In this issue
A Fork in The Road, Sing to the Lord – Hail Glorious St Patrick, The Black Friars of Newcastle

It’s that time of year again for Christians when we recall the moment God broke into the history of Humankind and Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  In December we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace and Fr John Walsh reminds us of this in his Editorial.  Ray Hughes continues the theme as he looks at the hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” The last word means “God with us.”  The charming little story, A Christmas Legend brings us into the stable at Bethlehem in a unique way and in Echoes, Patricia Hope examines the deep historical roots of Santa Claus through the story of St Nicholas of Myra.  Mary the mother of Our Lord, who made it all possible, is celebrated in two articles: as the Mother of Divine Providence by Dom Aelred Magee and through the restoration of the statue of Our Lady of The Rosary of Fatima in the Holy Cross Dominican church in Tralee.  Our famous convert is Elizabeth Seton, the first American to be canonized a saint, and It Happened this Month looks at a woman who would have been queen of England had it not been for Anti-Catholicism. Don’t forget there is still time to order a St Martin Charity Calendar or St Martin hardback Diary as a Christmas gift… or why not gift someone in your life with an annual subscription to our lovely magazine.  The gift that really will keep on giving in the year ahead.    

November is a very special month during which we celebrate St Martin and remember all who have died and gone before us.  This November is even more memorable because on Sunday the 3rd at 11.30 Mass in St Saviour’s Church, Dublin 1 the newly refurbished National Shrine to St Martin will be rededicated.  All are welcome to this joyous event which will be celebrated by the Papal Nuncio in Ireland.  In his article on Great Irish Dominicans, Fr Conor McDonough OP, recalls Fr Thomas Nichola Burke the renowned preacher who was mentioned by James Joyce in Dubliners.  In keeping with our remembrance of the Holy Souls Ray Hughes writes about the short hymn Requiem Aeternum (Eternal Rest).  To coincide with the Visit of the Relics of St Bernadette to Ireland we have replaced Evangelium with an article celebrating the young French peasant girl who was witness to the apparitions which put Lourdes on the map.  Brothers of St Martin celebrates the Novices, Newly Professed and those who have made their Solemn Vows recently in the Dominican Order. Fr John Harris OP explains in a very interesting article how we are all called to be saints - the Universal Call to Holiness.  Come and visit the very special exhibition of St Bernadette’s life-size replica and relic which will be on display upstairs in the Apostolate from Monday, 7th October, to Friday, 25th October. Read about the proposed Pilgrimage to Peru, St Martin’s home, in 2025.  As we prepare for Christmas you can avail of our St Martin Calendars and Diaries which make lovely gifts.  Don’t forget our beautiful selection of Christmas Cards to which we have added a glorious set of designs featuring Irish stained-glass windows.  A pleasure to give and receive.

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary and the cover of our magazine celebrates this with a painting of St Dominic receiving the beads from Our Lady.  In his Editorial Fr John Walsh reflects on this devotion so beloved by the Irish. Fr Kellan Scott continues the theme in Evangelium where he writes about how a staunch Protestant came to believe in Mary’s grace and the power of the Church’s most important prayer.  Dom Aelred Magee looks at Mary’s role as Queen, as well as Mother of Peace having given birth to the Prince of Peace.  A politician and a painter, Charles Stewart Parnell and Vincent Van Gogh  are the subjects of It Happened This Month and The Cloister Garden.  We continue our series on Great Irish Dominicans and Martyrs, Famous Converts and The Life of Saint Martin.  What is the link between the Eurovision Song Contest and the Church’s ‘official’ prayer of thanks?  Find out in Ray Hughes’ article Sing to the Lord.  On page 36 there is a reminder that November is the month of the Holy Souls, and we would be delighted to receive your names for our November Holy Souls Altar List of the Dead by post or online.    

The cover of our September issue of Saint Martin Magazine features a single blade of wheat, just like when Jesus likens His followers to a grain of wheat, teaching that true spiritual fruitfulness comes from self-sacrifice, as exemplified by St. Martin de Porres through his humility, charity, and imitation of Christ.
This month, in our series on Irish Dominican Martyrs we explore the martyrs of Longford, Patricia Hope details the History Of Libraries and Marie Therese Cryan highlights King Henry’s VIII’s establishment of the Church of England, breaking from the papacy while retaining several traditional Catholic practices. We rejoice in the brothers of St Martin as three Irish Dominicans are ordained to the priesthood - a wonderful occasion for the Dominican Order during our 800 year celebrations. These newly ordained priests have dedicated their lives to serving God and His people, following in the footsteps of St. Dominic with a commitment to preaching, teaching, and the pursuit of truth.
We are thrilled to share that the restoration of our National Shrine of St. Martin has sparked an overwhelming response, reflecting deep devotion to our beloved Patron. We are immensely grateful for your generosity and warmly invite you to a special Mass at 11:30 AM on St. Martin’s Feast Day, 3rd November, 2024, at St. Saviour’s Church, Dominic Street, Dublin 1. (error – Printed as October 3rd) The newly restored St Martin shrine will be unveiled and blessed by the Papal Nuncio in Ireland during this Mass. Please join us to witness the beautiful refurbishment made possible by your support.

