Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda
In recent years declines in bee populations have set alarm bells ringing, and this seems to have penetrated quite widely. I would urge all readers in Ireland to familiarise themselves with All-Ireland Pollinator…
I previously posted an extract from Alasdair McIntyre’s After Virtue on “hesuchia” – the rest that follows striving. I came across this from Henri Nouwen’s The Way of the Heart…
Continuing a month of postings on species extinct in Ireland since the coming of humans, the first insect of this series and a moth last found in Clonmel – the barberry…
From Henri Nouwen’s The Way of The Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers These examples of silence in preaching, counseling, and organizing are meant to illustrate how…
My rather melancholy September project continues. Another bird today, this time the bittern. From “Whittled Away”: Eaten in Medieval times, it nested in undisturbed wetlands until the mid 1800s. Winter…
Today is St Cuthbert’s Day. I must admit he wasn’t a saint I’d heard of before coming across Chris Watson’s work. Watson has had an interesting and highly varied career. Formerly…
I have long admired the singing of the late Blossom Dearie, who effortlessly conjured up a world of rueful sophistication with immaculate phrasing. “Blossom Dearie” was he real name. This…
From Nouwen’s The Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers Here we reach the point where ministry and spirituality touch each other. It is compassion.…
Séamus Sweeney 