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 / 2022 / March
  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    31 March 2022 – Thursday of Week 4 of Lent

    31 March 2022 – Thursday of Week 4 of Lent (1) Exodus 32:7-14 Though his people rebel, Moses begs another chance for them The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from…

    Read More 31 March 2022 – Thursday of Week 4 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    30 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 4 of Lent

    30 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 4 of Lent (1) Isaiah 49:8-15 God promises the exiles, “You’ll be a sign of salvation!” Thus says the Lord: ‘In a time of favour I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant…

    Read More 30 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 4 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    29 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 4 of Lent

    29 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 4 of Lent (1) Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 Life-giving water flows out from the Temple of God Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the…

    Read More 29 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 4 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    Monday 28th March 2022 – 4th Week of Lent 

    Monday 28th March 2022 – 4th Week of Lent (1) Isaiah 65:17-21 “Rejoice in what I am creating!” Good things in store for those who love God For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice…

    Read More Monday 28th March 2022 – 4th Week of Lent Continue

  • Liturgy | Presider's Page

    Presider’s Page for 27 March (Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare)

    We have reached the midway point of the season of Lent. The joy of Easter is within our reach and the parent of the prodigal son encourages us to rely all the more on divine mercy.

    Read More Presider’s Page for 27 March (Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare)Continue

  • Liturgy | Sunday Homily Resources

    27 March 2022 – 4th Sunday of Lent, Year C

    27 March 2022 – 4th Sunday of Lent, Year C (1) Joshua 5:9-12 The Israelites, free at last from slavery and humiliation in Egypt, enter the land of promise The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day….

    Read More 27 March 2022 – 4th Sunday of Lent, Year CContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    26 March 2022 – Saturday of Week 3 of Lent

    26 March 2022 – Saturday of Week 3 of Lent (1) Hosea 5:15 – 6:6 God wants our love more than ritual sacrifice Yes, I am going to return to my dwelling place until they confess their guilt and seek my face; they will search for me in their misery. “Come, let us return to…

    Read More 26 March 2022 – Saturday of Week 3 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    March 25 The Annunciation of the Lord

    March 25 The Annunciation of the Lord 1st Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 King Ahaz refuses to ask a sign of the Lord; Isaiah promises a child to be called Immanuel Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But…

    Read More March 25 The Annunciation of the LordContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    24 March 2022 – Thursday of Week 3 of Lent

    24 March 2022 – Thursday of Week 3 of Lent Optional Memorial: St Macartan (1) Jeremiah 7:23-28 Life’s highest goal is obedient response to God But this command I gave them, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command…

    Read More 24 March 2022 – Thursday of Week 3 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    23 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 3 of Lent

    23 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 3 of Lent Optional Memorial: St Turibus of Mongrovejo (1) Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 God’s people have clear duties and a high destiny 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…

    Read More 23 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 3 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    22 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 3 of Lent

    22 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 3 of Lent (1) Daniel 3:25, 34-43 Nebuchadnezzar admires the miraculous escape of the young Jews Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counsellors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O…

    Read More 22 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 3 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    21 March 2022 – Monday of Week 3 of Lent

    21 March 2022 – Monday of Week 3 of Lent Optional Memorial: St Enda (1) 2 Kings 5:1-15 Naaman the Syrian takes the prophet’s advice and is cured of leprosy Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favour with his master, because by him the…

    Read More 21 March 2022 – Monday of Week 3 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Presider's Page

    Presider’s Page for 20 March (Third Sunday of Lent)

    Today, as we gather to listen to the Lenten call to repentance, we worship our God of kindness who, like a patient gardener, always gives people a second chance.

    Read More Presider’s Page for 20 March (Third Sunday of Lent)Continue

  • Liturgy | Sunday Homily Resources

    20 March 2022 – 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C

    20 March 2022 – 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C (1) Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 God pities his people in Egypt and will free them, through Moses Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There…

    Read More 20 March 2022 – 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year CContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    March 19 – Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin

    March 19 – Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin 1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7:4-6, 12-14, 16 From King David’s offspring will come the universal spiritual King But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build…

    Read More March 19 – Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed VirginContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    18 March 2022  – Friday of Week 2 of Lent

    18 March 2022  – Friday of Week 2 of Lent Optional Memorial: St Cyril of Jerusalem (1) Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13 17-28 Jacob’s sons envy their brother Joseph, and sell him into slavery Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had…

    Read More 18 March 2022  – Friday of Week 2 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Presider's Page

    Bi-lingual Presider’s Page for Thursday 17 March (Lá Fhéile Pádraig)

    We pause from our lenten penances in Ireland, to honour Patrick, our national apostle. In our celebration of this solemn feast, we worship God, creator, redeemer and sanctifier, who brought our ancestors into the Christian fold through the preaching of St Patrick.

