2012 articles by Chris McDonnell, UK  m

 

Dec 26: Letter to The Tablet 
"We need to talk about the new translation" 3rd letter here

Dec 19: The Jesus Child
A proclamation of the Nativity to help us prepare for Christmas.

Dec 12: One who passes by
Thomas Merton OCSO 1915-1968    A tribute for his 44th anniversary

Dec 11: Words at the Margin
Poem in memory of 44th anniversary of Thomas Merton

Dec 5: Love cannot be silenced
An invitation to listen to the song written by an American nun in response to the Vatican investigation of the orthodoxy
 of the
sisters' US
leadership group. In our troubled times this song has  a simple yet profound message

Dec 1: The new translation: When will we ever learn? (A  response to this editorial by Tom Jordan OP)
My argument concerns both process and outcome. A living language evolves. Usage and circumstance give rise to change and we adapt to the time we live in. We are now presented with a translation that runs counter to such natural progression.
At a time when the age profile of those attending Mass is steadily rising, we are effectively excluding younger generations of English speaking Catholics who will not find archaic phrases supportive of prayer  

Nov 28: This Advent Coming
Four short pieces, one written for each Sunday in Advent, formed in the structure of the Japanese Haiku:
5 syllables, then 7 and then 5
 

Nov 21: Poor art, poor theology
Teaching the Gospel is achieved through the lived example of each Christian person, through the word of Scripture and through the Liturgy we celebrate together. We have a responsibility to ensure that our all strands of our Christian witness are of the highest possible order, intelligible and sound. That of course is the sadness of our short experience of the New Translation. It clunks.

Nov 14: Stormy Weather
It is this central problem that is causing so much frustration. 
The feeling we perceive that by saying nothing, by not responding, 
the clouds will pass over and all will be fine again.  

Nov 7: Of Presidents and Popes
Are we sincerely intending to seek a deepening of faith in the Mission of the Church or are we anxious to accept an ever-tightening control from Rome over the intellectual integrity of our fellow Christians?
Is it Mission or Maintenance?

Oct 31: A full and fearless life 
The retirement of Hans Kung

Oct 24: State of the Nation, State of our Church    
Obama and Romny at charity dinner are a lesson for us as we debate
 and argue the circumstances of the church 50 years after Vat II

Oct 17: How do we make our church the church of our children?
Exclusive!
  Chris' own report of "A Call to Action" meeting at which he was one of the four speakers!
This article has links to reports of meeting by other websites 

Oct 10: We had a dream
We would be failing our grandchildren if we allowed the fruits of Vatican II to fade through our lack of concern. We  have a duty to make the case for the Church as it is today and for what it might become.

Oct 3: Edgeland
There is a stillness and solitude in the hour before dawn.
In that darkness there is a time when we can open ourselves to listening to the Lord

Sep 26: One step at a time
Lines written for a young nun moving into simple vows, but they can be applied to any of us in different ways

Sep 19: A Personal Odyssey 
With recommendation of 50 Years Receiving Vatican II by Fr Kevin Kelly, "a truly fascinating collection of notes, papers, letters and extracts from books of the past 50 years"

Sep 12: So what can we do?
All of us have a responsibility to take the next steps and if that means raising a critical voice, in charity,
then so be it. But always in charity

Sep 5: The place we call home
In our concerns about the Church
let's follow the example of Cardinal Martini and Thomas Merton

Aug 29: Lovely article on four of the world's most famous icons      Photo

Aug 23: Too short a time 
Written for friend leaving ministry

August 18: Letters Extra of Tablet 
Has post by
Chris McDonnell - More data needed 

August 15: Henri Nouwen - an honest pilgrim
Nouwen's constant concern:  that there is a necessity to share the suffering of others, not with high flown words, but just by being there, being alongside those in need, the silence of the caring hug, the touch of shared concern

August 8: Atomic bombs, no. Curiosity, yes
The rapidity of change emphasises our need to live the message of the Vatican Council by looking forward

August 1: This is where we are,  so what should we do?
More and more we hear voices that seek to solve our present problems with yesterday’s solutions; 
that just won’t work. Our enthusiasm for a pilgrim church can only be sustained
by a clear understanding of the society of which we are part
and our ability to communicate with the people of our time.

July 28: Are we listening?
The Net has offered an opportunity for reflective comment in a manner that is new. 
We all need to learn from the events and postings of recent months and appreciate the considered opinion all can make

July 21: Yesterday's Answers Letter to Tablet 

July 18: It's all a matter of words "We must find a way to talk"

July 11: Seek healing, not division  
Language is a groping for clarity and we should make every effort not to get in the way and hinder understandable discourse.

July 4: Movement for Married Clergy Group's new mission statement
published on Pray Tell same article has 98 comments!

June 20: Morning Prayer Poem

June 13: Another Way

June 6: Call to Action

May 30: Beads of Prayer

May 24: Soon to be published: The notes of Yves Congar

May 23: Shadows and light

February: What if we just took stock?

January: Time for a pause

 

Fr John, 
I came across this website after following some links when reading Michael Ryan's recent piece in America "What next?" which is a fine summary of where many of us find ourselves. 
The thought occurred to me that you might find it of interesting to post 
a couple of articles of mine recently posted on Pray Tell: 
(1) Time for a pause
posted on PT Jan-02 , originally published in the Irish Dominican " SPIRITUALITY" that same month 
(2) What if we just took stock
posted on PT Feb-22 having been on the Tablet website a few days earlier.   
     Chris McDonnell (UK)
Thank you Chris!. Please send more of same! 
There's a permanent link to PT at bottom right of this page. 
jw