Skip to content
Search
Shopping Cart 0
Association Of Catholic Priests
  • Home
  • LiturgyExpand
    • Weekday Homily Resources
    • Sunday Homily Resources
    • Presider’s Page
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact
Association Of Catholic Priests
Search
Shopping Cart 0
Home / 2015 / August
Weekday Homily Resources

31st August. Monday of Week 22

Jesus in his home synagogue Today’s gospel begins with an account of the liturgy of the word in the synagogue of Jesus’ home town of Nazareth. He stands up to read from the prophet Isaiah and then sits down to interpret what the reading means, here and now… 1st Reading: 1 Thess. 4:13-18 We will…

Read More 31st August. Monday of Week 22Continue

Liturgy | Presider's Page

Presiders’ Page 30 August (Ordinary Time 22)

As we move from summer to autumn, we praise God who sustains us all year round. We ask for help with new undertakings and perseverance with continuing projects, knowing that nothing will work well without God’s grace.

Read More Presiders’ Page 30 August (Ordinary Time 22)Continue

Liturgy | Sunday Homily Resources

30th August. 22nd Sunday, Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Listening to God’s word brings life and wisdom So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither…

Read More 30th August. 22nd Sunday, Ordinary TimeContinue

Weekday Homily Resources

30th August. 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Heed God’s words and observe them diligently; this is your source of life and wisdom. So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your…

Read More 30th August. 22nd Sunday in Ordinary TimeContinue

Weekday Homily Resources

29th August. The Passion of Saint John the Baptist

1st Reading: Jeremiah 1:17-19. Like Jeremiah, we must resist domineering rulers But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them. And I for my part have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar,…

Read More 29th August. The Passion of Saint John the BaptistContinue

Weekday Homily Resources

28th August. Friday, Week 21

Feast of St. Augustine (see below) 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Being ready for the Lord’s coming Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so…

Read More 28th August. Friday, Week 21Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

27th August. Thursday, Week 21

Feast of St. Monica (see below) 1st Reading: 1 Thess. 3:7-13 Paul recalls the faith of the Thessalonians and prays for their spritual growth. For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. For we now live, if you continue to stand firm…

Read More 27th August. Thursday, Week 21Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

26th August. Wednesday, Week 21

1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 The gospel is no mere opinion but is God’s own word You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how…

Read More 26th August. Wednesday, Week 21Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

25th August. Tuesday in Week 21

Feast of Saints Louis of France and of Joseph Calasanctius (see below) 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 How gently Paul treated the Thessalonians You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had…

Read More 25th August. Tuesday in Week 21Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

24th August. St Bartholomew, Apostle

On St Bartholomew, see below 1st Reading: Revelation 21:9-14 The City of God has 12 gates, representing the 12 apostles. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And…

Read More 24th August. St Bartholomew, ApostleContinue

Liturgy | Presider's Page

Presiders’ Page 23 August (Ordinary Time 21)

We gather as people who have chosen to serve the Lord, chosen to walk the Christian way. We worship God who leads us on — and ask for strength to continue as we have begun.

Read More Presiders’ Page 23 August (Ordinary Time 21)Continue

Sunday Homily Resources

23rd August. 21st Sunday, Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Joshua 24:1-2 When they reach the Promised Land, will they serve the true God? Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the…

Read More 23rd August. 21st Sunday, Ordinary TimeContinue

Weekday Homily Resources

22nd August. Saturday. The Queenship of Mary

The Queenship of Mary (see below) 1st Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6 Joy and restoration will come to those who sat in darkness There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he…

Read More 22nd August. Saturday. The Queenship of MaryContinue

Weekday Homily Resources

21st August. Friday, Week 20

Also feast of Saint Pius X, pope, (Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto 1835–1914). See below. 1st Reading: Ruth 1:1 etc. Ruth migrates to Bethlehem, with her widowed mother-in-law In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of…

Read More 21st August. Friday, Week 20Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

20th August. Thursday, Week 20

Feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (See below) 1st Reading: Judges 11:29-39 After Jephthah’s rash vow, he sacrifices his only daughter Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh. He passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites….

Read More 20th August. Thursday, Week 20Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

19th August. Wednesday, Week 20

1st Reading: Judges 9:6-15 In a riddle Jotham curses Abimelech and the people of Shechem All the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.  When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount…

Read More 19th August. Wednesday, Week 20Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

18th August. Tuesday, Week 20

1st Reading: Judges 6:11-24 When Gideon doubts, his faith is confirmed by a sign from God. Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites. The…

Read More 18th August. Tuesday, Week 20Continue

Weekday Homily Resources

17th August. Monday in Week 20

1st Reading: Judges 2:11-19 The era of the Judges alternates fall and restoration. Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and worshipped the Baals; and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from…

Read More 17th August. Monday in Week 20Continue

Liturgy | Presider's Page

Presiders Page 16 August (Ordinary Time 20)

Whoever eats the flesh of the Lord and drinks his blood will live for ever. We celebrate Jesus’ promise, believing we will share the eternal destiny of all who have this divine life in them.

