Reflections & Homilies

Bishop Martin Hayes Bishop of Kilmore, delivered the following homily during the 11am RTÉ One televised Mass broadcast live from the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim, Co Cavan, in the Diocese of Kilmore. We live in a world where we see, only too clearly, that some people are doing wrong. Most often, we don't know how to respond? Do we challenge them? Are we entitled or right to challenge th... Read More

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 127 One of my abiding favourite memories of my years in the monastery is still the Office of Vigils in the early morning, and psalm 94/5 which was the Invitatory psalm, the call to worship as it were. This Sunday it is our responsorial psalm and not only worth praying through carefully but taking time to reflect on its words. Though it has an easy s... Read More

Water is a sacred gift that sustains life. We see a sign of God's generosity in water. It quenches our thirst and makes the earth fertile. In Baptism, it becomes a symbol of his renewing grace. Taking care of water is also a form of safeguarding life and of recognising that this resource belongs to everyone, without distinction. In his prayer intention for September, Pope Leo invites us to pray th... Read More

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 124 Jeremiah as he appears in our first reading today is a very sad figure, and pondering on that passage, we have to accept the very real negativity found there and perhaps honestly admit, that we can be very like Jeremiah in this mood of despondency and internal anger which he articulates by chastising God for having 'seduced', 'duped' or deceive... Read More

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 121 We can learn a lot by sometimes taking a metaphorical journey into the great books of Civilisation. All of them have something to offer us no matter who we are or where we come from. In fact leaving the safety and security of the familiar and taking the time and trouble to explore and enjoy the great Classics can open for us some surprising gift... Read More

In England and Wales this year, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1. Mary in our Christian journey. Where did you first discover a love and devotion to Our Lady, Saint Mary the mother of our Saviour? In our Catholic tradition it is not difficult to discover her either in image or devotion because she is so deeply rooted in our faith, particularly in forms of popular expres... Read More

Usama Nicola writes in Bethlehem Updates: What does it mean to choose joy when the reality around you gives you so many reasons to be afraid? Can joy itself become a form of resistance? I have been thinking about this a lot recently, especially during these summer weeks when our calendars seem to be filled with weddings, engagements, graduations, family gatherings, and visits with friends. We re... Read More

During his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Leo told the crowds of pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square that "the presence of Jesus changes everything." He also expressed concern over the growing catastrophic wars in Sudan, Ukraine and Russia. Reflecting on the day's Gospel reading, which describes how Jesus "joins his disciples in the middle of a storm, walking on the water", Pope Leo said the ... Read More

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Cosmic Christ It isn't often that I look at the three Sunday readings and discover them as a unified whole, there is always the problem of our second reading seeming slightly difficult to weave into the pairing that is the OT first reading and the gospel, there is of course a link through our second reading, more in the continual opening out for us of the te... Read More

Christ truly satisfies humanity's hunger, Pope Leo XIV told the faithful during his midday Angelus address on Sunday. Reflecting on the day's Gospel according to St Matthew on the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, the Pope noted that Jesus not only restores the senses of those who lack them, but also nourishes humanity with His abundant gifts. In the Gospel passage, St Matthew tells how Jesus,... Read More

Every year, on 6 and 9 August, we remember the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In an increasingly fragile world, where the nuclear threat has once again become a tangible reality, this commemoration is not only a moment of mourning, but a genuine call to conscience. The campaign "Lanterns for Peace: from Hiroshima to the World", developed by Pax Christi International and ... Read More

Eighteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time Lectionary: 112 1. The invitation of God The enforced discipline of recuperation after my own operation has given me deeper benefits than simply the healing process with its periods of physiotherapy, exercise, relaxation and rest ( though I admit this last wasn't always painless!) There are the moments of thoughtful and quiet prayer , often wordless, what Simone ... Read More

Today's cities are filled with contrasts. They are places of freedom and opportunity, as well as anonymity and loneliness for many who live in them. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of urban life, millions of people seek deeper meaning for their lives, often without finding it. This reality is especially concerning for those living on the margins and for those who feel invisible in the midst ... Read More

Many people keep journals to record events, process emotions, or understand life's challenges. For St Ignatius of Loyola, journaling served a deeper purpose. It became a way for him to listen attentively to God. Ignatius' Spiritual Diary, written in 1544 and 1545, is one of the most personal spiritual documents we have. Instead of listing daily events, he wrote about his inner experiences as he tr... Read More