This book deals with the works of the anti-Chalcedonian hagiographer, John Rufus, and traces the basic motives behind the opposition against the council of Chalcedon in the fifth century through an attempt to reconstruct a specific anti-Chalcedonian culture. As part of the eastern monastic culture, it considered itself a counter-culture guarding purity of ascetic conduct and orthodoxy from being defiled by the perverseness of the majority. Reading John Rufus' hagiography, we find ourselves in the midst of a cosmological warfare between good and evil, where the great heroes of the anti-Chalcedonian movement enter into history as God's warriors against the rebellion of demons and heretics.

Into the Classroom is a series of eleven new books designed for second-level teachers beginning the new Leaving Certificate Religious Education syllabus. Each of the books covers all the content in the relevant syllabus section. With their accessible and engaging commentary, they will also be of great interest to third-level students, educators and a general readership. Christianity: Origins and Contemporary Expressions aims to develop an appreciation of the Early Christian Movement, including the distinctive features of Christianity within the historical, social and religious context of its time, and to correlate this with contemporary expressions of Christianity. It also highlights the diversity and adaptability of the Movement in addressing the search for meaning.

Peace I bequeath of you, my own peace I give you, a peace the word cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)The role of a hospice is to assist the patient to carry his or her burden. The medical staff will do everything possible to deal with the patients physical pain, but often there are other forms of pain : loneliness, fear disbelief that this could happen, worries , about family and work, emotional pain, spiritual pain, pain of the soul. There is also questioning about how a loving God can allow something like this to happen. I perceive hospice chaplaincy as a ministry of accompaniment of the patient and the patients family - travelling the journey with them.

Global Aspirations and the Reality of Change is a collection of papers from the 6th Ceifin Conference, which is held annually in Ennis, Co. Clare. The theme of this latest volume is societal change and how people can put more emphasis on action and begin to translate analysis into reality. Contributors conclude that action will take place only when more people participate in society - and are empowered to do so.

Is religious education a thing of the past, or is it something whose time has not yet arrived? In New Directions in Religious Education Finola Cunnane details her conviction that religious education is one of the most important issues facing our world today and argues that there is a need for a language that honors both the educational and the religious in life. New Directions in Religious Education aims to provide food for thought, to suggest a new imagining of religious education, and to unveil the truest meaning of this endeavor.

Aimed at primary school teachers of religious education as they set about responding to the challenges of religious education in the twenty-first century. The collection begins by focusing on children's existential concerns and on the response of home, school and parish. Consideration is then given to contemporary issues affecting religious education such as intercultural education and outreach to children from a variety of disadvantaged situations and circumstances. The third section includes essays on catechetics and on the use of story, including popular cultural narratives such as Harry Potter. The final section addresses the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation, and includes an essay on the liturgical inclusion of people with special needs.

In an imperfect world, our consciousness of creation is not always as clear as it might be. One of the purposes of prayer is to enable us to become more aware of God, ourselves and our world. In a state of perfect awareness everything would be understood. Small World by Dermot O'Brien, a collection of short poems in haiku form, contains moments of this awareness.

Pleads passionately for peace, for fair conditions of world trade and for a more equitable sharing the world's resources.

Anne Alcock has compiled a selection of twenty-four well-loved Old Testament passages that touch upon many of the issues that concern us as we enter middle age.

Buchan’s work is an examination of the theological use of the doctrine of Christ's descent to the dead in the works of Saint Ephrem the Syrian (ca. 306-373 C.E. ). Ephrem's conception of Christ's descent to Sheol provides us with an important and distinctive vision of the significance of this salvific event. Ephrem's use of Semitic and non-Western poetic forms and structures as a mode of theological discourse, coupled with his preference for imagery and symbolism rather than definition, resulted in a variety of vivid depictions of Christ's descent to Sheol. The doctrine is shown to be an integral and multifaceted component of Ephrem's theology.

