Sir, – RTÉ is to be congratulated for including in its schedule a new series of DIY programmes aired each evening at 6pm.Very soon I will be able to play with sand, make bread, trim hedges, work with metal, bind books, and so on. The starting time of the programmes will be announced by the ringing of a bell. – Yours, etc,
MICK HANNON,
Clones,
Co Monaghan.
Sir, – I’ve grown up with the Angelus and I’d like to grow old, but not grumpy, with it. I’m not a member of the majority religion of the country and not too old, more middle aged, and so some might pigeon-hole me as a natural opponent of the Angelus.
But even before I’d ever heard of mindfulness, I loved that the Angelus served to remind me to pause. On short journeys with the children, I always turn off the radio to just chat. On long journeys, of which we have many, I often leave the radio on. With four children in the car, things can get wound up at times and I am always grateful for the Angelus to call us all momentarily to silence, to pray or not, according to our own wishes. The mood in the car always improves after it.
Perhaps the Angelus needs to be rebranded as a call to mindfulness. With the increasingly manic pace with which people lead their lives and with all the proven benefits that go with mindfulness practice, there may even, in time, be a call for more calls to pause and take a moment.
I wonder what would happen if those currently against the Angelus were to try seeing it as a call for a few moments to pause in their lives and just be. Imagine if they saw it as a chance to allow their busy minds to be quiet, and maybe just focus on some slow, deep breaths. It could have some positive results on their wellbeing and even their blood pressure. – Yours, etc,
VANESSA PEARSE,
Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Sir, – You can say the Angelus if you want, but keep your pause to yourself! –Yours, etc,
DONAL MOORE,
Ferrybank,
Co Waterford.