Books and Retreats – Staples of The Hermitage by John Hickey   But I believe in Love From Into My Arms: Nick Cave One of the best-selling books this year at what was formally known as “Bill’s Bazar” here at the Hermitage, is the international bestseller Faith, Hope and Carnage. It is basically a Q&A, or even more accurately, a conversation, between Irish journalist Sean O’Hagan and Australian musician, songwriter and poet Nick Cave. It is an extraordinary insight into an incredibly creative, authentic, brilliant ……… and flawed human being. Cave’s belief in God and journey of faith is at the core of the book. At one point, as the conversation turns to the notion of doubt, the following exchange takes place: Sean: It’s intrinsically human to doubt, don’t you think? Nick: Yes I do. And the rigid self-righteous certainty of some religious people – and some atheists, for that matter – is something I find disagreeable. The hubris of it. The sanctimoniousness. It leaves me cold. The more overtly unshakable someone’s beliefs are, the more diminished they seem to become, because they have stopped questioning, and the not-questioning can sometimes be accompanied by an attitude of moral superiority. The belligerent dogmatism of the current cultural moment is a case in point. A bit of humility wouldn’t go astray! The line at the top from the very famous ballad, Into My Arms, in some ways is a perfect summary of what Nick Cave does believe in. I think part of the attraction for those buying the book, here and elsewhere, is that it is centred in reality. Real struggle, real mess, but real joy and real hope ……. Real life, embraced through love. The centrality of love is something Bishop Greg Homeming spoke about also when facilitating the Mid-Winter Retreat at the Hermitage in July. With many in the group being Catholic educators, Bishop Greg suggested that the goal of a Catholic school was not so much for more children to attend Mass, but rather to give them a common identity so that twenty years down the track, the Gospel may remain with them (either consciously or subconsciously). That identity comes through love – through God. Hopefully it is a point of difference from other ways to be identified – as Bishop Greg suggests: If your identity is power, that’s what you become If your identity is possessions, you become a thing Books and retreats are two (of many) opportunities that the Hermitage provides that can enhance people’s experience here.   

Interesting to observe the different lenses through which church commentators are looking at this month’s second session of the Synod on Synodality, and the conclusions that they are reaching. Different conclusions. Even polar opposite ones. There may be parallel developments, or at least analogous lines of thought and action, in where our own Marist family is heading. Let’s consider both.   CONTINUING READING