Fr John is Vocations Director in the Diocese of Cloyne.
In this fourth article on Knock, we focus on the Cross in the background of the vision. The silence of the apparition encompasses the Cross. On Good Friday, after Jesus died on the Cross we read in the Gospel “there was a great darkness over all the land” (Luke 23:44). There is silence; there are…
We continue our series on the Knock apparition. Having reflected on the elements of silence, the Lamb of God, and the Cross in the vision, we now turn to the person of Our Lady. From a Marian perspective, the Knock apparition stands out on its own compared to others such as Lourdes, Fatima, or Guadalupe.…
In the two previous articles, we considered Knock as a uniquely silent apparition. We saw firstly the importance of silence as a necessary preparation to ponder and reflect. We focused on the absolute silence of The Lamb of God. But there is a third reason for the silence of the vision before us. Silence accompanies…
In this second article of the series on the Knock apparition we focus on the most important Person of the vision– the Son of God – the ‘Lamb of God.’ Jesus appeared then as He is now seen face-to-face in heaven. Last time we referenced the silent aspect of the Knock Apparition as a striking…
The Gospel this Sunday is one of the most well-known, the Good Samaritan. We know full well that two out of three failed the test of coming to the aid of their neighbour in need. It is a damming statistic, but what makes it even worse is that these men were professional religious and going about…
When two companions or close friends part company, they promise each other to stay in touch with each other. How is it possible to keep this bond of friendship alive, when they are physically separated? Like anyone else, who is close to us who is preparing to leave while packing, doing those last little jobs…
It is with the astonished joy of the resurrection in the season of Easter that we welcome a new Pope. We continue to mourn the loss of Pope Francis whose extensive ministry through presence, preaching, teaching and writing can now be absorbed and take on new light. Just as the words of Christ we read…
Jesus said: “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice.” We’re exhausted – as individuals and as a society. Stress, anxiety, overwork and overwhelm are everywhere. Speaking to those in the medical profession lately I was told that these are the most common complaints leading to exhaustion and sick leave. As a friend…
Acts 5:12-16 Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 Rv 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 Jn 20:19-31 God is so incredibly merciful – we simply cannot fathom Divine mercy. But the main lesson of today is that hopefully as we begin to understand it – that we also begin to forgive as God forgives. For a little while St Thomas…
The dramatic Passion according to St Luke is proclaimed at all Masses throughout the Christian world today. In a sense you could say that in our physical standing for the Gospel we stand FOR Christ when so many fell away, and we stand with those who suffer this day in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria and elsewhere.…