Glory

When I think of glory I think of honour and celebration, light and majesty, truth and reward. I think of praise, of singing, of music that lifts up the heart. Our lives lived well give glory to God. We can celebrate with all creation the dawning of each new day, we can thank God for our gifts and talents, for our friends and family and our communion. We can honour Him through our prayers and by what we do to help our neighbour. And just like choristers do, we can turn labour into song, we can raise our thoughts above the menial and mundane until we find ourselves at home in a house of praise, whether that house has at its centre a kitchen sink or a marble altar, God is there. Glory be to God, to God be the praise. Let us serve and glorify Him all our days.

I'll be offline during Lent, coming back in Holy Week. I've decided to devote more time to reading and writing, and I'm also planning to enrol in a Life in the Spirit seminar taking place in St Gerard's parish during the Lenten season. So, happy Lent to everyone.....God bless, see you in Holy Week.

World Day of The Sick 11 February 2012 Our Lady of Lourdes

Lourdes grotto

Holy Oils St Peter's Cathedral Mass of Chrism

Mercy Prayer Centre Fruithill Park Belfast

St Malachy's Church Belfast

Prayers for the sick

Jesus stretched out his hand and healed

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/16026b.htm

Saint Claude de la Colombiere

Despair Prayer of Claude de la Colombiere

Lord, I am in this world to show Your mercy to others.
Other people will glorify You
by making visible the power of Your grace
by their fidelity and constancy to You.
For my part I will glorify You
by making known how good You are to sinners,
that Your mercy is boundless
and that no sinner no matter how great his offences
should have reason to despair of pardon.
If I have grievously offended You, My Redeemer,
let me not offend You even more
by thinking that You are not kind enough to pardon Me.

Amen.

Mercy Prayer Centre Belfast

Bouquet for Our Lady

Milltown Cemetery Belfast

St Therese of Lisieux Church Belfast

http://www.holy-familyparish.com

Prayer for the Sick

Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ

Rest your weary ones.

Bless your dying ones.

Soothe your suffering ones.

Pity your afflicted ones.

Shield your joyous ones.

And for all your love’s sake.

Amen.

St Michael the Archangel Church Belfast

St Michael the Archangel Church Finaghy Road North Belfast.

Fr John Murray PP is Down and Connor Vocations Director

http://www.downandconnor.org/diocese/vocations-director/

Silence

Silence

Silence is a creative

Channel reserved

For a wordless language of communion

That elevates the mind

Infusing in the soul

A Godly fragrance

Fresh as blossoms

On bending boughs.

CCO statement on the faith significance of Sacraments

CCO statement on the faith significance of Sacraments:

Catholic Communications Office statement on the importance of the faith significance of the celebration of the Sacraments

In light of the public debate today on the celebration of the Sacraments, and the commercial costs facing families, the Catholic Communications Office has published the following statement:

The primary focus of First Holy Communion is the reception of the Body of Christ by the child for the first time; and, on the continued growth of the spiritual life of the child. The First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies are important days – landmark days – and should be memorable, proud and happy occasions for the child, her/his parents, grandparents, sponsor, brothers, sisters, classmates and school. However all the pressure of trying to make these sacramental days special for the child can cause parents a lot of stress. Bishops, priests and schools are very concerned about the cost issue facing parents with children for First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation and have discussed this matter in parishes. If the emphasis for sacramental preparation is placed on commercially related concerns, rather than on the spiritual significance of the sacrament, then it is not a good preparation for Catholic children.

The Church’s role is limited to sacramental preparation – in cooperation with parents, schools and parishes – and responsibility relating to social celebrations rests with parents. To experience that authentic celebration of a sacrament, those celebratory aspects which take place outside of the sacramental ceremonies ought to be balanced and appropriate for the occasion. In this regard the Church continues our long tradition of encouraging parishes to provide, for example after the First Holy Communion Mass, a locally organised and modest gathering so that the faith community can together celebrate this special day in the lives of children and of their families. Such modest parish-based initiatives also help to move the emphasis away from the commercial focus. Simplicity ought to characterise the social celebration of these sacramental occasions so that their faith significance is not lost.

ENDS

Further information: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444

Brigid - A Poem for Today

Brigid

Words have fallen asleep

On tongues that once were fired with zeal.

Yet still the flames of faith burn on

And each new generation

Knows anew the Brigid

Who spoke of God

Who walked mean streets

And left grace and mercy in her wake.

