Mad Messiah

by Edmond Grace SJ

My faith in God and in Christ has always been simple, but that does not mean that I am simple, which is why these poems are dedicated to Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot. After this Dedication, the Prologue introduces the themes of the Four Cycles: Dublin south-sider, aging Jesuit, bewildered male, and Irish Catholic.

Click first for PDF (left column) and then for Audio (right column).

Dedication »
Prologue »

Mad Messiah

First Cycle: Reptiles and the rising sun

March 21, 2019

The First Cycle – Reptiles and the Rising Sun - is a satirical take on middle class Dublin.

Mad Messiah

Second Cycle – Floating Eyes in Venice

March 21, 2019

The Second Cycle – Floating Eyes in Venice – a satirical take on the Jesuits, including himself.

Mad Messiah

Third Cycle: Two Dead Israelites

March 21, 2019

The Third Cycle – Two Dead Israelites – is about manhood – satirical or simply accurate?

Mad Messiah

Fourth Cycle – Saving Jonah

March 21, 2019

The Fourth Cycle – Saving Jonah – is a study of hatred. Of course, it’s also about Irish Catholicism

‘Pity the Nation’

June 15, 2026 - As violence continues across Lebanon, Jesuits and partners have reshaped their relief efforts to assist the displaced and vulnerable.

Bee-autiful photography

June 12, 2026 - The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice invited Jesuit schools and communities to submit photos of nature for their competition.

Jesuits for Climate Justice in Bonn

June 4, 2026 - Follow the Jesuits for climate justice at SB64 in Germany through daily prayers, newsletters, and updates

Not for the faint-hearted!

June 3, 2026 - An appeal for refugees in a Jesuit church in Beirut, and tackling the negative stereotyping of asylum seekers - stories from Jesuit colleagues in media training in the Curia.