It is surely no accident that the Sunday when the whole Church begins to turn towards the Passion, we also consecrate ourselves afresh to the Virgin Mother of God as her Dowry. She it was who stood closest to Our Lord, who caught each of the Seven Words as they were uttered. In this time […]
Here is our Old Testament reading, from Jeremiah: ‘The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then thou didst show me their evil deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, […]
Here is part of our Old Testament reading, from the Book of Wisdom; ‘“Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.” Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor […]
As our churches are closed, and all possibility of praying in them is removed, let us remember that it is possible for us to go in spirit before the Blessed Sacrament, to adore our Lord and to ‘console the Hidden Jesus’, in the words of the child saint of Fatima, Francisco Marto. There our Lord […]
Fra Angelico’s depiction of the Annunciation is breathtaking in its simplicity – spare lines, muted palette – all serving to focus our minds and hearts on the mystery that is celebrated today. Today, the Word became flesh – and today we see his glory, shown forth in the little, humble one who is Mary. May […]
Wherever you may be who read this, know that your suffering is held in prayer to our Lord. Here is the last verse of our Old Testament reading. It comes from Ezekiel: ‘And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither […]
From our Old Testament reading, from Isaiah: ‘For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy’. Let us […]
Fifteen years ago, Pope (now Saint) John Paul II made a brief appearance at the window of the tenth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic. It was the Fourth Sunday of Lent, and not long before his death. He said: ‘Together let us continue our preparation for Easter, offering our sufferings to God for the good […]
St Gregory the Great describes the Passing of St Benedict in this way: ‘Six days before his departure he caused his grave to be opened, and immediately after he fell into a fever, by the violence whereof his strength began to wax faint, and the infirmity daily increasing, the sixth day he caused his disciples […]
From our Old Testament reading, from Hosea: ‘I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, he shall strike root as the poplar; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and […]