Stony walls of silence

Crosswinds of lostness

Do not diminish the image

Of a woman of our time.

A voice for the voiceless

In streets of dereliction

Brigid's footsteps make a faint music

As the flames of faith illuminate again

The passage of time.

St Brigid A Pilgrim Soul

St Brigid – A Pilgrim Soul

Just as Brigid's flame is legend

May our lives too be filled with the light of love

That burns within us.

May we, like Brigid, tend to the needs of others

And hear the cry of the poor,

May we bring to the world

All we know of the virtues

That made of Brigid a pilgrim soul:

Only at home

In the hearts of others

Only at rest in Christ

Only at peace when building up

With the tools of faith and hope

A nation of believers.

http://www.brigidine.org.au/index.cfm

http://www.solasbhride.ie/

http://omgcparish.org/

http://www.kandle.ie/2012/01/17/feile-bhride-2012-kildare-town/

Some of you have been asking about my book Travelling Light A Book of Days. Well, it's going well. Many people have told me they find reading it brings joy , while others say it is consoling as well as being easy to read. Others say they keep it by their bedside or favourite chair and dip into every now and then. One friend has aked when the next book will be available and almost everyone near and far has encouraged me to keep on writing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Travelling-Light-Ann-Murray

The book is also available from Lulu ( see top of page) and the DRC Veritas book shop in Donegall Street, beside St Patrick's Church, and from the bookshop in St Michael's Parish Church Belfast.

All proceeds from the book go directly to charity. So far donations have been made to

St Vincent de Paul, Project Zambia, Tuesday's Child, Legion of Mary, Kate's Project and Rosemount House. During the season of Lent all proceeds will go to Trocaire, an Irish charity alleviating suffering in many areas of the world, particularly where there is devastation and strife.

Worship on Wednesday - Christian Unity Week

St Nicholas Parish Church Belfast

http://saintnicholasparishchurchbelfast.shutterfly.com/

Rev Elizabeth Hanna, Rector at St Nicholas's ( top of the table)

Gathered round one table, eating from one dish, great symbolism of universality and unity.

Kenyan Stew and dainty little cupcakes:

Church of Ireland hospitality

The parish has close links with diocese of Kajiado Kenya

The stained glass windows I'll have to see in the light of day.

A grace before meals by Terry Waite:

O Lord:
In a world where many are lonely:
We thank you for our friendships.
In a world where many are captive:
We thank you for our freedom.
In a world where many are hungry:
We thank you for your provision.
We pray that you will:
Enlarge our sympathy,
Deepen our compassion,
And give us grateful hearts.
In Christ’s name.

Amen

To your will may I surrender

Dear Jesus

To Your will

May I surrender

Past and present

Yet to be

In Your love

May I be open

To Your mercy

Blessed and free

In Your calling

May I listen

To Your look

May I respond

In Your wounds

May I find healing

Both in this life

And beyond

RMcG

Rosaleen McGuinness SFO

(bethanyhouse at talktalk dot net)

Showers of Roses - St Therese Poem

St Therese of Lisieux

I shall spend my heaven doing good on earth

Showers of Roses

To earth's level

The petals of promise fall

Heaven stoops low

At our bidding call

And richer are we
More blessed one and all
Receiving such graces
From heaven's bright stall.

St Brigid Mary of the Gael - Acrostic

Iconographer : Adrian Hart

'Africa' St Patrick's Missions January/ February 2012

http://www.solasbhride.ie/

St Brigid Mary of the Gael - Acrostic

Stories have been passed down but
Truth has prevailed

Brigid is synonymous with change
Rural areas became important places
Infused with the light of faith
Gleaning all she could, Brigid as
Instrument of God,
Discerned what was good.

Monasteries and schools stand
As testament to her faith
Roses, sprung from wilderness,
Yielded to God’s grace;

Offering alms to the needy
Founding places of prayer

Teacher and miracle-worker,
Hallowing the ground
Earning her place as

Gem in Ireland’s crown
Abbess of Kildare
Epitome of womanhood
Lauded in prayer.

Alfie Lambe Servant of God

The Servant of God Alphonsus Lambe

Grotto at St Mary's Chapel Belfast

Legion of Mary led the Rosary at the grotto after Mass today

on the anniversary of the death of Alfie Lambe

St Mary's Chapel

http://www.legionofmary.ie/causes/profile/alfie-lambe/