    Read More Bi-lingual Presider’s Page for Thursday 17 March (Lá Fhéile Pádraig)Continue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    17 March: St Patrick, Patron of Ireland

    17 March: St Patrick, Patron of Ireland 1st Reading: Amos 7:12-15 Amos is called by God to be a prophet Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it…

    Read More 17 March: St Patrick, Patron of IrelandContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    16 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 2 of Lent

    16 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 2 of Lent (1) Jeremiah 18:18-20 In desperate straits, Jeremiah pins his hope on God “Come, let us decide what to do with Jeremiah,” people say. “There will still be priests to guide us, still wise men to advise us, still prophets to proclaim the word. Come, let…

    Read More 16 March 2022 – Wednesday of Week 2 of LentContinue

  • Liturgy | Weekday Homily Resources

    15 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 2 of Lent

    15 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 2 of Lent (1) Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 A call to personal conversion, to remove our sins from God’s sight Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil…

    Read More 15 March 2022 – Tuesday of Week 2 of LentContinue

Page navigation

1 2 Next PageNext

˂
March 2022
  • February 2026
  • January 2026
  • December 2025
  • November 2025
  • October 2025
  • September 2025
  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • 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
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      
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829  
       
 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

  • 16 comments

    Seán Ó Conaill – Jaja’s Question: A Blasphemous Theology?

    December 9 2025
    Joe O'Leary
    I was not aware that Schwager (himself influenced by his compatriot von Balthasar) was an influence on Girard rather than merely a disciple. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymund_Schwager Their correspondence (published) begins in 1974 and Schwager's book "Must There be Scapegoats?" was published in German in 1978. That was also the year of Girard's "Des choses cachees depuis la fondation du monde" in which Girard is interviewed by two eager disciples (perhaps enacting mimetic rivalry) and sees Christ as ending the regime of sacrifice. I met Girard at that time thanks to Richard Kearney and queried his dismissive attitude to the notion of sacrifice. (We also chatted about Proust, since I had visited Illiers-Combray that day, and we agreed that it spoils the novel to do so.) I wrote a brief piece on "The Riddle of Sacrifice" in The Crane Bag, vol. 3, 1979, in which I noted with bemusement that the Council of Trent was unable to give a definition of "sacrifice" (unfortunately a typo had me saying the opposite!) Later I taught Girard's famous book, "Violence and the Sacred," published in French in 1972. It's essayistic and somewhat flimsy, like another famous French book I also taught, Denis de Rougemont's "L'amour et l'occident" (1939). Girard began as a brilliant literary critic, and his mimetic theory was conceived in his study of Proust and Stendhal, and this is both a strength and a weakness. Walter Burkert is a more straitlaced and solid scholar of the same themes (in Greek tragedy). Girard did not address theology in 1972 so his book of 1978 probably marks his flamboyant entry onto the theological stage, and I now see that this was probably under Schwager's influence, so it may be that Schwager is the true originator of the "Girardian" account of the sacrifice of Christ (as well as the one who prompted Girard to correct his 1978 views later). I haven't much appetite for von Balthasar's "Theodramatics" and I'm not sure if I could tackle Schwager either at this late stage.
    Go To Comment
  • 16 comments

    Seán Ó Conaill – Jaja’s Question: A Blasphemous Theology?

    December 9 2025
    Sean O'Conaill
    Thanks, Joe. As for that theme of sacrifice, Raymund Schwager SJ persuaded Rene Girard that Jesus had brought the concept of sacrifice to a 180 turn away from priestly sacrifice of SOMEONE ELSE - e.g. Abraham's putative sacrifice of Isaac. As in the case of the widow's mite, the sacrifice that is pleasing to God, is the giving of ourselves, at some cost, for the sake of others - so we mustn't see in Jesus' sacrifice any lack of love on the part of God the Father. On the contrary, God is embodied in Jesus as the spirit of self-sacrifice, the only gateway to the future, and to Paradise. For Christian fundamentalism it is the violent shedding of Jesus blood by his enemies that constitutes the saving sacrifice. On the contrary it is only Jesus's utterly non-violent offering of himself - in opposition to violence - that was pleasing to God. How I wish that this obvious distinction was more often seen and emphasised. The clear implication of Jaja's protest in 'Purple Hibiscus' is that he had never heard that distinction being made in church or school, and that his anger arose from the violence of his own rigorous father, Papa Eugene - who saw no moral error in that violence either.
    Go To Comment
  • 16 comments

    Seán Ó Conaill – Jaja’s Question: A Blasphemous Theology?

