17th March 2019 - Solemnity of St Patrick, National Apostle of Ireland

On this weeks programme we have a combination of things for our listeners. We have a repeat of a programme from 2013 with Fr Michael Liston who reflects on the real St Patrick. In addition due to an error at WL102fm last week, our programme for the first Sunday of Lent did not go out at 10am as originally planned. As such, we are repeating the interview with Dr Jessie Rogers on this weeks programme. We have a reflection on the gospel from the 2nd Sunday of Lent (the account of the Transfiguration from St Luke) as well as some other notices and liturgical odds & ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE. 

Who is St Patrick? - A reflection with Fr Micháel Liston

St Patrick's Day is the national Irish holiday when we commemorate firstly the memory of the man who brought the Christian Faith to the Emerald Isle around 432AD and also a celebration of what is good and great about us as a people and a country in culture and other fields of life.

It is also a day when we remember in a special way our emigrants who for many and varied reasons but generally economic ones have had to leave "the land of our birth". As a returned emigrant, St Patrick's Day gained in significance while I was away overseas, a day of sadness for being far from kith and kin, but also of joy and pride in being from a little isle on the verge of the mighty Atlantic which, has in its own small way, has contributed to the betterment of society and our world in general through art, music, song, literature, science, peacekeeping under the UN, our many NGO's and volunteers, and of course the contribution of our missionaries to the development in many parts of the world in education, health care and the promotion of human rights in the course of spreading the gospel and witnessing to their faith.

We remember all of our diaspora fondly and as we pause in prayer or raise a glass in honour of St Patrick, from our hearts, we wish them all a very Happy St Patrick's Day from the Emerald Isle!

But like so many Christian feasts, St Patrick’s Day has been somewhat hijacked. St Patrick has about as much to do with a pint of Guinness as St Valentine has to do with a box of chocolates and a romantic meal for two. But what does this saint, so strong in missionary zeal and about whom we know very little, have to do with our modern day celebrations? The answer comes from his Confessio itself. 

In the very opening paragraphs of the autobiography, St Patrick offers a meditation on the gift of faith and the praise that we owe in return to God for such a gift. Perhaps this is St Patrick’s greatest relevance, particularly in a culture that seems increasingly hostile to declarations of faith. He refuses to stay quiet; his evangelising zeal comes from knowing that he must speak to others of Christ:

“That is why I cannot be silent – nor would it be good to do so – about such great blessings and such a gift that the Lord so kindly bestowed in the land of my captivity. This is how we can repay such blessings, when our lives change and we come to know God, to praise and bear witness to his great wonders before every nation under heaven.”   

Enjoy the celebrations of St Patrick’s Day, but we must remember Christ’s call to conversion in our lives; a call to conversion and change that St Patrick felt so strongly that he left behind everything he had and followed Jesus so that he might bring the gospel to others. 

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Originally broadcast on 17th March 2013, a dear friend of the programme, Fr. Micheal Liston, joins John and Ann Keily to celebrate the solemnity of St. Patrick (Patron Saint of Ireland).

Fr. Micheal introduces St. Patrick as someone who suffered a lot in his youth, but in the middle of all his suffering, he became conscious of God's presence and love. Fr. Micheal encouraged us to set aside the external celebrations of St. Patrick's day to look at the model of St. Patrick as someone who had discovered the mysterious presence of God in his life. We are invited to reflect on the reality that God is here with us as He was for Patrick. God is fond of us. God has time for us.

St. Patrick is also a great model of how we should respond to God's grace in our lives. Patrick recognised his own limitations and the abundance of God's grace working in his life. Fr. Micheal invited us to confess, as Patrick did, that with all our limitations, it is God who has done this good work in our lives. Patrick gives glory to God, because the glory is God's. God has a sheer ghrá (affection/love) for us and we are called through prayer and humility to imitate Patrick by responding to God's grace and love with a spirit of self-giving and gratitude. This is the true spirit of Patrick.

