It's only a few more sleeps until Christmas. You might find this three minute Food For Faith Youtube clip encouraging in the midst of pre-Christmas busyness.
Advent
Advent Angelus
You might recognise the Collect or Opening Prayer from this Sunday's Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. It is the prayer of the Angelus: Listen carefully to...
the “O” antiphons
Perhaps the most popular Advent hymn is the antiphon O Come O Come Emmanuel. This great hymn is formed from the "O Antiphons" that guide us through the last seven days...
Traces in December
One of the highlights of my monthly reading is the Traces magazine of the Communion & Liberation community. A couple of months ago the decision was taken to no...
Advent @ school
Every day in the life of a priest has unexpected highlights. Today I was invited to lead an Advent service for Years 9 & 10 students with staff at St. Bede's...
a new beginning
Happy New Year! With the season of Advent a new church year begins. For a month now we will prepare for Christmas with scriptures of anticipation yearning for a deeper...
Advent I
There is a story told of the holy French priest Jean Vianney (Ćure d’Ars d.1859). He noticed an elderly man who would spend hours in the church before the Blessed...
you did know this
After my post about the Advent "O Antiphons" a couple of days ago, some have comment that they had never heard about the "O Antiphons". But most Christians know the...
seven more sleeps
In the Prayer of the Church, prayed through the hours of each day by many Christians, and which priests and many Religious communities pray on behalf of all people, the...
Advent encouragement
This is Pope Francis' first Advent so we have not yet heard much from him about the mission of these pre-Christmas days. This gives us the opportunity to savour some of...
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living in colour
A few years ago I picked up a John August Swanson work – only a print unfortunately, but still full of power, and colour.
So much colour.
Today’s post-resurrection encounter with Jesus reminds me of this great Swanson work “The Big Catch.”
These fishermen previously endured a mere existence in black and white, getting through each day, their regular routines dictated by the demands and fears of friends and foes.
let’s get physical
Note the physicality of today’s gospel reading.
Physical features (hearts, hands, feet, mouth, eyes) abound and emotional realities are strong (peace, alarm, fright, agitation, doubt).
resurrection energy
I had planned to continue the daily reflections through this Easter Week but I’ve already missed Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday and now it’s early morning on Easter Wednesday. Thank you to those who emailed with “where are you”, “what happened” and “I haven’t had a FFF email this week.” Thank you for your enthusiasm and for keeping me on my toes.
Easter people ?
There is a great old Easter greeting: “We are an Easter people” to which hearers respond “and Alleluia is our song!” I love this, and if I see you in this Easter Week, this Octave of Easter Sundays, you are welcome to greet me in this way. The reason I need to be reminded that we are an Easter people is that I too often reduce the Easter life we are offered to ideas and categories, words and formulas, customary ways of thinking and acting.
experiencing
Consider the range of emotions that the disciples of Jesus moved through over the days of his final suffering and his crucifixion and resurrection. Such extremes of feeling cannot be imagined or pondered with disinterest. They must be experienced.