    December 9 2025
    Joe O'Leary
    ""whether on the one hand you think we should interpret Jesus' acceptance of crucifixion as obedience to God the Father's refusal of the option of violence, or, on the contrary, as submission to God the Father's need for a divine victim to satisfy divine justice? You know well how heavily Christian fundamentalism depends upon that second interpretation - but still you leave open the possibility that God needed Jesus to suffer to balance the scales of divine justice - because our own sufferings are insufficient?" Again, just consulting what I've always believed, I would say that God allowed his Son to be a victim of human violence and the Son accepted this as the will of God. Why did God allow it and why did the Son accept it? There's a discourse of "sacrifice" running through the whole Bible. Jesus's suffering and death are seen as a sacrificial offering. I think that Jesus himself saw his forthcoming death in that light, if we take Mark 10:45 as the actual words of the historical Jesus--"to give his life a ransom for many"--like the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53: "upon him was the punishment that made us whole... the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all". The non-violence of Jesus in the Passion is modelled on the non-violence of the Suffering Servant. To say that God allowed his Son to die is a bit tepid. The suffering and death of his Son is a supreme positive redemptive action on the part of God. God descending to the depths of human weakness in a radical kenosis, which paradoxically is the most stunning demonstration of his love of humanity, his condescension to our weakness, and his true omnipotence. The text you quote from Origen is beautiful. The book of Joshua is a pretty genocidal one and Origen insists that it must not be read literally and "carnally" in the manner of the Jews (sorry, but Origen talks like that, and we need to overcome this). He writes the name "Joshua" as "Jesus" throughout his homilies (as does the Septuagint), and this helps his interpretation of the destruction of Israel's enemies as a tale of Christ's non-violent, spiritual victory. Of course our own sufferings by themselves would be useless, but if we unite our sufferings with those of Jesus then this mysterious logic comes into play: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” (Col 1:24). Suffering and death, which are fearfully negative things, become positive and redemptive for the Christian. It's a paradox and a mystery. To suffer is a miserable fate, but it is a privilege to suffer with Jesus Christ. I have to give "references" for all these thoughts, because they come directly or indirectly from Scripture. Why did Christ have to die? Scripture replies: he died for you, because he loved you, and showed God's love for you by shedding his human blood so that the world would be fully reconciled with God. It sounds like sheer nonsense, yet it has made sense to Christians at all times.
    Go To Comment
  • 16 comments

    Seán Ó Conaill – Jaja’s Question: A Blasphemous Theology?

    December 9 2025
    Sean O'Conaill
    So, Joe, no one will ever know, with any clarity, where exactly you yourself stand on the meaning of the Easter events? You will never tell us whether on the one hand you think we should interpret Jesus' acceptance of crucifixion as obedience to God the Father's refusal of the option of violence, or, on the contrary, as submission to God the Father's need for a divine victim to satisfy divine justice? You know well how heavily Christian fundamentalism depends upon that second interpretation - but still you leave open the possibility that God needed Jesus to suffer to balance the scales of divine justice - because our own sufferings are insufficient? Isn't it from indecision and prevarication on this question that doubt and suspicion and revulsion, rather than prayer, faith and hope, arise? In the third Christian Century - prior to Constantine's 'revelation' - Origen wrote as follows: “Jesus, our Lord, conquered not by fighting but by dying; he overcame not by inflicting wounds but by receiving them. In his cross is the true victory, where violence is excluded and death itself is defeated.” (From Homilies on Joshua - Homily 15) Note the clear implication there that the Resurrection was Jesus's reward - from the Father - for REJECTING violence. Does it truly not matter whether we think of God the Father as abetting violence or as rejecting it? Please do not respond with references to other sources. What do YOU believe?
    Go To Comment
previous comment

Copyright 2025. Designed by acton|bv

  • Home
  • Liturgy
    • Weekday Homily Resources
    • Sunday Homily Resources
    • Presider’s Page
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact