Nowadays Christianity of the past is often criticised as having been opposed to the body; and it is quite true that tendencies of this sort have always existed. Yet the contemporary way of exalting the body is deceptive. Eros, reduced to pure ‘sex’, has become a commodity, a mere ‘thing’ to be bought and sold,…
Praying with God’s word will lead to the renewal of the Church, writes Stephen Binz The Bible is the “word of the Lord”: an inspired library of narrative, poetry, letters and literature that God has spoken to us, to benefit our lives. So why is it that many Catholics encounter Scripture only during the readings…
A few years ago, I started to pray using the Examen of St Ignatius Loyola. Everything changed for me. Prayer took on a new, refreshing character. I became an evangelist for the Examen. I buttonholed friends, wrote blog posts and a book, and recorded guided Examens on the Internet. I did everything I could to…
St Anthony of Padua On 13 June, the Church calls to mind one of its Doctors – St Anthony of Padua. This remarkable man, but a very ordinary one, too, in so many ways, is one of the most quickly canonised saints in the Church’s long history, with Pope Gregory IX canonising him less than…
Here before us are the relics of St Therese of the Child Jesus, universal patroness of missions. It is good that this happen while we are reflecting on the passion for evangelisation, on apostolic zeal. Today, then, let us allow the witness of St Therese to help us. She was born 150 years ago, and…
We all need to learn how to forgive and how to be reconciled in this imperfect world, writes Dr Joseph White Forgiveness is a thread that runs throughout the story of our faith. In the Garden of Eden, we see the frailty of human relationships, both with God and one another. Throughout our history, we…
Faith in film What’s a western doing on a Vatican film list? A genre that typically praises the triumph of individualism and a non-conformist Protestant culture might seem ‘anathema’. But Stetsons, stoic heroes, fantastic landscapes and engaging action have some Vatican sanction with its inclusion of the iconic western Stagecoach (1939) on a 1995 list…
Saint of the week One of the host of remarkable men the early Church offers up is St Ephrem the Syrian, who is now known far and wide for his remarkable hymns and poems that offer us a profound glimpse into the Divine. Probably born in the year 306 in the city of Nisibis (modern-day…
Deacon Frank Browne In my local parish we are preparing for the feast of Corpus Christi, when we plan to involve all the children who made their Holy Communion recently. But what does it mean for us when we receive Holy Communion at Mass or venerate the Blessed Sacrament? Perhaps it can mean many things…
We can and we must prevent the worst effects of climate change from happening, writes Pope Francis “Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme of this year’s ecumenical Season of Creation, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (5:24). The evocative image…
Ruadhán Jones