Madam, - Michael Hull's heart-warming tale of Father Rory helping him through troubled times in Lourdes (September 18th) was a joy to read. However, Mr Hull asserts that he was fortunate "to encounter a real-life angel".
In terms of evolutionary biology and psychology, this behaviour is known as reciprocal altruism, in which one organism provides a benefit to another without expecting any immediate pay-off or compensation. This type of behaviour is genetic, as our early ancestors would have helped each other to survive, thus ensuring the continuation of their genes, and therefore, our species.
As such, Father Rory was simply being human; nothing to do with angels or saints. - Yours, etc,
GARY J. BYRNE,
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Achill House,
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