The cover of our Saint Martin Magazine for August shows the beautiful statue of St John Vianney (Feast Day, 4 August) in the sanctuary in Lourdes.  His face is aglow with happiness, but he had many trials during his life which are addressed in Fr John Walsh’s Editorial.  We continue our series on Great Irish Dominicans and Irish Dominican Martyrs. The latter recalls James Wolfe OP who was executed in Limerick in 1651.  The city is featured again in Fr John Harris’s article on the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Limerick which includes her devotional prayer. 
August in Paris will see the culmination of the Olympic Games, and in Echoes Patricia Hope continues her history of the evolution of this great sporting event.  On a sadder note, It Happened This Month looks at the lives and lost potential of the 2 young teenagers murdered by the IRA in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo on 27 August 1979.  We have an Update on Our National Shrine of St Martin Restoration which has elicited a huge response showing an outpouring of love for our Patron.  We are extremely grateful for your generosity and hope you will come to a special Mass at 11.30 in St Saviour’s Church, Dominic Street, Dublin 1 – on St Martin’s Feast Day – 3rd Nov 2024 - when the shrine will be unveiled and blessed on the Feast Day of the saint himself. Do come along and see all the refurbishment which your support has made possible.

On the 26th of July the Olympic Games will open officially in Paris. In our July magazine Patricia Hope traces the origins of this major sporting event;  Fr Kellan Scott OP takes up the theme in his intriguing article entitled ‘Olympic Saints’.  Ray Hughes writes about ‘Soul of My Saviour’, that most powerful of Eucharistic hymns. Our famous convert is Robert Novak, the American political journalist, who came from a Jewish family and was initially an atheist.  Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) is celebrated in ‘It Happened This Month’.  Pope Francis listed him among the twelve exemplary saints for all young people in his apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit.  Fr John Harris in ‘The True God: The True Communion of Love’ challenges our understanding of God and Dom Aelred Magee in his article looks at how God chose Mary as a new temple and new means of how he wishes to be always present.  For our July Offers we have a beautiful selection of white resin statues including one of the Pietà inspired by the work of Michelangelo. Covering pages 2 and 3 is an important letter from our Spiritual Director and General Manager relating to the cost of postage and the impact this has on our magazine subscriptions.   

June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart and our Editor recalls a poignant  memory which demonstrated the importance of the Sacred Heart lamp in the Irish family home.  It Happened This Month looks at the apparitions of Our Lord to Margaret Mary Alacoque between 1673 and 1675 in Paray le Monial.  Ray Hughes tells us why his favourite hymn, fittingly, is ‘Sweet Heart of Jesus’.  In Echoes Pat Hope harks back to a nostalgic time before texting when sending postcards was a necessary part of holiday activities.  Augustus Pugin, the man who designed London’s iconic Big Ben is our convert to Catholicism.  Fr Colm Mannion uses an event in the life of holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal to examine the nature of forgiveness.  We have an update on the National Shrine of St Martin.  Thank you for your generosity!  In Friends of Saint Martin, you can read about the All-Ireland Rosary rally taking place in Knock on Saturday 1 June.  Saint Martin Apostolate will be in attendance, and we would love to see you there. We will also have First Class Relics of St Martin and other Dominican saints on display.

May 1st is the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker, and our cover depicts a lovely stained-glass image of the man to whom God entrusted the care of Jesus and Mary.   In ‘Echoes’, Patricia Hope tells us why this second Feast Day of St Joseph came into being.  Fr John Harris OP writes about how this lovely saint remains the perfect role model for men.  May is of course dedicated to Mary and Ray Hughes’ chosen hymn is ‘Bring Flowers of the Fairest’, immortalized by the singing of Canon Sydney McEwan.  Dom Aelred Magee celebrates her role as Mother and Homemaker. Renowned missionary, Edel Quinn and Hollywood’s Gary Cooper also feature this month.  Our ‘Friends of Saint Martin’ page celebrates the 90th birthday of our beloved former Editor, and Spiritual Director, Fr Diarmuid Clifford OP. As part of the 800 years commemoration of the arrival of the Dominican Order in Ireland we are hoping to refurbish the National Shrine of St Martin in St Saviour’s Church, Dominic Street, Dublin 1.  Should any of our readers and supporters like to assist us in this venture we would, as always, be most grateful.

