Category Archives: General

St Alphonsus Mary de Liguori

0E480E90-E317-437F-8FF7-FC0A418583FF

 

 

Keep me from the way of error.
And teach me you law.
Everything we do is held to us as in a mirror.
They will say of us, he did not believe though he saw.

I had been away from the Cathedral for some time.
What a delight to be back in it’s comforting embrace.
Cool after outside in this summertime.
An experience more than a place.

I can sit here after mass peacefully.
Before returning to the real world outside.
I leave it’s cooling shadows regretfully.
In this place there is no demanding side.

The traffic roared , people jostled , thoughts jumbled.
I wish I had longer tarried.

…….

We sit in a church
For a moment we are still
Then our life invades

……

See Psalm 118

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2A64A730-41B5-4A8B-8B54-62DA5B62516A

 

 

 

 

 
This very night the demand will be made for your soul.

And this hoard of yours, whose will it be then.
What do we get for all our weary toil.
At the end of the day we are just mortal men.
A man who has laboured wisely , skilfully.
Must leave his own to someone who has not.
After a few years no one will lament us tearfully.
A failure or success , that is our usual lot.
Why do we crave success.
Why desire long life.
At the end we will be neither more or less.
All our worries will be cut by the final knife.
We are merely a grain of sand blowing.
Soon will all be gone , desiring, fearing , knowing.
…..
All is vanity
Vanities of vanity
Yet this do we crave
……
See Luke 12:15-21 and Ecclesiastes 1 :2, 2:21-23

Saturday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

1FB6C214-4B9E-403C-936A-CAC4D4C93E2F

 

 

 

Save me me from the waters of the deep.

Do not let the deep engulf me.
Let me now have restful sleep.
So that tomorrow all the more clearly may I see.
As for me in my poverty and pain.
Let your help O God lift me up.
Foresight let me one day attain .
That I may drink salvation’s cup.
The poor when they see it will be glad.
And God seeking hearts will revive.
Let me no longer be unbearably sad .
Help me always to strive.
This is my  heartfelt prayer
As I peel off each material layer.
……
Waves wash over me
I can hardly breathe at all
You are all I have
….
See Psalm 68

Friday of Week 17 of Ordinary Time

0513B4F3-1040-4742-ABAB-DF28FCFAFF58
I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me will never die.
Heal me from all  worried strife.
Let me be content and not ask the why.

Our body is a bundle of sticks.
Our soul is the fire which consumes.
The wood  burns leaving only faith in the crucifix.
The soul is the fire that elsewhere resumes.

Where does this soul go.
None of us have any idea.
We just assume everything will be just so so.
And we put faith in  the divine gift, the thea.

I read these words of resurrection.
And for just that moment I feel direction.

…….

We have this promise
We will have eternal life
But we still doubt it

……..

See John 11:19-27

Thursday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

 

 

8522D8FD-F04D-4202-8614-2D6B599EAB09

 

 
As the clay is in the potter’s hand.

So you are in mine.
Though we are countless particles of sand.
And numberless branches of the vine.
The kingdom is a like a dragnet cast into sea.
That brings in a haul of all kinds.
And thus we make our plea.
And seek for all the many signs.
The fisherman collect the good ones in a basket.
And throw away those that are no use.
We should not worry about entering our casket.
We will , we hope, be able to make some excuse.
And we will win through.
Although often we don’t have a clue.
……..
The fisherman hauls
We are then caught in his net
What then is our fate
…….
See Jeremiah 18: 1-6 and Matthew 13: 47-53

Wednesday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

 

9C4288B4-2D1A-4B59-9713-8AC0C1480A06

 

 

 

You have born me to be a man of strife.
And of dissension .
When will I spread peace in this life.
Can I not relieve rather than increase tension.

When your words came I devoured them.
Your word was my delight.
I thought my time had come.
Now I seem deprived of foresight.

I never took pleasure in scoffers company.
With your hand I held myself aloof.
Now I just proceed grumpily.
But then I ask if you can enter under my roof.

Now at last I have you in sight.
And with the dawn comes new light.

…….

I am not worthy
You enter under my roof
Only say the word

…….

