March Messenger: Reminders of Jesus’ life
Donal Neary SJ’s opening article in this month’s March Messenger reminds us that Lent is a time to immerse ourselves in the mystery of Christ’s life. Father Neary gives his advice on what might be best to do for Lent such as fasting, giving up technology or taking up prayer, mediation or attending Mass regularly. Father Neary comments “This is our way of preparing, believing with Paul, who writes that ‘If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain and our faith in vain’.
Patrick Carberry SJ reminds us of the Pope’s intention for the month, that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world might imbue the Church with their courage and missionary drive. Fr Carberry notes that “The poverty and pain of parents trying to provide food, basic healthcare and secure shelter for children and relatives is all too evident in the media, from many parts of the globe. The repairing and renewal of society require support for families who find themselves in crisis.”
Irish Jesuit theologian Gerry O’Hanlon SJ writes about the Final Document of the Synod in his piece ‘On the Wings of a Dove the Synodal Journey’. He shares that the Final Document is “Hopeful and confident in tone, clearly the fruit of a discernment carried out in consolation. It has a new maturity around the idea of synodality. In brief this refers to a Church that is more relational, closer to the people, in which all the baptised have a say in both governance and teaching, while ultimate authority rests, as always with the bishops.”
Activist, Father Peter McVerry says that “Many young people today who say they do not believe in God, are nevertheless very committed to social justice. Ask them to do something for a person in need and they will jump to it”. He has written an article entitled ‘Respect for All’ which focuses on the theme of compassion, which Fr McVerry says is common to all of us irrespective of whether or not we are believers.
Colm Brophy is an art therapist. He reflects on Saint Patrick and what comes to mind when we think of him in his article ‘The Snake and the Shamrock’. Colm says lots of things come to his mind when he thinks of St. Patrick, such as the shamrock and casting out snakes. Colm even recalls his own encounter with a real snake in rural Zambia. He reminds us that Saint Patrick took the Druid’s practice of clutching a bunch of young three-leafed clover to ward off evil spirits. His painting of the shamrock can also be seen in his article.
The Messenger has all its regular features as well, – reflections, scripture, cookery, crosswords, children’s pages, nature focus, and RE:LINK.
