Tony Baggot SJ describes the contours of that exploration of the self which we need to undertake in order to have compassion on ourselves so that we can grow spiritually.
Ronald Rolheiser plots the course and pain of growing in the spiritual life.
Fr Ragheed Ganni was martyred in Mosul, Iraq, on 3 June 2007. Many Christians throughout the world are still being persecuted. The Pope asks us to pray for those persecuted that they may have strength and courage in living their faith. Fr Fergus O’Donoghue SJ explains.
Aidan Mathews gives us a series of reflective radio scripts on the Gospel of Mark over twelve months from the RTÉ programme of the same name. He reflects on his faith in a way that is both faithful to his tradition and hopeful that it still provides inspiration twenty-first century [...]
The pope’s intention for this month is: “that all baptised people grow into a mature faith, and manifest it by the choices they make in their lives”. Conal Ó Cuinn SJ illustrates the stages we go through as we grow in maturity of faith.
Users of the Prayer Request page of this website will have noted the debt we owe to the Benedictines in Rostrevor, Co. Down. These five monks, from the Benedictine Congregation of Saint Mary Monte-Oliveto, have taken it upon themselves to pray for the intentions of those who submit prayer requests [...]
George Bull discusses the spirituality of Chesterton, the great English convert who became a witty and genial apologist of the Catholic faith.
We follow Ignatius with Brian Grogan SJ as he goes to Rome and on to Venice hoping to go to Jerusalem.
Gerry Bourke SJ recalls his experience of devotion to Mary in Japan; he notes that it has been hugely important to Japanese Catholics going all the way back to the time of St Francis Xavier.
Greg Heylin explores the areas of work and spirituality at individual and organisational levels. Essentially it is a book of ascetical theology which draws on wisdom from organisational consultancy, the self-help tradition, spiritual companionship and Christian faith. It aims to give saner perspectives on work and give power to act [...]
Frank writes: I brought up my children in the faith, but none of them goes to the sacraments any more. They are married now with their own children. I worry for my grandchildren, who have no religious instruction in their home. Bernard McGuckian SJ responds.
A strong appreciation of the spiritual runs through John McGahern’s That They May Face the Rising Sun, writes Eamon Maher.
The military image of “soldier-saint” applied to Ignatius of Loyola and the Jesuits has given way to a more “mystical view” – how in contemplation he (and we)could experience the love of the Trinity, the love of God in creation, in the Eucharist and in the humanity of Jesus. Brian [...]
Declan Marmion SM reflects on Mary as the model of faithfulness and generosity in following Christ. He stresses the need to see Mary as a disciple and pilgrim of the early Church who was called to sanctity and to action.
James McCaffrey OCD has written this account of Carmelite spirituality for all those who want to deepen their relationship with God through a scripture-based understanding of prayer.
Drawing on his own transfiguring life experiences, including a bout of leukemia, as well as from Eastern Christian iconography, the Fathers of the Church and other theologians, Kenneth Stevenson shares his own moving “lectio divina” on the Transfiguration.
Eustás Ó Héidáin OP describes the Blessing of the Bay ceremony held each year in the Claddagh, Galway. He sees it as a colourful expression of ancient, local faith.
James McFadden sees the spirituality of Meister Eckhart in terms of detachment, of letting go of everything and living without a why.
This extract by Brian Grogan SJ tells of Ignatius’s experience of life change when he made his general confession at Montserrat and how he set out on the adventure of being a poor Christian.
Brian Grogan SJ points out how in Barcelona in the years 1524-25 St Ignatius’s person radiated something that brought veneration and affection in others. Many made mention of a light that lit up his face.
Did Our Lady spend her last days in a small mountainside house overlooking Ephesus? Donald Carroll looks at the background to a great archaeological find near Kushadasi on the Aegean coast of Turkey.
Missionary theologian Donal Dorr says that spirituality is about our deep longing and search for meaning, peace and a sense of our personal call in life. In eighteen short and accessible pieces he ranges over the experiences, the calls and the activities that give our life meaning. Here we have [...]
Una Agnew SSL looks at how Kavanagh was able to uncover “the radiances of life”, though many of those who knew him as gruff and uncouth would have found that hard to believe.
Sean O’Conaill takes a look at a book which queries many of our received notions about depression, and he wonders if people who suffer from this condition might not need deep friendships more than prescription drugs.
For his journey to Rome Ignatius wanted to give up all human security and rely completely on God’s providence. Brian Grogan SJ explains how he got on.
It was Socrates who held that “the unexamined life is not worth living”. The Jesuit practice of reflection and interiority is a development of this. St Ignatius of Loyola gave “rules for the discernment of spirits” and the “consciousness examen” described here by Brian O’Leary SJ (distinct from the “examination [...]
Bishop John Kirby maintains that some ancient statues of the Madonna carved from local trees are proof that devotion to Our Lady of Clonfert dates back over 700 years.
Tom Stack introduces a selection of Kavanagh’s poems, highlighting their mystical dimension. He alerts us to how we too, like Kavanagh himself, can experience poetry as “a hole in heaven’s gable”.
The Power of Dreams acts as a practical handbook that can be used over the course of a month. Gerard Condon analyses and discusses the scientific, psychological, theological and spiritual sides of sleep and dreaming in this easily accessible and interesting book.