Our Easter edition of the Saint Martin Magazine has a number of articles in keeping with the celebration of the Church’s most important feast.  In ‘He Is Risen’ Fr John Harris looks at just why the Resurrection is so important. Frater Fiachra in ‘The Cloister Garden’ writes about the Madonna and the easter lilies and on the lighter side ‘Echoes’  traces the origin of chocolate which will be consumed a lot in the shape of eggs this month!  Our famous convert from Judaism is Francis Libermann, the “Second Founder” of the Spiritan Order while Honoria Burke and Honoria Magaen are our Dominican martyrs.   In ‘Evangelium’, Fr Kellan Scott OP looks at the story of Zacchaeus and Dom Aelred Magee OCSO takes us back to the crucifixion and the wider significance of Mary’s vigil at the foot of the cross.  ‘Friends of St Martin’  features the special Mass said by Fr. Gerald Timoner, the Master of the Order of Preachers to celebrate the opening of 800 Jubilee of the Irish Dominicans in Ireland (1224-2024). Don’t forget to check out our lovely special offers to Our Lady and St Joseph, both great value and wonderful gifts.

On Sunday 11 February, we celebrate the great feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and our cover for this month shows the grotto at Massabielle. In keeping with the celebration Ray Hughes writes about the hymn most associated with this holy place – the Loudes Ave (The Bells of the Angelus).  Fr Gerard Timoner OP (the Master of the Dominican Order) will celebrate Mass in St Saviour’s Church, Dominic Street, Dublin 1 at 11am. This Mass will begin the celebrations of the arrival of the Dominican Order in Ireland some 800 years ago (1224 – 2024). Fr. John Harris OP continues the theme in an article in which he writes about the unique dynamic between Our Lady and Bernadette, and how different the experience was for the young girl when compared with her ordinary life encounters.  This in turn leads on to a consideration of the meaning of human freedom. Fr Aelred Magee OCSO writes about Mary’s role as the Mother of God and shows how it is her very humility which makes her great.  2024 is a leap year and in ‘Echoes’ Pat Hope explains in depth why it is that an extra day is added to the calendar every four years.  Mabel Tolkien (the mother of the creator of The Lord of the Rings) is our famous convert and the much-maligned Catholic Queen of England, Mary Tudor is featured in ‘It Happened This Month’. On page 36 you will find an update on the student priests of the Dominican Order written by our editor Fr John Walsh.  This month marks the beginning of celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the Dominicans in Ireland; to mark this there is the first in a series on Irish Dominican martyrs.  We celebrate St Brigid’s feast day with lovely gifts in our Special Offers section.  Choose from St Brigid cross and chain from Carrick Silverware, reed cross brooches handcrafted in Ireland or cross pins available in Silver and Antique Gold Finish.

2024 marks the 800th anniversary of the arrival of the Dominican friars in Ireland.   In a series of articles beginning in our January magazine and which will run for the course of the year, Fr Conor McDonough OP writes about Reginald, archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland from 1247 – 56,                   the first of 12 significant friars who lived and worked in very different circumstances proclaiming Jesus Christ.  Ray Hughes is starting a series of articles in which he will explore some familiar hymns, beginning with that well-loved classic ‘Amazing Grace’.   Our saint of the Month, although not actually born in Ireland is an Irish hero, Charles of Mount Argus.  Echoes looks at how ‘letting in the New Year” began and our convert is Saint John Henry Newman.  Fr Liam Walsh OP reflects on the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard and their wages.  There is still time to avail of our offer for the Saint Martin calendars and Diaries.

For Christians the high point of the Liturgical Year is Easter, but of course that great feast would not be possible if it had not been proceeded by Christmas.  In December we celebrate the nativity, and our magazine cover has a lovely image of a baby to draw our attention to the fact that at the heart of this wonderful Season is the birth of a child.  In his Editorial Fr Walsh reminds us that Jesus  the Word of God made flesh, the second person of the Blessed Trinity becomes needy and dependent in his human form. The Christmas theme continues in our story on page 2, a haunting legend about an encounter in the manger.  Did you know there was a real Santa Claus? He was  Nicholas of Myra our Saint of the Month.   In Echoes, Patricia Hope traces the ways in which Christmas has been celebrated through the years.  Fr Kellan Scott OP asks us to consider Christmas as an adventure; both Advent and adventure derive from the Latin word adventus : a coming.  ‘It Happened This Month’ recalls the Christmas Truce, a series of ceasefires along the Western Front in World War 1 during December 1914.   Appropriately for this time of year the Holly is the subject of The Cloister Garden.  In his article, ‘Behold the Face of God’ Fr John Harris OP illustrates how Christmas shows us that God does have a face, and that each one of us  can seek him and know him face to face in an all-loving relationship.  Don’t forget there is still time to order our traditional square St Martin Christmas Candle and avail of our Special Offer.  Our 2024 St Martin Charity Calendar and Diary would also make lovely gifts.

