In the Archdiocese of Birmingham, today is kept as the feast of St Birinus, seventh century bishop who established his see at Dorchester on Thames. He is mentioned by Bede in his ‘Ecclesiastical History’: ‘The two kings [Cynegils and Oswald] gave to the bishop the city called Dorcic, there to settle his episcopal see; where […]
St John Damascene was a monk of the monastery of Mar Saba, near Jerusalem. Pope Benedict XVI said of him in 2009: ‘Today I should like to speak about John Damascene, a personage of prime importance in the history of Byzantine Theology, a great Doctor in the history of the Universal Church. Above all he […]
On this day the Church looks to the Far East, remembering this great saint who evangelised in India, Japan, and other places in that vast region. We remember too the many who have suffered for the Faith there. For more than 200 years, Japanese Catholics survived without priests, or any of the sacraments except baptism. […]
‘In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. … Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire […]
‘Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting light; Jesu, Redeemer, save us all, and hear Thy servants when they call’. These are the opening lines of the hymn that is sung at Vespers each day during this holy season. Advent, in the deep darkness of the northern hemisphere, is a time of stars […]
Today’s saint is, as we know, the patron saint of Scotland, and so we pray for the people of Scotland. We also remember the brethren of Pluscarden Abbey, in Elgin, who had the great joy of welcoming the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux recently on their visit to that land. St Andrew is known […]
From today’s Old Testament reading, from the Book of Daniel: ‘As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire […]
Our Old Testament readings at this time are from the book of Daniel, and today’s extract describes the deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den. King Darius had not wanted to send Daniel in there, but had had to bow to the persuasions of his officials. First thing the next morning, he went to the […]
One of the last roses of the season is shown below, its beauty standing out against the shades of autumn. In our spiritual lives there are also seasons, of springtime, of bright summer, the muted colours of autumn, and the monochrome of winter. But in all these seasons of the spirit, our Lord is present, […]
Small birds are making the most of the autumn harvest of berries, and this little blue tit (pictured below) is no exception. God’s little ones – this, in reality, is all of us. St Thérèse of Lisieux taught us so much of this Little Way; and she said her Way was and is sure, and […]