Monthly Archives: December 2022

7 th day of the Octave of Christmas

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His sceptre of power rests upon his shoulder.
And his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.
Life need not get forever colder.
Of this with confidence can we tell.
God who in the Nativity established all religion.
Grant that we may be numbered among those who belong.
We make this rendition.
In grateful song.
O sing a new song to the Lord.
O sing to the Lord , bless his name.
He can free us if we want from all discord.
For he is an eternal flame.
Christmas is ending.
And salvation is coming.
…….
Where’s salvation
It’s in the Nativity
We can only hope that
……..
See Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass, The Collect and Psalm 95

The Holy Family

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
And walk in his ways.
We need ask for no reward.
And we can still set the world ablaze.
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I was watching the film Chariots of Fire.
What a great figure is the sprinter Eric Liddell.
His conscience will always inspire.
And what a noble selfless individual.

During his sprint he held these words of Samuel.
He that honours me , I will honour.
A good thought in which to dwell.
And here was a true gold medal of honour.

They will soar on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary, true regals.

……

Not run on Sunday
And that was his principle
And he would not budge

……..

See Psalm 127 , 1 Samuel 2:30 and Isaiah 40

St Thomas Becket

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This is the Christ we proclaim.
This is the wisdom in which we train everyone.
Here is someone to acclaim
Before anyone.

I was looking at a photo of Pope Emeritus Benedict .
Here was such spiritual charm.
A man by God seemingly handpicked.
To keep us from worldly harm.

Even a picture of a sick old man.
Can soothe and inspire.
And remind us how it all began.
And that of seeking faith we need never tire.

For Benedict we are praying.
As he for the final call lies waiting.

……

A good holy man
A great theologian
Inspiring teacher

…. …

See Colossians 1 :24-29

The Holy Innocents

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God is light, there is no darkness in him at all.
If we live our lives in the light we are in union with one another.
We only need to heed his call.
And cut life’s material tether.

If we acknowledge our sins .
Then God  who is just will forgive our sins.
Then there will only be wins.
And we will fly on celestial wings.

The holy innocents proclaimed on this day.
Not by speaking but by dying.
We who have had our say.
Can only be sorrowful at their passing.

They follow the lamb, spotless.
We must carry on dauntless.

…….

We proclaim the Christ
Not by dying but living
For that is our role

…..

See today’s Entrance Antiphon and Collect and 1John1 :5-2:2

St John

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That life was made visible.
We saw it and are giving our testimony.
There is something belonging to us that is invincible.
And this is no mere sanctimony.

I was worrying what the future might bring .
Then I saw an obituary of someone aged seventy.
Everything matters so little, really we should sing.
Death is the only real concern if you’re over seventy.

Three score and ten.
Or four score and ten if you’re very strong.
But the end comes soon for all men.
We ‘re not here for very long.

And so as I went to sleep .
Seventy was a number in mind to keep.

…….

I saw seventy
A number to keep in mind
When seventy plus

…..

See 1 John 1 :1-4

St Stephen

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I can see heaven thrown open.
And the son of man standing at the right side of God.
Our dreams need ever be broken.
Even as we pass under the heavy sod.

My mother lies in fields pastoral.
We stood beside her graveside.
She wanted a green funeral.
Without any stone memorial as guide.

But the wooden sign has rotted away.
She would be one hundred and three today.
Only the oak tree marks her stay.
She had passed through life on her way.

She wanted to be marked only by nature .
That was her kindly nature.

…….

How has death marked her
With some stone memorial
No, with an oak tree

…….

See Acts 6

Christmas Day

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He is the radiant light of God’s glory.
And the perfect copy of his nature.
This is the Christmas story.
And we too if we want are his creature.
In our own time he has spoken to us through his son.
The son that he has appointed to inherit everything.
A radiant and everlasting sun.
Of our existence, the mainspring.
Whatever our belief.
There is always light.
To our great relief.
If we desire it, he always is in sight.
Today a new light has risen.
Whether we see it is our decision.
……
What do we believe
Whom do we have some hope in
It’s our decision
…..
See Hebrews 1:  1-6

24 December

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Come quickly Lord Jesus.

And do not delay.
But we know you see us.
This and every  day.
We pray that those who trust in your compassion.
May find solace and relief in your coming.
As we will be eventually released by your passion.
Indeed hope is forthcoming.
Who lives and reign with God the father.
In the unity of the Holy Spirit.
For ever and ever.
We know it , we hear it.
And so we are close to his coming.
And happiness without reckoning.
……
This , the day before
Is one of expectant hope
Of tomorrow’s birth
….
See The Collect of the Day

Friday of the 4 th week of Advent

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Who will be able to resist the day of his coming.

