Flashes
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Enchantment
Psychology’s obsession with proof can quietly crowd out enchantment, the very thing that gives ordinary days their depth and colour.
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Craving certainty in an uncertain world
Pope Francis’s insistence that the Church belongs to everyone challenges legalistic approaches that quietly draw lines and exceptions.
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Birthing our own theology
From Anne Boleyn’s forbidden reading to Gisèle Pelicot’s quiet faith, real theology often begins far outside church walls.
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A God who lays down his bow
Ancient warrior imagery gets reworked into a symbol of divine peace, reframing a violent flood story into one about lasting mercy.
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The overlooked contradiction in Vatican II’s baptism rules
Church teaching lets women baptize in emergencies, raising an uncomfortable question about why that logic stops short of the priesthood.
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We become what we sing
Communal singing does more than lift a mood — it forms belief, binds strangers and slowly becomes part of what a congregation holds true.
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Lay preaching: A way forward
German bishops sought room for lay voices at Mass, but Rome’s answer shows how firmly the homily stays a clerical role.
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The art of listening — why it matters for faith
Modern life crowds out silence, but Benedict’s monks begin each day setting an intention to truly listen.
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240 delegates, one day, big decisions
Ireland’s National Assembly will compress months of synodal work into a single day, aiming to finalise a working document by September.
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Fear, fallout and hope
Vatican II’s promise sparked hope, fear and then disillusionment. Unresolved debates endure to this day, leaving behind lasting tension.
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