St Luke paints the first icon of the Theotokos
Normally, the Sunday after Christmas is the feast of the Holy Family but, this year, it is superceded by the Feast of Mary, Mother of...
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- Dec 21, 2022
- 3 min
CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS
There are so many wonderful things one could say about this feast but perhaps today we could just reflect on the words of the opening...
- Dec 14, 2022
- 3 min
The O Antiphons.
This coming week, beginning on Saturday, the Church uses the great 'O' antiphons, which address the coming Jesus by ancient titles; O...
- Dec 8, 2022
- 3 min
Californian Superbloom.
In California, when rains fall after long periods of drought, they experience a 'superbloom', when hillsides, normally brown and barren,...
- Dec 1, 2022
- 3 min
I am a voice crying in the wilderness; Smithsonian Institute.
Very often the wilderness is portrayed as a barren, deserted place but it wasn't always. For the Hebrews, it was 'midbar'; the place...
- Nov 24, 2022
- 3 min
A light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
This time of the year is one when many religions and cultures celebrate light; the 'sol invictus' (unconquered sun) of the Romans. But...
- Nov 16, 2022
- 4 min
Tympanum of Christ the King, Westminster Cathedral
This last Sunday of the Church's year is dedicated to the Universal Kingship of Christ; a reminder to us that, as the Easter Vigil says,...
- Nov 10, 2022
- 3 min
Poppies
As we enter the last weeks of the Church's year, the readings focus more on 'the Four Last Things', as they used to be called: death,...
- Nov 3, 2022
- 3 min
Communion of Saints (including Anthony of Padua and Martha) Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles: Ju
In this month of November, we remember, in a special way, all our beloved departed: the canonised saints, the holy one we ourselves have...
- Oct 27, 2022
- 3 min
Communion of Saints (including Vincent de Paul, Elizabeth Anne Seton and Louise de Marillac) Our La
This coming week includes the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls - as Sunday's second reading tells us 'we shall all be gathered round...
- Oct 21, 2022
- 3 min
Christ in the Breadline: Fritz Eichenberg
'God is no respecter of personnages' - from Sunday's first reading - does not mean that God does not respect or care for us - it means...
- Oct 13, 2022
- 3 min
Victory O Lord (detail): John Everett Millais
The first reading, which is a bit gruesome, shows Moses in his old age. He needs the help of Aaron and Hur to keep his hands supported in...
- Oct 6, 2022
- 4 min
The call of the shofar on Yom Kippur.
Around this time our Jewish neighbours are marking Yom Kippur; the day of atonement. It is a day on which people are encouraged to put...
- Oct 3, 2022
- 3 min
Fan into a flame the gift that God gave you.
'Fan into a flame the gift that God gave you'; both St Paul to Timothy and Jesus to his disciples, remind us of the power of faith - a...
- Sep 22, 2022
- 3 min
Icon of the Prophet Amos
Anyone who remembers 'Joseph and The Amazing Techni-colour Dreamcoat' will remember that 'Reuben was the eldest of the children of...
- Sep 9, 2022
- 3 min
May her Majesty's soul rest in peace
24th Sunday In Ordinary Time Year C In the Gospel we can see the message of the mercy and compassion of God for those who repent of...
- Aug 5, 2022
- 2 min
'Be not afraid'.
The most frequently repeated phrase of Jesus in the Gospels is 'Be not afraid'; this Sunday it is rendered as 'There is no need to be...
- Jul 27, 2022
- 2 min
Habel habalim.
'Vanity of vanities' says the Preacher and, in the Gospel, Jesus warns against relying on wealth and possessions. Hebel (or Havel), the...
- Jul 21, 2022
- 3 min
Ask, Seek, Knock.
As you know, for the past three weeks, I attended our General Assembly in Rome. There, Vincentians met from all over the world to reflect...
- Jul 16, 2022
- 2 min
Lord do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do all the serving myself?
Martha did all the serving to Jesus and at one point, she requested for help from her sister Mary. Mary was listening to Jesus at that...
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