You can listen to the interview with Fr Michael excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Repeat - Reflecting on the journey of Lent with Dr Jessie Rogers

Due to an error at WL102fm last week, our programme for the first Sunday of Lent did not go out at 10am as originally planned. As such, we are repeating the interview with Dr Jessie Rogers on this weeks programme.

Dr Jessie Rogers who lectures in scriptures at the Pontifical University St Patrick's College Maynooth and would be familiar to many people across the diocese of Limerick as she often gives retreats and reflections around scripture and was also involved with Synod2016.

During our time on this weeks programme Jessie reflects on the journey of lent and opening the space of Lent. She reflects on how Lent is a preparation/journey to a mystery - the mystery and wonder of Easter. We reflect on how Lent is a journey where we try to get rid of things to allow us to listen for and meet Jesus. It is a time to pray and listen carefully about our lives and where we go in our lives.

Sometimes we are familiar with the rituals and the practices but not 100% sure why we do it. So this year maybe we can go into the meanings behind what we do. After all the invitation that lent gives us is to slow down, to de-clutter, to make space for God by giving up something, not to give up something for the sake of it but rather to make space to meet the Lord.

You can listen to the reflection from Jessie excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Luke 9:28-36

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus* took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake,* they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,* one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen;* listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

Reflections on the gospel reading for the 2nd Sunday of Lent

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 2; 2nd week of Lent

Saints of the Week

March 18th - St Cyril of Jerusalem 
March 19th - St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
March 20th - St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
March 21st - St Enda
March 22nd - Bl Clemens August Von Galen
March 23rd - St Turibius of Mogrovejo

5th February 2017 - A visit to Lourdes with Fr Michael Liston

On this weeks programme, John catches up with an old friend of SS102fm, Fr Michael Liston and sits down with him to take a visit to Lourdes and the story of Bernadette. We have reflections on this weeks gospel as well as some notices and other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

The Story of Lourdes

Fr Michael Liston makes a welcome return to SS102fm this week to reflect with us on the story of Lourdes ahead of the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes which is celebrated on 11th February.

Fr Michael takes us through the story of Bernadette; the little French peasant girl through whom the world was to hear the message of Lourdes. 

The story of Lourdes is one of gentleness, friendship, wonder and a reminder to penance being a small part of it. It is a story of a parish response to an event out of the ordinary led by some of the youngsters - the poorest of the community - who led the way. 

People bring their pain and sufferings to Lourdes but yet it is a place of peace, friendship grounded in the original relationship between "It" and Bernadette. There is a huge opportunity to hear afresh the story of our faith in a new way.
You can listen to the interview with Fr Michael excerpted from the main programme HERE.

Gospel - Matthew 5:13 -16

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Reflections on this weeks gospel

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1; 5th week in Ordinary time

Saints of the Week

February 6th - St Paul Miki & Companions
February 7th - St Mel 
February 8th - St Josephine Bakhita
February 9th - Saint Attracta of Killaraght
February 10th - St Scholastica
February 11th - Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (World Day of Prayer for the Sick) 

Notices  - you can read many of the notices here.

Christmas Day 2013

From all the SacredSpace 102fm team, wishing you and yours every best wish and blessing of this Holy & Festive Season and into the New Year 2014.

May the Peace of the Babe of Bethlehem be the gift you receive this Christmastide.

 

From

 

John, Lorraine, Ann, Shane

***************

 

Christmas Day Programme

On this special two hour programme we celebrate this special day with reflections, favourite Christmas carols and hymns, readings, poetry and our regular reflection on the Gospel of the day.

You can listen to the podcast of the programme HERE.

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Reflections for Christmas Day including some used in the Christmas Day programme special:

"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.³All went to their own towns to be registered.⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.¹⁰But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah,^* the Lord.¹²  

This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,^* praising God and saying,

¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

^*

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."  - (Luke 2: 1-20)

Reflections on the gospel:

Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

I wish you Christmas

I wish you Christmas
And in that I wish you everything
I do not wish you a Merry Christmas for that is too small a wish. Too limited, too fragile an expression to carry the magnificence of Christmas.
Too narrow a vision to catch the star, angel, song and shepherd awe.
I wish you Christmas.

