(Perhaps in praying this litany, you might feel moved to compose your own). Lord I pray forgiveness on the brother who believed lies about me Lord I pray thanksgiving on the sister who modelled for me unconditional love Lord I pray forgiveness on that sad sick young priest that hurt us so badly Lord I pray thanksgiving on that old Canon who was holy and wholesome Lord I pray forgiveness on those blind ignorant bullies Read more…
Heavenly Father, help me lament the loss of the aborted little baby but continue to love it’s mother… Lord Jesus, help me to proclaim the beauty of your gift of sexuality and not shun my transgender fellow pilgrim… Holy Spirit, help me to be faithful to my life of faith without judging my sisters and brothers who appear to have chosen different paths… Heavenly Father, help me pray for those who failed to love as Read more…
Did you ever consider your un-lived life, or lives? If things had been different what might you be doing? Where might you be living? With whom? It’s an interesting question. Once you start to reflect on your unrealised potential it brings us in touch with all those who formed us for good or for ill. This type of reflection can tap us into a residual resentment, or at least lack of acceptance, or alternatively to Read more…
The Kerry Slug or Kerry Spotted Slug, ( Geomalacus maculosus) is a species of medium sized to large air breathing land slug. An adult Kerry slug generally measures between 7-8 cms ( 2.8- 3.2 ins). The Kerry Slug is on my mind quite a lot these days, and yet I only heard of it about a month ago when I attended one of the best seminars I have ever been at. The seminar was in Read more…
There was a time when we all prayed for vocations. It was often billed just like that. ‘Let us pray for vocations’…. sometimes it went further and said ‘Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood’. Indeed now and again we said, ‘Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life’. We live in a very different world to the world we often recited those prayers in. We live in a different church. Read more…
Bring flow’rs of the rarest,From garden and woodlandAnd hillside and vale…………How truly we love thee,How dark without MaryLife’s journey would be. (Bring Flowers of the Rarest, Mary E. Walsh) Even on some of the more secular of radio stations the first day of May saw the playing of this beautiful old song, ‘Queen of the May’ or more accurately ‘Bring Flowers of the Rarest’. It is a well established annual ritual with one particular program Read more…
Recently on a long flight I watched Dr Zhivago. It’s a long film but my goodness how rewarding. Julie Christie, Omar Sharif and all that snow….and what about the music? Not just Lara’s Theme, though his blows me away, but the entire score. I was grateful that my fellow passengers seemed engrossed in their own little world and hopefully remained unaware of the impact my trip into 1917 Russia was having on me. My heart Read more…
Mercy is another name for GodIn the same way that Love is another name for God.When we combine them we get the loving mercy of our God.What does God’s mercy mean?Does it mean he is there for us in the dark days?Well it does, but it’s even better than that.It means he is looking for us, always looking out for us, wants us well, wants us safe.The mercy of God ensures we are not lost Read more…
I hope you enjoy your egg, or eggs, I mean your Easter eggs! I am going to try not to eat too many. One would be enough. I hear there is one on the way. I think it is a kit-kat one! For many people Easter is about Easter eggs, and chickens, and spring time and maybe Spring lamb, and a break from school or work. Yes of course it’s all these things and more. Read more…
I have been reflecting on the ‘walks’ or ‘journeys’ or ‘movements’ of Jesus. From the journey pre-birth forming in his mother’s womb as she made her way to spend three months with Elizabeth, to the flight into Egypt when he was carried as a little baby, by his parents, fleeing the crazy Herod. Of course his most renowned ‘walk’ was his agony as he showed perfect love for us with every step of the Via Read more…