See Jeremiah 15: 10, 16-21

St Joachim and St Anne

EECDDC15-1F38-49CF-88B1-D0E07E8F06DD

Tears flood my eyes.
Night and day unceasingly.
There are many lows , all too few highs.
However hard we try to act sincerely.

If I go into the city.
I see people sick with hunger.
Where is profound pity.
Why is there so much anger.

You struck us down without hope of cure.
We were hoping for peace, no good came of it.
We feel everything is just a sore.
Where we ask is your holy writ.

Remember us.
Do not break your covenant with us.

……

Please keep us in mind
We are just doing our best
Is it not enough

…..

See Jeremiah 14: 17-22

St James , Apostle

FA4658A6-3774-4E9E-BE08-EBE03D979B23
We are in difficulties on all sides but never cornered.
We see no answer to our problems but never despair.
Our views so often scorned
We fall back on prayer.

We have the spirit of faith mentioned in scripture.
I believed and therefore  I spoke.
Hoping always to see the greater picture.
Striving to free ourselves from life’s yoke.

The more grace is multiplied among people.
The more thanksgiving there will be to God’s glory.
Even if our own faith is feeble.
This is too our story.

We are this treasure’s earthenware jars.
So for all time we can look to the stars.

………

We are not corned

We may have difficulties
But never despair
….,,,
See  2 Corinthians 4: 7-15

17 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

712C646E-9EF1-4A87-89CF-5B05FF4B532C
Search and you will find.
The one who asks always receives.
We who knock will never be blind.
We walk and disturb no leaves.

The Chapel at Oscott is glorious.
I sat at the back to view it better.
And heard little of the sermon however sonorous.
Thus a better view was a fetter.

I moved my seat a little closer.
I could no longer see so clearly.
But everything was a little noisier.
And I could hear clearly .
Thus everything comes down to hearing.
And not necessarily to  one’s seating.
……
Place is not vital
It’s whether or not you hear
Whether at front or back
………
See Luke 11: 1-13

St Bridget of Sweden

24C767F2-3E00-4C30-9C56-0DA71AEECCEF

 

 

 

I am the true vine.

And my father is the vine dresser.
I search again and again for a sign.
A greater one or even a lessor.
I was in a chapel at the Seminary of Oscott.
Standing at the altar reflectively.
Did I truly believe or not.
And yes I did in that moment meditatively.
Thus these moments come in a second.
Without any prompting.
And they are gone in a second.
A lovely insight which is all too fleeting.
I think at these moments you leave yourself.
An become for an instant at one with himself.
…….
We part of the vine
Cannot then live by ourself
And we need pruning
…….
See John 15: 1-8

St Mary Magdalene

38BA7D05-E0B5-4A05-868A-14A1A48A410F
On my bed at night I sought him.
Whom my heart loves .
But who is this elusive him.
Does his spirit fly away like the doves.

I gaze on you in the sanctuary.
To see your strength and your glory.

My burdens you will carry.
Freeing me from all vain glory.
Go and find the brothers.
And tell them I am ascending to my father.
And this  too is for  his sisters.
And his beloved mother.
And thus we meet but do not recognise.
But less we do, all hope dies
………
The sanctuary
Where we can gaze upon him
Is a place of rest
……..
See The Song of Songs 3:1-4 , Psalm 62 and John 20: 1-2, 11-18

Thursday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

59B58BB9-5159-4ABF-A511-42D21A8C4D60

You followed me through the wilderness.
Through a land unsown.
Free us from all bitterness.
Realising that everything is only on loan.

They look without seeing.
And listen without hearing.
We, no different are always fleeing.
Worried about the future and fearing.

You will listen and not understand.
See and see again but not perceive.
And so our life runs into the sand.
And for this there is no reprieve.

Many holy men longed to see what you see.
Happy are your eyes because you see.

……..

Can we look and see
Can we listen too and hear
Or are senses closed

…….

See Jeremiah 2 and Matthew 13: 10-17

Wednesday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

0B581061-482C-49A6-AC85-80137682B070

Some seeds fell on the edge of the path.