We are celebrating the Feast Day of our beloved Saint on the 3rd November and as usual, we dedicate much of our magazine to St Martin de Porres in November. Our cover depicts St Martin as a boy in Peru and is beautifully illustrated by Will Nathans - in preparation for our new book celebrating the life of St Martin. Ray Hughes continues his amazing aarticles regarding The Camino walk. Our Assistant Editor, Marie-Therese Cryan writes a lovely article about C.S. Lewis and his conversion to Catholicism and Fr Bruno Kelleher O.P.  tells us about the pilgrimages to Croagh Patrick. We give a very special mention to our three Diaconate Ordinations, our Reception of two Novices and our three First Professions.

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary and in his Editorial, Fr John Walsh O.P.  writes about how Mary is the equivalent of the earthly mother who always responds to the cries of her daughters and sons. The first time Bernadette saw her, Our Lady smiled at the young girl and signalled her to come closer, in the same way a mother would reassure her child.  Candles burn perpetually at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes because Mary told Bernadette to always have a blessed candle with her. For her article in the series ‘Echoes’, Patricia Hope looks at the history of candles, that fascinating source of light. Continuing the theme of the rosary, Fr Kellan Scott meditates on how this most beautiful prayer of the Church is the surest way to ponder on the wonders of the life of Christ.  In ‘Tender Soles’, Brother Bruno Mary Kelleher, reflects on the  significance of going barefoot in the Catholic tradition.  Our Famous Convert is Alfred Noyes, the author of ‘’The Highwayman”,  and Fr Conor McDonough OP examines the life of the inspirational Sister Ignatia Gavin, a pioneer in the work of Alcoholics Anonymous.  The film Oppenheimer was one of this year’s summer Blockbusters and ‘It happened this Month’ looks at the Manhattan Project, the operation that built the atomic bomb under the supervision of Robert Oppenheimer, who would later come to regret the consequences of the  Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.  In ‘The Cloister Garden’, Frater Fiachra gives us a fascinating insight into the Passionflower, including its association with the last sufferings of Jesus.  Next month we celebrate the feast of Saint Martin, so be sure to check out our lovely selection of gifts which commemorate our dear Patron - 3rd Nov.

The cover of our Saint Martin Magazine for September reminds us that it is in this month we celebrate the Triumph of the Holy Cross. Ray Hughes continues this theme on his Camino journey, when he writes about the Cruz de Ferro, ‘the Cross of Iron’ and the custom of leaving a stone at the foot of this symbolic landmark.  One famous historic figure who emphasised the importance of a life lived reflecting the cross was Savonarola, the controversial fifteenth - century Dominican monk who features in ‘It Happened this Month’.  The cross is of course remembered in the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and Fr John Harris OP writes about this gift of Our Lady to the Dominicans, the prayer which is our communion with Mary in getting to know Jesus.  Fr Conor McDonough OP examines the history of the Foxford Woollen Mills which were established by a Religious Sister of Charity and a Protestant entrepreneur!  The convert of the month is a Lakota (or Sioux) warrior, Nicholas Black Elk who went from scalping soldiers at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, to teaching his daughter Lucy how to pray the rosary! Be sure and check out our lovely book offer, ‘The Trottie Trilogy’ which recounts the adventures of Trottie a very unique sheepdog who can communicate with humans and is an inspiration to all.  This would be a lovely Christmas gift and each adventure can be bought individually.  Friends of Saint Martin has a photograph of our newly refurbished shop in Parnell Square.  Do call in and you can also pay a visit to our Oratory for a quiet prayer, lunchtime Mass or Adoration. We would love to welcome you and our friendly staff are always here to help.

