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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Novena to St Malachy


It has been a while! But I did warn you that there would be lean pickings on the blog because other duties and writing needed to be addressed. That said, I am hoping to get back into things in the next while and get back blogging. 

However, an important blog for today: the Novena to St Malachy of Armagh. It begins today and ends on his feastday, the 3rd November. He was one of our great reformers, a man formed in the spirit of St Patrick, and one who suffered for trying to bring the Church in Ireland into greater conformity with the Gospel. We certainly need his prayers and help at this time given the state of Ireland and the weak and fearful state of the Church here. So please join in the novena to this great saint. The prayer is below. Please spread the word.

Novena Prayer to St Malachy

Glorious Saint Malachy,
ardent yet gentle shepherd of God’s people,
we come before you seeking your
intercession and protection
in this time of trial.

Malachy, angel of peace,
who brought those in conflict
to be reconciled
in the name of Christ,
grant lasting peace and reconciliation
to our country.

Mighty pillar of the Church,
who banished error
by the truth of your preaching,
obtain for each of us the grace
of sincere repentance and renewal
that we may serve the Lord in holiness
all our days.

Most fatherly Archbishop of Armagh,
enkindle the hearts of bishops and priests
that, aided by your patronage and example,
they may labour to form a holy people
            strong in faith
            constant in prayer
            abounding in charity
            devoted to the Sacraments
            and loyal to the See of Peter.

O saint rich in mercy and compassion,
look upon all who are suffering or in need
and obtain for them support, healing and hope.

St Malachy, ablaze with heavenly fire,
be a light to guide us on our pilgrim way
to the Kingdom of Heaven.
There may we be united with you
in singing the praises of God
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Monday, March 28, 2016

"I Will Be His Spouse"


This evening we celebrated Holy Mass in my parish for the repose of Mother Angelica. For your information, here is the text of the homily I delivered at that Mass. A poor tribute indeed.

"I Will Be His Spouse"

Remembering Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation 

In these days of the Easter Octave as the Church celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord, in the Holy Mass the readings are those of Jesus’ Resurrection appearances and the first proclamation of the Gospel in the early Church as preserved in the Acts of the Apostles. The Lord’s rising from the dead and the kerygma are united as one in these days of celebration. The Resurrection was no mere event that was to be left as another supernatural occurrence to be marveled at. No, it was one which shook the foundations of human history, of the world, and urged the Lord’s disciples to proclaim it from the rooftops.  Everything has changed, death has been conquered, salvation has been won, now, disciples of Jesus Christ, go out to the whole world and proclaim this Good News. None of those who call themselves Christian are exempt from this, no matter what are circumstances are, our state in life, our poverty or poor health, we are called to be evangelisers. As the Resurrection touches our lives, we are to be witnesses so it will touch the lives of others.

If we wish to understand the life of Mother Angelica, who was taken from us yesterday afternoon, we need to understand this call to evangelisation. She was first and foremost a disciple of Jesus Christ and then, by necessity, an evangelist. From the moment of her conversion in 1944, when she experienced a physical healing but an even great spiritual one, she understood there was one thing necessary, the better way – to serve the Master. In her letter of farewell to her mother, as she entered the Poor Clares in Cleveland, the then Rita Rizzo said “I will be His Spouse” and in this she knew that his concerns would be hers, and at the heart of them, the salvation of souls.  She fell “completely in love with Our Lord” and with his people. Throughout her long life, that love for Christ and souls intensified and she never lost sight of her responsibilities as a disciple and a bride of the Lord. 

Though she had retired to a Poor Clare community to live a life of prayer, Mother was open to whatever God was calling her to do to save souls. As other nuns fruitfully win souls for Christ through prayer and sacrifice, Mother was to add a third means – broadcasting – evangelisation through the mass media. Heeding the call to found a monastery in Alabama she never thought that that work was the first step in the foundation of a global Catholic network that would proclaim the Easter message, the Gospel to millions throughout the world. A slot in a local broadcaster in Alabama would give way to a makeshift studio in a garage which became what some in the media in the last day or so have been calling “a media empire”. Lest we be led astray by such terms, Mother would prefer to call it a means of proclaiming the Gospel, of teaching the faith and leading souls to Christ their Saviour. It was faith, determination, zeal and much suffering which bore fruit not just in building EWTN, but in touching the lives and hearts of millions and converting many to Christianity and Catholicism. 

