Latest news with #Indulgence
Irish Times
01-08-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Rites and Wrongs: Examining the rise and fall of the ‘Portiuncula Indulgence'
As recently as yesterday, if you'd asked me where that strange-sounding hospital in Ballinasloe – Portiuncula – got its name, I'd have guessed it came from the townland in Galway on which it was built. That in turn might have derived from the Irish 'port', meaning bank or shore. The rest could have been a corrupted anglicisation for 'of the' something. I now realise, very belatedly, that the name is in fact a corruption of the Italian Porziuncola , which means 'small portion'. You could therefore ask for a porziuncola of pizza, I suppose. But the Porziuncola with a capital P is a church in Assisi, scene of a pivotal moment in the life of Saint Francis. Hence the Portiuncula Indulgence, as it's known in English-speaking countries: a centuries-old phenomenon that once a year, at the start of August, promises remission of sins (or at least of suffering caused by sin) to believing Catholics. The original 'Pardon of Assisi' is said to have been granted to the saint himself in 1216 during a vision in a tiny chapel he had just restored. At first, pilgrims emulating him were expected to visit this 'Porziuncola' in person. READ MORE Then the indulgence was delegated to other places and eventually to all Franciscan churches worldwide, although in Ireland , by tradition, there is a special status attached to Multyfarnham Friary in Co Westmeath . Alas, this was the indirect cause of a tragic event in the early hours of August 2nd, 1944 Supplicants can ask for themselves or for souls in purgatory. Either way, they must pray at a Franciscan church between noon on August 1st and midnight on August 2nd. Other terms and conditions apply. The seventh centenary of the saint's vision coincided in Ireland with the fateful year 1916. Then, Pope Benedict XV announced a special extension whereby the indulgence would be available at the Porziuncola for 12 months, from August 1st, 1916 to August 2nd, 1917. Many Irish pilgrims made the trip. But the cult was popular here well into the middle decades of last century, when CIE used to lay on special buses to the main sites and when midnight masses were celebrated to mark the occasion. Alas, this was the indirect cause of a tragic event in the early hours of August 2nd, 1944. Two young Westmeath men, Thomas Carroll (19) and Daniel Tighe (20), had walked six miles to Multyfarnham for midnight mass. Then they set out for home again until, overcome with tiredness, they sat down on a railway line and fell asleep. They were still asleep, an inquest later heard, when either the 6.15am or 7.20am train passed. Carroll was the luckier one. He died instantly. Poor Tighe lived long enough to tell his father he couldn't remember what had happened. *** As always, reading such cases, you wonder if there was drink involved. Elsewhere in newspaper archives, from 100 years ago, I find that an announcement about the 1925 Portiuncula Indulgence (by direction of the Pope it could be used only for souls in Purgatory) was juxtaposed with a dire warning from the Bishop of Derry. Although that was a designated 'Holy Year', the bishop was worried about unholy practices associated with 'dances in country districts'. In some cases, he said, these were 'disgraceful carousals, in which the very worst passions of human nature are inflamed by the use of that poisonous drug known as poteen'. Dances aside, even ostensibly religious rituals at this time of year in Ireland could have pagan undertones. Hence, for example, 'Lady Day' (August 15th), about which Patrick Kavanagh wrote. So named for the Feast of the Assumption, it used to involve pilgrimages to holy wells, especially those associated with female saints. At its height, the event was more popular in northern parts of Ireland, including the Monaghan of Kavanagh's childhood, where it was 'greater even than St Patrick's Day'. In his memoir, The Green Fool, he described the annual outing to a Lady Well near Dundalk. This was typical of the aristocratic Frenchman, who elsewhere was pained to see pretty girls at such ceremonies kissing 'ugly stones' rather than him Even then, the observance had been abandoned by more sophisticated locals. And the clergy boycotted too, doubting there was anything holy about it: 'They said it was a pagan well from which the old Fianians (sic) drank in the savage heroic days. The peasant folk didn't mind the priests. They believed that Saint Brigid washed her feet in it.' Either way, the occasion was not always dominated by piety: 'There was a rowdy element too, pegging clods at the prayers and shouting. A few knots of men were arguing politics. I overheard two fellows making a deal over a horse.' In another August, 150 years earlier, the French tourist Chevalier De Latocnaye visited a Franciscan friary and nearby holy well in Kerry and found himself distracted by the sight of female pilgrims performing rituals with their clothes 'tucked up . . . on their bare knees'. This was typical of the aristocratic Frenchman, who elsewhere was pained to see pretty girls at such ceremonies kissing 'ugly stones' rather than him. But even the superficially pious local men may have had similar thoughts. When De Latocnaye asked one why he took part in such superstitions, 'all he could say was 'to do what others do and to see the women''.
