not at it and instead pushes for the radical far, are equally as discriminatory delivered to children via SPHE and dren on the right path - we hope it’s school or elsewhere (GUI 2012). RSE approach described above. against the Catholic Church and external agencies who are invited the path to Heaven. The reference to a Grossman et Concern for other countries parents who are trying to pass on in to the school to deliver ‘special- A quick google search shows that al.,2014 study, researching family continues: “Spain contends with family values. ist’ subject matter. this same Holistic Sex Education involvement in school-based more opposition than most West- The Provision of Objec- This Committee also “recognises model is being pushed by the World sexuality education was rather ern European countries with many 1 tive Sexuality Education a consensus from witnesses around Health Organisation and UNESCO, peculiar. It judges that “a rather conservative social groups argu- Bill, 2018, proposes that schools, the need for more education on in Europe, down to every country, narrow view of success (delayed ing that sexuality education has no parents, Boards of Management pornography and abortion every government agency who deals sexual debut) is upheld, particu- place in school and that the family and the Minister of Education will in schools”. with health and children. larly in the case of boys.” should decide the values in relation not be able to uphold the ethos of Separately, the National The NCCA research paper’s sur- If delayed sexual debut in boys to sexuality education (Kettingand a school when it comes to RSE. 2 Council for Curricu- prising findings continue: “Flores is not a success, then what is? If Ivanova, 2018).” It essentially amounts to the lum and Assessment (NCCA) and Barrosso (2017) suggest that you teach your children not to have The family should indeed decide eradication of ethos. review of RSE is underway. parents’ approach to sex early sex and then they don’t, isn’t the values in relation to sexuality Schools would, in theory, be So far the NCCA has published a education is ‘future and con- that a success? Apparently not, education. allowed to uphold the ethos of the research paper (November 2018) sequence oriented’ which falls according to the NCCA. The NCCA is due to release school in all areas except RSE. The and taken submissions from the short of the holistic model advo- The paper identifies the Catho- updates on its progress soon. No reality is, a school’s ethos is irrel- public up until February 2019. cated by WHO (2010)”. lic Church as a barrier to RSE on doubt that this will include more evant in subjects such as French Their research paper, enti- I’m afraid you did read that cor- an international basis. It states: calls for Holistic Sex Education, or Maths, but is critical to areas of tled “Relationships and Sexuality rectly: “future and consequence “This can be illustrated in Esto- eradication of ethos, reduction morality and lifestyle - namely RSE. Education (RSE) in Primary and oriented”?! Of course parents look nia where a small fraction of in ability to pass on family values The Bill is currently at the third Post-Primary Irish Schools”, is to the future and the consequence religious-based schools refuse to and all with extensive international stage in the Dáil, meaning a com- a frightening read! It calls for a of risky behaviour when it comes give science-based sexuality edu- research and the view of ‘experts’ mittee, the Joint Committee on Holistic Sex Education approach to their children! This is a natural cation and instead adopt a morally (no, I don’t mean the parents).

divorce dissolves the very founda- ilies and destroy the mainstay tions of society: of kingdoms as the corruption The Economics of Divorce “Matrimonial contracts are by of morals, it is easily seen that it made variable; mutual kind- divorces are in the highest degree ness is weakened; deplorable hostile to the prosperity of fami- BRIAN Ó CAITHNIA of their home-life, by their sacred labour market. As a result, not only inducements to unfaithfulness lies and States, springing as they regard for Home, its authority, and will a larger number of marriages are supplied; harm is done to the do from the depraved morals of its sanctities.” and families be broken up but, education and training of chil- the people, and, as experience t was a sure sign of the triumph Those who separate economics even more significantly, the rate at dren; occasion is afforded for the shows us, opening out a way to of atheism in politics when from morality lead their nation to which new marriages and families breaking up of homes; the seeds every kind of evil-doing in public IBill Clinton’s political advisor its ruin. In this vein, let us exam- are started will decline, and women of dissension are sown among and private life.” declared “It’s the Economy, ine the economic consequences will tend to prolong their single life families; the dignity of woman- Aside from the devastating stupid,” to be the political maxim of divorce. In one of his recent to ensure their professional careers hood is lessened and brought low, human cost, divorce also brings for modern times. Religious values pioneering essays entitled “The and independent means of support, and women run the risk of being economic ruin to families and and morality were no longer to Theory of Dynamic Efficiency”, all of which will lead to a dramatic deserted after having ministered nations and must be opposed. be even engaged with and the the Spanish economist Prof. Jesús drop in the birth rate.” to the pleasures of men. Nothing “What God has joined together let entire focus of political discussion Huerta de Soto noted how divorce Prof. de Soto elsewhere explains has such power to lay waste fam- no man tear asunder.” [Mark 10:9] has since revolved around jobs, destroys the efficiency of an econ- the importance of a growing pop- taxes, and a rainbow of welfare omy by undermining family life ulation to fuel the social process programmes. and ultimately the birthrate itself, of entrepreneurial creativity. This Nevertheless, Our Lord has as he wrote: “can only happen within a certain made the world such that those “[I]f a family man begins to give framework of moral laws to govern JOE WALSH TOURS who ignore His Holy Laws shall not way to a more or less frivolous family relationships.” Between be blessed and shall not long pros- desire for an attractive, young com- 1959 and 1974, Spain had the per. In the words, of Rev. Bernard panion over all else, he could very second fastest economic growth PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE | 7 NIGHTS O’Reilly in his timeless classic, likely end up divorcing his wife, rate in the world after Japan, while ‘True Men as we Need Them’: precisely when she is getting older its population increased natu- • Weekly departures from Cork and Dublin € from “When one looks abroad upon and the children are nearly grown. rally by over 350,000 a year. This • 13 June from Shannon the nations which once consti- If such behaviour becomes wide- was when divorce was illegal. In f tuted Christendom, and examines spread, then before women decide 1981 divorce was legalised and • 20 June & 19 September from Knock 699 seriously the causes of social and to marry and start a family they may today Spain has a divorce rate of • 4 night pilgrimages pps political prosperity or decay, this very well begin to reflect on the high 65% with a native population that great fact stands forth as evidently risk that their husbands may aban- has been declining since the early • Pilgrimage & Sun options available as a bright beacon-light in the don them just as they are wrapping 1990s. As one would expect, the darkness over a dangerous reef: up a period of long years spent Spanish economy is also now one For more information call:01 241 0800 The strength or weakness, the raising children, and precisely at of the weakest in Europe. www.joewalshtours.ie | [email protected] vitality or decadence of nations, a time when their age and abilities With an air of prophecy, Pope Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 and TA 0689 is to be measured by the purity put them at a disadvantage in the Leo XIII elaborated on how 8 | ALIVE! MAY 2019

Holy Thursday, which embraces good; it has freed us from error, lection, often difficult to encourage the supreme, threefold gift of the it has dispelled our shadows, it in our day, in order to be better MONTHLY ministry of the Priesthood, the has reconciled us with God, it has prepared for the Easter Vigil. Meditations Eucharist and the new Command- transformed us from being ene- Spiritual retreats and Marian ment of Love (agape). mies of God to being members of prayer meetings are organized in Good Friday, which commemo- his family, from being strangers many communities in order to rates the events between Christ’s to being his neighbours: this Cross be united with the Mother of the condemnation to death and his is the destruction of enmity, the Redeemer, who waited, anxious The Easter Triduum Crucifixion, is a day of penance, source of peace, the casket of our but trusting, for the Resurrection fasting and prayer, of participa- treasure”. of her Crucified Son. he beginning of the Easter the Last Supper in the Mass of the tion in the Lord’s Passion. At the To relive the Redeemer’s Pas- Finally, during the Easter Vigil Triduum is Holy Thursday. Lord’s Supper. In the Upper Room, prescribed hour, the Christian sion more intensely, the Christian the veil of sorrow which shrouds TDuring the Chrism Mass, the Redeemer wanted to anticipate Assembly, with the help of the tradition has developed many the Church because of the death which can be considered the prel- the sacrifice of his life in the Sacra- Word of God and liturgical actions, manifestations of popular piety, and burial of the Lord will be torn ude to the Sacred Triduum, the ment of the bread and wine changed renews the history of human infi- including the well-known Good by the victorious cry: Christ is risen diocesan Bishop and his closest col- into his Body and Blood: he antic- delity to the divine plan, which Friday processions with the evoca- and has defeated death for ever! laborators, the priests, surrounded ipated his death, he freely gave his was nonetheless brought about tive rites, repeated each year. We will then truly be able to under- by the People of God, renew the life, he offered the definitive gift of exactly in this way; and it listens However, there is one pious prac- stand the mystery of the Cross, promises they made on the day of himself to humanity. once again to the moving narrative tice, the “Way of the Cross”, which “since God also creates wonders priestly Ordination. With the washing of the feet, the of the Lord’s sorrowful Passion. offers us throughout the year the even in the impossible”, an ancient Year after year, this is an intense gesture with which, having loved The Assembly then addresses to possibility of impressing the mys- writer says, “so that we may know moment of ecclesial communion his own, he loved them to the end the Heavenly Father a long “prayer tery of the Cross ever more deeply that he alone can do what he wills. that highlights the gift of the min- is repeated (cf. Jn 13: 1), and he of the faithful” which embraces on our minds, of accompanying From his death comes our life, isterial priesthood which Christ bequeathed this act of humility to all the needs of the Church and of Christ along this path and thus from his wounds our healing, from bequeathed to his Church on the eve his disciples as their “badge”: love the world. being inwardly conformed to him. his fall our resurrection, from his of his death on the Cross. And for unto death. Subsequently, the community We could say that the Way of the descent our uplifting” every priest it is a moving moment After the Mass of the Lord’s adores the Cross and receives the Cross teaches us, in the words of St Enlivened by a stronger faith, we in this vigil of the Passion in which Supper, the liturgy invites the faith- Eucharist, consuming the sacred Leo the Great, to “look at the Cruci- welcome in the heart of the Easter the Lord gave himself to us, gave ful to pause in adoration before the species reserved from the Mass fied Jesus with the eyes of the heart, Vigil the newly baptized and renew us the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Blessed Sacrament, reliving Jesus’ of the Lord’s Supper on the pre- to recognize in his flesh our own”. the promises of our Baptism. Thus, gave us the priesthood. It is a day agony in Gethsemane. And we see vious day. Precisely in this lies the true we will feel that the Church is ever that touches all our hearts. that the disciples fell asleep, leav- In commenting on Good Friday, Christian wisdom which we want alive, ever rejuvenated, ever beau- The Oils for the celebration of ing their Lord on his own. St John Chrysostom observes: to learn by taking the Way of tiful and holy, for she is founded on the Sacraments are then blessed: Today too, we, his disciples, are “First, the Cross stood for con- the Cross on Good Friday at the Christ, who having risen, will never the Oil of the Catechumens, the Oil often asleep. On this holy night tempt, but today it is something Colosseum. die again. of the Sick and the Holy Chrism. of Gethsemane, let us be vigilant, venerable; before it was the Holy Saturday is the day when In the evening, entering the not wanting to leave the Lord on symbol of condemnation, today the liturgy is hushed, the day of - Pope Benedict XVI, General Easter Triduum, the Christian com- his own at this time; thus, we can it is the hope of salvation. It has great silence, and Christians are Audience, St. Peter’s Square, munity relives what happened at better understand the mystery of truly become a source of infinite invited to preserve interior recol- 4 April 2007.

