Mother Irini the Coptic Church's newest saint

It was by sheer accident that I came across information about the late Mother Irini of Egypt. From what I have been able to read so far, she was a wonderful woman. Just reading what information there is about her on the web made me "feel good". When I have such a sense of peace and joy, reading about someone who not only suffered much, but asked God for "the joy of illness", who fasted severely and prayed with such fervour, there must be something more than simple admiration going on. Here is more information about this extraordinary woman.


I have been thinking, on and off, about how important monasticism and the religious life in general are to the well-being of the Church. It seems to me that one of the most welcome signs of late in the Catholic Church is the return to traditional monastic life. Whilst I accept and value the active congregations and especially the religious sisters who are involved in pastoral work and the caring professions (and used to be more involved in teaching) it is the case that the religious communities that have begun to grow again - or the new ones that are emerging - have returned to a more obvious community life, with recognizable habits and a more joyful acceptance of austerity. This is not to say that the reforms of Vatican II were not necessary - just try speaking to a sister in her 70s or 80s if you doubt this - but that some things that were removed or changed should have been truly renewed without becoming something almost completely different. The apparent rush to escape from the real challenges of the founders or, indeed, the radical call of the Gospel (or is it re-interpretation of that call) led to the collapse of many religious communities. The Church needs them and we need to reflect on how valuable they are to all of us. Perhaps Mother Irini, and others like her, will remind us of this.


Egypt, they say, is "on the brink" and Christians are bearing much of the suffering. I first met some Coptic Christians about six years ago. They are wonderful people. May God protect them and bless the Holy Land of Egypt.

Mother Assumpta Long O.P. and the Sisters of Mary, Mother of The Eucharist. A Sign of Hope after "The Lost Generations"

Mother Assumpta is the Prioress General of The Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of The Eucharist. This religious community was founded by Mother Assumpta and three other Dominican sisters in 1997. I watched Mother speak on EWTN at the "Family Celebration" focusing on the life and accomplishments of Mother Angelica (still with us, thank God).




In the question time following her talk Mother Assumpta referred to "maybe two generations" which we have lost in the Catholic Church because of bad catechesis. I know this is one of my constant refrains, and some people will be getting sick of it, but I really do believe (and I know others do) that this is one of the major problems we face in the Church today, and we have a moral obligation to put right what went wrong. We cannot cure something unless we are convinced that there is a problem. Pretending that the damage of the last 30 years will somehow just evaporate, or that we can quietly forget about it, is not only dishonest and cowardly, it is irresponsible. Those who value the Catholic Faith know that there is still work to do. Mother Assumpta is optimistic; she believes that there is already a "turn around", and like many others she looks back to the life and work of Pope John Paul 11, when orthodoxy became exciting. Her sisters are teachers as well as pray-ers. Look at the extraordinary mother house they have built and the unique and beautiful chapel. Look at the age of some of these sisters. This is one of the new religious orders that is bringing hope back to the Church. The Holy Spirit is rebuilding His Church.