Also known as St Edith Stein, this Carmelite nun was martyred in Auschwitz in 1942. In her monastery, she was often asked to contribute talks to the nuns, and she also wrote some outstanding poetry. Here is a verse from one of her poems, ‘A Pentecost Novena’, addressed to the Holy Spirit: ‘Are […]
Today we greet especially our Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia, in Nashville, Tennessee, who have been our good friends for many years and who have given us invaluable assistance over the years in terms of our spiritual journey into the Church. Here in England, we have the Dominican Priory and Church of Blackfriars in […]
There is an old feast of the Holy Name of Jesus on this day. Here are a few lines from St Bernard’s hymn ‘Jesu dulcis memoria’, traditional for this day, in the translation of Fr Edward Caswall, Cong. Orat: ‘Jesus, the very thought of Thee / With sweetness fills the breast! / Yet sweeter […]
All three Synoptic Gospels tell of the Transfiguration, and here for the Year of Luke is part of his account: ‘Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was […]
The squirrel that you see below looks for all the world as if it were wielding a camera … but not so! It was merely enjoying the extra ‘treats’ coming from the freshly cut grass …! The Old Testament reading today is from the Book of Numbers, and here are a few verses: ‘Now […]
Here are some words from our New Testament reading today: ‘If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is […]
St Bernard, the Cistercian who had a great devotion to the Mother of God, said this: ‘Let her be ever on thy lips, ever in thy heart; and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life. Following her, thou strayest not; invoking her, thou despairest not; thinking of […]
St Peter Julian Eymard, a nineteenth century French priest, had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and in fact founded two religious congregations dedicated to that great mystery of faith. He said: ‘Have a great love for Jesus in his divine Sacrament of Love; that is the divine oasis of the desert. It is […]
Here once again for the Optional Memoria of Our Lady are a few lines from St Bernard, which you may like to make your own in prayer: ‘In dangers, in hardships, in every doubt, think of Mary, call out to Mary. Keep her in your mouth, keep her in your heart. Follow the example of […]
Jesus said, ‘When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you’. These words are […]