THE CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE The State Department’s announcement that the policy would be strengthened was US Bishops Thank President met with approval by many American Catho- lics. The Catholic Church in the United States has been a vocal proponent of the Mexico City Policy since its inception. for Mexico City Policy The Church objects to the funding of over- seas abortions based on its opposition to NORA SULLIVAN abortion in general and its firm belief on the dignity of every human life. However, there is an added dimension n March, the Chairman of the United States to the Church’s support of the Mexico City Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Policy. While such funding is offered under Icommended the Trump administration fol- the guise of international aid, many view it as lowing the announcement that the American exploitative of its recipients by making essen- government would be expanding the pro-life tial aid contingent upon the adoption of highly Mexico City Policy and enforcing the Sil- controversial population control policies. jander amendment. Pope John Paul II condemned this practice Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said in a in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae in which statement, “As Chairman of the United States he wrote, “Rather than wishing to face and Bishops’ Pro-Life Committee, I applaud this solve these serious problems with respect for Administration for working hard to ensure the dignity of individuals and families and for that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to per- every person’s inviolable right to life, [power- form or promote abortion internationally.” ful countries] prefer to promote and impose The archbishop continued, “Taxpayer that financially support other organizations policy as recently as January. by whatever means a massive program of birth dollars should never fund abortion — and that perform or promote abortions. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made control. Even the economic help which they especially not in developing countries where The Siljander Amendment prohibits fed- the initial announcement regarding the poli- would be ready to give is unjustly made condi- many women need genuine, life-sustaining eral dollars from funding groups that lobby cy’s expansion, stating, “The American people tional on the acceptance of an anti-birth policy.” support for themselves and for their children. in favour or against abortion. should rest assured that this administration The Catholic Church in America has long International organizations should be provid- — and this State Department, and our USAID maintained the Mexico City Policy benefits ing real assistance, real healthcare, and real A CONTENTIOUS HISTORY — will do all we can to safeguard U.S. taxpayer developing nations as it ensures that powerful opportunities for women, instead of offering The Mexico City Policy has been the dollars and protect and respect the sanctity of NGOs will not be able to force a pro-abortion to end the lives of their unborn children.” topic of intense debate between Repub- life for people all around the globe.” ideology on countries without the ultra-per- licans and Democrats since it was first “As a result of my decision today, we are missive abortion policies of the U.S. WHAT IS THE MEXICO CITY POLICY? instituted under the Reagan Administra- also making clear we will refuse to provide Additionally, the USCCB makes clear on their The highly contentious Mexico City Policy tion in 1984. The policy is routinely upheld assistance to foreign NGOs that give finan- website, “Poor women in developing nations are (also known as the Protecting Life in Global under pro-life Republicans and discontin- cial support to other foreign groups in the not calling for help to abort their children. They Health Assistance Act) requires foreign ued by pro-abortion Democrats, making for global abortion industry,” Secretary Pompeo are calling for food, housing, and medicine for NGOs receiving U.S. aid to guarantee that erratic implementation. After eight years of added. His reason for strengthening the themselves and their children so that they can they will not perform or promote abortion as President Obama, the policy was reinstated existing policy was to clamp down on the lead lives of full human dignity. With the Mexico a family-planning method in poor and devel- following the election of President Trump in “backdoor funding schemes and end-runs” City Policy in place the United States can best oping countries. The expansion ensures that 2016. However, Congressional Democrats that some organizations use to try and get respond to their pleas, and respond with respect taxpayer dollars funds won’t go to groups attempted to permanently repeal the entire around the regulation. for their personal dignity and their humanity.” MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 9

party-whip, who were supposed to be an actual opposition, who Call to mark ultimately voted with the zeit- geist and against the position abortion Broken Promises, privately held in conversation with pro-life activists. Look into the track records date with of politicians. Look for people who have publicly campaigned light of hope Broken Systems and not hid their views under a bushel. Find those who have ro-life groups have asked spoken out before and who here is probably no greater to the Fine Gael-led inhuman was opposed to the legislation of that the first anniversary have sacrificed for principled symbol of the transforma- abortion bill, Fine Gael politicians abortion. Less than 2 years later, of the abortion referendum positions. P tion of Ireland than the disappeared and a lot of Fianna it was leading the cheerleading be marked with initiatives which T Today is a crucial period in Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his Fail TDs were absent- or in hiding. for abortion and has not looked would recognise preborn babies Minister for Health dancing on In a vote for ensuring no back since. Irish history, society and pol- who have died under the abor- the stage at Dublin Castle after abortion on the grounds of disa- At the same time, ‘Fianna Fáil’s itics. The pro-life issue is not tion law, but also send a message the Irish public voted to remove bility, the majority rejected it in all position on abortion remains the only one. But it is indicative. of light and hope to rebuild a the 8th Amendment to the Con- parties. unchanged and will maintain Ire- On the life issues hang many broken culture. stitution. Both of these politicians With new elections coming up, land’s ban on abortion’ or so they others. After abortion, there is previously publicly affirmed it is important to beware of politi- told Pro-Life Campaign. No less than more abortion. There is eugen- themselves as Pro-Life politicians cians bearing gifts. They all know 2 years’ later, that had all changed. ics. There is euthanasia. yet transformed when the time that one third of the electorate Sinn Fein claimed to be against There is gender recognition as arrived, into the most vociferous voted against the repealing the abortion in 2011, but are now a choice for 6 year olds. There is of cheerleaders. 8th amendment. But they also practically its strongest advocates, pornography literacy. There are Leo Varadkar is on record think that the pro-life vote does seeking to make the North next. forgotten issues such as assisted admitting that abortion can put not translate into local, general Labour: at least labour has been reproduction and the destruc- women at risk, while Simon and European elections. Many consistent in its advocacy for the tion of embryos. There is the Harris in 2011 committed to of them still believe that Ireland right to destroy the workers of primacy of the natural family as opposing any attempts to intro- is a nation who votes along Civil tomorrow. the fundamental building block duce abortion through legislation War lines when it comes to party When candidates come to your of society. There is the issue of in Ireland. Since then much has politics. door, of course make it clear to pro-family policies- tax individ- changed. The Fianna Fail Ard them that you want to know their ualisation for one. Fheis voted in October 2017 by a They will come to your position on many issues, including Those on the side of life tend significant majority to support a door to find out how you abortion. Ask them before they ask to be in the side of natural law motion which calls for the party feel and then tell you that you what you think. But let them and natural justice. They tend to oppose “any attempt to dimin- they agree with you. But know that you will only believe to stand on the side of the rule ish the constitutional rights of them when you see it written on of law but not the rule of the the unborn” yet Micheal Martin, you will not hear them their leaflets, in quotes in the local mob. They tend to stand on the the Fianna Fail – and Opposi- on the television, on and national paper, and you hear side of practical reasonable- tion – leader, was no different them with your own ears on the ness, of respect, of tradition, of the radio or in the print The Life Institute says pro- to An Taoiseach. Previously, he radio and see them with your own the family, fortitude, of basic media publicising a life people are planning to mark was against repealing the 8th but eyes on the TV. decency. Those on the side of pro-life view. May 25th by lighting a candle and coincidentally his views evolved life tend to be on the side of as the populist position moved, Do not take politicians at posting a photo of their participa- virtuous action rather than vir- tion in the Light for Life event on as far as to make a bizarre claim They know that to go public is face value on these issues. tue-signalling. They tend to social media. that the first pro-abortion laws in to invite the ire of the mainstream Time and again many have stand for common sense rather “People wanted to show their 2013 were ‘pro-life’. media and the vociferous ideolog- said one thing and acted in than nonsense. sorrow for all the lives lost, and Before the referendum, 31 ically outraged about everything Unfortunately they tend to Fianna Fail TDs – slight majority crew. There is nothing more public a different manner. Every also to show that the desire to pro- be too busy getting on with the tect both mother and child and - stated they oppose repealing the than a public representatives vote constituency has multiple life of living, of community, of 8th. Yet, once the vote was in, and the hope of repairing our broken and any candidate who will not examples of politicians family, of work, to be able to it came to legislating, only 12 TDs culture was still as strong as ever, go public before an election will dedicate their lives to either - and only 2 of those Fianna Fail certainly not do so once he or she who have been willing to and there was general agreement professional or voluntary activ- - opposed the Bill to remove the is ensconced in the Chamber of make promises and com- that making a wave of light was ism. 8th. There were none from Fine choice- whether the Council, Lein- a fitting way to do that,” said the mitments only to disappear There are many more issues Gael. The rest were independ- ster House of over in the in gilded pro-life group. when the time came to out there, not least the re-writ- ents and Peadar Toibin and Carol halls of Brussels. Other events include a Walk for ing of history, that demand our Nolan, formerly of Sinn Fein, from In 2011, in advance of possibly vote pro-life. Life organised for Gianna Care, attention right now, to try to call whom he was forced to leave due to one of the most significant Elec- several national and regional a halt to the inversion of society; his views. tions in Irish history, Fine Gael, conferences, and displaying black Later in the debate, when it came on behalf of then Taoiseach Enda There are opposition politi- the subversion of common sense flags in memory of those who voting for humane amendments Kenny told Youth Defence that it cians who were not under the to nonsense. have died.

represented. I am unapologetically Pro Life.’ The West is Bereft Paul Lawless, a teacher from Knock, JOE WALSH TOURS ith the Mayo electoral ment worker and human rights also running for Aontu in the Clare- area traditionally a battle activist is ‘passionate about rural morris area, the brave young turk in € Wground between Fine Gael communities’ and is concerned this instance feels that the time is now DIVINE MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND and Fianna Fail, with the last TD about ‘the abandonment of Mayo for change: “I have grown frustrated f form outside the two parties – an in the National Development plan- 7 OCTOBER | 9 NIGHTS | HALF BOARD 1199 with our Government in-action in pps independent before joining Labour- ning process’ as well as the lack of our economy where Dublin overheats being nothing but a distant memory. • Spiritual Director: Fr John Walsh representation for those that hold a and the West of Ireland deteriorates. FULLY This year, in the Mayo Local pro-life position. I am tired of seeing numerous young • Visiting Shrines associated with ESCORTED Elections, like in many other area, Michael Farrington, former Gen- people in our county being forced to TOUR there are new candidates, new par- eral Election candidate in Mayo, is move to Dublin and abroad to seek St. Faustina, Pope John Paul II, ties, trying to break the irrational running in the Castlebar area for employment.” stranglehold that the civil war sib- Renua: ‘I want to help break the Cathy Gaffney, also with Aontu, Auschwitz, Zakopane and Salt Mines lings seem to have on the polling FG/FF stranglehold on politics at is running in Ballina and has track booths. local and National level. I am tired record of standing up for rural For more information call: 01 241 0800 Tommy Horan, running in the of Dublin-centric politics and want Ireland in the face of government for Aontu in the Swinford area of to see Mayo- the 5th most dis- corporatism when they sought to www.joewalsh.ie | Licenced by the Commission for Aviation Regulation, TO 052 and TA 0689 east Mayo, a community develop- advantaged constituency, fairly introduce water charges. 10 | ALIVE! MAY 2019 Ireland’s Newest For a differently- Political Party Launches in Dublin abled Europe MICHAEL O’DOWD