The August cover of our Saint Martin Magazine is guaranteed to make you smile.  It shows a photograph of baby Cillian Redmond and Fr Colm Mannion OP, taken at the Knock Shrine. Staying with Shrines, Fr John Harris OP in an article entitled, ‘Where Heaven Touches Earth, ‘writes about the blessed events of that wet Thursday evening, 21 August 1879 in Co Mayo.   Our regular series on Echoes, Lectio, Evangelium, It Happened this Month, Famous Converts and The Life of Saint Martin continue and in his second gardening article Frater Fiachra looks in detail at the aromatic plant, Rosemary. Ray Hughes is in Leon as he progresses along the Camino and Maolsheachlann O’Ceallaigh writes about the famous convert, the American Apologist, Jimmy Aiken.  Our Saint of the Month is Saint Jane Frances de Chantel and in Matters Medical, Br Chris Gault explains in a fascinating piece what was really happening when blood and water flowed from the side of Jesus on the Cross. We have an insightful new book by the director of the Dominican Retreat Centre in Tallaght, Fr Donagh O’Shea OP.   ‘A Hundred Roads to Here’, which offers a 100  short ‘doors to meditation’ for those meditators who are struggling; an interesting read, even for those who are not!

As the month of July approaches many people’s thoughts turn to holidays.  In his Editorial Fr John Walsh suggests that we might consider a pilgrimage with all its spiritual benefits.  It need not be an expensive place abroad, a quiet place or holy site in Ireland would serve just as well.  Remember, our souls need a vacation too!
All our regular articles appear with one exception as Deirdre Anglim our dedicated gardening expert is retiring.  She has been writing for the Saint Martin Magazine since 2005 when she took over from her father, Peter Hutchinson. On page 25 you will find her final contribution which is of a more personal nature.  We are eternally grateful for all her work on our behalf, and we know she has inspired many readers and helped them to enjoy more fully their ‘own piece of heaven’.  Thank you Deirdre and we wish you many happy days ahead.
The gardening section continues with a new writer, Frater Fiachra and under a different heading, The Cloister Garden. He has an introductory piece on page 28 which is followed by some interesting insights on Lavender. 
We are looking for images of St Martin for possible publication on our Friends of Saint Martin page. See page 34 for further details.
We have two lovely Offers, one is dedicated to St Anthony and the other is a special Miscellaneous one which includes a beautiful plaque of that well-known and most comforting of Reflections, FOOTPRINTS.  Don’t miss out!

Fr Conor McDonough O.P. writes "Imagine being a classmate of James Joyce, being singled out for bravery in World War I, surviving the Titanic, and finding fame decades after your death. Such was the extraordinary life of Fr Frank Browne, Jesuit and photographer".  Ray Huges continues with his series of articles about the fantastic Camino Trail. His descriptions are mesmerizing - "The Meseta must be God’s Garden, because I felt His presence at every step. I was so glad to be on the Camino at that moment". Patricia Hope writes this month about the history of Ink - a fascinating insight and history of the art of writing. Along with many other articles this month, Br Murphy O.P. tells us about St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her preparations for Communion.

May is the month in which we honour Mary especially and Fr Mannion OP has a lovely article devoted to our Holy Mother.  He makes the interesting point that Jesus spent 30 years of his life, indeed the greater part of it, at home in Nazareth with the woman who by saying ‘yes’ to God made possible the salvation of humankind. Fr Scott Op continues the theme in ‘Evangelium’ and reflects on the wondrous fact of God breaking into human history through the  incarnation  of Jesus, born to a woman.  The Rosary is the Church’s great prayer to Mary, and in a very interesting article Sister Angela Mary OP writes about her life in the Dominican Nuns of Pius XII Monastery in Fatima.  Their day is centred in the Holy Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic adoration. In the first of a new series of articles on Lectio Divina, Fr Magee OCSO looks at the meaning of faith in this context and the marriage between the two.  Three other women are celebrated this month, the vibrant St Thea Bowman from Mississippi, our Convert to Catholicism; Blessed Imelda Lambertini the young Protectress of First Holy Communicants and the pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart whose disappearance in 1937 still captures the imagination of many.  Not forgetting the men, Fr McDonough writes about Fergil of Aghaboe!  This was the abbot who famously clashed with the English missionary Boniface. Ray Hughes continues his journey on the Camino  and we continue to celebrate the life of Saint Martin.  In our Offers we look ahead to June, the month of the Sacred Heart and have some lovely items available.

In April we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that event which is central to our Christian belief.  Fr Walsh OP assures us that “The Risen Christ at Easter is the promise of new beginnings.” In part 4 of the Camino Journey by Ray Hughes, the writer shares an experience akin to that which the women had when they met the Risen Lord in dawn light.  Fr John Cunningham OP has an article inspired by a newspaper cutting  from the Archives of Holy Cross Friary, Sligo. The Saint of the Month is Giuseppe Girotti OP and the Famous Convert, Avery Dulles, an Italian and an American respectively, one a humble priest, the other a celebrated cardinal. Fr Conor McDonough OP examines St Patrick’s stand against the violence of his time which can serve as an example to Christians of today. Fr Aelred McGee OCSO looks at the afflictive thought of pride which is essentially the consummation of all the other afflictive thoughts, brought together into a single utterly destructive unit which cuts off God himself. ‘It Happened This Month’  features the highs and lows in the life of Ulysses S. Grant, American President and war hero. May is the month of Our Lady and on the first day of that month we will observe the feast of Jesus’ father on earth, St Joseph the patron of workers.