Mother suffered for all this, no good work is ever accomplished without suffering, and she was not afraid to carry the cross. No cross was too heavy to carry, no sacrifice too great if it led to the proclamation of the Gospel and the reiteration of the truth. She detested the lie, the dissemination of falsehoods which undermined the Gospel, and so she found herself in many battles, some of them with pastors of the Church as she called them to fidelity to Church teaching. She was one with Peter, supporting St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in their pontificates, putting the Network entirely at the service of the Church. 

But in all her troubles, Mother never lost her sense of humour. Grace builds on nature, St Paul tells us, and in Angelica a positive view of life and a mischievous sense of humour were enhanced by her progress in virtue. She saw that a life steeped in Christ could be joyful, happy, even hilarious because this life was one rooted in the Resurrection and the victory of the Lord over sin and death. Holiness was the goal, and though the struggle for holiness was real, that struggle was, in her own words, beautiful. 

Mother Angelica was one of the great evangelisers of the Church in the modern age, and I have no doubt that she will continue to carry out the mission the Lord gave her when he called her; recalling the sentiments of St Thérèse, I believe that mother’s work is just beginning.  But for all that, if I were to encourage you to reflect on one aspect of Mother’s life and legacy, I would have to give precedence to her love and service of the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In this most wonderful Sacrament we will find the mystery of Mother’s life and the object of her love and service. Here was her strength, her joy, her peace, her holiness. Here was the source of Mother’s zeal, wisdom and confidence: the root of her apostolate. Here Angelica found her Lord and shared with him the most intimate moments.  Let this be her greatest lesson to all of us: to seek the Lord in the Holy Eucharist; to adore him most profoundly; to serve him; to spend time with him; to entrust our entire lives to him who has given his life for us.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and may perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.

Though officially we cannot say it, my heart already is: Mother Angelica, pray for us!

Mother Has Gone To God


Mother has gone to God. And on Easter Sunday! May the Lord grant her eternal rest.

Mother Angelica was one of those extraordinary charismatic figures who light up the Church and the world at certain times in history. Full of faith and determination such figures understand that they have been given a task and they dedicate themselves completely to fulfilling that task for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. In her work Mother was zealous, wise and even mischievous in a good sense. She made firm friends and inspired millions, she also made enemies and some powerful ones too. Yet with humble trust, a forceful God-centred confidence and wit she carried on. In every battle she abandoned herself to God and she won. Her life was spent serving the Church and no suffering, no sacrifice was too great for her. She marvelled at the wonder of God, immersed herself in the Word of God and rejoiced in the presence of God. She has left us all an extraordinary legacy.

On a personal level I know I should be sad, but today I experience a sense of joy. I truly believe we now have another Saint in heaven, and my first reaction is to pray to her. Of course the Church makes such decisions, but privately I am convinced she will be a powerful patron for all of us in these difficult times. That she died on Easter Sunday is, to my mind, of great significance. May she now share in the beatific vision and intercede for all of us.

Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord, and through her intercession bless the Network and our EWTN family. You have taken our Mother from us, now in your mercy glorify her and give her back to us as our heavenly intercessor and protector.

Mother, thank you for your life of dedicated service, watch over us.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

On The Way Back

As I mentioned some time ago, slim pickings at the moment regarding this blog, however, since I have not blogged in a couple of months, I had better get back in the saddle. So for Lent I will be posting each day, all going well. Given the season, I will offer some posts on the Lenten pilgrimage in Rome, the Station Churches, beginning tomorrow with Santa Sabina where, traditionally, the Papal Ash Wednesday Mass is celebrated.