This fourth century saint is sometimes known as the ‘Athanasius of the West’ for his robust defence of the Faith against the Arian heresy. Pope Benedict XVI, in summarising Hilary’s teaching, says: ‘Hilary found the starting point for his theological reflection in baptismal faith’. He concludes his reflection on the teaching of St Hilary with […]
On this day, the Orthodox Church sings: ‘When You, O Lord were baptised in the Jordan – The worship of the Trinity was made manifest – For the voice of the Father bore witness to You – And called You His beloved Son. – And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, – Confirmed […]
Here is part of St Aelred’s Pastoral Prayer, from the section in which he prays for those over whom he is set. It could be prayed by anyone, for all of us have responsibility for someone: ‘Hear me yet further, God most merciful, for those for whom I am compelled and drawn to pray to […]
The bird in the image below is almost, but not quite, camouflaged among the greenery as it moves rapidly to find its food. A streak of fire across its tiny head betrays its presence … Here is a quote from the Cappadocian Father whom we celebrate today: ‘Hope always draws the soul from the beauty […]
Today’s Gospel reading gives us Our Lord teaching in the synagogue at Nazareth, where He quotes this passage from Isaiah: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to […]
From today’s New Testament reading: ‘Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us’. St Thérèse of Lisieux, in her extended catechesis on Love, her poem ‘Vivre d’Amour’, wrote: ‘Living […]
Honesty … as per the image below! These plants grow in our garden. It would seem that while the Latin name is ‘Lunaria’, referring to the moon-like shape, the English name ‘Honesty’, which arose in about the 16th century, refers to the translucency of the seedpods. The light shines through … May God’s light also […]
Often, the Eucharistic Prefaces contain beautiful theology. The Epiphany Preface is one such example: ‘Today you have revealed the mystery of our salvation in Christ as a light for the nations, and, when he appeared in our mortal nature, you made us new by the glory of his immortal nature’. As the Christmas Season moves […]
The classic Magnificat Antiphon for the Solemnity gives us the spiritual meaning of the gifts brought by the Magi: ‘Gold, as to a mighty Monarch, incense as to the true God, and myrrh to foreshadow His burial’. This Feast draws us into Adoration with the Magi. May we too bow low in our hearts before […]
From our New Testament reading today, from the First Letter of John: ‘Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love’. St Augustine wrote: ‘For God is love. What more […]