Pope Benedict

All Saints

Nov 1, 2020

On this day, the feast of All Saints, in the year 1541, Michaelangelo‘s Last Judgement was unveiled on the rear wall of the Sistine Chapel.

Ascension

May 23, 2020

The disciples do not feel abandoned. They do not consider Jesus to have disappeared far away but are convinced of a new presence of Jesus.

just love

Mar 29, 2019

Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.

Santa’s birth?

Dec 25, 2016

We can no longer assume that people know the meaning of Christmas. A child recently asked about the significance of Christmas replied: “it is when Santa Claus was...

a priest – 65 years

Jun 29, 2016

As I write it has just passed midnight in New Zealand on the early morning of 29 June, the Solemnity of Peter and Paul, and the day on which Pope Emeritus Benedict was...

sacred heart

Jun 13, 2015

I have a few great memories of earlier years’ celebrations of today’s feast of the Sacred Heart. Five years ago on this feast I was privileged to be in St. Peter’s...

Ascension Thurs?

May 14, 2015

I often re-read the books that I consider to be spiritual classics. Some of these were written decades or centuries ago. Others, including Pope Benedict’s second “Jesus...

santa’s birth

Dec 23, 2014

We can no longer assume that people know the meaning of Christmas. A child recently asked about the significance of Christmas replied: “it is when Santa Claus was...

parish war or peace

Sep 5, 2014

a reflection based on the readings for Sunday 7 September 2014. Readings at this link. It is remarkable that eighteen months after his election, Pope Francis remains...

one year ago

Feb 28, 2014

It was one year ago today that Pope Benedict's resignation took effect. This event opened the way for the conclave that elected Pope Francis. You can watch many of the...