St Joseph the Worker
The feast of St Joseph the Worker was established on 1 May by Pope Pius XII after the Second World War to associate the Catholic Church with Labour day, which
Continue readingPius V – Pope and Saint
Today the Church in its calendar honours St Pius V, who was pope from 1566 until 1572. He had been a Dominican friar, and unlike many popes of this period
Continue readingSt Catherine of Siena
I reflected last week on St George’s day that one of the purposes of patron saints is to inspire us by their teachings and example and give us coherence and
Continue readingStephen – the first martyr
In the narrative we hear from the book of Acts at Mass this week about St Stephen, the first deacon and the first martyr, we don’t hear the speech he
Continue readingStephen – the first deacon
As we move into chapter 6 of Acts as our first reading at Mass today, there is another omission: this is the beginning of the chapter when we’re told that
Continue readingThird Sunday of Easter – Encountering Jesus
Today’s gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Easter, the account of the meeting of the two disciples with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35)
Continue readingSt Mark the Evangelist
Today is the feast of St Mark the Evangelist – normally in Venice, where his relics are held, this would be a great festival. The author of the earliest and
Continue readingFriday’s Four Saints
As it happens today we can honour four saints – four exceptional saints of Europe. Their lives help us understand our shared Christian culture in this continent, important in these
Continue readingThe feeding of the five thousand
The gospel readings from John’s gospel in the Easter season are designed to show us how the risen Christ was experienced among early Christians in their reception of accounts of
Continue readingSt George’s Day
Today is the Solemnity of St George, Patron Saint and Protector of England. One good thing about the current crisis is that we’re spared some of the tabloid flag-waving which
Continue reading