reland’s newest political party offi- the membership dis-empowerment cially jumped into gear on April of those parties and the disconnect he upcoming European 6th when Aontú unveiled its Local I that exists between these leaders elections will be an oppor- and European Election Candidates and the workers on the ground. tunity for the Irish public to at its National Launch at the Bal- T This diversity is one of the major express an opinion on a range of lyfermot Community Civic Centre, strengths of Aontú”. topics. From Brexit, Irexit to fur- Dublin 10. The rural voting base in particu- ther European integration, from Speaking before the event Aontú lar is neglected and unrepresented, CAP reform to climate change, leader Peadar Tóibín stated: “In with no one to vote for in recent a whole spectrum of issues will three months we have held 40 years aside from the established be discussed right up to polling public meetings throughout the political parties or Independents. day on 24th May. As a candidate country. No other political party The number of Independents has for Renua Ireland, I will have an has engaged at such a community grown in each election, highlighting opinion and position on all of the level with the people of Ireland the disenfranchisement, providing above however front and centre in for many years. Well over 5,000 this election I will be campaigning people attend those meetings. We alternatives that new parties such as on a human rights issue, namely have formed 65 Cumann through- Aontú and RENUA can supplement respect for life. out the country and have selected to counter the Dublin-centric poli- 60 men and women to run for us in tics of Ireland, beginning to reflect My support for all life the coastal-centric politics of the the upcoming local elections so far. from conception to nat- 20 of these candidates will run in United States and London-focused the North of Ireland and 40 in the agenda in the UK. They may not ural death crystallized south. By any standards this is phe- form a cohesive block, but diversity on the birth of my son nomenal grass roots development”. in Irish politics is needed right now Conor, 24 years ago. Aontú has come about as a result as nearly all of rural Ireland is our of the high-handed establish- ‘little England’ and the rust-belt of ment tactics to manage the vote, the Unites States. Conor was born with Down syn- drome and as a parent, I sought to silence opposition and to coerce “There exists extraordinary links and reasons as to what political membership to align with division in Irish society, division national and international level is one of several Expectant Mother caused this to happen. Research the whip. One third of the voting to which many within the polit- striking. I won’t be silenced. Care facilities which are frontline on statistics across Europe population ultimately had no voice ical establishment have become I won’t be silenced because pregnancy centres. On the day I quickly showed that incidents of from the political parties, to chal- immune. Crisis fatigue has set in I am pro-life and not just pro- was there they saved a 24-week Down syndrome births were con- and a 29-week unborn child lenge the orthodoxy presented. amongst many in the media estab- birth. This means that I believe siderably lower in other countries. we need to fully support those from being aborted. Key to their Dissent was left to non-political lishment. Under Mícheál Martin, groups, independent politicians, My initial thoughts that such parents and carers that have to ongoing success is their ability to Fianna Fáil has become politically independent lone voices like John discrepancies were due to some deal on a daily basis with indi- interact with women in a crisis neutered, signing free pass after free Waters, and marginalised individ- environmental reasons were viduals with complex care needs. pregnancy as they approach abor- pass for FG ministers who in any uals within the political parties, quickly dispensed when I real- Our government has let such tion clinics. It highlighted for me normal circumstance would already such as Peadar Toibin. ised that the differences were due people down. Lack of therapy the importance of ensuring that be victims of their own incompe- “The largest portion of our mem- to abortion. services, shortage of carers, exclusion zones are not brought tence. Much of the left has become bership is drawn from people who Sadly, the decision last May delay in needs assessments of in here at home. have not been involved in pol- consumed by the leafy liberal cul- to remove the 8th Amendment people with autism, obstruction There are other political les- itics before. However, many of ture wars and have taken their eyes from the constitution and intro- in implementing individualised sons to be learned from the USA. our elected reps and membership off the bread and butter issues of duce unrestricted abortion up funding and personal assistants, The states of Kentucky, Indiana, have left the establishment par- the people. The political system is to twelve weeks will facilitate a dearth of home care packages North Dakota and Ohio have ties of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the broken in Ireland and the people the targeting of unborn children for people with dementia, are just passed laws banning abortion SDLP, FG the Labour Party and the who are the collateral damage need with Down syndrome and also, of some of the issues that contrib- based on sex, race or disability. Greens. Many are sick and tired of a voice. Aontú will be that voice”. course, enable gender-selective ute to ongoing frustration and Utah requires doctors to provide terminations. frankly in some cases despair. anaesthesia to women having Photo: Cillian Kelly. Large crowd at the If unchallenged this will inevita- abortions at 20 weeks based on Aontu Launch. bly lead to less special Olympians The European Union the fact that a foetus can feel in our communities as the dark has to date had no pain during the procedure. Ken- industry of pre-natal testing impact on people with tucky also requires clinics to give spews out its marketing propa- women the opportunity to view ganda. This is one specific matter disabilities now is the ultrasound images of their chil- I will raise at the European level. time, with a review of dren before an abortion. their disability policy to The message is clear, how you The Prenatal testing vote and who you vote for matters industry earned €560mil- take place in 2020. in the ongoing battle to protect lion internationally in and save the lives of the unborn. 2016. This is projected to Recently I travelled to New You will have a choice of candi- York met with Cardinal Dolan dates on May 24th and I would ask rise to €2 billion by 2022. and had the opportunity to see at you that in the local and European first hand the tremendous work election to think of the unborn These vast sums will be made being done by pro-life groups and child and vote for pro-life par- on a product whose only use is organisations to combat a culture ties especially Renua and Aontu. to seek out prenatal markers for of death in that city. The legisla- The fightback can then commence chromosomal anomalies. This ture in New York State has passed in earnest. information is then invariably laws to allow later term termi- used to terminate a life. It is an nation which in some rare cases Michael O’Dowd is running in industry operating in a moral could be up to actual birth. the European elections for Renua vacuum and the silence of our Thanks to Irish Pro-Life USA I in the Midlands North-West elected representatives at the visited EMC in Brooklyn. This is region. MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 11 ADVERTISEMENT de Oliveira (order a copy using the great chastisements, wars and We must resist the unjust, anti-family coupon below). persecutions of the Church would and anti-Catholic legislation that is engulf the world, and that whole being unleashed on our country. This anti-Christian revolution nations would be annihilated. systematically attacks Catholic It would be easy to become nations in order to replace them with Obviously mankind has not amended despondent in the face of the faithless secular and anti-religious its ways – but it is not too late to do overwhelming task. But let us states. so. remember that victory is assured by Our Lady of Fatima, and by the The milestones of this process were The Message of Fatima calls us to promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ: We must resist all the Renaissance and the so-called amendment of life and repentance; unjust, anti-family Reformation; the French Revolution; and to a crusade against the errors of “Behold I am with you all days, even and anti-Catholic Communism; and more recently the our time. Our Lady promised the to the consummation of the world.” legislation Cultural Revolution that erupted from conversion of Russia, peace in the (St. Matt. 28:20) the Sorbonne in Paris. world, and the triumph of Her All is not lost. Despite the Immaculate Heart – if we heed Her These were essential steps in a overwhelming pro-abortion requests. process that has its own internal logic onslaught, more than 700,000 people What has become of our country? and cohesion. Its driving force is To attain these promises we need a voted to maintain the protection of pride and sensuality – paving the way national Crusade of Repentance! the unborn. This is more than any one for a society that is steered by the political party received in the last In the past century over 2 billion Repentance doesn’t only mean ideologies of egalitarianism and general election. children have been killed in the regretting past errors or not repeating liberalism. It denies all inequalities womb through abortion. This is a sin them. It means doing the opposite of Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, in the book among men, between species, and that clamours to God for vengeance. those errors. It means opposing them Revolution and Counter-Revolution, even between God and man. Its and trying to undo their effects. asserted: Ireland has recently become an religion is pantheism. Its ultimate end accomplice in this monstrous sin. is the eradication of God’s image Appeal for Leadership “When men resolve to cooperate with the grace of God, the marvels of Removing the constitutional from His creation. We call on the clergy to lead this history are worked: the conversion of protection of the unborn has given the Understood like this, it is possible to repentance by reaffirming the the Roman Empire; the formation of Irish State the power to kill those discern where this whole process is teachings of the Church, and by the Middle Ages; the reconquest of whose lives it considers worthless. leading us. encouraging prayer, penance and Spain, starting from Covadonga; all Will its blood lust, once aroused, be resistance to the evils that the It pains us to have to point out, but the events that result from the great satiated with only the blood of the Revolution is pushing on Ireland. unborn? Not likely! the more recent stages of this resurrections of soul of which peoples th, revolutionary process would not have We call on the hierarchy to evangelise are also capable. These resurrections In order to tear down the 8 it was been possible without a grave crisis the flock on the Church’s teaching are invincible, because nothing can necessary to whip up of a frenzy of having enveloped the Holy Catholic about the abominable crime of defeat a people that is virtuous and anti-Catholicism and to persuade the Church. abortion; to publically reaffirm that truly loves God.” public that it would be compassionate any person who participates in an The disconcerting silence of a large So let us cooperate with the grace of to remove this constitutional actual abortion is excommunicated proportion of the hierarchy and clergy God. Let us fight on with confidence protection. latae sententiae; and to use the in the face of the onslaught of the in God’s help and the ultimate victory Canonical sanctions at its disposal to By abandoning the Divine and natural sexual revolution, same-sex of the Church. It is the enemies of refuse Holy Communion to public law on which Christian civilisation is “marriage”, and now abortion, has God that need to fear the moment – sinners such as promoters of abortion. founded, and which provide the scandalised the faithful. Some that can’t be too far away – when the necessary harmony for society to be “committed Catholics” are unable to We call on the laity to: participate in Divine wrath avenges the victims of largely self-regulating, we are left see that their support for abortion the prayer and penance of the Church; abortion. with only man-made laws which lack contradicts the teachings of the defend the Church in the public Please respond below with your credibility and can only be church as contained in the Catechism sphere; always vote in elections and th pledge to pray; to stand up for the implemented through brute force. as well as in the 5 commandment. referenda to support morally correct truth; and to resist the evils being policies. The attempt to press-gang doctors and In the face of this situation what unleashed on our country and the other medical staff into the State’s path will we choose? Church. abortion industry is a clear portent of We call on natural leaders and people a totalitarian future. The path of the Revolution, that taken with influence at all levels of society And order your copy of the book: by all the communist countries in the to reverse the role that has so often Revolution and Counter-revolution. Euthanasia and gender ideology are past century and by the new Marxists been taken by our leaders in the past. already being pushed with the same of more recent times, will totalitarian spirit. lead to persecution of the So how did we ever reach this point? Church, and social and economic misery. The Revolution that is destroying us Egalitarian and environmentalist The truth is that we are approaching ideologies idealise the climax of a long revolutionary poverty and misery – and process which has been attacking the will be the scourge of Church and Christian civilisation like God on any people that a subtle yet vicious cancer since the fails to acknowledge the end of the Middle Ages. The process Moral Law. and its remedy are succinctly described in the book Revolution and Our Lady of Fatima Counter-revolution by Plinio Corrêa warned that if mankind failed to amend its ways 12 | ALIVE! MAY 2019 Two Pro-life Warriors Stand for Local Elections in Repeal-Land CARGO CULTS ohn Phelan (new Aontú party) n a few small islands in the advance of elections. The promise and Ronan McMahon (Inde- Pacific there exists what are of government investment and Jpendent) are two local election Iknown as cargo cults. A cargo EU structural funds that never candidates in South Dublin, the cult is a belief system among quite materialised as expected area with highest pro-abortion vote members of a relatively undevel- and the dual carriageways never in Ireland. One would wonder why oped society in which adherents extend quite as far as promised. either would even try to run the practice superstitious rituals Political parties continue to gauntlet in such an area. hoping to bring modern goods trade off the legacy of their ances- As ordinary citizens, who could supplied by a more technologi- tors and familial continuity of easily turn away to get on with the cally advanced society. ancestral loyalty. Fianna Fail quiet life, and watch from afar the This is what the large politi- and Fine Gael expect your vote cosy cartel of today’s politics of cal parties think of rural Ireland. because your grandparents voted ‘supply and confidence’, eroding They think that when it comes to for them. Break the cycle. the moral compass of Ireland, no Ronan McMahon. John Phelan. election time that they can come The indigenous societies one would blame them. bearing gifts of promises- the of Melanesia were typically However, like many, John and representation of their views from my experience as a film industry modern goods that have been characterized by a “big man” Ronan see that the political class and any political party. professional, father and husband, I supplied to the more technolog- political system in which indi- the establishment no longer repre- “We believe there is nothing want to give that voice back to the ically advanced society in the viduals gained prestige through sent different groups in society, only more precious than new life - the community. east of the country. They will talk gift exchanges. The more wealth narrow social elite interests. joy that a new born baby brings to Ronan McMahon, running as an about trains and motorways, of a man could distribute, the more “We have been involved in our family and extended members of Independent in Rathfarnham-Tem- broadband and 5G. people in his debt, and the greater local communities for over 20 years a family! Sometimes it can create pleogue does not disagree with his Cargo cults are marked by a his renown. now. We have seen a lot of change functional out of dysfunctional fellow candidate and competitor: number of common characteris- Beware the “big-man” syn- in that time. The moral fabric has family associations. Issues are “Over the last few years I believe tics, including a “myth-dream” drome in Ireland where state certainly changed as we, as a soci- parked as new life is celebrated.” that there is an agenda in Ireland that is a synthesis of indigenous resources are depleted on strate- ety, move away from a faith led to John Phelan, a local election which is eating into the very fabric and foreign elements; the expec- gic communications to promote a consumer society. In many ways, candidate in the Rathfarnham-Tem- of our society and it is not good for tation of help from the ancestors; the image of the big men in Lein- the people believe that they have pleogue area on 24th of May all our communities as a whole. charismatic leaders; and lastly, ster House. Beware the ‘big-man’ been forgotten by our leaders and believes that: As a councillor, business man and belief in the appearance of an who claims his party to be the our politicians. That they have no “As we climb the ladder of con- most importantly as a family man, abundance of goods. sole-cause of advancement and voice in Dáil Éireann now.” sumerism, we are losing touch husband and father of 5 children, Beware the myth-dreams of an uses paid spin-doctors to avoid At no time was this more clear with the fundamentals of human- I believe we need to stand up to Ireland past that are on sale in any criticism. than during the Referendum on the ity; faith and love and the innate this agenda, call a halt and reverse 8th Amendment where one third of decency of looking after one the trend which is dragging the population- just shy of one mil- another. In its broadest sense, I Ireland into a place where most lion people- voted for life without want to try to change that. Bringing don’t want to go.” Rosary at the Grottos for Faith & Life reland is special in many ways, around the Irish countryside. and one of these is certainly Many of these were erected by Ithe devotion we have to Mary, the faithful in the Marian Year of the Mother of God. The Rosary 1954. It is something that people has sustained us through hun- from other countries find to be dreds of years of persecution. unique and special about Ireland. How many places are called Each evening this year, during after Mary, and how many of our the month of May at 8pm, join women have some variation of in with people from around Ire- Mary for their name? land to gather at your local grotto The great Rosary evangeliser and to pray the Rosary. You can Venerable Fr. Patrick Peyton sign up your own location at learned to pray the Rosary at www.coastalrosaryireland.ie. home each night with his family “Wouldn’t this be a lovely gift to in Co. Mayo, and this solid foun- Our Lady for the month of May? dation helped him to travel the We can be sure that Our Lady Photo: Cillian Kelly. world and promote the Rosary to will not be outdone in generosity. over 100 million people, obtain- Whatever we do for her, she will Aontú Candidates for the Local Elections in Cork: Paddy Scully, Kanturk; John Weldon, Carrigaline; Mairead ing 10 million commitments repay not only us, but our fami- Ruane, Kinsale; Anne Daly, Cork City South East; PJ Feeney, Macroom; Joanne Murphy, City South West; Lorraine along the way to pray the daily lies, and our nation, in its great Deane Ross, Bantry; Sean Creedon, Skibbereen; Finnian Twomey, City North West. Rosary. time of need,” said Fr. Marius One does not have to travel too O’Reilly, who is helping with the inian Toomey, a candidate of Life, Unity, and Social Justice Dripsy and are involved with the far to see grotto after grotto dotted organisation. for City North West, has been are designed to care for those local GAA. “The reason why I am Finvolved in politics for the most vulnerable in our society, running is that the Government past 20 years. However, this is the unborn, those genuine people is failing with local democracy at his first time running in an elec- in need, those forgotten by the every level. Everything is being tion. Finian is, along with Peadar current administration who are centralised while our local com- Tóibín, a founding member of obsessed with group think – as munity has been forgotten. My Aontú. A party that evolved out they stick their finger in the air to question is how do you best get of the group Cherish the Children see which way the wind is blowing our communities more in involved who campaigned for a no vote before they form their next opin- in their day to day lives and what in last year’s abortion referen- ion,” said Finian. affects them? Give real power to dum. “Many Irish people remain communities”, says PJ. He was very unhappy with the politi- J Feeney, an Aontú candi- attracted to Aontú as a party cal establishment’s position on date for Macroom, went to because he admired their stance abortion. I am running as a can- Pschool in Macroom and Ber- to uphold the right to life of the didate for Aontú as its principles rings. His family own a pub in unborn child. FAITH AGENDA MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 13

