Melrose in Dalkey, Dublin. Fr Doyle was born here 138 years ago today. Today is Fr Doyle’s birthday – he was born on this day in 1873. For today we shall reproduce the first few pages of O’Rahilly’s biography which tell us something about Fr Doyle’s early life. William Joseph Gabriel Doyle was born at Melrose, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, on 3rd March, 1873. His father is Mr. Hugh Doyle, an …
Life
March 3, 2011
Abbot Wilfrid Upson OSB The merit of living under religious rule may be gathered from the difficulty of always and faith fully keeping that rule. Holiness and deliberate violation of our rules are a contradiction. COMMENT: Fr Doyle was known for his close adherence to the Jesuit rule, and the faithful fulfilment of its precepts is a recurring theme in his resolutions and notes. Adhering to a religious rule …
February 28, 2011
Fr John Sullivan SJ I hope every single one of you will have broken every resolution you made in the retreat before the end of the week, and if not then, at least in a fortnight. It will do you good and humble you provided you get up and begin again and do not flop down and lie there on the broad of your back, saying “It’s no use, it’s …
February 20, 2011
Lent begins in 4 weeks. It is unusually late this year; in fact it falls on the second latest date possible. It will be 2038 before it falls on April 25, the latest possible date. Despite Ash Wednesday being 4 weeks away, it is not too early to start thinking about preparping for Lent. Traditionally, as Catholics we make a concerted effort to deepen our spiritual lives. Central to this …
February 9, 2011
Blessed Pius IX Then in addition there is the great privilege and joy of carrying our dear Lord next my heart day and night. Long ago when reading that Pius IX carried the Pyx around his neck, I felt a foolish desire, as it seemed to me, for the same privilege. Little did I think then that the God of holiness would stoop so low as to make me …
February 7, 2011
St Agatha I was meditating on my desire to die a martyr’s death for Jesus, and thenasked myself if I was really in earnest, why did I not begin to die to myself, to die to my own will, the inclinations and desires of my lower nature. I wish to die a martyr’s death but am I willing to live a martyr’s life? To live a crucified life “seeking in …
February 5, 2011
I am glad you wrote to me for I, at least, can understand exactly what you are suffering; it is really a question of nerves, not of soul. You are run down like an old fiddlestring, hence you can get no sweet music out of yourself, try as you may. Now, my child, don’t be troubled or uneasy, imagining God is displeased with you or that you are abusing grace. …
February 4, 2011
A kind word goes far. I stopped to say a few words to a group of men at a street corner in Kinsale, and as I walked away, I heard one of the men say to his companions: “Wasn’t it kind of him to speak to us? He’s a grand man entirely!” COMMENT: The social virtues are so important. Jesus tells us that we shall be known as His disciples …
January 30, 2011
The mere saving of their souls should be the last thought of religious who have vowed their lives for God’s glory. COMMENT: Fr Doyle’s comments were made directly to a member of a religious order, but they apply equally to us all. There was perhaps a tendency in the past to focus almost exclusively on one’s own salvation. It is true that our own salvation is one of our …
January 13, 2011
Fr Paul Ginhac SJ Today is the anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Fr Paul Ginhac SJ who died on this day in 1895. Fr Ginhac was a French Jesuit whose life and example seems to have had an impact on the spirituality of Fr Doyle. At any rate, he was sufficiently impressed with Fr Ginhac’s virtues that he translated a 380 page official biography of Fr …
January 10, 2011