You may want to sit down for this.
From a Catholic perspective, it was most gratifying to observe that Maeve Binchy died with the great satisfaction of a Catholic requiem mass.
Maeve frequently and enthusiastically, not least in her interviews with Gay Byrne, declared her lack of interest in religion, and Catholicism in particular.
Indeed, perhaps the best known practitioner of a ‘double life’ was the anti-Catholic philosopher, Voltaire.
While excoriating the Catholic Church in public, in private Voltaire sought the comfort of his pastor, and of the Catholic sacraments, with gusto.
The good news is that a death-bed conversion is as good as any. So welcome home Maeve, and may you rest in peace.
Eric Conway
Navan
Co Meath
Maeve Binchy Is ‘Home’ (Irish Examiner Letters)
(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)