Associated Press
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
JDV Lifestyle Group Celebrates 5 Years of Cultural Excellence with Two Signature Events: Indulgence and JDV Polo Classic
From curated culinary experiences to luxury sport, JDV's milestone anniversary weekend promises style, substance, and storytelling 'With Indulgence and the Polo Classic, we're showing what the next five years will look like, intentional, impactful, and unapologetically excellent.'— Marlon Bolasingh, COO and Managing Partner of JDV Lifestyle Group NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, July 4, 2025 / / -- This summer, the JDV Lifestyle Group commemorates five years of innovation and impact in the luxury lifestyle space with two hallmark events that embody the brand's ethos of culture, community, and curation. As part of its anniversary celebration, JDV presents Indulgence: A JDV Culinary Experience on Thursday, July 17, in New York City, followed by the JDV Polo Classic on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the Greenwich Polo Club in Connecticut. Together, these two events represent JDV's commitment to excellence, not just in experience but in purpose. A Taste of Artistry – Indulgence: A JDV Culinary Experience: Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Location: Lavan 541 Chelsea, New York City Indulgence is more than a dinner—it's a curated, multi-sensory journey that invites guests to explore culture through cuisine. Featuring six dynamic chefs and an ensemble of mixologists and performers, this one-night-only event celebrates the power of storytelling through food, flavor, and artistic expression. The featured chefs include: - Shorne Benjamin – Caribbean elegance with precision and flair - Javon Cummins – Award-winning, island-rooted culinary storyteller - Jerome Grant – James Beard nominee championing African-American heritage cuisine - Huda Mumin – Bold Southern flavors with global influence - Anya Peters – The boundary-pushing mind behind Kit an' Kin - Yessima of HAAM – Plant-based Caribbean cuisine redefined Guests will also enjoy thoughtfully crafted cocktails, surprise performances, and immersive moments throughout the night. A portion of proceeds supports mentorship and scholarship initiatives for youth from underrepresented communities. The JDV Polo Classic – Sophistication Meets Sport: Date: Sunday, July 20, 2025 Location: Greenwich Polo Club, Greenwich, CT Closing out the celebration weekend, the JDV Polo Classic returns as a high-style, high-energy summer tradition. Hosted at the prestigious Greenwich Polo Club, this luxury sporting and social affair offers an afternoon of elevated hospitality, Caribbean elegance, and fashionable flair. Guests can expect: - Premium field side lounges - Curated culinary offerings - Signature cocktails - Live entertainment - An unforgettable polo match Now in its third edition, the JDV Polo Classic is more than a match—it's a moment. One that brings together tastemakers, creatives, and changemakers in a vibrant celebration of culture and excellence. Five Years. One Vision. Countless Memories. 'What started as a bold idea is now a movement,' says Marlon Bolasingh, COO and Managing Partner of JDV Lifestyle Group. 'These five years have been about building community and celebrating culture. And with Indulgence and the Polo Classic, we're showing what the next five years will look like—intentional, impactful, and unapologetically excellent.' For tickets and full event details, visit: Marilyn Remo Tené Nicole Creative Agency +1 201-638-2685 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-04-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Media baron snares Sydney's most expensive home of the year
As status symbols go among Sydney's cashed-up Mandarin speakers, owning Indulgence magazine would have to rank as a fairly good one. The glossy quarterly is, after all, pitched as 'the only magazine designed exclusively for wealthy Chinese tourists, business travellers, professionals and high-net-worth individuals living in Australia'. What could be better? A trophy home, of course. And so it is that Linge Dai has rounded out his discretionary spending to include the $55 million beachfront house in Rose Bay sold by recycled shopping bag businessman Frank Qiang Geng and Juanjuan Zhao. Alas for Dai, the 62-year-old might have maintained a level of relative anonymity among Sydney's media proprietors if not for his purchase of recent months, revealed on publicly available title records and expected to settle later this year. Home owners juggling interest rates and cost-of-living expenses will be heartened to know the Rose Bay house is the highest sale price of the year, so far. Better yet, Dai can now put aside any need to renovate the doer-upper he bought a year ago for $24.5 million in Vaucluse. Loading Ximi Media, which bought Indulgence in 2021, is one of three subsidiaries of Ximi Group, all with their own worthy, but fairly impenetrable, descriptions. There's Ximi Fashion, which is billed 'an affordable luxury fashion brand bringing creative ideas of different independent designers'. Then there's Ximi Education, which 'focuses on the integration of creativity, experimentation, innovation, critical thinking and risk-taking, with an open and innovative attitude, to provide a diverse and international art and design educational environment for the young generation'. Whatever that means. Meanwhile, Geng and Zhao won't be left without shelter. They're off to Point Piper where a year ago they agreed to pay about $82 million for the Rockleigh mansion owned by medical specialist Philippa Harvey-Sutton.