This year March is the month during which the greater part of our Lenten journey takes place.  In his Editorial, Fr John H. Walsh  looks at that Desert Experience and the good that it can bring about within us.  Fr Conor McDonough OP, who has been appointed by the Prior Provincial to take responsibility  for the online preaching of the Irish Dominicans, writes about “Treasure Ireland”, a YouTube series telling stories of our Christian past on location in heritage sites.  Ray Hughes continues his Camino Journey and Fr Aelred Magee OCSO addresses the afflictive thought of vainglory which sets aside the relationship  that sustains me - God’s love for me - and spends its time wondering what others think of me and how they perceive me. Echoes examines how central heating came into being; we take it for granted but  during these difficult times the cost may become too expensive for the average person to afford. Our Famous Convert is the fascinating Italian, Bartolo Longo, a former priest in a Satanic cult who became a Catholic and was eventually beatified.  In Evangelium Fr Kellan Scott OP examines how  Christ the High Priest continues to offer himself through his  ordained priests who extend his redemptive sacrifice across time, as well as how the priesthood embraces all the baptised who are the ‘living stones’ of God’s Kingdom. Fr Michael Dunleavy OP relays the exciting true story of how the late Fr Maurius Zerafa OP risked his life as the mastermind behind the attempt to recover a Carravaggio masterpiece – St Jerome Writing .  As Easter and the time for Holy Communion draws nearer why not  avail of our Special Offers of Easter Mass Bouquet Cards and Boy and Girl Communion Gift Sets, both lovely ways to mark these special and very meaningful occasions.

In the February edition of our Saint Martin Magazine, we have a tribute to the late Pope Benedict who died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95, nearly a decade after he stood down from the papacy due to ill health. He also features on our cover waving to the crowds in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City. A German by birth, he never forgot his homeland and in his Spiritual Testimony he thanked God for the beauty of his home at the foothills of the Bavarian mountains. Fr Conor McDonough OP writes about Richard King, a pupil of Harry Clarke and an artist of considerable renown in his own right.  Ray Hughes continues his journey on The Camino and finds a moment of grace when he begins to falter on the road. In a very insightful article Fr Aelred Magee OCSO urges us not to surrender to hopelessness and to remember, ‘Today I begin again!’ Echoes looks at how the months of the year came to be named, and the various calendars involved in the process. Marshall McLuhan is our famous convert who featured memorably in Woody Allen’s film, Annie Hall, winner of the 1978 Academy Award for Best Film.  In Evangelium, Fr Kellan Scott OP, argues against Friedrich Nietzsche’s infamous assertion that God is dead. The Saint of the Month is Josephine Bakhita, the African Flower who survived terrible years of slavery and whose life was redeemed when she encountered Jesus. In the first of two pieces, Bruno Mary Kelleher OP writes about his experience as a volunteer in Lourdes and the insights he gained about this and all Marian apparitions. Make sure to avail of our February Offers celebrating Ireland’s Patrons, featuring lovely cards for St Patrick’s Day and the always popular St Brigid’s Cross and Brooch.

We begin the New Year with a most endearing cover on our Saint Martin Magazine.  It is a photograph of Mother Agnes O’Shea OCSO, from St Mary’s Abbey in Glencairn, giving Taisce, their rescue dog a bit of much appreciated attention.  It was taken by Sr Michelle Millar and captures a lovely moment.  This month we begin a twelve-part  series of articles by Ray Hughes on his experience of walking the Camino de Santiago which leads to the shrine of the Apostle St. James, whose earthly remains rest under the altar of the city’s magnificent cathedral. Fr Conor McDonough writes about the artist, Evie Hone a woman of many talents who found fame with the East Window of Eton College Chapel, completed in 1949.  Fr Aelred Magee writes insightfully on mental health as it relates to the afflictive thought of dejection.  Echoes examines how the days of the week got their name and our famous convert is Leonard Cheshire who is well remembered, along with his wife, Sue Ryder for their wonderful caring work.  Fr Kellan Scott in Evangelium encourages to persevere with our prayers as they are a dutiful service.   Our Saint of the Month is another convert, the American Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton who was born two days before the Declaration of Independence.  It Happened this Month focuses on the dark topic of the Final Solution and the fiend who was Reinhard Heydrich, Heinrich Himmler’s right-hand man and one of the most evil of all the Nazis. On a lighter note our Editor has penned a piece on La Befana and her connection with the Magi.   This theme is continued in Fr Michael Dunleavy’s article on the Adoration of the Magi as depicted by Fra Angelico.  We celebrate this lovely Feast on 6th January, the Epiphany.  And don’t forget, if you have not seen the Moving Crib in our premises in 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1, D01P5R7, there is still time (Open till 8th Jan), and we look forward to your visit!