Read More Presiders Page 16 August (Ordinary Time 20)Continue

Sunday Homily Resources

16th August. 20th Sunday, Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom has built her house with seven pillars. Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn herself seven pillars. She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her servant girls, she calls from the highest places in the town,…

Read More 16th August. 20th Sunday, Ordinary TimeContinue

Page navigation

1 2 Next PageNext

˂
August 2015
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
▼
˃
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728    
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728     
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28      
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728  
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728   
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728    
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
2829     
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
       
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
232425262728 
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728  
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
26272829   
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728     
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       

Sunday Homily Resources
Weekday Homily Resources
Presider's Page

Most Recent Comments

  • 3 comments

    07 Dec 2023 – Thursday of Advent, Week 1

    December 7 2023
    Joe O'Leary
    Sean, I fear the baby is being thrown out with the bathwater. Compare Mozart — his reliance on princes or prince-archbishops — does it render his music worthless? Well, the centuries of Christendom produced many saints and doctors, poets and architects who were the equivalent of Mozart. They emerged within a richly varied human world which awaits our rediscovery. I have a book on my knees just now that I have never read: R. W. Southern, Saint Anselm: A Portrait in a Landscape (Cambridge UP, 1990). “A legalist demanding satisfaction for sin – understood primarily as defiance of the 6th commandment” is hardly fair to one of his great texts, the Cur Deus Homo. When he says “divine honour” he means cosmic order (in which honour was a key principle in that feudal culture). He gets away from older theories of the Devil’s rights and answers afresh the question that Athanasius discussed in his De Incarnatione, facing “the Jewish criticism that Christianity unnecessarily exposed God to the pain and indignities of human life”; “the gross indignities offered to God in Christ could only be justified if they were necessary for the rectification of the universe under the will of God” (p. 212). Many critics of (a mostly imaginary) Anselm today are really rejecting the proposition that “Christ died for our sins.” Anselm dares to ask for a rational account of why this should be so, and he comes up with a deep meditation on the harmony of justice and mercy within divine providence. something much more wide-reaching and intelligent than “a legalist demanding satisfaction for sin – understood primarily as defiance of the 6th commandment.” If we had time to study this great thinker and attempt to think along with him, I have no doubt that we would find many things to edify, enlighten, or at least stimulate.
    Go To Comment
  • 1 comments

    Synodal Pathway Update: National Steering Committee Report plus Irish Synodal Pathway Research for the Development of a Facilitative Leadership Programme

    December 6 2023
    Sean O’Conaill
    How many of us shout ‘Hallelujah' at the arrival of yet another long synodal report? Of course the steering committee did need to report and to sketch its proposals for what happens next. Of these the plan to expand the steering committee into six separate working groups - one of which would focus on 'theology and sociology' - could be the most important. Given that 'mission' must have a clear grasp of the 'good news' of the Gospel, and so many of the 2022 diocesan reports confessed some bewilderment as to what that is in 21st century Ireland, a theological focus is vital. It fits in also with Pope Francis' recent appeal for theology to be pastoral and contextual - i.e. suited to the needs of those to whom it is addressed. In the end however, long and detailed reports of this kind are not in themselves vitalising and ‘missionary’. As they accumulate they increase the ‘chore’ of ‘getting one’s head around’ synodality. Perhaps another of those six working groups - that for ‘communications and outreach’ could address this by producing a running radical summary of progress so far - a ready shortcut to the vital essence of it. What a tragedy if synodality were unnecessarily to suffer ‘suffocation by self-documentation’ - and I do now seriously fear that this could happen.
    Go To Comment
  • 3 comments

    07 Dec 2023 – Thursday of Advent, Week 1

    December 7 2023
    Sean O’Conaill
    If ever there was a house built on sand it was Christendom - the church’s long reliance upon the states of Europe. Ruled primarily always by the covetousness of their rulers, they necessarily imposed a blinding of the church’s eye to covetousness itself, and eventually a hopelessly blinkered notion of God the Father. For the early church the Father who had freed them from fear of Rome by overturning the verdict of crucifixion of Jesus became something different in the High Middle Ages - a legalist demanding satisfaction for sin - understood primarily as defiance of the 6th commandment. Those breaches of commandments 9 and 10 committed freely by competing princes had to be overlooked, culminating in the world wars of the 20th century and the collapse of Christendom. Now a far more secure house needs building, recognising the warning against covetousness as the only key to a sustainable lifestyle and a sustainable peace. It is not too late to heed the call to a life founded on the simplicity and compassion of Jesus - but it is very late indeed.
    Go To Comment
  • 2 comments

    Following Seán O’Conaill’s article on “The Myth of Redemptive Violence”, Pádraig McCarthy urges us to read “The War Prayer” by Mark Twain

    December 4 2023
    Sean O'Conaill
    So many thanks for this Pádraig. Mark Twain is next to Dickens in my list of favourite authors. 'Tom Sawyer' especially foreshadows the ascent of American capitalism in Tom's feigning absolute satisfaction in whitewashing his Aunt Polly's fence - to persuade his friends to part with their valuables, including vouchers for their knowledge of bible verses - just for the privilege of wielding his brush. As for Huckleberry Finn - nobody should miss reading that for Huck's development of a conscience re the runaway slave, Jim. As for Twain's drawing on the classic family feud between the Hatfields and McCoys for another episode in that novel - that foreshadows the absurdist self-destructive polarisation in US politics right now. I hadn't known of the above piece on the US's 'neo-imperial' wars in 1904/5 - and of course it was prescient of what would again happen in Europe in 1914 - dooming Christendom finally - the four Christian empires plunging the world into the war 'to end war'. Twain (Sam Clemens) also sent up his own participation in the US Civil War of 1861-65, capturing the heroic posturing that tends to break out when wars loom - and I once remember reading with pleasure 'A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur' too, an experiment in science fiction and time travel. What literary treasures are missed now by younger generations with the ascendancy of visual fiction!
    Go To Comment
previous comment

Quick links

  • Membership
  • Donate
  • Helpline
  • Sunday Homily Resources
  • Weekday Homily Resources
  • Liturgy Preparation

Copyright 2023. Designed by acton|bv

  • Privacy Policy