I wish you Christmas.
And with that I wish you life's great Good News.
I do not wish you 'season's greetings' for that is too vague, too impersonal, too void of warmth and love.
Because I wish you far more than a few days of festivity or a few hours of gaiety which will vanish too quickly.
I wish you Christmas and in that I wish you Good News.

I wish you Christmas.
And in that I wish you Jesus Christ. An infant of Bethlehem ......but more. A teacher of truth....but more.
A saviour, I wish you the sin-forgiver, the life giver, the death conqueror.
I wish you Christmas. And in that I wish you Jesus Christ.

I wish you Christmas
For when I wish you Christmas I wish you God. So I wish you God.
Nothing less. For nothing less will do, and nothing less than that is given at Christmas.

I wish God
I wish you Good News
I wish you Jesus Christ
I wish you Christmas

From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope
(Sermo 1 in Nativitate Domini, 1-3: PI, 54, 190-193)

Christian, remember your dignity

 

 

No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.

In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator. He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which he had overthrown mankind.

And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy: Glory to God in the highest, and they proclaim peace to men of good will as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world. When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvellous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?

Beloved, let us give thanks to God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Spirit, because in his great love for us he took pity on us, and when we were dead in our sins he brought us to life with Christ, so that in him we might be a new creation. Let us throw off our old nature and all its ways and, as we have come to birth in Christ, let us renounce the works of the flesh.

Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God’s kingdom.

Through the sacrament of baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Spirit. Do not drive away so great a guest by evil conduct and become again a slave to the devil, for your liberty was bought by the blood of Christ.

Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.

 

 

A Childhood Christmas
by Patrick Kavanagh (1905-67)

One side of the potato-pits was white with frost-

How wonderful that was, how wonderful

And when we put our ears to the paling-post

The music that came out was magical

The light between the ricks of hay and straw

Was a hole in Heaven's gable. An apple tree

With its December-glinting fruit we saw-

O you, Eve, were the world that tempted me

To eat the knowledge that grew in clay

And death the germ within it! Now and then

I can remember something of the gay

Garden that was childhoods. Again

The tracks of Cattle to a drinking-place,

A green stone lying sideways in a ditch

Or any common sight the transfigured face

Of a beauty that the world did not touch.

My father played the melodeon
Outside at our gate
There were stars in the morning east
And they danced to his music.
Across the wild bogs his melodeon called
To Lennons and Callans.
As I pulled on my trousers in a hurry
I knew some strange thing had happened.
Outside in the cow-house my mother
Made the music of milking;
The light of her stable-lamp was a star
And the frost of Bethlehem made it twinkle.
A water-hen screeched in the bog,
Mass-going feet
Crunched the wafer-ice on the pot-holes,
Somebody wistfully twisted the bellows wheel.
My child poet picked out the letters
On the grey stone,
In silver the wonder of a Christmas townland,
The winking glitter of a frosty dawn.
Cassiopeia was over
Cassidy's hanging hill,
I looked and three whin bushes rode across
The horizon-the Three Wise Kings.
An old man passing said:
'Can't he make it talk' -
The melodeon. I hid in the doorway
And tightened the belt of my box-pleated coat.
I nicked six nicks on the door-post
With my penknife's big blade-
There was a little one for cutting tobacco.
And I was six Christmases of age.
My father played the melodeon,
My mother milked the cows,
And I had a prayer like a white rose pinned
On the Virgin Mary's blouse.

Celebrating Christmas after the loss of a loved one

God of compassion, there is such a hole in my heart today!
Today should be a day of joy, but I feel only the emptiness and loss of someone so beloved. While the world celebrates around me, I remember Christmas celebrations of the past and I long to have my loved one wih me.
I bring my sorrows to you Lord, like some odd gift of the magi and dump them at your feet. In my blind tears I wonder if anyone can possibly understand the depth of my sadness.
Yes, you can.
You sent your son to be with us in our deepest sorrows and I know that even though I might not feel it at this minute, you are here with me, grieving with me, caring for me in my sadness and loving me. Dearest Lord, help me to turn to the one I miss so much today and speak. Help me heal the loss of our parting and help me not to regret the things I didn't say.
Sorrow tears at my heart, but today I ask that my loss soften my heart and make me more compassionate with everyone I meet.