Celebrate with us this Christmas Season. Our wonderful Catholic magazine is designed, printed and created in Ireland and it is choc full of uplifting, spiritual stories, information to help with your faith and even something for children.

In November, we begin to prepare in lots of ways for Christmas, and sometimes with too much emphasis on accumulating even more material things.  Fr Aelred Magee challenges us to look at our attitude to this and ask if we are in danger of our possessions ‘possessing’ us. It is of course also the month dedicated to the Holy Souls and Fr Shane Crombie has a lovely and consoling article about how death is really about ‘going home’. Two great Americans are featured in this month’s magazine.  The first is President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the longest-serving U.S. president features in “It Happened This Month”; the second, the renowned gymnast, Dominique Dawes is the subject of our “Convert to Catholicism” article. The writer of Evangelium, Fr Kellan Scott OP was ordained in September, and you can see photographs of this lovely occasion in our Supporters’ Photo Gallery.  There is a connection between the Saint of the Month Lucy of Narni and the writer C.S. Lewis, the creator of the Chronicles of Narnia.  In an article about Fr. Andrew Mullen, Ray Hughes looks at a remarkable man who may one day be a saint.  Wondering what to buy that special child in your life for Christmas?  Look no further than our delightful book, ‘A Kaboodle of Treasured Tales’, a selection of short stories which bring to life what it means to really love one another.  For older people we have the St Martin Charity Calendar and St Martin Hardback diary and don’t forget our lovely selection of Christmas Cards.

October is the month dedicated to the Rosary and the cover of our magazine recalls this most beautiful prayer of the Church. Fr Shane Crombie in an amusing and touching article ‘The Trimmings on the Rosary’ reflects on the unique way in which one family offered up their praise to Mary! Brother Philip Neri Mather is inspired by a visit to Lourdes to contemplate Saint Bernadette’s complete trust in God, which might have made her seem foolish to onlookers. Father Kellan Scott in ‘Evangelium’ continues the theme of the Rosary, likening it to a tapestry wherein the life of Mary’s Son can become the fabric of our own lives.  Our famous convert is the great Saint Augustine, a prolific writer and the author of the most famous conversion story of all time. ‘It Happened this Month’ looks at the Nuremburg Trials which resulted in the execution of 12 top Nazi Party members and leaders of the Third Reich.  The ‘Saint of the Month’ is Elizabeth of the Trinity, a sister in Carmel of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.  In ‘Ave, Gratia Plena’, Fr Michael Dunleavy examines Fra Angelico’s Annunciation which celebrates the first joyful mystery; the initial step on the road of Christ’s journey on earth.  ‘Friends of Saint Martin’ has some information on the date of St Martin’s Feast Day and dates of Novenas explaining why there are some differences.  Get ready to celebrate our Patron’s feast in November with a lovely selection of gifts and books which you will find on the back pages.  Last and certainly not least, check out our lovely new book ‘A Kaboodle of Treasured Tales’. This is a feast of inspiring tales is complemented with sumptuous illustrations by Will Nathans and would make an ideal Christmas gift for any parent, grandparent or child.

