Reflections, sermons and homilies.
During his homily at Mass in Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday, Pope Francis said that Jesus does not tolerate hypocrisy. "We must be cured of hypocrisy," he said, "and the medicine is knowing how to point the finger at ourselves before God", since whoever is unable to do so is "not a good Christian".
In the Gospel reading, Jesus is invited to lunch by a Pharisee and is highly criticised by the...
Pope Francis gave the following homily on Sunday, 13 October at the Canonisation Mass in St Peter's Square, of Saints John Henry Newman from England, Giuseppina Vannini from Italy, Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan from India, Dulce Lopes Pontes from Brazil, and Margherita Bays from Switzerland. The full text follows:
"Your faith has saved you" (Lk 17:19). This is the clim...
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
'This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him'
(2 Tim 2:11)
One leper returns to give thanks to Jesus after he has been healed, 'where are the other nine?' asks Jesus and some preachers take this as a moment to draw parallels with ingratitude and forgetfulness. Clergy know this all to well, it...
During Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday morning, Pope Francis lamented Christians who judge everything "from the smallness of their hearts".
Instead, he said, the Lord mercifully approaches all human situations because He came to save, not to condemn.
During his homily the Holy Father reflected on the Old Testament figure of Jonah who ran away from God who wanted him to be His pr...
The Apostle Paul, the greatest missionary in the Church's history, helps us to make this "synod", this "journey together". His words to Timothy seem addressed to us, as pastors in the service of God's People
Paul first tells Timothy: "I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Tim 1:6). We are bishops because we have received a gi...
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
"God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control"(2 Tm1:7)
Those words of Timothy, taken from our second reading, are apposite for so many contemporary situations. I have a often asked myself, "am I a coward?" especially when faced with very momentous events or decisions that challenge me to ...
During Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Wednesday, Pope Francis invited the congregation to listen attentively to the readings, without letting them "go in one ear and out the other." Opening our hearts to the encounter with the Word of God fills us with joy, he said.
The Pope began by reflecting on the day's first Reading, taken from the book of the prophet Nehemiah. It is: "the story of the ...
Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sunday. In his homily Pope Francis said the Psalm "makes explicit mention" of those who are "forgotten and subject to oppression." The Lord has a particular concern "for foreigners, widows and orphans because they are without rights, excluded and marginalised."
Quoting from the Books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, bot...
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
But you, (man of God), pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. (1 Tim 6:11)
I apologise for bringing into this reflection a very topical character, and I hope when I reread my own words in ages to come, that her witness may still be a marker for the change we need both in our attitude...
Fr Martin Coffey CP gave this presentation last week at the Passionist seminar in Minsteracres, Durham.
1. Overall Aim of the Talk
The theme Love and Suffering makes us think immediately of the Passion where the terrible suffering of Jesus is the greatest expression of love. This is the rock solid foundation of our charism. Jesus loved much and suffered ...
Sr Therese O'Regan CP gave the following reflection at the Passionist seminar in Minsteracres last week.
Tell the world of God's great Compassion - the heart of our Passionist calling
Introduction
Tell the world of God's great Compass...
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
"No servant can serve two masters.* He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."(Lk 16:13)
Are those words attributed to Jesus true?
I just wonder about that, as many of us try uneasily to serve several 'masters' in life, often with out realising it- I'll use mysel...
Pope Francis celebrated Mass in Casa Santa Marta on Monday, for the first time after the summer break. During his homily, reflecting on the day's readings, he advised everyone to pray for all people in government and political leaders, rather than insulting them. The Holy Father said that St Paul, in his letter to Timothy (1 Tm 2:1-8), calls us to pray for everyone, "for kings and fo...
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
From Psalm 51,vv 18,19
For you do not desire sacrifice or I would give it; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.
At the beginning of the morning Office of the Church, and also at the introductory praye...