“as reason began to triumph over religion.” says that law, God’s law, expressing his Christian civilisation This is false. It was Catholic theologians wisdom and love, comes first. Known by Human rights who developed the idea of human rights, reason as well as revelation, it is the basis for between the Middle Ages and the early our human rights. cannot work without God now a cover 1500s, using reason enriched by faith. The “right to life”, for example comes from Enlightenment thinkers, rejecting Christian God’s wise command, “Thou shalt not kill”. reland since the 1960s has seen faith, attempted to ground rights on reason Today’s corrupted notion of rights, being massive social and moral changes, for power alone. But in secularising the whole notion of used as the basis for a new, irreligious Iincluding the widespread rejection of human rights, they turned it upside down. “humanitarianism”, is now in ruins. Modern the Catholic faith, the rise of consumer- bout 1945 Modern society began to To understand the Catholic-to-secularist society still clings to it only because it has ism, the undermining of marriage, the use the notion of “human rights” as a change we need to ask a key question: Which nothing to take its place. turn against children. Away to uphold human dignity and to comes first, human rights or law? Does the The Catholic Church and the prolife move- provide a moral basis for a new world order. law decide what our human rights are, or do ment speak of “human rights”. They mean The project, however, was doomed from human rights tell us what the law should be? the notion in the Catholic way. But today’s the start, because it was a massive confidence According to secularists, human rights secularists twist this into approval for their trick. It was an attempt to hide the fact that come first and the law must embody them. But might-is-right view of rights. secularist morality is really based on power: they cannot explain where these rights come So, in speaking about “rights”, both Church the powerful get their way. from or what should be awarded the status and prolife are undermining their own mis- In The Rise and Rise of Human Rights, of a right. The modern language of “human sion. We should instead, wage war on the Kirsten Sellars claims that the idea of human rights” disguises the will of the powerful. fakery of “human rights” talk and return to rights took shape during the Enlightenment, The Catholic Church, on the other hand, the language of “good and evil”.

To understand these changes, we need to see how they fit into a much bigger picture, an agenda to re-shape Western A sure path to holiness LAST FRONTIER civilisation. he last frontier is human nature itself. It is a project to build a new, global Photo: www.stedelijkmuseumzwolle.nl Freed from nature, people may do as culture, including a new morality and a they wish with their own bodies - use new politics, on a new understanding of T recreational drugs, cripple their procreative human dignity. Here choice, limited only organs, change sex, end a pregnancy, end by personal desire, is the supreme value. their own lives. This drive to expand freedom to the full To understand this seismic, choice-cen- extent possible often begets anger and tric change in culture, however, we must go resentment against anything, including much deeper. God and the Catholic Church, that might At its core, every culture is profoundly restrict our desires. shaped by what it believes about God and his Tradition and custom are disparaged law. This is as true for today’s secularist world - we no longer see them as transmitting as for a Catholic, Muslim or Aztec society. the wisdom of past ages but as obstruct- Yet Irish secularist religion, discarding the ing individual choice and our will to Catholic view of human dignity and destiny shape a “progressive” society. based on faith in Christ, seeks to suppress Moral standards, now seen simply as Thomas a Kempis on Mount the God question. This can’t work. “conventions” or “taboos”, can be set Agnes. Artist: Unknown. With God excluded, secularism appoints aside to maximise choice. Newly “toler- the human person as supreme being and ant” individuals may not like all that this he Imitation of Christ, written by The brief chapters in the book, written only law-giver. No one may tell this individ- leads to, but they will not “impose” their Thomas à Kempis about the year 1410, in simple language, are meant to be read ual what to do, or how to live. We have here a views on others. Tis probably the most popular book of slowly, and used as a basis for quiet daily recipe for chaos in society. Indeed, individuals are left to construct Catholic spirituality ever written. It has meditation. The political, media and academic elites their own standards, their own truth, in been translated into all major languages, In the 1960s the book quite suddenly lost should be alerting us to this disaster. Instead, keeping with each one’s own desires. and been reprinted countless times. And it its attraction. A new, optimistic, sin-ignor- blinded by ideology, they betray us, actually Breaking the link between sex, mar- has helped to shape the spirituality of mil- ing fashion arose in Catholic spirituality. promoting the collapse of Christian culture. riage and fertility is seen as a victory for lions of people. This was partly due to new theologi- As a result, Irish secularist anti-culture is freedom. People, single or married, may Among the saints who loved it were cal insights and partly to changes in the like a deranged snake gobbling up its own tail. enjoy sexual pleasure when, with whom, Thomas More, Chancellor of England and culture, especially the focus on pop psy- Catholics today must recognise what is and as they choose. martyr, Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the chology and the therapeutic. happening and begin once again to build a This leads to many grave injustices, Jesuits, Margaret Clitherow, a young wife But the Imitation still has a lot to teach true culture centred on the worship of God. especially to unborn children, children in and mother martyred in the reign of Eliz- the present generation, if we are serious In time the refugees from modern society broken homes and to unwanted elderly abeth I, Frances de Sales, a great spiritual about becoming saints and understanding may find in the Church a loving God and the people. But all these are a price we are writer himself, and Carmelite nun Thérèse the way God is working in the depths of truth, hope and supernatural happiness he willing to pay for splendid choice. of Lisieux. each person’s soul. offers in Jesus his Son.

