Lent starts next week and the question is, are the health benefits of 40 days of abstinence worth considering, we'll hear from Professor Donal O'Shea.

This morning on Sunday Spirit, on the eve of St.Brigid's Day, Dolores Whelan talks about Brigid of Faughart, saint and goddess.

This morning we hear from Fergus Quinlan an architect who drafted his thoughts on reason and philosophy while on a 40,000 mile voyage that started in Bellharbour County Clare.

Dr.Eddie Deevey talks of his time in 1960s America and we hear of a Belfast conference that seeks to explore the events of 1916 the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme.

We hear from Archbishop John McAreavey who is in Gaza as part of the Holy Land Co-ordination Group. Theologian Angela Hanley on A La Carte Catholics and Poet and writer John F. Deane talks about his early life and his book, Give Dust a Tongue.

Valerie Cox tells of working with refugees on Kos, Dr Robert Hensey on Brú na Bóinne ahead of the solstice and Baz Ashmawy talks about his search for the faith of his father.

On this mornings programme, philosopher Mark Dooley on home, memory and personal identity in the cyber age and Mary Burke from Crystal Swing on the power of prayer in her life.

Today, Frank Kelly on his faith and his famous role as Fr.Jack Hackett in the comedy, Father Ted. Plus, Doris McCann and Fardus Sultan talk about Sisters of Faith for Peace.

This morning an extended interview with Carol Ann Milton, author of The Coldest Night and suicide prevention activist and there's a report on faith at the Web Summit 2015.

Actress and author Mary McEvoy talks about her book 'Ordinary Beauty - Meaningful Moments in Everyday Life'. Plus Wendy Grace talks about the 2015 Synod of the Family.