The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14). These words of St Paul lay bare the dynamics of the Christian life in which the Cross of Christ is central. The great mystics have…
In a book entitled Peculiar Treasures, the renowned novelist and spiritual writer Frederick Buechner reflects on the character of Judas, the man who betrayed Jesus with a kiss and then died by suicide. Buechner, who had lost his own father to suicide, speculates on the reasons why Judas dies by suicide. Referring to an ancient…
“They want something different to everyday life. They’re looking for something real, something rooted,” said Fr Simon Nolan, Carmelite Prior of Whitefriar Street Church, reflecting on the growing number of young people getting involved at the historic Dublin church. Speaking at the Carmelite Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Fr Nolan said he was…
Q: I used to bring Holy Communion to the sick and wondered: why can’t we bring the Precious Blood to those who are dying and can’t consume solid food? A: The short answer is that, with a few caveats, the Church does in fact allow Holy Communion under the form of wine to be taken…
Genesis 18:20-32. Colossians 2:12-14. Luke 11:1-13 The first reading (Genesis 18:20-32) from today’s liturgy offers a very intriguing example of Abraham’s prayer for the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah. By examining his attitude, we can already grasp what a genuine prayer should look like. Sometimes, people think that prayer is merely a set of devotional…
Probably two of the best-known stories in the bible, the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, come from the Gospel of Luke where Jesus gives a teaching on prominent aspects of his ministry. We hear something different in Luke’s account of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha and Mary because this is not a…
Social media gives us a powerful tool to speak up for the voiceless and remind others that persecution cannot be ignored, hears Rohith Sabu Kinattukara Sachin Jose Ettiyil, is a well-known Catholic influencer in both Instagram and Twitter, with around 150k followers on Instagram and 217k followers on Twitter, which is a big fan base…
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…
Q: My brother is an alcoholic and has already had one failed marriage because of it. He recently got an annulment and is now planning his second wedding. How can the Church let him marry again when it seems obvious that his second marriage is going to fail as well? A: Naturally I cannot comment…
Imagine being born blind and living into adulthood without ever having seen light and colour. Then, through some miraculous operation, doctors are able to give you sight. What would you feel immediately upon opening your eyes? Wonder? Bewilderment? Ecstasy? Pain? Some combination of all of these? We now know the answer to that question. This…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Fr Dominik Domagala
Fr John McCarthy