So, Lent has begun again and many of us fall into familiar patterns – hopefully we will celebrate Easter as better people, closer to God.
Divine Sparks with Aine Lawlor (RTÉ Radio 1, Friday) delved into past and present Lenten practices. Aine Lawlor believed things hadn’t changed much over the years in that respect, especially the stuff we give up. She discussed our practices with Lindsey Earner Byrne, Professor of Contemporary Irish History in Trinity College, and while it was an interesting contribution it was more from a cultural rather than a faith perspective. Repentance and Confession figured large, though she pointed out that the use of a Confession ‘booth’ was a relatively recent practice in the history of the church. The coming out of penance into the positivity of Easter was overtaken in modern times by an emphasis on chocolate! For sure, the shops are full of the Easter eggs already.
We also heard from Msgr Laurence Flynn, Prior of Lough Derg for many years – the presenter noted how he still sounded fascinated and enthusiastic about the “spiritual and physical challenge” of this “iron man of pilgrimages”. He does the 3-day challenge himself most years. Some pilgrims spoke about the cold, hunger, staying awake, but still regarded it as “a good thing to do”.
Another positive model of priesthood and Christianity was Army Chaplain Fr Paul Murphy who received, last week, the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) and was interviewed on Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1, Thursday) He had been stabbed at his barracks in Galway by a teenage boy, then an ISIS supporter radicalised online, to whom he reached out with forgiveness. The perpetrator was remorseful and accepted the forgiveness proffered. Fr Murphy found his offer coming instinctively, but realised that for some this would be very difficult, especially if they were seeking justice for a loved one. This teen still has to do his time but Fr Murphy said “I don’t have to have hate in my heart”. He was grateful and honoured to receive the award, and also glad those other soldiers who helped on the night were likewise honoured. He said that everything that happened that night was a blessing “except that one person came to kill another”. Presenter Sarah McInerney admired ‘such an inspiring outlook and beautiful words’.
Another clergyman also impressed this week. Pastor George Rowe spoke on Today with David McCullagh (RTÉ Radio 1, Wednesday) about the awful school shooting in his town of Tumbler Ridge in Canada, one of the worst in the history of the country. His children had gone to that school and he had taught there. After “an agonising couple of hours” in lockdown, he went to the site to offer “relief and solace” to the parents gathered there – at that stage not knowing for sure what had happened to their children. It was a community “totally and absolutely in shock”, but the mutual support was “phenomenal”. He said people will have different ways to mourn, different ways to remember – “We just do our best and work through the pain”. He made another interesting comment in passing – “there will probably be some politics involved”. He may have been referring to gun control, reports that this remote town was poorly served by health facilities, or issues surrounding the gender of the shooter. Early reports suggested the perpetrator was ‘a woman’, and I thought that didn’t sound credible – it is almost exclusively males involved in this sort of event. On that night’s Nine O’Clock News (RTÉ One) it was no surprise to learn that the shooter was ‘born a biological male’, but ‘identified as female’. The pronoun used was ‘their’. Yes, it’s the pronoun battleground, featuring sensitivities with the texture of eggshells.
Finally, the Education Nation Podcast (Spotify etc) from The Irish Catholic continues to be relevant and thought provoking. The latest episode features IC and IT columnist and teacher Breda O’Brien, giving insights into her own life and Catholic Education in general. She spoke warmly of her days studying in Mater Dei, and of the fine teachers there that had such an influence. She saw the issue of school leadership as crucial if schools were to be really Catholic. For example, there was a big problem if the time given to RE was reduced, or if RE class was always the one to be sacrificed. I’d call it the ‘It’s only religion’ syndrome.
PICKOFTHEWEEK
GREAT BOOKS EVERY CATHOLIC SHOULD KNOW EWTN Sun 22 Feb 10 am and Thurs 26 Feb 2.30 pm Works covered by Joseph Pearce are “The Waste Land,” a poem by T.S. Eliot, Kristin Lavransdatter, a trilogy written by Sigrid Undset, and C, a novel by Maurice Baring.
SONGS OF PRAISE BBC One Sun 22 Feb 1.15 pm
For the first Sunday in Lent, Pam Rhodes introduces glorious hymns that reflect the themes of the season, including trial, temptation, sacrifice and God’s enduring love.
STORYVILLE BBC FOUR TUES 24 FEB 11.30 PM iHuman: A Storyville documentary exploring the true impact of artificial intelligence on the world.