Who will remain standing when he appears.
It is happening.
Soon he will wash away our tears.
For he is like the refiners fire.
And the fullers alkali.
Soon we will stand by the crib in the byre.
We will see with a new spiritual eye.
He will take his seat as refiner and purifier.
He will purify the sons of Levi and will  refine them like gold.
Of this promise we can never tire.
And all this has been foretold.
They have made the offering.
We are redeemed by his suffering.
……
I am going to
Send a messenger before
Me to prepare ways
…..
See Malachi 3: 1-4, 23- 24

Thursday of the 4th week of Advent

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O Rex gentium et desideratus earum.
Lapisque angularis qui facis utraque unum.
O king of the peoples whom they long for, come.
The cornerstone, who make the two into one , come.
My heart exults in the lord my saviour.
He brings men to the grave and back.
This psalm moves me to my very core.
There is nothing now I need lack.
The bows of the mighty are broken.
But the weak are clothed with strength.
None need feel forsaken
For us, he will go to any length.
As my eyes lifted from the psalm.
I felt inside me a new insistent calm.
……
Read Samuel’s words
They give solace and new strength
In a cold winter
…..
See Todays Responsorial psalm . 1 Samuel 2: 1, 4-8

Wednesday of the 4 th week of Advent . 21 st December 2022

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O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae et sol institiae .
Veni et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.
O rising sun you are the splendour of eternal light and the son of justice, aye.
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, that is.
Come then my love , for see winter is past.
The rains are over and gone.
The days are turning at last.
Here is a new dawn.
The flowers appear on the earth.
The season of glad songs has come .
Soon we will put paid to dearth.
The depths of depression are struck dumb.
The days now will lengthen.
And hope will strengthen.
….
A light will arise
A new dawn and saviour
And it is the Christ
…….
See The Song of Songs 2: 8-14

Tuesday of the 4th week of Advent

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Ask the Lord your God for a sign.
Either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights.
As we search for our line.
And seek the lights.

I was at mass in the Cathedral crypt.
Here everything is close and intimate.
Seemingly from an ancient script.
And from an earlier date.

The service was in Latin.
The chalice right before me.
And my eye on the paten.
Here was the key.

As the priest raises the host .
We know we are not lost.

……

When in a small mass
The service is intimate
And more powerful

……

See Isaiah 7:10-14

Monday of the 4th week of Advent

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It is you  O Lord who are my hope.
My trust O lord since my youth.
I was wondering how I could cope.
How could I ever find the truth.
I was reading Psalm seventy .
Suddenly everything seemed alright.
Worry and fear were the enemy.
There is always in darkness a light.
On you I leaned leaned from my birth.
From my mother’s womb you have been my help.
You alone know my worth.
There is only you and no self help.
I will declare the Lord’s mighty deeds.
These are hope filled resurrection seeds.
…..
In psalm seventy
We find hope for the future
And present solace
…….
See psalm 70

The 4 th Sunday of Advent

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The Lord therefore.
Will give you a sign.
To hope, an open door.
And a new celestial vine.
The maiden will soon give birth to a son.
Whom she will call Immanuel.
Victory over death will be won.
Ring out then  the  triumphant bell.
A name which means.
God is with us.
From the greatest of queens.
Was there ever a greater plus.
Today we must celebrate.
For so to do is never too late.
……
This is our advent
With joy in time of waiting
But are we prepared
……
See Isaiah 7: 10-14

Saturday of the 3rd week of Advent

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In his days justice shall flourish.
And peace till the moon fails.
What do we really cherish.
Where do they take us , our sails.
Psalm seventy one gives us hope.
That we are not forgotten.
That we are not on a downward slope.
That all is good and no way rotten.
May his name be blessed for ever.
And endure like the sun.
Hope never to sever.
By having faith in the son.
Every tribe shall be blessed.
All worries addressed.
…….
Psalm seventy one
Gives us hope for the future
And present solace
……
See Psalm 71

Friday of the 3rd week of Advent

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Have a care for justice.
Act with integrity.
Fear not what you miss.
Reject all enmity.
My problem is with patience.
We are told, bear setbacks for God’s sake.
So seek remedies in his presence.
But accept failure without bellyache.
When everything goes well.
Our patience is not tested.
But when the opposite happens then we can tell.
Our self belief is bested.
Failure is an opportunity.
To test our humility .
…..
What then is patience.
It is humility’s chance
To then start again
……
See Isaiah 56: 1-3, 6-8

Thursday of the 3rd week of Advent

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As we walk amid passing things.
You teach us to hold fast to what endures.
We arise on your wings.
We are yours.
We obsess on what now we see.
Which is a mere passing shadow.
From light cast by celestial reality.
No wonder so often we feel low .
May these mysteries.
Profit us, we pray.
And so we continue our enquiries.
The price we must pay.
But it is never in vain.
And there is all to gain.
…..
Does this life endure
Most certainly it does not
And so why worry
……
See Today’s Prayer after Communion

Wednesday of the 3rd week of Ordinary Time. St John of the Cross

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Before me every knee shall bend.
By me every tongue shall swear.
Where do our paths wend.
Can we ever try to dare.

