St. Catherine of Siena is one of my favourite saints. She was born in 1347, in a world shaken by war, plague and deep division. Yet from this uncertain beginning came a woman whose life still speaks to us in…
“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” These long-treasured words were penned in the 1800s by Alfred Lord Tennyson. They might guide us as we celebrate this day of prayer. Why bother? Does prayer really have…
On this morningthis glorious morning,the earth is transfigured.Resurrection light shines over the land.Earth anew in divine light.Each other anew in divine light.Our deepest selves anew in divine light. Little Easter poems bloom in the Church garden:Lily and daffodil,Paschal lamb,Sprinkling water,Rising…
“By his bruises, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).” This verse affirms the reality of incarnation. The death of Jesus reveals our humanity. There are so many layers to the meaning of the crucifixion. It reflects our human condition in a deep and mysterious…
This day marks the start of the Triduum – the three-day journey as we transition from the 40 days of Lent to Easter Sunday. On Holy Thursday we read about Jesus at the Passover meal and the washing of the…
In the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, Simon Zealotes exhorts Jesus Christ to grasp the moment afforded by the huge, enthusiastic crowd of 50,000 people that has cheered him on his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Simon’s hope is that…
St. Patrick, though the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Britain when the Roman rule of the land was coming to an end – around the end of the 4th century. At the age of 16 he was captured…
I recently watched a poignant interview of a 50-something celebrity who is living with a terminal illness. He spoke about his career, his life choices, and his relationships with friends and family, especially his children. His life before his diagnosis…
Lent is a time of preparation. We spend 40 days preparing for the glory of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. We then spend 50 days celebrating the joy and light of the resurrection. Easter is so central to our lives…
Ash Wednesday represents both a personal and communal reckoning. Before God, we receive the ashes on our foreheads, drawn in the shape of the cross. We are reminded, rather bluntly, that we are mortal and will die. Much as we…