has given everything its appropriate time and Hundreds of years before Christ, he doesn’t the capacity to enjoy life. Feverish overwork have the fullness of truth we have in Jesus. HUMAN WISDOM robs one of enjoyment. Qoheleth recom- While he raises important questions about mends the enjoyment of the simple joys God life, meaning, and fairness, he does not pro- sees fit to give us. Gratitude is important. vide the clear answers Jesus gives. It’s as if HAS ITS LIMITATIONS Qoheleth also gives simple advice such as the we have to journey with him through uncer- proverbs in chapter 10: avoid gossip, beware tainty to clarity. With Jesus comes clarity FR. JOSEPH BRIODY will. Wisdom flows from keeping God’s Law. of ignorant people suddenly promoted to beyond doubt: “I am the way, the truth and God gives his wisdom but not to the sinner authority, avoid sloth, and be careful what the life.” “I am the resurrection and the life.” (2:26). Sin and wisdom are incompatible. Of you say about others because it usually gets Qoheleth, like any book of Scripture, has to Wisdom Books Part 15: course, the author’s concern with God’s judg- back to them! be read within the context of the entire Bible. Ecclesiastes or ment and our accountability (3:17; 8:8; 11:9) Qoheleth presents the questioning, skepti- Indeed the Bible itself can only be under- Qoheleth means that ultimately all is not vanity as he cal side of Israelite wisdom. While Qoheleth stood properly within the faith that gave rise suggests at times (Tarazi). There is right and doesn’t reject the wisdom tradition that to it or accepted it as inspired, i.e., the faith n Jewish tradition Solomon is represented wrong. There is meaning to life: “It will be well believed good would be rewarded and evil and living Tradition of the Church. No one in the Song of Songs as a youth, in Proverbs with those who fear God” (8:12). The book’s punished in this life, he raises some hard book gives the whole message. No one book Ias a mature man and in Qoheleth as an old ending confirms this. Wisdom involves obey- questions from life experience. God judges, stands alone. The entire collection gives us man approaching death. This might explain ing God. Anything else is vanity. “Fear God but much of this is a mystery to us just now. the written word of God in all its richness the somewhat matter-of-fact or bleak out- and keep his commandments; for this is the That Qoheleth was included in the Bible and fullness. This written word, the Bible, look that seems expressed in the Book of whole duty of man” (12:13). makes it very clear that religion is honest is to be pondered, transmitted and lived in Qoheleth. Despite his bleak outlook, the aim Even though human wisdom has its limita- and real. It doesn’t dodge the difficult ques- the Church, so that the world may come to is to encourage the reader to follow God’s tions, Qoheleth never recommends folly. God tions. In many ways Qoheleth is searching. believe and have life in Christ. 14 | ALIVE! MAY 2019 SCRAPS Frost Warms the Heart TOM ENGLISH COLUMN and Lifts the Spirit ‘GOING BACK IN TIME IN Continued from back page. Southampton, Liverpool and Holland. Fabrice’s doctors found it hard to With eyes closed and the palms of

ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD’ explain his recovery and the fact that he his hands pointing upwards, his Liv- Photo: Oleg Bkhambri (Voltmetro). here is a new phenomenon happening today in the had suffered no brain damage as a con- erpool colleague Alisson prays before Catholic Church in different parts of the world. It’s sequence of what had happened. each match – as do many players. Tyoung people returning to Mass. But not just any Mass In March of this year, Liverpool Maybe there is even greater signifi- - it’s the Latin Mass, complete with all the liturgy associated defender Virgil van Dijk, a leading con- cance to their pre-match embrace that with the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite including tender for Premier League footballer then follows. the priest ad orientem. The only English spoken (when in Alisson Becker. of the year, revealed how he nearly Believers and unbelievers alike are an English-speaking country) is during the homily. died following difficulties arising from surely moved or rendered curious by Last summer, a young seminarian told me about how appendicitis. He made his will and his such displays of hope or faith. Reaching the life of Bernadette Soubirous and her this is happening in some parishes in England. He said mother had been told to prepare herself out in such ways touches upon some- visions of Our Lady in Lourdes, come that it is the liturgy of the Latin Mass that has brought for the worst. thing within one’s very core and, as we to mind. people to Church or, in most cases, brought them back to can see, can alter one’s approach to life “For those who believe, what you are Church. A parish not too far away from him is being run “We prayed to God together”, said by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP - Fraternitas Virgil, who was 22 at the time and and give it greater meaning. about to see requires no explanation. Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri - an Apostolic Society that was has since moved from Groningen and The words that begin the film, The For those who do not believe, no expla- helped set up by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger). He said it is carved out a fine career with Celtic, Song of Bernadette, which is based on nation will suffice”. usually in parishes that are on the brink of collapse that are being resuscitated by the Traditional Mass. Let’s consider some objections. In America too, the parish of St. Mary’s in Providence, Perhaps Newton was religious just Rhode Island, is the latest one to experience a revival by Science and religion: 1 because Europe was more faith- bringing in the Latin Mass. And it’s not just older people ful to God then, compared to now? longing for liturgical memories of their childhood who Undoubtedly people pick up the cul- attend this parish. Young families too are willing to drive ture of their childhood so we would an average of 45 minutes just to get to the church. A local the great divide? expect more faithful scientists in TV reporter, Julianne Lima, aptly called it ‘going back in Europe then than now. But a great sci- time in order to move forward’. DR. PAUL DELANEY entist like Newton, who already had to So what is this emerging interest in the Latin Mass? Well, to coin another phrase from the reporter: ‘Desperate see through false inherited ideas before times call for drastic measures’. ust over 300 years ago this year a arriving at F=ma, would have been These parishes have lived through the liturgical changes revised edition of one of the most able to see any obvious incompatibility made after the Second Vatican Council and, over the years, Jinfluential books of all time was between science and faith clearly too. have witnessed the haemorrhaging of its parishioners as a published. Isaac Newton’s Philosophiæ Would he not have responded in the result. Not only was the liturgy destroyed but the altars as well. Naturalis Principia Mathematica is cool, calculating manner of a rational These, together with errant priests, have added to the need for considered one of the most important scientist? drastic measures. And the Latin Mass seems to be working. books in the history of science. Wouldn’t he have started as a believer What is the relevance to today? There because of culture but ended an athe- is a popularised idea that says you can’t ist through reason? But the General DISINTEGRATION believe both in science and in religion, Scholium doesn’t come from Newton’s n Ireland, we are witnessing a similar disintegration of the and particularly in miracles: instead it youthful ideas which he later outgrew: Catholic faith ... in homes, schools and our communities. is supposed to be obvious that it’s either it’s from the end of his life. It was first IYou only have to see how many young families in your area one or the other. published with the 2nd edition of the go to Mass every Sunday, or don’t go, as the case may be. Given the clear truth of science, Principia in 1713 when Newton was But perhaps there is nothing to draw them anymore? people who have let this idea in their about 70, and republished in the 3rd in One can understand why parishes throughout the West- mental door ought to find their faith Isaac Newton. 1726 a year before his death. He never ern Hemisphere (in countries that are highly secularised) diminishing slowly. Following from retracted his faith in the Creator and we have decided to bring back the Latin Mass. Young people this, the Gospel miracles must be rec- Because the law of gravity told us how don’t doubt Newton’s ability to reason. are being bombarded with all kinds of confusing nonsense ognised as false, particularly that great much the sun and planets pull on each We know a lot more than in New- in today’s culture, so it’s no wonder that they are yearning miracle, the Resurrection. other, and the laws of motion then said 2 ton’s day so we should ignore the for some Truth in their lives. Once you stop believing in the Res- how that pull causes a planet’s path to beliefs of scientists of his time? It is I don’t know if the Latin Mass is the answer to the urrection then you lose the hope of curve, scientists for the first time under- true we know more: Newton’s age was Church’s dwindling numbers but perhaps it’s a start. the immortality that it promises. This stood why the planets move as they do. missing a quantum theory of atoms, Something has to be done to stop the bleeding. hope strengthens the soul: without it These discoveries were key to the tech- from which the colour of gold and the Christians grow weaker. The supernat- nological culture we now live in. strength of iron could have been pre- Compo culture ural and sacred element to Christianity But Newton was interested in many dicted. Also, though Newton was less diminishes, leaving only a philosophy other things, including theology. In interested in biology, he was living THIS is a true story. A woman (let’s call her Doris) was in of being ‘nice’ to people. Eliminating his General Scholium to the Principia before the discovery of the theory of work one day. She knew that the floor mopping machine the eternal erases the essence of reli- he wrote: evolution. But think of what New- was leaking and that it wasn’t going to be repaired until next gion, its appeal: instead, if you want to This most beautiful system of the sun, ton’s age did know: something about week. So Doris walked past the machine one day, noticed planets, and comets, could only proceed the immense size of the solar system, that there was a small puddle of water beside it and ‘slipped’ help people why not become a social from the counsel and dominion of an the possibility of distant stars having on the floor. She hurt her arm. An ambulance was called. worker with a salary rather than join intelligent being. And if the fixed Stars their own planetary systems, the vast Later, as a result of this fall Doris was out of work for a religious order… ideas have conse- are the centres of other like systems, order of this cosmos and how this order several weeks during which she sued her employer and quences. results from relatively few rules that eventually received a substantial amount of money. But is this either/or of religion and these, being formed by the like wise coun- When the ‘accident’ happened, Doris was encouraged by science true? If it were, would we not sel, must all be subject to the dominion of apply everywhere. Already one has friends, family and co-workers to sue the company. She see in scientists’ lives a tendency to One … This Being Governs all things, not enough of a vision to ask fundamental was backed up by a solicitor willing to push her case and drift toward atheism as the years go by? as the soul of the world, but as Lord over questions about this order such as “why doctors willing to believe her spurious injuries and sign on And shouldn’t we see this happen most all: And on account of his dominion he is is it there?”; extending the reach of our the dotted line. obviously in the greatest scientists with wont to be called Lord God. rules to microscopic bodies and living Her employer, on the other hand, because of the high the clearest minds? things doesn’t change this philosoph- insurance costs from Doris’ claim and other bogus claims Isaac Newton, perhaps the most Here is explicit belief in a creator God. ical question too much. I haven’t yet over the years, cannot afford to take on extra staff. And the influential scientist ever, was born on So, the next time a scientist, invari- seen a good answer. co-workers employed with Doris have had to take a pay cut. Christmas Day 1642. By the time he ably much less talented than Newton, With many other great and good sci- It’s you and me, the taxpayers, who are funding this kind died in 1727 he had revolutionised sci- claims that there is an obvious contra- entists who never deviated from their of madness. When will the government deal with compen- ence. His most famous work was the diction between science and religion, religious beliefs, doesn’t the idea that sation culture? Principia containing his inverse square ask yourself: how can this be, if there is an obvious incompatibility law of gravity and his Three Laws one of science’s greatest thinkers between science and religion start to [email protected] of Motion. found no such difficulty? look a little unlikely? MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 15