17th November 2013 - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) - Fr Michael Liston on his book "Come and See: The Story of Lourdes"

Fr Michael Liston and Ann Kiely - SS102fm 14 Nov 2013

On this weeks programme, Fr Michael Liston makes a welcome return to the SS102fm and comes on to share with us about the launch of his new book "Come and See: The Story of Lourdes". We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as some liturgical odds & ends and some local notices.

If you would like to listen to the podcast of the programme you can listen HERE.

If you could like to listen to Fr Michael's interview excerpted from the main programme HERE.

A Prayer for the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan

 

Creator God,

This is an awe inspiring planet,

wonderfully but fearfully made.

In Typhoon Haiyan we see again

the vulnerability of humanity

to the full force of nature’s energy.
 

We pray for all those affected:

Those who have lost loved ones,

Those who have had to witness mass burials,

Those who make up the faceless millions affected,

Those who need shelter, water, food, sanitation and medicine.

We pray for the emergency response teams:

For safety and strength as they assess the damage,

For communication lines to be restored,

For a quick and effective response to their findings,

For the resources required to be made available,

We pray for the long term recovery and resilience work:

That the growing intensity of typhoons would not be ignored,

That the erratic nature of recent monsoon rains would be noted,

That this vulnerable nation would not carry the challenge of climate change alone,

That the international community would respond with generosity and with justice.

 

Amen



You can donate to the appeals for aid:

• Trocaire
• Concern
• GOAL

 

 

Come and See - The Story of Lourdes

Often if we are to be able to look again/hear again what our faith is all about we have to be open to a different experience - out of the ordinary - and we have to be invited to come and see and hear things in a new way.

Lourdes has been part of Fr Michael's life since 1963 when he hitchhiked to Lourdes and worked in the City of the Poor for two weeks. It began a relationship with Lourdes which has continued right up to today when Fr Michael was always curious about the events of Lourdes.

As Bishop Donal Murray notes in the foreword this book is the fruit of many years of during which the author has pondering in his heart the story of Lourdes and about being a pilgrim in Lourdes. It is a story of a person passionate about Lourdes. Lourdes shows the church and the world as they ought to be where the sick and the marginalised have first place in the community where the young enthusiastic volunteers learn to be at the service of all.

The book is split into two parts - the history of the events at Lourdes and then a series of reflections on the meaning of Lourdes and pilgrimage. The story of Lourdes is one of gentleness, friendship, wonder and a reminder to penance being a small part of it. It is a story of a parish response to an event out of the ordinary led by some of the youngsters - the poorest of the community - who led the way. 

People bring their pain and sufferings to Lourdes but yet it is a place of peace, friendship grounded in the original relationship between "It" and Bernadette. There is a huge opportunity to hear afresh the story of our faith in a new way.

You can listen to Fr Michael's interview about Lourdes and his new book HERE.

 

Gospel - Luke 21:5-19

 

And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?" And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once."
 
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.
As the liturgical year comes towards its end the Church considers apocalyptic Scriptures. This week's Gospel from Luke reveal the full significance of the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead was a world changing event that altered everything in the human experience from religion to politics to nature.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

 

Word on Fire

English Dominicans

Sunday Reflections

Centre for Liturgy
Bloomingcactus

 

Liturgical Odds & Ends

 

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1; 33rd week in ordinary time

 

Saints of the Week

 

November 18th - Dedication of the Basilica's of St Peter (Vatican) and Paul (St Pauls Outside-the-Walls)

November 19th - St Agnes of Assisi

November 20th - St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

November 21st - Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

November 22nd - St Cecilia (patron of music and musicians)

November 23rd - St Columban (aka St Columbanus) (abbot & missionary)

Lourdes book launch - Fr Michael Liston - Nov 25th

Friend of SS102fm and one of our contributors who always gets a great response is Fr Michael Liston! And after being indisposed for a while, Fr Michael is back and has finished his book on Lourdes and next week will join us on the programme to discuss it.

