I think looking back on it, even as a child, when some of my older relatives said things like, ‘he has a Protestant face, look how close his eyes are’ or ‘look at her nose and especially the jaw-line, you would know straight away she is one of the other side’, I think at some level I knew this was silly. I did not really buy it. I think for a while I bought the idea that Protestants Read more…
‘I get to bed early and stay there until it’s all over’, ‘ it’s the loneliest night of the year’, ‘it’s the most expensive night in the year’, ‘there’s too much hype about it’ these were just some of the phrases I heard used in the few days before New Year’s Eve. It was obvious that for many, New Year’s Eve was something of an emotional challenge and not necessarily the happy party night that is often presented in Read more…
NOTE: Ideally this should be read around the Crib before sitting down for dinner or alternatively around a lighted candle. (How about holding hands?) Each person could take a line and then everybody else shout out WE THANK YOU. or One person could read it with everybody then coming in on WE THANK YOU. HO! HO! HO! Whey hey it’s Christmas Day and the Dinner is about to begin! For turkey and ham, carrots and peas, For cranberry and Read more…
Well the mince pie season is in full swing and I am delighted, though I must confess I find the mince pie is getting more and more like the sausage: it is quite difficult to get a really good one. Actually come to think of it the sausage is worse. Unfortunately more often than not I am disappointed in the sausage. Too much fat, too much water, way too much salt, poor quality and sadly often pretty tasteless. That’s Read more…
‘We have tested and tasted too much, lover – Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder. But here in the Advent – darkened room Where the dry black bread and the sugarless tea Of penance will charm back the luxury Of a child’s soul, we’ll return to Doom The knowledge we stole but could not use’ From ‘Advent’ by Patrick Kavanagh The colour worn at Advent and Lent is the same. Purple Read more…
If you had a ‘swear box’ in the kitchen or the car and every time you used the name of Jesus you had to put in two euro, would there be much in it at the end of the day? The end of the week? I actually believe it is the worst swear word we can use. Worse than any other. Unfortunately I do swear from time to time but I have tried for a few years now Read more…
That’s exactly what she said. It was just after a funeral Mass. It was a lady that has visited St. Matthew’s a few times. I think she comes up from down the country. This was the comment she made to me when she came over to say thanks. We had a little chat about Priesthood and in lamenting that it had lost a lot of the respect it previously had, she also felt that it must also be Read more…
You’re the devil in disguise Oh yes you are….. (Elvis Presley) I know now, at least I think I know now, the story I was told as a young fella was just an old wives tale prompted by our fixation with being frightened and at times being the one who does the frightening. The story goes like this, and my guess is you may have your own version of it: There was a dance hall in Cavendish Street Read more…
Who’s that knocking on the door: who’s that ringing on the bell? Did you ever live in fear of the Sheriff coming to your door. That’s not a nice place to be. If he was coming, you would know he was coming. If that was the case that was quite literally a dreadful place to be. Filled with dread. Every day. Before the Sheriff arrives there will have been a number of steps taken. Warnings, demands and even Read more…
In my darkest hour I feel the burden of shame, I am haunted by bad decisions, Those I have hurt come out of the depths. In my darkest hour I become aware of the badness I am capable of, My head is jammed with the cotton wool of guilt, Fists clenched my breathing shallow, I fear punishment, retribution, justice. In my darkest hour joy eludes me, Hope is hard to find. How long will I Read more…