• Today consecrated Religious • This is what Sr. Kirstin women continue to stand vigil Holum, a poor Clare Sister is at the Cross. doing in bringing the Joy of the • Today consecrated Religious Faith back to where it has been women continue to bring the lost in Western Europe. Good News of the Empty Tomb • This is what Sr. Klara Svid- and the Risen Lord. erska from the Congregation • Today consecrated Religious of St Benedict is doing, to bring women continue to be found in back the Faith to where it has every place where God’s infinite been lost in the Ukraine, East- Mercy needs to be manifested. ern Europe. Religious Sisters at • This is what these and many Today, following in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands the Blessed Virgin, over 650,000 of religious sisters are the Foot of The Cross women worldwide have responded doing, doing God’s Work the with their ‘fiat’ (their ‘thy will be World over. done’) to the Lord’s Call. DR. MICHAEL “Slaves No More” association, These heroic women have These Sisters are… KINSELLA who has over many years built an « We adore You O Christ consecrated their whole lives • the Veronicas who see Jesus in NATIONAL DIRECTOR, effective network to combat the And we praise You to doing God’s Will, to doing every Man, Women and Child, AID TO THE CHURCH trafficking of human beings, to Because by Your Holy His Work, to being His Merci- as they dry His tears. IN NEED IRELAND lead this year’s Good Friday Sta- Cross You have saved ful Hands. • the Marys who stand at the foot tions of the Cross meditations at the World.» They have committed them- of the Cross bearing accompa- the Colosseum in Rome. selves to remaining with His Son nying Christ in His moment of ccording to the International How appropriate Holy Scripture tells us that John at the foot of the Cross and radiat- agony and death. Labour Organization in that Pope Francis the Evangelist was the only man ing His Light in an otherwise • the women who first discovered AGeneva, human trafficking should choose to who stood at the foot of the Cross dark World. and informed the apostles of and modern slavery is a criminal have a Religious with the Blessed Virgin Mary and • This is what Sr. Eugenia, is the empty tomb. activity which has a global turno- Sister who has the other women. Indeed that it doing with ‘Slaves no More’ in • Ordinary women who out of ver in excess of €150 billion, half devoted her life was only Mary and some other Italy. love of the incarnate God are of which is generated through sex towards address- Sr. Eugenia faithful religious women who stood • This is what Sr. Rosemary doing extraordinary things in trafficking. ing the needs of Bonetti in sorrow at the foot of the Cross, at Nyirumbe of the Sister of the defence of the dignity of all of By any reckoning €150 billion is and giving comfort this turning point in Salvation his- Sacred Heart of Jesus is doing, Humanity. a big number but it is small in com- to all those who are being herded tory should come as no surprise. transforming lives in Uganda • Religious women whose very parison to scale of moral, physical along this particularly vicious and The Blessed Virgin, the Immacu- • This is what Sr. Adele, a Com- presence in the world coun- and spiritual damage that is being ugly via dolorosa. lata is the mother of the Church and boni Sister is doing, saving lives, ter-witnesses to the Human done to those who directly suffer as Through her life’s work and her women have always been at the in Jordan. Traffickers who denigrate, well as to those who directly profit deep Faith, Sr. Eugenia is excep- spiritual centre of the Church, • This is what Sr. Marta Mya enslave and exploit our broth- from this evil enterprise. tionally well-placed to have led us at the Foot of the Cross. (St. Thwe of the Congregation of ers and sisters. Indeed let none of us be in any in prayer during this year’s re-en- Pope John Paul II reflected upon St Joseph of the Apparition is doubt that all of us suffer from this actment of the Way of the Cross and developed this appreciation doing, bringing Hope in Burma Let us support our Sisters, unholy activity, (Via Crucis) at the Colosseum. of the central role of women in • This is what Sr. Sudha Vargh- through our prayers, our fastings • the exploitation of human For many years Sr. Eugenia has the Church in his 1988 encycli- ese of the Sisters of Notre Dame and our sacrifices. misery, quietly and privately stood at cal on the Dignity and Vocation is doing, defending human dig- Let us help them continue • the profiteering from human the foot of the Cross of suffering of Women / Mulieris Dignitatem nity in Bihar State, India. to be God’s Hands and to do suffering and humanity. This year in the most (cf. www.acnilreland.org). • This is what Sr. Carol Tahhan God’s Work in the World as they • the wholesale denigration of the public of places and during the Indeed throughout all of the Fachakh, a Salesian Sister stand at the foot of the Cross and God-given dignity of every man, most solemn of times Sr. Eugenia Church’s History, from the is doing in her field hospital at the door of the Empty Tomb. women and Child. was called to embody the role Cross, from the very beginning, in Syria. Human trafficking today is of the women at the Cross: the religious women have been present • This is what Sr. Rafaela « Lord, by Your Cross a scandal of biblical propor- women who witnessed Christ’s giving (often silent) witness to the Wlodarczak did as she built a tions and this no doubt prompted agony and death on the Cross Truth: the Truth of the Incarnate Home of Peace on the Mount of and Resurrection, the Holy Father to invite Sr. so that all of us, Men, Women God who suffered and died on the Olives to care for child victims of You have set us free, Eugenia Bonetti, a Consolata and Children, would be ‘Slaves Cross in order to open the Gates of the Israeli-Palistinian conflict, You are the Saviour of missionary and President of the no more’. Heaven and redeem mankind. in Israel. the World.» Support your Sister

Hear and see the testimonies of your Sisters at Read about the Sisters online at acnireland.org acnireland.org

For a copy of our Mirror Magazine please call us on Aid to the Church in Need, 151 St. Mobhi Road, 01 837 7516 or email [email protected] Glasnevin, Dublin 9 16 | ALIVE! MAY 2019 CULTURE ALIVE!’S FILM FOR THE MONTH Re-discovering God is Music CAROL PAULS Padre Pio Shane Reilly. fter four years living in London, taking an BRIAN CANNEY Pio to an audience that would nor- Aunofficial break from the mally shun a documentary about music scene, Shane O’Reilly has his life, but might attend and been writing songs rather than new feature film entitled appreciate a new artistic film. playing live music and is looking “We’ll Rise at Dawn: The This is a beautiful, simple film. to put his toe back in the water of A Strength of Friendship,” It will not compete with modern, recorded music. on the impact of Padre Pio on fast films with flash storylines, Previously the lead singer with the local community surrounding satisfying the need for speed and BiPolar Empire, described in his monastery in the town of San drama. Personally I loved this 2011 by the Irish Times as ‘Shane Giovanni Rotondo premiered this film, and would gladly watch it O’Reilly’s soaring operatic vocals March in Ireland. The director, again, though I may be accused keep things breezy, while fans of Jean-Marie Benjamin, was born in of being someone who is easily Wings (harmonies) and Red Hot France but has lived in Italy since pleased. It was wholesome, and Chili Peppers (basslines) will 1974. He personally met Padre Pio gave a glimpse into modern family find plenty to like here’ O’Reilly’s in 1968 and was inspired to write, life in Italy and the trials that are new music retains that feel-good direct and produce the first fiction faced. factor but is imbued with much film dedicated to the Friar of The musical score was a personal more of a religious bent, blatantly Pietrelcina in 1998 called “Padre highlight for me, with a spritely telling his appreciation in his new Pio: The Night of the Prophet” classical script, which gave added song ‘God is Good’ a melodious, (“La notte del profeta”). spice to the breath-taking scen- heart-raising emotional roller- His new film is very beautiful, ery of the province of Foggia. My coaster. most certainly a family film, full desire to visit the home of Padre In Sleep, a new single, the of panoramic views as two young Pio, whose sticker I have on my self-description of O’Reilly as boys cycle around southern Italy car, has never been greater! an experimental Gospel singer in a quest to interview some of the is evident. Never venturing into last living friends and companions the realm of US Gospel Rock, of Saint Pio for a documentary they O’Reilly is not far from that Photo: Derek Kennedy. seek to produce. In particular, the space, where Gospel music jars two boys interview three charac- slightly with mainstream pop- friend; He will be there in the Tallaght where original music ters, elderly men and women who rock culture. Bringing the Good End’, sit like a square peg in can be heard regularly because have authentically known Padre News means positivity that is a round hole. With musicians there hasn’t really been anything Pio in their youth (real witnesses often at odds with everyday like O’Reilly, it is time that the in a while.’ of his miracles, charisms, extraor- musical angst - which proba- circle was squared again since its Rather than a night out in one dinary gifts, his sufferings and bly reflects why the Irish Times abduction in the ‘60s. of Dublin’s angrier music venues, Now relocated back to Tallaght, his configuration to the Cross of previously assessed O’Reilly’s why not venture out to The Brass Christ). Filming took place during music as ‘unapologetically radio- Shane has established Reborn at Fox to find out whether the oper- July 2018, where we see a new friendly fare [that] swerves into The Brass Fox in Tallaght, a sort atic vocals of O’Reilly coupled generation discover Padre Pio and schmaltz at times’. of open-mic night, fully equipped be confronted with one that knew Undoubtedly, for many associ- for original music: ‘Anybody can with the new music scene in him years ago that seeks to hand ated with mainstream music, as come and play, it’s no exclusive Tallaght can offer something dif- on their love for this great saint. with the majority of mainstream thing like if anybody wants to ferent- and more fulfilling than Jean-Marie Benjamin said he culture in modern Ireland, lyrics play, they can play. I just wanted looking into the void of today’s wished to bring the story of Padre along the lines of ‘God is your to have something happening in popular culture.