But you are also  invited to a special book launch!

Come and See: The Story of Lourdes
An tAth. Micheál Liston

All proceeds on the night to the Limerick Lourdes Invalid Fund

'Come and See: the Story of Lourdes' will be launched by Bishop Brendan Leahy
Monday, November 25th 2013

The Forum, Mary immaculate College
(Enter by Courtbrack gate, Ashbourne Ave, opposite Scotts)

Book Signing from 7pm
Book Launch at 7:30pm
Light refreshments at 8pm

Publisher Veritas.

All proceeds on the night to Limerick Lourdes Invalid Fund

J'ai vu une lumiére douce avec la forme d'une belle fille

I saw a gentle light in the shape of a beautiful young girl

Chonaic mé solas séimh i gcló álainn

- Bernadette

19th May 2013 - Pentecost Sunday

On this weeks programme, John is joined by Fr Michael Liston to reflect on the great feast of Pentecost which draws the celebration of Easter to a close.

Michael Keating also makes a welcome return to the programme to join John for the reflection on the weekly gospel.

We have our regular review of the saints of the week and some other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the full programme podcast HERE. 

A Word with Fr Michael - Reflection on Pentecost
 

Fr Michael joins us this week to share a word about the feast of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church. Pentecost is seen as the end of the "joyful season" of Lent and Easter. It signfies the end of the Lords mission on earth. In some ways you could say that Easter is like the Munster final where Pentecost is the All-Ireland Final.

Pentecost is part of that great plan of God, the heart of God, to gather us all together. It is all one mystery of the Father's heart to gather us into one. For our human understanding, we have to take it piece by piece, - birth, death, Resurection, Ascension and the last piece is the sharing of the love of God in the Holy Spirit at Penteost.

The friends of Jesus were in the Upper Room with Mary praying. Before that they had been timid weak sinful human beings who had been through a lot and still didn't understand what had happened but now what a transformation! The Spirit which had raised up Jesus was now inside them and they went out - were driven out - to preach and share the great things they had seen with everyone they met no matter what. But we must remember that despite being filled with the Spirit, they are still a human community passing on that message from generation to generation. The Holy Spirit is still with us, it still gathers us into the family of God both past and present around the world and across time.

The Lord is looking at each of us and saying - if you only knew what God is offering. The Spirit is also there reminding us to pray for each other and to perservere in prayer. We need to be open to what the Spirit wants for us rather than what we think we want from the Spirit. The Spirit can come in many forms through friends and events that happens to us and for us to be open and aware of the movements of the "gentle breeze" of the Spirit in our lives.

Ultimately, Pentecost and the Spirit reminds us that we are to be freed to love again even though the work of the Spirit may feel harsh at times but to be open to that cleansing fire. And that ultimately we will have the courage to announce the gift of God in our own way.

Sequence of the Holy Spirit for Solemnity of Pentecost 

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height.
Thy pure beaming radiance give.

Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come, with treasures which endure;
Come, thou Light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul's delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.

Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, Light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill.

If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour thy dew,Wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give us comfort when we die;
Give us life with thee on high;
Give us joys that never end.Amen. Alleluia.

You can listen to Fr Michaels reflection excerpted from the programme HERE. We would suggest that it is well worth a listen - both for the reflection for Pentecost but also for the sharing and reflection on the gift of First Communion and Confirmation which Fr Michael shares with us at the end.
 
Gospel - John 20:19-23

"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.""
 
Michael Keating makes a welcome return to the programme this week to reflect with John on the gospel for Pentecost Sunday.
 
Other reflections on this weeks gospel:
 
Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
 
Liturgical Odds and Ends
 
Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week III, Week 7 Ordinary Time 
 
As this Sunday marks the end of Eastertide, liturgically we return to Ordinary Time in the Church's calendar. For those of us who recite the Liturgy of the Hours the transition can be a bit "messy" when using the breviary but Daria Sockey over at the blog "Canticles and Coffee" has a guide to Avoiding Post Pentecost Breviary Trauma.