I am the Lord unrivalled.
I form the light and create the dark.
This truth cannot be denied.
As we try to renew the spark.

I make good fortune.
And create calamity.
And we importune.
For we are one family.

Like St John we can only pray.
More than that we cannot say.

…. …

Dark night of the soul
Comes to all of us some times
We can only pray

……

See Isaiah 45: 6-8, 18, 21-25

Tuesday of the 3rd week of Advent

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Trouble is coming to the rebellious , the defiled.
The tyrannical city.
We need to be more like a child.
And perhaps with a little less catholicity.
I was dreaming of some negative answer.
Then I remembered the man at the pharmacy.
With terminal prostate cancer.
Cheerful despite been treated so unjustly.
There are so many people worse off.
What right have we to complain.
Or to scoff.
Think of sunshine not rain.
Look on the bright side.
Even if life is but a downward glide.
……
Man at the chemist
Lives with terminal cancer
And cheerful with it
…..
See Zephaniah 3

Monday of the 3rd week of Advent

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He sees what Shaddai makes him see.
And his eyes are opened.
From truth we cannot flee.
And faith is reopened.

I was dreaming of the priest at mass today.
He holds no important office.
Yet his smile told all today.
He is content with making no profits.

He just helps people.
And does the liturgy .
And his contentment to soar like an eagle.
He is free and at liberty.

Give us grace to be happier with little.
As much as people may us belittle.

…….

We do not need lots
Just enough to survive now

That is all we need
…….
See Numbers 24

3rd Sunday of Advent

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You too have to be patient, do not lose heart.
Because the Lord’s coming will be soon.
Before us is laid life’s chart.
And before us is some coming boon.

I was dreaming of some disappointment.
But as a door closes , another opens.
With fate a new appointment.
And new notions.

Do not make complaints against one another.
Brothers so as not to be bought to justice .
Better in silence suffer.
Just say , trust us.

So the dream ended .
With the heart mended.

……

Worry for failure
After all what is the point
Something will turn up

……

See James 5: 7-10

Saturday of the 1st week of Advent

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Elijah has come already.

And they did not recognise him.
And us , are we ready.
For nothing is ever so grim.
I was dreaming of an antagonistic person
And then a thought crossed my mind.
Dream of liking everyone.
It’s not always easy but right to be kind.
And so we keep trying.
And failing.
And worrying.
And falling .
And starting again.
Even in the pouring rain.
……
If someone’s unkind
Don’t respond but just like them
That’s surely the way
……
See Matthew 17: 10-17

Saturday of the 1st week of Advent

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If only you had been alert to my commandments.
Your happiness would have been like a river.
Our path full of enchantments.
We have only to ask and we can deliver.
I was dreaming of Mary’s annunciation   acceptance.
How could I know what God expected.
Did I have any real chance.
How can we ever know if we will be resurrected.
Love the Lord your God with all your soul.
Love thy neighbour as thyself.
Is this the answer to our life’s  toil.
Thinking less of ourself.
And do unto others as you would have do unto you.
Treat people with concern you expect  them to show you
…..
What does God expect
Do unto others what hope
They do unto you
……
See Isaiah 48: 17-19

The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Mary Virgin

 

Rome - The Annunciation fresco by Joseph Erns Tunner (1830) in church Chiesa della Trinita dei Monti.

 

 

 

 

Rejoice so highly favoured.
You have won God’s favour , listen.
Concerned and soon to be belaboured.
Mary’s future would yet glisten.

She asked herself what this greeting could mean.
But the angel said, do not be afraid.
To this heavenly queen.
The promise was made.

Would we give the same answer.
Let what you have said be done.
Or are we plagued by doubt’s cancer.
Will we ever win immortality’s crown.

The choice is ours to take.
For ours and his sake.

…….

We’re given a choice
We can give Mary‘s answer
To let it be done

……..

See  Luke 1: 26-38

Wednesday of the 1st week of Advent

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Young men may grow old and weary.
But those who hope in the Lord renew their strength.
Life may seem dreary.
But we should try and go to any length.
They put on wings like eagles.
They run and do not grow weary.
Isaiah’s poetry is for all peoples.
A grain of hope for the weary.
They run , walk.
And never tire.
We do the talk.
But are we a trier.
We read the poetry carefully.
And our faith grows fitfully.
…..
We read Isaiah
Inspired by this poetry
We can move forward
…..
See Isaiah 40 : 25-31