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Joe Travers

Papal Nuncio launches range of religious tiles (yes, tiles) with mystique

They’re not for Garda stations.

THEY DON’T INDICATE Garda stations. That’s the first thing you need to know about the new tiles launched by the Papal Nuncio today.

Archbishop Charles Brown was in Galway today to launch the new range of blue tiles, which are associated with devotion to the Name of Jesus.

What exactly are these tiles?

The custom of placing an IHS monogram of the name of Jesus over the door of houses was popularised by St Bernardine of Siena in the fifteenth century.

Poor Clare Abbess, Sr Colette explained more:

There’s always been a kind of mystique surrounding the blue tiles and also some peculiar theories as to what they meant. This is a good chance to affirm that they do not indicate Garda stations!

This year, the Franciscans and Poor Clares in Ireland are among those marking the centenary of “a new wave of this devotion” which was started by an Irish Franciscan in 1914.

The tiles are supposed to encourage people “to practice Christian charity and to be peacemakers”, and “invok[e] God’s protection” on those in the house.

Franciscan Fr Francis Cotter said that the Holy Name tiles are a subject of interest “not only from a religious point of view, but also from the perspective of local heritage and social history”.

There’s a catalogue of the tiles available through the new website, www.holyname.ie, and the tiles are available from Bothar Emmaus Christian Bookshop in Galway, and soon through the website.

Read: New Papal Nuncio among new ambassadors accredited today>

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32 Comments
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    Mute Derek Byrne
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    May 20th 2014, 11:10 PM

    Jayziz. I genuinely thought that was a picture from Fr Ted.
    Seriously.

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    Mute Alexoz
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    May 21st 2014, 12:15 AM

    ….” Father Jack said God doesn’t exist…”

    14
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    Mute SinAssist
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    May 21st 2014, 1:14 AM

    Ted said you were touchin’m!!

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    Mute Stephen Murphy
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    May 21st 2014, 5:01 PM

    Off the wall, type of stuff and what next? Jesus dolls for kids?

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    Mute Murph11
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    May 20th 2014, 10:59 PM

    The tiles must be savage, he already p p p picked up a penguin

    34
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    Mute HelaLaw
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    May 20th 2014, 11:16 PM

    The poor nun being blocked by ur ones sleeve!!

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    Mute Sheldon Sheridan
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    May 20th 2014, 10:57 PM

    No thanks!

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    Mute Deborah Gillespie
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    May 21st 2014, 12:43 AM

    I read it wrong and thought it said Paulo Nutini!!

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    Mute Paddy Hannigan
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    May 21st 2014, 1:45 AM

    Me too.

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    Mute Startled Sapien
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    May 21st 2014, 3:51 AM

    Me three.

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    Mute walter white
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    May 21st 2014, 4:59 AM

    hahaha same as

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    Mute David Cagney
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    May 21st 2014, 8:36 AM

    Debbie don’t be hasty.

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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    May 21st 2014, 10:20 AM

    The latest in MERCHANDISING from the church …..I can see it all now ……And we thought “behold the Holy Handgrenade” in the Life Of Brian was bad …. I like Jesus … Jesus Navas … He’s not the messiah , he’s jus a very very speedy boy ….

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    Mute That's all folk's
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    May 20th 2014, 11:46 PM

    Blue tiles. Are they for real. More like tiles of Shame they should be
    Hanging over their doors and doing penance forever more.

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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    May 20th 2014, 11:01 PM

    Where is his hi-vis jacket and safety boots not forgetting his helmet ?

    22
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    Mute walter white
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    May 21st 2014, 4:58 AM

    the nuns would cushion the fall

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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    May 20th 2014, 11:38 PM

    The IHS sun worship symbolism from the so called Pagan sun worship days. Same in the monstrance on the Altar/Alter stone in the churches built in the shape of the female reproductive organs.
    The blue being the energy from source.
    As for protection, was this not the job of the Sheelagh Na Gighes?

    Holy names = whole names.Complete in male and fe+male energies.

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    Mute Ross Casey
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    May 21st 2014, 1:16 AM

    What nonsensical drivel is this linking with paganism?
    Typical when there’s a religious article.

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    Mute Stiofán De Priondárgas
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    May 21st 2014, 1:11 PM

    Ah Ross most of Today’s Christian sites were pagan worship sites, croagh Patrick being a prime example, And many holy wells across the county. It was an easy way to convert pagans to Christians at the time as they could relate to the sites.

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    Mute Seosamh Mac Cárthaigh
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    May 20th 2014, 11:34 PM

    I’ve had a look at the website and I can’t find the bit where I can purchase holytiles. I often saw then above front doors in Galway City, and (yes, I know – to my shame) coveted them. Is there a link I missed?

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    Mute Frank
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    May 21st 2014, 12:31 AM

    IHS doesn’t mean “Jesus”.

    It is the symbol of the Order of Jesuits and it is thought to represent “Isis Horus and Seb” . http://www.whale.to/c/isisho29.jpg

    Spell IHS backward and include the cross on top as the last letter…. http://s29.postimg.org/go0kjg7p3/Ihs.jpg

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    Mute Ross Casey
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    May 21st 2014, 1:18 AM

    Disgraceful and insulting comment.

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    Mute Frank
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    May 21st 2014, 1:44 AM

    Nothing can be more disgraceful and insulting than the Roman Catholic Church.

    There is no mention of the letter IHS in the Bible.

    IHS as an abbreviation to Jesus is just as insulting as abbreviating the word Christmas to XMAS.

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    Mute Ross Casey
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    May 21st 2014, 6:45 AM

    You would be entirely wrong there.

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    Mute Frank
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    May 21st 2014, 8:48 AM

    No…. When Jesus Broke Bread and wine with his disciples he said….

    “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. …

    A simple offering of breaking a piece off household bread and spreading it among the disciples as a memorance in what our lord did by his suffering on the cross…

    There is absolutely no mention of a precision unbroken round Wafer “God” inscribed with the letters IHS in the Bible….

    People need to dig deeper about the sinister meaning of this Sun God worship. Round Wafer, Sunburst …..Held in the air. The Roman Catholic Church even admits the Monstrance to be a sunburst:… so to conclude ………….. If it looks like a duck….

    “”And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded” Deuteronomy 17:3

    http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/monstr.htm

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    Mute Keith Wizzy
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    May 20th 2014, 11:08 PM

    Frisbees :)

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    Mute James Delaney
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    May 21st 2014, 12:13 AM

    I think the Laity in Ireland, have done enough TOILING for the RC Church.

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    Mute walter white
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    May 21st 2014, 4:56 AM

    Oh I only came on this page because i thought it was paolo nutini you were talking about … :(

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    Mute Adele Sheehan
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    May 21st 2014, 7:40 AM

    Lol. Me too. Couldn’t understand why he was doing holy tiles.

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    Mute Kev Mac Eochaidh
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    May 21st 2014, 8:31 AM

    More mystique in my cat.

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    Mute Michele Savage
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    May 21st 2014, 9:28 AM

    Wouldn’t it be a grand oul’ existence if there was nothing needing to be done but grin about a few oul tiles….. surreality encapsulated

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