ALIVE!’S FILM FOR THE MONTH 2 UNPLANNED GABRIELA AVILA, people open up about their past abortions CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF and seek healing! EL PASO, UNITED STATES Many times we are harsh to judge the men and women who had abortions. This movie reminds us that God is merciful and he can he movie Unplanned will have a blazing work even in people like Abby Johnson who impact on your soul! As a pro-life activist, worked for the abortion industry! TI have never been so encouraged to The movie has also renewed my hope that continue working to help women and babies. one day our own local abortionists will come The movie was very well made. It will make to the knowledge of the truth and stop harm- you cry, laugh and you will have a renewed ing so many women and children. perspective of mercy and forgiveness. I also encourage anyone that’s on the fence The movie has resulted in us receiving a with the issue, to get the courage to go watch huge increase in calls and emails asking how it. Let it challenge you and have an open they can get involved to end abortion and mind. It’s a clever practice to see what the pray outside an abortion clinic. people that oppose your beliefs are up to. It’s amazing to see so many people of all Don’t miss a chance to see this film faiths encouraged so greatly they want to do once it becomes available in Ireland - IF it something now. We have also heard many becomes available. FAMILY AND MARRIAGE MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 17

THE WORD OF GOD FOR APRIL MAKING A ‘HOME’ IN IRELAND A SECOND CHANCE ome of the Mother, a rel- BRENDAN CLIFFORD O.P. in a boat and Jesus was on the atively new Catholic shore. When they came ashore HCongregation, received the Jesus was standing beside a char- Catholic Church’s first official As soon as they came ashore coal fire. He made no mention of approval in 2016 in Rome when they saw that there was some Peter’s denial; he just told him his Eminence Cardinal Stanisław bread there, and a charcoal and his companions, ‘Come and Ryłko, President of the Pontifical fire with fish cooking on it. have breakfast.’ He had cooked Council for the Laity, presented (John 21:9) some fish on the fire. the Congregation with the Decree After the meal, Jesus asked of Approval as an International as there ever a time Peter three times, “Do you love Public Association of the Faithful when you did something me?” Peter got upset. Peter ad experimentum for five years. Wwrong that threatened was painfully aware that he had Although the congregation orig- to ruin your life? The story of denied Jesus three times. inates and is based in Spain, they Peter and the charcoal fire may St. John in his Gospel recorded have attracted young Irish women throw light on that experience. the two incidents; in mentioning to join them, most notably Sr After Jesus was arrested he was the charcoal fire in each, he was Clare Crockett (33), who died in held in a courtyard. The guards alerting the reader to the con- an earthquake in Ecuador on 16 Sr. Rachel and Sr. Bernadette lit a charcoal fire. Peter stood nection between the two. Jesus April 2016. with a group of young people warming himself before it. He was not shaming Peter. Rather

They are now based in Ireland in at a recent Catholic Conference. Photo: Cillian Kelly. was very frightened. The serv- he was giving Peter a chance to Mitchelstown and Roscommon. ants recognized him and three undo the damage of the triple Sr Rachel Newton and Irish born human formation, to form the whole me to the sisters was their authen- times he denied that he knew denial with the triple expression Sr Bernadette Claire are looking person. And so there will be a little ticity and joy. Also Home of the Jesus. The cock crew and Jesus of his love. Peter was able to forward to their summer camp for bit of everything on camp: games, Mother’s spiritually living with Our looked straight at him from make a fresh start. Jesus re-in- girls, in Donegal, in July. The camp theatre, skits, cooking, crafts, hikes, Lady”, explains Corkonian Sr Ber- across the yard. That was the stated him as shepherd of his will be a mixture of human forma- formation meetings; and there is nadette Claire. lowest point in Peter’s life. people. As you reflect on this tion and spiritual formation. mass and prayer everyday”. For more details on this camp Some time after Jesus had risen story, you may notice that the Sr Rachel explains: “in order to What attracts one to join the and other events check out from the dead he came to Peter Lord has done something simi- have spiritual formation one needs Home of the Mother? “What drew www.homeofthemother.org and his companions. They were lar for you.

that French has seven modes, which makes not only acquire a more precise command a total of twenty-two tenses in which a verb of his language, he also touches, albeit not can be conjugated. consciously, upon the creative and loving action of God Our Father towards him and Of Grammar Our Lord Jesus Christ, is also the world. called the Verb Incarnate. A classical, Catholic education programme will also take in the study of the founding The Verb is also the second person of the myths of European civilisation, Ancient Rules and the Holy Trinity, the Son of God, Our Lord Jesus Greece and Rome. Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church Greece is known as the civilisation of the refers to Christ as the Word in English, le logos, the word. It is no coincidence that Verbe in French, Verbum in Latin. John 1:1: St Paul chose Greece as the first country to “In the beginning was the Word, and the evangelise: the Word of God, the Verb Incar- Eucharist Word was with God and the Word was God”. nate, would go first to a nation with a mind With French and Latin using Verb, instead of prepared to receive it. Logos was the very DR. BÉNÉDICTE SAGE-FULLER As I work with my children, I understand Word, it is easy to understand that the action word chosen to designate Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Greek language. how studying mathematics and geography, of God in His Creation, since the beginning history and literature, biology and grammar Scholars have demonstrated these links of humanity, is God Himself, the Verb. In fugue, in music, is the art of is actually necessary and conditional to set- between language, grammar, verb, logos and Irish it is Briathar, a word also meaning verb interweaving together melodies that tling their Faith firmly in their intellect, their Verb Incarnate; lifetimes were spent writing in grammar. are otherwise independent of each spirit and their senses. about it in very complex books. But what is A By patiently learning the verb’s gram- other. JS Bach famously starts his Mass in B Just like JS Bach’s fugue in the Mass in B extraordinary about a Catholic classical edu- mar rules and conjugations, and how to use Minor with a breath-taking Kyrie as a fugue. Minor is made of various melodies harmoni- cation is that it makes it child’s play. them with care and diligence, a child does For Catholic philosopher Maxence Caron, ously working together to lead to the soul to The children of course do not see all these this Kyrie worked into a fugue allows the lis- grasp God’s glory, the various classical sub- connections, but in their mind, the seeds are teners to capture in one intellectual, spiritual jects lead the mind towards God’s awesome planted to later fully understand what the and sensitive look, the lacing of its instru- action in His created human world, and His Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ meant, mental words, its logoi, and thus to elevate immense and patient love for us. in the moment of history when it happened. their soul in quasi-ecstasy towards the Trini- Let us take an example. Grammar rules They will fully grasp what the Verb Incar- tarian God of Love. work in a dynamic way to link our language nate, the Word of God, was, is and will be This is what a classical, Catholic educa- and our thoughts, in a back and forth move- forever, how it has always been the focal point tion does to children’s minds and souls. ment. They structure our language and make of human history, announced by the prophets It gradually opens them to the awareness, it intelligible, and they refine our thoughts in the Bible, prepared by Providence in other contemplation and adoration of God’s by allowing many nuances, which we then nations, and acting every day in humanity, immensity and glory. It would take an entire express by more subtle language. individually and collectively in us. encyclopaedia, covering disciplines from Language cannot exist without a creating Think of how they will understand what is mathematics to theology, to explain how this word that expresses what action is taken, the Church and what is the Eucharist! They is achieved. and that word is the verb. We all accept that will know with their intellect, their spirit and Classical Catholic education understanding the nature and the function of their senses that the Verb accomplishes His the verb in grammar is therefore critical in action of love through them, the baptised, opens children’s minds and souls. one’s native language, and further, to be able His Church: through their eyes, their hands to learn foreign languages. and their daily lives. Here, I can only attempt, as a mother, As I home-school through French, which JS Bach’s fugue, his magnificent Kyrie, will to witness what I am beginning to observe is notorious for its endless lists of rules and one day play in their minds, in full harmony since I started home-schooling my children 7 exceptions, my children have had to bravely Johann and lead their souls in ecstasy towards God’s months ago, following such a classical Catho- start learning all these French grammar Sebastian immensity and Glory. All because they learnt Bach. lic curriculum. rules. They discovered, with some emotion, grammar rules in school. 18 | ALIVE! MAY 2019

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The Dust Bowl affected the nearly 16% and by 1933 a quarter of tality caught on quickly enough. LIVES OF THE SAINTS entire Midwest. The worst of it laid the working population was unem- The initiative now needed staffing waste to the Oklahoma panhan- ployed. But not only were people and these people in turn needed dle. It also devastated the northern out of work, millions were also out basic living quarters. Out of this two-thirds of the Texas panhandle. of their homes and farms, now being provision grew the models for pro- DOROTHY DAY It reached the northeastern part of repossessed by whatever banks had viding for the homeless on a much New Mexico, most of southeastern survived the financial cataclysm. wider scale. Peter was familiar with PART 28 shouts of “Read the Daily Worker” Colorado, and the western third To just have a newspaper ranting the old technique of a common with a counterblast of “Read the of Kansas. It covered 100 million about injustice was, for Dorothy flophouse and a pot of mulligan – he Catholic Worker newspa- Catholic Worker daily.” That was acres in an area that was 500 miles and Peter, a totally inadequate a kind of stew - on the stove. This per, launched by Dorothy Day about as aggressive as it got. by 300 miles. By 1934, the dust- response to this situation. She was where they lived and largely Tand Peter Maurin now became But The Catholic Worker soon drought covered 75 percent of the called Peter the “green” revolution- what they lived on. a familiar fixture on the street cor- became much more than a media country, affecting 27 states. ary – as opposed to a “red” one. Very soon the movement, now ners of Manhattan and greater New adventure. It became the spring- Add to these disasters the He set about planning a long-term becoming the Catholic Worker York City. Volunteer sellers were board for a full-blown movement advances in technology of the programme. He wanted to set up Movement, began to attract atten- familiar sights on Fifth Avenue and seeking to provide some help and era and you have everything that what he called “houses of hospi- tion, support and admiration. beyond. There was a rival daily, of solace for the millions of Amer- is needed for a perfect social tality” and farming communes to Dorothy writes in her autobiog- course – The Daily Worker, pro- icans whose lives and livelihood storm for the working man and provide land and homes for the raphy of the visit of the famous moting communism. But even if were blighted by the Great Depres- his family. unemployed. He wanted this action Catholic Political Philosopher, there were stand-offs, there was no sion and the man-made disaster In 1930 unemployment in the to have its roots in the Christian Jacques Maritain, whose work serious aggression. A young sem- which was the Dust Bowl, misery United States had risen to 8.7% practice of the fabric of the “works had influenced Peter and was now inarian from St. Louis, selling the so graphically portrayed in micro- from a virtual full employment of mercy”. For him State provision influencing all of them. They were paper on a corner of Times Square cosm by John Steinbeck in The figure the year before, prior to the was a cold and soulless thing. reading and studying his book, countered the rival newsboys’ Grapes of Wrath. Great Crash. A year after that it was The idea of the houses of hospi- Freedom and the Modern World. MAY 2019 ALIVE! | 19 PRIZE CROSSWORD CROSSWORDCRYPTIC CLUES NO.: €25 for 234the first correct • MAY entry out 2019 of the bag. Entries before Wednesday, 8th May. Kids Corner €25 One entry per family. Winner & answers next month. NO. 234 Dia dhaoibh a pháistí, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Both Lent and Easter have now COLOURING COMPETITION - WIN €10 188 passed, during that time we saw how Jesus died and returned after his death for a short while spending it 8 9 with some of his disciples. After some time Jesus went back up to heaven, after this happened he did not appear 10 11 to them again, this made the disciples feel sad and alone but he said to them has he would return someday. During

this time after Easter we are now pre- 12 13 14 15 paring for another important feast day called Pentecost, this is when 16 Jesus gave the gift of the Holy spirit to the Apostles after this they had 17 18 19 20 21 the ability to speak and understand many languages, they were also filled with great courage and wanted to tell everyone about God and Jesus. 22 23 Sometimes when you are feeling sad or alone, or maybe you’re find-