Our September edition of the Saint Martin Magazine has all our regular features:  Famous Converts,  Evangelium, Supporters’ Photo Gallery, Saint of the Month, The Garden this Month, Marty, Martina and Friends, The Life of Saint Martin, Matters Medical and of course Echoes which takes a look at how time first began to be measured.  It Happened This Month deals with the world’s best-selling writer, Agatha Christie, second only in popularity to the Bible and William Shakespeare.  The ‘Queen of Crime’ was born in Torquay, Devon in September 1890.  Fr Conor McDonough OP has a lovely and insightful piece about the best-loved Irish language poem, Pangur Bán, written by a monk and scholar in the ninth century.  It might be assumed that St Dominic would be the natural choice as the Patron Saint of Preachers having founded the Order of Preachers over 800 years ago.  Not so!  That honour goes to St John Chrysostom and Fr Shane Crombie tells us more about the man whose name means ‘golden tongue’.  Food is always a very popular subject for discussion, whether the focus is on mouth-watering recipes or concerns about the problem of obesity.  In a very thought-provoking article, Fr  Aelred Magee OCSO challenges us to examine how we regulate our eating within a spiritual context.  We all know about Lough Derg, but how many of us have made the daunting pilgrimage?  Brother Bruno Mary Kelleher OP gives us an account of his recent excursion to the  shrine of St Patrick’s Purgatory in the company of six fellow Dominicans.  If he succeeds in persuading you to follow in their footsteps why not bring with you a copy of ‘The Rosary with Saint Martin’, our lovely booklet available to buy for only €4/4!  An essential aid to the Church’s best loved prayer.  Also  do avail of our Perpetual Mass Enrolment.  For only  €20/20 you  will have the consolation of knowing that you or a loved one will share daily in the Masses and Prayers of St Martin Apostolate and the Dominican Order in Ireland.

Our August cover of the Saint Martin Magazine has a lovely ‘summery’ feel showing one of our Dominican Sisters in Sligo enjoying the sunshine.  The Editor reminds us that this month we celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady, and Fr Shane Crombie reflects on this feast and that of the Ascension in an article inspired by stained-glass windows in the Church of the Assumption in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Newgrange is a place which has long captured our imaginations and continues to be a popular tourist spot.  Learn more about this fascinating megalithic construction in Echoes. A person who also captivated so many was the late Princess Diana and in It Happened This Month read about how her death almost brought about the downfall of the British Monarchy.  Our famous convert is St Justin Martyr, one of the earliest Christian apologists, who argued for the truth of Christianity.  Fr Michael Dunleavy OP provides us with a fascinating look at the life of St Dominic using the illustrations from Fra Angelico’s ‘The Mocking of Christ’ and  the Perugia Altarpiece.  In the Editor’s piece on Our Lady of Galway there is a lovely account of the annual Blessing of the Bay. Our regular features, Evangelium, The Life of Saint Martin and The Garden This Month continue and this month we have a very special offer.  Get 2 unique CDs for €30 ,‘Tradoration’ which combines traditional music with reflections on the Holy Rosary and ‘O Spem Miram’, eleven uplifting  Chants for the Dominican Tradition.  These can be kept as aides to prayer and would also make thoughtful and inspirational gifts.

In the Editorial of our July edition of Saint Martin Magazine we are encouraged to invite the Prince of Peace into our hearts and certainly the world needs peace more than ever before.  Our Editor also has an article, The Road Less Travelled about the Dominican Nuns of the Siena Monastery, a much-loved presence in The Twenties in Drogheda.  If you thought that hospitals were a modern phenomenon then check out Fr Conor McDonough’s article on St Mary’s de Urso, the Old Abbey near the river Boyne, which used to be a hospital in the Middle Ages and stands as a testament to centuries of loving care.  The philosopher and theologian, St Thomas Aquinas was one of the greatest minds the Church has ever known.  He was also the author of many beautiful hymns in honour of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament such as Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris Hostis.  Fr Shane Crombie looks at some of his thoughts in the context of devotion to the Real Presence.  Many of us are fascinated by the London Underground and in Echoes, Patricia Hope looks at how it all began and the birth of Rapid Transport.  Our Convert of the month is Thomas Merton, one of the great Spiritual Masters who was a Trappist monk and author of the bestselling book The Seven Storey Mountain .  Sometimes we overcomplicate prayer and can become anxious and doubtful.  In a lovely article, Fr Aelred Magee tells us how to pray simply, using the Jesus Prayer the brevity of which encompasses a depth of meaning.  We have great news - Mass is being streamed live now Monday-Friday at 1pm, as is our Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 3pm-4pm.  You can access our YouTube Channel by visiting www.youtube.com and searching for St Martin Apostolate.  We hope these Live Streams will be a source of comfort and spiritual strength as well as enhancing and enriching your prayer life.

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St Martin Apostolate has published our monthly St. Martin Magazine in Ireland since 1952. A wonderful magazine for Catholics around the world. Our magazine is packed with articles to help develop your understanding and your faith. 

Included are articles on all aspects of life, news and views on important world events, helpful tips and articles for life, home and the garden. In short, it is a worthwhile easy-to-read magazine that millions of readers have enjoyed over the past decades.
 
We publish the magazine to promote devotion to St. Martin, to encourage people in the practice of their faith and to generate funds for our mission of bringing the word of God to as many people as possible.  We currently publish some 40,000 print copies every month - that's nearly half a million copies every year - and are excited about the reach of our digital version across the world - so please tell your friends and colleagues about its availability.  

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