And the birds came and ate them up.
Save us from all  coming wrath.
Let us not lay aside this  life cup.
Others fell on rock, where they found little soil.
And sprang up straight away because of no earth .
And so to little effect we live and toil.
Perhaps never finding our true worth.
Others fell among thorns.
And the thorns grew up and chocked them.
We are shaped not by reality but its forms.
Left only with some  worthless material  crumb.
Others fell on rich soil.
Maybe it’s not in vain our life’s toil.
……..
Where does the seed fall
Amongst thorns or on the path
It is up to us
……..
See Matthew 13:1-9

Tuesday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

47EB9289-BD77-4ED0-B6A4-2732FA2FEB4E

 

 

 

 

 

Who is my mother.
Who are my brothers.
How a larger sense will we recover.
And think of all the unknown others.

Here he is proclaiming love for all.
Unbound by immediate family.
We will never wear his universal shawl.
But we can proceed in his shadow thankfully.

They were standing outside.
And we’re anxious to have a word with him.
Like them he is our guide.
Anxious to have a word with him.

We may not yet be ready and want  to wait.
But it is never too late.

…….

We are all outside
Waiting to have words with him
And one day we will

……

See Matthew 12: 46-50

Monday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

8883FA55-F3D5-4EA1-90CB-5564F403D795
Listen you mountains to the Lord’s accusation.
Give ear you foundations of the earth.
Let every nation exalt.
Save us from all dearth.
The only sign it will be given.
Is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
May we be forgiven.
As was Jonah.
When Jonah preached they repented.
And there is something greater than Jonah here.
Eventually we will be contented.
We will overcome all  fear.
Nineveh repented we see.
And so shall we.
……
Three days in a fish
Three before resurrection
There’s the sign of hope
……
See Micah 6 and Matthew12: 38-42

I6 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Straw broomstick on white background

‹

You worry and fret about so many things.

And yet few are needed , indeed only one.
How can we really warm our heartstrings.
Can we know when our race is truly run.
Perhaps we should be content sweeping the floor.
Prayerfully and calmly.
And not view it as a chore .
Just slowly and  reverently.
We worry too much like Martha.
Can we not be more like Mary .
We try too hard with not enough inertia.
We are too  fearful and wary .
Perhaps we should spend more time listening.
And less time seeking.
…….
See Luke 10 : 38-42
……..
Mary chose her part
It is time for a new start
And less like Martha

Saturday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

F88B2A3E-8BB6-4ED3-A7D3-8C317E97C4C4

He will not break the crushed reed.
Nor put out the smouldering wick.
This is a gentle non demanding creed.
We try and build our faith brick by brick .

I am reading Chuang  Tzu’s poetry .
And the subtle art of Tao.
We shouldn’t be about notice me.
Can we not just be and not to wonder how .

To realise the futility of striving.
The danger of trying to save everything.
It is enough to contemplate our breathing.
And realise all comes round and round in a ring.

He warned them not to make him known.
The way to happiness is to explore the unknown.

……..
The dog sniffed his nose
He did it without purpose
But he was content
……..
See Matthew 12: 14-21

Friday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

97E2C901-1702-477B-AFF0-EBE0CD53B5CA

You have held back my life from the pit of doom.

I must go away my life half spent.
Our path is but a moment to grave from womb.
We pass from ascent too soon into descent.
No more shall  I see the Lord in the land of the living.
No more shall I look upon men within the world.
But for all this I owe my thanksgiving.
For I know in my heart there is an afterworld.
My home is pulled up and removed like a tent.
Like a weaver you have rolled up my life.
I feel now soon I will be utterly spent.
In time this material cord will be cut with a knife.
But for you Lord my heart will live.
You cured me , kept me alive.
….
My life is rolled up
Soon all this be over
But we just don’t know
……
See Isaiah 38: 10-12,16

Thursday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

B493FBEE-920E-4A90-8E3D-0BD6FA9A6E45

 

 

Exult all you who lie in the dust.
For your dew is a radiant dew.
We only have to choose where to put our trust.
And surely life is our due.

We Labour and are overburdened.
We simply seek rest .
We pray we may be pardoned.
And recover some of our zest.

