God’s little island Ireland, Lord, Your little emerald isle, has had faith in You since St Patrick lit the fire on Tara, a fire of divine love. On the hills minding sheep he prayed to You hundreds of times, by day and by night, in snow and rain, hail, sunshine… he prayed. He knew…
Mark Patrick Hederman explores the life and legacy of the Jesuit scientist/theologian In a nutshell I would describe him as ‘a mystic in a mouse trap.’ I would rank him with Gerard Manley Hopkins [also a Jesuit] as a poet who has left us with several beautiful thought-provoking images: treatises on the Eucharist, on the…
Marcus Harmes and Meredith Harmes Nuns are a staple of pop culture. Think of The Sound of Music (1965), Sister Act (1992), The Nun’s Story (1959), The Bells of St Mary’s (1945), Heaven Knows Mr. Allison (1957) and Black Narcissus (1947). Last year brought us The Nun II (following 2018’s The Nun), The New Boy, Deliver…
The Magi’s path invites all pilgrims of hope to look beyond earthly appearances, writes Fr Barry White We have entered the Holy Year of Jubilee 2025, inaugurated by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door. The theme, Pilgrims of Hope, invites reflection on hope’s transformative power in our lives. Hope…
Scott P. Richert My family never watched It’s a Wonderful Life when I was growing up. I saw it for the first time when I was around 30 years old, at a special Christmas. I found myself in tears at the end, and not because I had been emotionally manipulated. The film is a near-perfect…
Lord, I am sorry. My connection with You is not so good this morning. I got up late and my morning prayer was poor. I’m sub-standard as often before. Yet, somehow, You always help and redeem the day. You assist, You make the difference between good and bad days, between win and loss. What to…
Justin McLellan (CNS) Doubling down on the centrality of synodality in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said that it is now up to local churches to accept and implement proposals from the final document approved the Synod of Bishops on synodality. Approved by the Pope, the synod’s final document “participates in the ordinary magisterium…
The religion of Christ is love,” said St Teresa of Calcutta. Lord, we forget sometimes that love of You is the essence of our religion. It is the first and greatest of all commands… ‘To love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul mind and strength.’ This is why we are created,…
St Teresa of Avila said, ‘Prayer is friendly conversation with the One by whom I know I am loved.’ It is precious, this friendly conversation with You. To talk face to face with God. Are we qualified? We are poor and fragile. Are we good enough? I can’t even open my lips to pray unless…
The Solemnity of Christ the King, instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, emerged amid a post-war Europe facing political disruption, where ideologies like fascism, socialism, and communism were spreading, challenging traditional structures and values. This feast was intended to reaffirm the kingship of Christ as an authority above all worldly powers, reminding the faithful…