Reflections & Homilies

"With your hearts in God, with open hands, and a big smile, share the joy of the Gospel with all those you encounter" - this was the advice Pope Francis gave seminarians of the Metropolitan and 'Redemptoris Mater' Seminaries of Seville, Spain, yesterday when he received them in the Vatican yesterday. The Pope began by pointing out that their meeting fell on the eve of "a very significant day,"... Read More

21 April 2024 The right kind of shepherd As a living homily, I would like us all to take several of the verses from John's Gospel this morning (John 10 : 11-18) , and to reflect on them, rather like mirrors held up, not only to reflect each one of us as a shepherd, but also to glimpse the Church collectively as a community of diverse , disparate groups , in order that we might start to recognise ... Read More

This year Ramadan coincided with Lent, offering a beautiful occasion to make of this time a moment of interreligious dialogue and learning. I relocated to Delhi for work a few months ago. A providential meeting with Fr Joseph Victor Edwin SJ, a teacher of theology and Christian Muslim relations at Delhi's Vidyajyoti College of Theology and Secretary of the Islamic Studies Association, led to my be... Read More

April 14th 2024 In the words of the Apostles Creed, which is our baptismal affirmation of faith, we recite this formula: "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting". There, in the penultimate phrase, is the statement about our own expectation of death and the transformation of o... Read More

The Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem writes: Last week, The Israeli military withdrew from the Gaza Strip's largest hospital after a two-week raid, leaving behind scenes of devastation. Local sources who have witnessed atrocities for more than 180 days remark that the scenes at Al-Shifa Hospital are "indescribable". Indeed, photos, videos, eyewitness stories reveal torture... Read More

During his Regina Coeli address to pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Francis once again appealed for negotiated solutions to the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Palestine and Israel. He called on political leaders to pause and make efforts to mediate, to negotiate a path to peace. The Holy Father also invited the faithful to continue to pray unfailingly for peace: "A just, last... Read More

April 7th 2024 Second Sunday of Easter 1. The challenge of Acts 4 I felt ashamed reading today's portion of scripture from Acts 4, it always has the capacity to make me very uncomfortable, but this year, perhaps because of the global situation of violence particularly in the Holy Land, the epidemic of poverty and deprivation here in the UK, and the extraordinary rise of a dangerous Christian allia... Read More

In the April 2024 edition of the Pope Video, the Holy Father focusses on the need for equal rights for women. He says: "There are countries where women are forbidden to access aid, open a business, or go to school. Did you know this is still happening in the 21st century? It's time to act!" In this new Pope Video intention, produced by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, Pope Francis emphasizes t... Read More

The Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt Rev Peter Collins reflects on the events of Holy Week and Easter Sunday when a new day of hope dawns for us all. Within the liturgy on the night of Holy Thursday, we ascended the stairwell to the upper room and were privileged to sit at table for the Last Supper, during which the new Passover was shared with us through the institution of the Holy Eucharist. At the... Read More

On Easter Monday, pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square for the Regina Coeli prayer with Pope Francis. "The Resurrection of Jesus is not just wonderful news or the happy ending of a story, but something that changes our lives completely and forever..." the Holy Father told the crowds. Drawing inspiration from the day's Gospel reading according to Saint Matthew that describes the women meeting J... Read More

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem gave this homily on Easter Sunday morning, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Dear Brothers and Sisters, May the Lord give you peace! We have finally arrived at the long-awaited day. The Easter of the Lord and our Easter! We have also arrived at the Tomb of Christ, like Mary of Magdala, like the Apostles John and Peter, ... Read More

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, in his Easter morning homily, celebrates a day of victory - Christ's victory over death. "Christ is risen," says the Cardinal, "and with him we are set free." Cardinal Nichols also used his homily to herald the hope that Christ brings - hope in the eternal life where all are valued in the eyes of God. In particular, he refutes sentiments on assisted suicide and euthanasia... Read More

Pope Francis gave his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' Easter message this morning, from the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica overlooking the Square below where he had just presided over the Easter morning Mass. Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter! Today throughout the world there resounds the message proclaimed two thousand years ago from Jerusalem: "Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, ha... Read More

HAPPY EASTER! CHRIST HAS RISEN! ALLELUIA! Very Best Wishes for a very Happy, Holy and Peaceful Easter time - from everyone at Independent Catholic News. Read More