ing school tough always remember 24 25 that Jesus is there to help you too. We should always pray to Jesus to ask ACROSS DOWN him to help us. ✃ 1. Severely criticize pain with style (7) 1. Make a presentation on the playing field (5) Slán go fóill, 5. ACROSSChops up journalists (5) 2.DOWN Silly people’s food? (7) Aisling 8. 1.Voter Severely upset by finding criticize treasure pain (5) with 3.1. HundredMake socialistsa presentation are split? (5) on the 9. styleMad to (7)return after backstop in German city (7) 4.playing Send out field from former(5) harbour (6) 10. 5.English Chops composer up hesitates journalists to put his (5) gun here (7) 5.2. NoSilly headgear people’s but worthy food? of praise (7) anyhow? (4,3) Spot the difference 11. 8.Upstage Voter when upset one’s notby in finding to perform? (5) 6.3. CalifornianHundred detective socialists is a young are trainee (5) There are 5 differences in these 12. Similar company, say, is relative (6) 7. Any person can see moon in a new way (7) 14. treasureNot feeling like (5) skating at work? (6) 12.split? Dog and(5) cat return with hen to this man (7) pictures showing Jesus’ tomb, can 17. 9.More Mad of a non-speakingto return actorafter (5) backstop 13.4. GirlSend who goesout tofrom play isformer being deceitful (7) you find them all? 19. inHousing German areas in city European (7) countries (7) 15.harbour Where nomads (6) may live, we hear, is extreme (7) 22. 10.Them, English sir - crazy composeras troglodytes! (7)hesitates 16.5. ArgueNo headgear rationally about but a child worthy (6) of 23. toStop put little his Josephine gun heregetting (7)this instrument (5) 18.praise Pulse usedanyhow? in Louth robbery(4,3) (5) 24. Honourable king, for example (5) 20. Brute mashes potato (5) 11. Upstage when one’s not in 6. Californian detective is a ✃ 25. Young plants or children can be found here! (7) 21. Tale about Conservative from the South (5) to perform? (5) young trainee (5) NAME SOLUTION12. Similar TO APRIL company, CROSSWORD: say, is 7. Any person can see moon in APRIL CROSSWORD WINNER: ACROSS: 1.Badger 4. Jive 8. Gideon 9. Angles 11. Ephesians 14. Quest ADDRESS relative (6) a new way (7) 15. 14.Scram Not 16. Redactionfeeling 21.like Oppose skating 22. Banner at 23. Play 24.12. Eponym. Dog and catMrs return Marie with Egan, hen DOWN: 2. Addle 3. Gooch 4. Junta 5. Voles 6. Ugli 7. Esteem Rahugh, Kilbeggan, 10. work?Askance (6)12. Paste 13. Nacho 14. Quinoa 16. Repelto 17. this Dishy man (7) 17. More of a non-speaking 13. Girl who goesCo. to Westmeath. play is AGE 18. Imago 19. Nanny 20. Part. actor (5) being deceitful (7) Return to ALIVE! St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24. NAME19. Housing areas in European 15. Where nomads may live, we countries (7) hear, is extreme (7) CAN YOU GUESS THESE IRISH SAINTS NAMES? COLOURING COMPETITION ADDRESS22. Them, sir - crazy as 16. Argue rationally about a ST. B_I_G_ _D | ST. B_EN_E_ WINNER FOR APRIL WAS: troglodytes! (7) child (6) ST. O_L_VE_ P_UN_E_ _ Shantaya McDonnell, 23. Stop little Josephine getting 18. Pulse used in Louth Grange, Curraghboy, this instrument (5) TELEPHONErobbery (5)

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BRIGID, BRENDEN, OLIVER PLUNKETT, PATRICK PLUNKETT, OLIVER BRENDEN, BRIGID, 1 Age11. Solution to St. Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24. ANSWERS: ple (5) ALIVE! 21. Tale about Conservative 25. Young plants or children can from the South (5) be found here! (7) DUMBAG WRITES... LETTERS FROM A MASTER TO A TRAINEE TEMPTER

the corporal and temporal works of mercy, these kind-hearted souls MASS TO Love is all you need with good intentions will walk COMMEMORATE THE right into our hands. Solution to April Crossword: lives so much easier. So they think. 75THAcross: ANNIVERSARY 1.Badger 4. Jive 8. Dear dastardly Nettles, And the aiding and abetting It comfortably distracts them OF GideonVENERABLE 9. Angles 11. Ephesians from the precepts of the Church, Catholics too. As they say them- 14. Quest 15. Scram 16. n Irish society today the punt- selves “all it takes for evil to ers are so emotive and feeble based on a correct understanding of Redaction 21. Oppose 22. flourish is for good people to do Banner 23. Play 24. Eponym. minded. It’s great. They’re really the love Christ preached- admonish EDEL QUINN I nothing.” We need to keep con- Down: 2. Addle 3. Gooch 4. hung up on this idea about “love.” the sinner or instruct the ignorant. vincing those good people to do Junta 5. Voles 6. Ugli 7. Esteem It’s a great vague concept to dis- No, no, love everyone, never nothing. ‘Keep your heads down 10. Askance 12. Paste 13. tort. It’s especially effective for judge. But they are easily fooled, and get on with being a good Nacho 14. Quinoa 16. Repel 17. getting the millennials and the thinking correcting is the same as Dishy 18. Imago 19. Nanny 20. snowflakes to fall for our tricks. judging. We need to keep them on person, privately. Forget about Part. We are selling them a dream. that path. If no one corrects, or being your brother’s keeper.’ An ideal. And they fall for it. They correcting is seen as ‘judgy’, we can Easy isn’t it? I think you should think utopia is attainable and any- keep everyone on the wide path. put your feet up and take a rest, as thing less is to be thrown away. Especially that well-meaning long as the Catholics are quiet we You see, even for practicing abortionist or that friend who have this in the bag really. Catholics, love seems like a real, likes to sleep around. They’re kind ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, DOMINICK ST, D1 Yours distastefully, positive concept. We should love nice people with good hearts. TH everyone, never judge. Even Christ Who are we to judge? And as SATURDAY 11 OF MAY AT 6PM himself said it. Modern Catholics long as nice practicing Catholics with Rosary prayed before Mass. like that concept. It makes their lovingly zip their traps, forgetting Dumbag 20 | ALIVE! MAY 2019 SPORT

D Reparation & Repentance

Praying in reparation for Ireland’s voting for abortion on 25th May last year and for the ways Ireland has turned away from God. On the Anniversary of the Abortion Referendum, we beg God for His Mercy and Forgiveness. Please join with us in a Spirit of Repentance and Reparation in fi ve venues around the country, Saturday, 25th May 2019. We will together pray serious repentance prayers for our and our nation’s sins.

Venues Belfast: St. Mary’s Church, Chapel Lane, Saturda Belfast, BT1 1HH: 1pm–3.15pm Donegal Town: St. Patrick’s (Mass at 1pm) Church, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal: 2pm – 4.15pm (Mass at 3.15pm) Ballyhaunis: St. Patrick’s Church, May 25th Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo: 2pm–4.15pm Dublin: Our Lady of Victories Church, (Mass at 3.15pm) Sallynoggin, Dublin: 2pm–4.15pm “If My people, who are called by My Name, (Mass at 3.15pm) *All venues will have a Mass of Reparation, shall humble themselves and pray and Holy Rosary, Holy Face Devotion, Adoration seek My Face and turn from their wicked Cork City: Sacred Heart Church, Western and Veneration of the Relic of the Holy ways; then I will hear from Heaven and will Road, Cork City: 2pm–4.15pm Face of Jesus. Let’s pray to mitigate God’s forgive their sin and will heal their land”. (Mass at 3.15pm) justice for our turning away from Him. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Organised by: Human Life International (Ireland) Please join us, urgent Guadalupe Centre, Main Street, Knock, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. Phone: 094-9375993 Email: [email protected] Web: www.humanlife.ie prayer is needed!

Paisley Park’s rider Aidan Cole- the silverware and broken record man said “I surprised myself” when lies a man who has a profound recounting that the first person faith in the Lord, regularly posting Frost Warms the Heart who came to mind as he passed the on social media, such as ‘My talent winning post was his great friend, is from God’. Campbell Gillies, killed in a tragic Serena was referring to the fact holiday accident when he was just that she nearly died after cutting and Lifts the Spirit 24. He had a sense of him being a foot and tearing a ligament in there with him. June, 2010, which led to pul- he recent Cheltenham Festival of Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle, Tears had flowed, too, as leading monary embolisms in her lungs. was widely considered to be and, on Friday, Ireland’s champion amateur rider Jamie Codd, after Her physiotherapist’s prompt Tone of the best ever. As usual, trainer, Willie Mullins, landing the his win on Le Breuil on Tuesday, insistence that she get to hospital many fascinating stories emerged meeting’s blue riband event, the remembered his brother Willie, helped save her life. from the four days of racing. Cheltenham Gold Cup, for the first who so tragically died last year. In Footballer Fabrice Muamba, Eamonn Sweeney wrote in Ire- time following six runner-up spots. moments of triumph, the capac- who was then 24 and playing for land’s Sunday Independent that it The popular Noel Fehily Photo: Brian Hargadon. ity for racing folk to remember Bolton, collapsed during an FA Cup “showed us once again how people announcing his plans to retire and recall those lost to this life or quarter-final tie with Tottenham can be resilient in the face of adver- from the saddle after 50/1 chance in difficulty is both remarkable Hotspur in 2012. He had suffered sity” and of racing’s “capacity for the Eglantine du Seuil had won led to and moving. a heart attack and, remarkably, dramatic and its connection with the a moving guard of honour from his “God, I wish he was here,” said despite his heart stopping beat- most profound qualities of the spirit”. colleagues, family and friends as he a tearful Jamie, adding, “He was ing for 78 minutes, it restarted, Among the memories was Joanne left the weighing room at Chelten- my greatest supporter. I know he’s although it was two weeks before Coleman, wife of John, who died ham for the last time as a jockey. looking down on us, and I know he regained consciousness. last July, and whose horse, Klassi- Noel’s win came on Thursday, he’s very proud”. Fabrice conceded that, having cal Dream, won the opening contest the day that dug deepest into the Such intensity of emotion often been raised as a Christian, he had Virgil van Dijk playing of the Festival on Tuesday, March emotions. The immediate post-race leads to the raised hope (or, indeed, strayed from the path of faith but 12th, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. comments of irrepressible winning for Celtic F.C. in a match affirmation) that there is a greater against Ross County. had in fact prayed with his father There were tears and joy in equal jockey, 23-year-old Bryony Frost, power in existence, something that on the morning of the match. measure in the winner’s enclo- brought a tear to the eye of even the exists beyond that which we can He later said: ““I thank God sure when Joanne revealed that most-hardened hack as she artic- The audience barely had time to see, that there is life after death. It because I am alive. Without him I she was carrying John’s ashes in ulated what she felt Frodon was gather itself before the roof was is something that taps into the ear- would surely be dead. This is a mir- her handbag. “He hadn’t missed a saying to her after he was headed again raised after the next race lier-mentioned “spirit”. acle, the power of Jesus Christ has Cheltenham in 20 years,” she said, before the second-last fence in the when Paisley Park, named after Sometimes it is something that raised me up and I thank every- “and I was determined that he was Ryanair Chase. the home and recording studio of happens personally on a physical one for their prayers and support going to be here this year”. “That minute where he got over- rock star/musician/writer/actor, level that can lead to an increased throughout the world.” He added: There was the continuing rise taken…most horses would have Prince, won the Stayers’ Hurdle for sense of hope or, indeed, a deepen- ”My faith in God gives me inner of blacksmith-turned-top-table quit, but, no, he grabbed me by the blind-from-birth owner Andrew ing of faith. peace…I am living proof of the trainer, Gavin Cromwell, who is hands and said ‘don’t you dare give Gemmell, a lifelong West Ham South-Africa rugby star, Bryan power of prayer”. responsible for Espoir d’Allen, a up…I want this more than you, now fan, whose enjoyment of sport is Habana has won pretty much record-breaking 15-length winner come on!’” infectious and uplifting. everything. However, behind all Continued on page 14.

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