There are many examples in Scripture of people elected by God to fulfil a special mission that involved them moving away from home. Abraham was asked by God to trust Him, to leave his homeland and travel towards a destiny known as ‘the promised land’ (cf. Gen 12:1ff). Moses was chosen by God to lead…

There are truths in Christianity so familiar that we risk no longer being astonished by them. The feast of Corpus Christi confronts us with one of them. We hear again words that Catholics have repeated for centuries: “This is my Body… This is my Blood.” Yet if we truly allowed those words to enter our…

If you spend any time in Catholic circles online, you may have seen the images: small groups gathered across Ireland, Rosary beads in hand, kneeling in prayer in the public square. The images came from the recent Rosary Rallies organised by the Irish Society for Christian Civilisation and its Ireland Needs Fatima campaign. According to…

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever The Gospel John 6:51 [Jesus said:] “I am the living bread that  came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world…

The month of June is dedicated in a special way to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 2002, Pope St John Paul II established the solemnity of the Sacred Heart as the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. The solemnity is a fitting day for this prayer because it highlights the importance…

In an anxious age, to stand confidently with Christ is a glorious act of non-conformity, writes Fr Chris Hayden The capacity for fear is an aspect of our God-given human nature. If I am unable to feel fear, I will not respond to threat or danger, as they will simply have no effect on me.…

Here in Vatican City where I live in Rome, St Peter’s Basilica is about fifty metres from my front door. I try to visit it most days to pray and go to the tombs of the popes, especially the recent ones, who are buried there. One grave that keeps drawing me to it to pray…

Sometimes it is hard to tell sickness from health. When we’re suffering, is it an indication that there’s something wrong with us or might it be that the suffering is the healthy result of living faithfully? When we are anxious, are we worrying God’s kingdom into birth or are we simply worrying ourselves to death?…

Bhí aithne agam ar síceolí i Londain uair amháin. Mark Blackwell is ainm dó, fear lán do creideamh. Bhí sé ag cabhrú len’ alán andulaigh, daoine a raibh dúlagar agus imní orthu. Do na caitlicigh a bhí aige mhol sé dóibh “Tá grá ag Dia dom, agus is féidir grá a thabhairt dom” a rá…

He looked up at the dark sky, with no twinkle of stars, as he walked slowly. He had never felt quiet, as quiet as tonight. The dim lights along the road helped him navigate the connecting road between the main gate and the majestic building whose towers rose into the sky. For more than one…