The Play's the Thing by Ann Swinfen My rating: 4 of 5 stars Having returned from a journey to Muscovy in the last edition of the series, Dr Christoval Alvarez finds the position at the hospital that was supposed to be held until her return has been given to another. Although Kit manages to eek… Continue reading Review: The Play’s the Thing
Month: August 2018
Avoiding the Bandwagon
For anyone who maintains an even tenuous link with the Church in midst of the ongoing criminal scandals that appear on an almost daily basis in the press or online, the salutary warning below from Dame Catherine Wybourne osb, aka DigitalNun, is both timely and necessary. Read the whole story by clicking here.
Homilies: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
My homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) as preached during the 5pm Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69. "Could the grumbling from some of the disciples be a case of misplaced expectations? Might it be that they were unable to cope… Continue reading Homilies: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Review: Voyage to Muscovy
Voyage to Muscovy by Ann Swinfen My rating: 4 of 5 stars Life was looking reasonably good for our eponymous hero, a professional position as a physician, a wide and diverse group of friends, and financial security that had previously not existed. The only thing that was missing was involvement in the intrigue that came… Continue reading Review: Voyage to Muscovy
Paul VI On Liturgical Reform
The content of the post below from the PrayTellBlog is as true today as it was when it was first spoken back in 1975, and, perhaps, in the light of social media and the internet is almost truer today. Enjoy the read. http://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2018/08/23/paul-vi-on-liturgical-reform-5/
Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the People of God
The letter below from Pope Francis to the whole People of God was released in Rome tonight Australian time... Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the People of God “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” ( 1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I… Continue reading Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the People of God
Liturgy, Leadership, and Governance in the Church
...the church as sacrament is inseparable from its baptismal and Eucharistic practices, for the unity of the church is sacramentally realized in its communion with its Lord (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Therefore the principles of good worship are also the principles of life in the church more generally, since the nature of the church is manifested… Continue reading Liturgy, Leadership, and Governance in the Church
The Nature of Church
...the church is sacramental, mystical, Christological, and pneumatological before it is sociological or juridical. The unity of the church is not psychological, political, or a federation of the like-minded, but a sacramental and spiritual unity in Christ first established in baptism and then expressed, nourished, and brought to maturity in eucharistic communion. Susan K. Wood,… Continue reading The Nature of Church
Homilies: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
My homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) as preached during the 5pm Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were Proverbs 9:1-6; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58. "Jesus is the Bread of Life who promises to be with us forever. When we revel in the great gift that is Jesus' presence… Continue reading Homilies: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Homilies: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
My homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) as preached during the 5pm Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. The readings were 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30 - 5:2; John 6:41-51. "The bread which Jesus promises is not designed to satisfy our physical hunger, but rather to feed us for eternal life,… Continue reading Homilies: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Review: Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead
Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead by A.P. Martin My rating: 2 of 5 stars The basic narrative of this story was about the only thing that kept me reading to the end. I wanted to know what happened to the characters in the end - but even then I was… Continue reading Review: Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead
Coming To Grasp With Canon Law
The subject of canon law has been much discussed in broader circles than usual in Australia over the last five years or so, largely because of the work of the now concluded Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It has been surprising to this particular observer how many people who would never… Continue reading Coming To Grasp With Canon Law
Is Transparency a Cure-All?
A very powerful article from Massimo Faggioli appears today on the website of Commonweal magazine, under the title of this post. The sub-title is, perhaps, more revelatory: "The Abuse Crisis and the Risks of Ecclesial Revolution". While acknowledging the undeniable need for ecclesial reform, Faggioli sounds a warning that the solution might produce unintended consequences: The problem… Continue reading Is Transparency a Cure-All?
THAT Change
It has been saddening to watch some of the responses to the recent change (a word I use deliberately!) in the Church's stance towards the application of the death penalty. Most of those responses have come from a particular part of the Church, not surprisingly, but it is saddening still to see those folks, whom… Continue reading THAT Change
The Virtue of Forgiveness
A powerful contribution in today's edition of Eureka Street from Ben Pobjie who, although describing himself as a 'militant atheist', has become "enamoured of one element of Christianity that I consider its most striking, and most laudable, feature: forgiveness". Compassion is easy. There is no great challenge in opening your heart to those who are suffering,… Continue reading The Virtue of Forgiveness
