sanctum
For spiritual musings, theology, and the sacred within suffering.
-
Heron. Curlew. Peace.
On 2 January, the Church of Ireland keeps the feast of Saint Munchin, the quiet yet foundational patron of Limerick. His memory is woven not through dramatic miracles or grand gestures, but through the slow, faithful shaping of community—hospitality offered without fuss, prayer built into the very stones of his dwelling, and a deep attentiveness Continue reading
-
Name. Covenant. Praise.
New Year’s Day in the Christian calendar invites us into a quieter beginning than the world expects. While fireworks fade and resolutions rush in, the Church turns its gaze to something far smaller and far more tender: an eight‑day‑old child, named and marked in the flesh. The Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Christ Continue reading
-
Glory. Courage. Year’s‑End.
A hymn for St Sylvester’s Day — the quiet hinge between year’s-end and Christmastide light. In the glow of Bethlehem and the steadiness of pastoral care, we find courage for the turning of time. With new words for old paths, this post honours the holiness of showing up, even in storm-tossed days. Continue reading
-
Mary. Vision. Light.
A winter saint steps into the glow of Christmas, where a mother’s guidance, a shepherd’s heart, and a dawning light meet. In these middle days of the season, his story invites us to look again at how grace appears — sometimes in vision, sometimes in silence, always in the turning toward mercy. Continue reading
-
Swords. Martyr. Light.
On the fifth day of Christmas, the light of the manger meets the courage of a martyr. Thomas Becket’s witness invites us to consider what it means to stand for truth with a steady, compassionate heart. His story reminds us that Christmas peace is not passive but brave, and that even in a world shaped… Continue reading
-
Sorrow. Mercy. Peace.
One star. One silence. One prayer. On the fourth day of Christmas, we remember the Holy Innocents — children lost to violence, grief held in the heart of the season. This hymn is a quiet offering: a song for mercy, healing, and the fragile hope that still flickers in the dark. Continue reading
-
Eagle. Word. Friend.
A small gift for St John’s Day: a new hymn for our patron, inspired by the Beloved Disciple and shaped by the familiar strains of St Columba and Ballerma. Continue reading
-
Child. Cross. Crown.
Lately I’ve been trying to write some hymns. It turns out that finding the right words for what the heart already knows is its own kind of prayer. Some days the lines arrive like old friends; other days they hide behind the kettle, waiting for me to stop trying so hard. Still, there’s something hopeful Continue reading
-
Hush. Hearth. Wonder.
✨ Christmas Day gathers us in church and home, around tables and stories where rhyme becomes its own kind of prayer. I’ve written a new Christmas carol — not for melody, but for the way words can hold family, food, faith, and the Saviour’s quiet nearness. A small song in rhyme for a day full… Continue reading
-
Dawn. Light. Rising.
A quiet reflection from the organ bench on the day when light begins to return. Continue reading
NeuroDivine 