Category: Fr John’s – Most Popular
-
Praying (2)
Today’s readings at mass have “Prayer” as their main theme. Do you pray for or about, in praise and thanksgiving or asking, with hope or hardly thinking about what you say? The Cure of Ars (St John Vianney) said that he thought people prayed as though they were throwing a few crumbs in God’s direction…
-
Praying (1)
It has been a week for sitting down, moving on, going forward, taking stock and of incredible and absolutely incredible everyday events like rain, scoring a goal, winning a tennis match. Quite an ordinary week, really. This coming week you must hit the ground running, especially getting out of bed, put on a face, get…
-
Looking Inside
Whatever we hope and plan for includes human nature – likings and loathings, loves and hatreds, loyalties and betrayals. We are watching it happen as the first fruits of Brexit. But it was all there before, simply hidden.
-
Grumblers and Criticisers
I used to notice that grownups’ conversations were full of grumbles and criticisms. That’s how it was. They saw so much that was wrong about people and about the world. Then someone would say “We should count our blessings” and they all agreed – but nobody ever did!
-
Joy of Love
Conscience is paramount in moral decisions. The Church is called to form consciences, not to replace them. We are personally responsible for our decisions.
-
Easter Faith
“Is there is a moment in life where you would choose to be? It might be on that first Easter Sunday, in the Garden, with Mary Magdalen. What a joy to see his hands – with the wounds still in them – touching us out of love.” (Cardinal Basil Hume)
-
First Holy Week
MONDAY Judas agreed with the Jewish authorities to betray Jesus, knowing Jesus would go to the Garden of Gethsemane after the Paschal Meal (The Last Supper). TUESDAY: …
-
World War II And The Catholic Church
They had all been Catholics (don’t say “once a Catholic, always a Catholic” – it isn’t true). That is part of the horror of the collective memory of the Catholic Church in Germany: that “the Final Solution (extermination of the Jews)” and the conquest of Europe and, perhaps, eventually, the whole world, was directed by…