Today’s Old Testament reading is from the Book of Wisdom, and gives us an insight into King Solomon’s high regard for the gift of Holy Wisdom: ‘Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to sceptres and thrones, and I […]
St John Henry Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September 2010, in Birmingham, and canonised by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019. Here is part of his short article on ‘A Short Road to Perfection’, written on September 27, 1856: ‘He, then, is perfect who does the work of the day perfectly, and […]
These words conclude our Old Testament reading for today, from the prophet Joel: ‘“Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart” …’ Conversion of life is one of the cornerstones of Benedictine spirituality. It means that, at all times and in all circumstances, our whole being should be turned towards the Lord, […]
Pope St John Paul II said in 2002: ‘The Rosary of the Virgin Mary, which gradually took form in the second millennium under the guidance of the Spirit of God, is a prayer loved by countless Saints and encouraged by the Magisterium. Simple yet profound, it still remains, at the dawn of this third millennium, […]
This eleventh century saint founded the Carthusian Order at La Grande Chartreuse, an Order that still flourishes today. It is based on solitude, lived in community, inspired by the fourth century hermit communities of the Holy Land. In this country, the Carthusians are to be found today at Parkminster, in Sussex. Their statutes explain their […]
This great saint and Apostle of Divine Mercy died in Poland in 1938. She said: ‘I will not allow myself to be so absorbed in the whirlwind of work as to forget about God. I will spend all my free moments at the feet of the Master hidden in the Blessed Sacrament’. This is good […]
Here is a prayer of St Francis: ‘Most High glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, sure hope and perfect charity. Fill me with understanding and knowledge that I may fulfil your command’. St Francis is also well known for his commitment to peace. May he pray for us this […]
Here is part of today’s Gospel reading, from St Mark: ‘And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of […]
Some words from the book of Exodus: ‘Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and hearken to his voice’. And our Lord Himself: ‘See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for […]
As is well known, St Thérèse’s full name was Sr Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. She wrote this prayer: ‘O Jesus, Whose adorable Face ravishes my heart, I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy Divine Image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may […]