Time Standing Still‘God is sweating blood. The world’s salvation is played out. And you, whoever you are, go about whistling? The contrast is immense, but recognizable. We have all experienced something of the kind: when someone we love has died, when we Read More
PresenceThe story of Benedict’s and Scholastica’s final conversation at Monte Cassino (in chapter 33 of the 2nd Book of Gregory the Great’s Dialogues) shows that even the consummate saint may need a sister to put him in his place now Read More
Beyond Opaque‘I have to believe that people simply are capable of whatever profound question or intuition or whatever it is that we live with, with the idea of God. And I think we do everything to distract ourselves from it. I Read More
Simple WordsWe’ve such a need for simple words like ‘bread’, ‘love’, ‘kindness’ to keep the blind from losing their way in the dark. We’ve such a need for silence – silence! – in order, through the air and in our thoughts, to hear the voice, the murmured, modest Read More
Prayer and Sleep‘Rejoice always’, says St Paul, who adds: ‘Pray continually’ (1 These 5.16f.). The Fathers took this counsel seriously. They insisted it also applies when we are asleep. How can we pray when we sleep? The question has always interested me. Read More
Time Standing Still‘God is sweating blood. The world’s salvation is played out. And you, whoever you are, go about whistling? The contrast is immense, but recognizable. We have all experienced something of the kind: when someone we love has died, when we have received a serious diagnosis, when we are betrayed in friendship, when we have done something despicable: time seems to stand still. All our attention, all our powers of soul, are absorbed by this one, all-embracing reality; yet the world carries on regardless. We cannot fathom it. Are people around us then deaf and blind? Grief and rage can arise in us at such times as from an erupting volcano.’ From Healing Wounds, which has just come out in Polish.
PresenceThe story of Benedict’s and Scholastica’s final conversation at Monte Cassino (in chapter 33 of the 2nd Book of Gregory the Great’s Dialogues) shows that even the consummate saint may need a sister to put him in his place now and again. It also shows us the importance of meeting face to face. Scholastica took the evening bell seriously; she was a nun, after all. She also knew that the two of them had essential things to say to each other, and that time was short. The Lord confirmed her priority by means of bad weather. So that, too, can be a sign of celestial benediction. We whose pockets are filled with gadgets that beep, purr, flash, and stir are constantly pulled away from where we are. Scholastica reminds us of the importance of being present, of giving priority to encounters. It was Scholastica’s ‘greater love’, Gregory tells us, that made her prayer well-pleasing. Am I someone who loves? Do I even know what love is? Or is the word to me an abstraction? These are questions we might ask ourselves today, on Scholastica’s feast day.
Beyond Opaque‘I have to believe that people simply are capable of whatever profound question or intuition or whatever it is that we live with, with the idea of God. And I think we do everything to distract ourselves from it. I think distraction is secondary to anxiety about the intuition that is really a profound part of experience for many, many people. I think we have that tendency to see people as less profound creatures than God made them. And on the basis of what is really a superficial response to them, we make generalisations about them – or even important decisions about them, about how to present religion to them, or whether there’s any point in trying to. I often teach the Bible to writers, and people are very interested and almost shy that they attach great importance to these texts and traditions, and yet have no approach to them. That kind of longing veils itself: it’s rare that we have the opportunity to address the profound seriousness of the human situation as it is manifested in people who are opaque to us.’ Marilynne Robinson’s lucid insight, in a conversation you can follow up here.
Simple WordsWe’ve such a need for simple words like ‘bread’, ‘love’, ‘kindness’ to keep the blind from losing their way in the dark. We’ve such a need for silence – silence! – in order, through the air and in our thoughts, to hear the voice, the murmured, modest voice, of pigeons, ants, human beings, human hearts and their cry of pain amid all that is not love, not kindness, not bread. Halina Poświatowska
Prayer and Sleep‘Rejoice always’, says St Paul, who adds: ‘Pray continually’ (1 These 5.16f.). The Fathers took this counsel seriously. They insisted it also applies when we are asleep. How can we pray when we sleep? The question has always interested me. I found the indication of an answer in the last issue of Vita Nostra, which traces an engaging profile of some of the foundresses of Vitorchiano. One is that of Madre Maria Gentilini (1917-81), a nun who lived immersed in the liturgy; who was graced with patience; who kept the monastery’s flower garden and made lovely bouquets for the sisters’ feasts; who had intelligently interiorised the Scriptures, living within them. The nun who was next to Madre Maria in the dormitory once heard her say in her sleep: ‘Lord, do show me how you make a carnation!’ Oh to have a heart so full of the mystery of God that it fills my consciousness, my intelligence even when my mind is not awake!
Today February 11th is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes , World Day of the Sick and Feast Day of St. Gobnait. Our Lady of Lourdes pray for us 🙏🏻 St. Gobnait pray for us 🙏🏻 7 Comments
Amen.Our lady of Lourdes please pray for us 🙏 🙏Amen 🙏
Eucharistic Adoration Cloyne Diocese Day of Prayer led by Fr. John Keane - Diocesan Director of Eucharistic Adoration Sunday 22nd February from 11:15am - 4:30pm, in Shalom Retreat Centre, Charleville (former Convent of Mercy) Day of Prayer with Eucharistic Adoration, Testimony, Read More 2 Comments
Camp Creideamh Knockadoon 7th -13th June 2026 Camp Creideamh, Catholic Faith Camps for teenagers, boys and girls, will take place again in Knockadoon (East Cork) over the dates 7th – 13th June. For those who are Post-Primary school age. Activities will Read More
Today is the Feast day of St Scholastica. St Scholastica died c.543. She was the sister of St Benedict. She spent her life as a consecrated virgin. She was Patron of convulsive children. St Scholastica pray for us! 1 Comments