Ephrem, the most celebrated writer of the Syriac Church, presents a wide range of theological themes and images that are characteristic of fourth-century Syrian Christianity. A significant theme that no one has yet studied in Ephrem is the concept of sickness and healing. This book presents the significance of healing theology and the ways in which the healing of man - spiritually, mentally, and corporally - is highly valued by Ephrem. The main part of the book deals with the causes of spiritual sickness and the process of healing, and the way in which Ephrem places them in the divine history of salvation.

Provides a new and much needed appraisal of Ireland's engagement with the phenomenon of modernity. The path we have traveled from being a rural-based, religious, traditional, insular country, to a secular, highly prosperous economic hi-tech centre has brought in its wake both problems and advantages. 'Engaging Modernity' evaluates how in the realms of politics, culture and literature, Ireland has undergone a major paradigm shift. This book is composed of a selection of papers from a conference held under the auspices of EFACIS (European Federation of Centres and Associations of Irish Studies) in Aarhus (Denmark) in 2001 and organized by Michael B""ss. It brought together academics and commentators from many European countries and the book bears witness to a diversity of opinions on Ireland's recent evolution.

The death of a baby - either near the time of birth or earlier in the pregnancy - and the impact upon the family members requires special insights and care. In the past this unique loss has often gone unacknowledged with parents being encouraged to forget their baby and try again. This book addresses the importance of marking the experience of pregnancy, however short it may have been. Bruce Pierce explores the nature of grief and the significance of ritual as part of the grieving process, and offers liturgical resources from the Christian traditions, from other faith traditions and from various support groups. Baptism, Limbo and Original Sin are also considered, and the author acknowledges the struggle between theological correctness and pastoral necessity. As care for the bereaved is now provided by a multidisciplinary team, the important roles played by each profession in a comprehensive response is examined. Miscarriage and Stillbirth , the changing response also provides insights into past and present practice and explore the evolution between the two. Miscarriage and Stillbirth , the changing response is a comprehensive, valuable and informative resource for healthcare providers, those in pastoral ministry and bereaved families.

More Liturgies for Post-Primary Schools

What are the values that we choose to prioritise and live by? What price are we prepared to pay for ethics? Is it enough to rely on the law as the minimum standard of acceptable behaviour? Ultimately, can one person make a difference? These and other far-reaching questions are addressed in Values and Ethics, the fifth collection of papers from the Ceifin conference which is held annually in Ennis, Co. Clare. Contributors include sociologist Dr. Tony Fahey, Bishop Willie Walsh and Dr. Lorna Gold from the University of York. There is a belief in Ireland that we have not adjusted to our new-found prosperity. In a society that measures almost everything in monetary terms, values and ethics are increasingly sidelined. We now face the challenge of taking our social growth as seriously as we take our economic growth. This book gives hope that real change can begin with committed individuals who believe passionately that shared values can become a social reality. ABOUT THE EDITORS Fr. Harry Bohan, Chairman of the Ceifin Centre, qualified as Sociologist in the University of Wales and is currently Director of Pastoral Planning in Diocese of Killaloe and Parish Priest in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. Believing in family and community as the two vital systems in fostering human relationships he founded the Rural Resource Organisation. This organisation was responsible for encouraging communities across Ireland to participate in determining their own future and resulted in the building of 2,500 houses in 120 villages, in 13 counties. In 1998 he founded the Ceifin Centre for Values-Led Change to carry on the conversation on the direction Ireland is taking. The purpose of Ceifin is to reflect, debate and direct values-led change in Irish society. He was appointed to the Task Force on Active Citizenship by an Taoiseach in 2006. Recognised as one of the leading social commentators in Ireland today Fr Bohan has written extensively on the subjects of christianity, spirituality and economic development, the importance of the local responding to the global and on understanding change. His books published include Roots in a changing Society and Community and the Soul of Ireland and he is editor and contributor to all 10 previous books of published papers from Ceifin Conferences. He has broadcast widely on national radio and television. Fr Harry is also well known for his involvement in sport and Clare Hurling in particular. Gerard Kennedy is the co-editor of this book.