We seek a yoke that is easy.
And a burden which is light.
Perhaps we should be a little less fussy.
And find a way we can keep in sight.

We search for a different country.
And hope thereby to find our entry.

…….

A yoke that eases
A burden that remains light
That is what we seek

……

See Isaiah 26 and Matthew 11: 28-30

Wednesday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

E247832E-D9B4-4B75-A965-185F27E63531

 

 

 

I bless you from hiding these these things from the clever.
And revealing them to mere children.
All this helps in our forever.
As we watch our grandchildren.

In their playing, what guileless fun.
What enjoyment in the moment.
As they dodge and run.
They are our greatest endowment.

How we agonise.
Why do we question.
Do we have to rationalise.
And slide into depression.

The children surely have it right.
They just keep the present in sight.

……..

The best is hidden
We just question too much
Best just to accept

……

See Matthew 11: 25-27

Tuesday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

5E6A09B5-CC89-40A7-8D21-BA9DD1DB2DEE
Pay attention , keep calm,  have no fear.
Do not let your heart sink.
Listen , turn your ear.
Remember who is the link.
The Lord is great and worthy to be praised.
His holy mountain rises in beauty.
If we only look up we will be amazed.
This is love not some legal duty.
Grant that when consumed by those who believe.
They may bring ever greater holiness.
There is no need to grieve.
For this is our  sainted business.
i promise not to let my heart falter
i am held in the most gentle halter.
……..
Pay attention
Just keep calm and have no fear
Nor let your heart sink
……..
See Isaiah 7:1-9,  Psalm 47 and The Prayer over the Offerings today

Monday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time . St Benedict

DE357DA6-18CC-435E-8DEF-FBE9C1A892F9

 

 

 

 

 
If your plea is for clear perception.

If you cry out for discernment.
Perhaps we will become the exception.
We will find the truth before our internment.
If you look for it as if it were silver.
And search for it as for buried treasure.
We will find this pebble in a flowing river.
And achieve our full measure.
You will then understand what the fear of the lord is.
And discover the knowledge of God.
We only have to say that we are his.
And we will forever be awed.
He will be our shield .
If only we yield.
…….
Seek Perception
And for lasting  discernment
And then be content
……
See Proverbs 2: 1-9

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

FF7BC197-FA4A-4569-90AC-BF6ACCFE188F

 

 

 

Seek the Lord, you who are poor.
And your hearts will revive.
Sometimes I feel afflicted by a mental sore.
When I read this , I know I will survive.

A great tiredness falls over me.
There seems little excitement in life.
But I read these words and more clearly I see.
Depression dims , living hope is rife.

There is only one way to happiness.
Day by day to seek the Lord .
Away with numbing listless restlessness.
Don’t despair, take up the sword.

I am only a poor man .
But my eyes can scan.

…….

If we seek the  Lord
We may indeed be just poor
But our hopes revive

……

See Psalm 68

Saturday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time

570EAF71-0985-42D8-A099-72183A11B8BA

 

 

 

 

Everything that is covered will be uncovered.
Everything now hidden will be made clear.
Our old life and ways are severed.
All that was ugly will be made clear.

What I say to you in the dark, tell in daylight.
What you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
We now know what was wrong and what is right.
We have done the rounds of all the spiritual shops.

Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body.
But cannot kill the soul.
We now know what is good and what is shoddy.
We have done the work and can cease the toil.

There is no need to be afraid.
Our fate is well and truly laid.

……

Do not be afraid
Every hair on your head counted
All will be revealed

…….

See Matthew 10:24-33

Friday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time

32C1A5D5-3EF4-4584-B121-504B4848BED7

 

 

 

I will heal their disloyalty.
I will love them with all my heart.
What price loyalty.
The loyal heart is pierced with a dart

I will fall like dew on Israel.
He shall bloom like the lily.
We will live to tell the tale .
And we will try to go tranquilly.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
So be cunning as serpents yet harmless like doves.
Doubt laid aside on high shelves.
And us following in droves.

We will be renewed.
With an end to all feud.

….

We sheep among wolves
Must be cunning as serpents
And harmless like doves

……

See Hosea 14:2-10  and Matthew 10:16-23

.