For anyone that would like to learn about the Liturgy of the Hours and how to begin using it Daria's blog provides a great introduction and guide especially for busy lay people who want to participate in this "official" prayer of the Church.
 
Saints of the Week
 
May 20th - St Bernadine of Siena (priest)
May 21st - Ss Christopher Megallanes and Companions (Mexican martyrs)
May 22nd - St Rita of Cascia (religious)
May 23rd - St John Baptist Rossi
May 24th - St Agatha Yi So-Sa
May 25th - St Bede the Venerable (priest and Doctor of the Church) also St Gregory VII (Pope) also St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (virgin)
 

14th April 2013 - 3rd Sunday of Easter - Ordination of Brendan Leahy as bishop of Limerick

On this weeks programme we have our regular reflection on the weekly Sunday gospel. We have a "word with Fr Michael" about the ordination of the our new bishop. We have our regular liturgical odds and ends with some local notices.
 
This weeks programme is available to listen to in full on podcast HERE.
 
Details of Live Coverage of Ceremonies at St John's
 

It will be possible to watch the ceremony live from this web link:

http://www.tpoireland.com/mass.html

From 2:30pm onwards, there will be a live feed from St John's Cathedral.We hope that this will help the maximum amount of people to feel connected with those gathered there.


Gospel - John 21:1-19
 

James Tissot

This week we continue with John's gospel in this Easter season exploring the post-resurrection experience of the disciples which formed the basis of our Easter story.

We encounter another Sea of Galilee account this time from John which echos the appearance on the sea shore told by Luke in chapter Lk:5. The disciples have gone back to Galilee, gone back fishing despite the fact that they have been commissioned last week! It is almost a moment when you would throw you hands up in despair at them - will they ever get it? But perhaps it is a reminder to us that sometimes it can be very easy to miss the amazing nature of Easter and what it means to us as Christians - after all the discples missed it and they were the primary witnesses!!! Perhaps we need to pause and think about how we have actually throught about what Easter means to us or have we coasted along and not really considered what we are actually celebrating for 50 days.

The invitation of Jesus to breakfast is once more the invitiation to communion and community. Despite everything they have done and also failed to do he still wants them as his friends symbolised by this shared table. Of course the breaking of bread has echos of the Last Supper, Emmaus, and the other post-resurrection accounts of the unveiling of the minds of the disciples. The sitting together is a reminder that we need to be "le chéile", together which of course is very symbolic for the diocese today as we once more are called as a diocese together around the person of our new bishop as one of the symbols of unity for this local church.

Poor Peter - once again our favourite apostle suffering from chronic foot in mouth disease takes some of the central role in this section of scripture. Once again we see his leadership role coming through as they follow him back fishing - good leadership, bad direction! But we also se Peter the man who must have been cringing and wondering how on earth he was to do anything after betraying the Lord. But God has shown that he can make the proverbial silk purse out of a sows ear in terms of the people he has worked with down through salvation history - Noah, Jacob, Mosese, Aaron, David, Solomen,etc etc. Peter shows that in some ways he has difficulty accepting the forgiveness of Jesus in his heart. He may have begun to process it rationality but internally in the core of his being the anvil around his neck is the three fold denial. The three fold dialogue with the command to feed the sheep of the Lord is accepeted by tradition since the patristic age as being Peter's reparation for his failure. The dialogue with the command to "Feed my sheep" is also a reminder we are all the children of God. We don't belong to the Pope or the bishop but rather we belong to Christ.

The final reflection for us this week is the focus on the question of Love and how it impacts on our relationship with God. You can fall in love with theology, the technicalities of scripture, the institution of the church but without a loving living relationship with the person of Jesus Christ it is a waste of time. The Church isn't the building down the street, it isn't the priests and the bishop. It is supposed to be in community gathered together around the Lord.

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

Blue Eyed Ennis
Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
 
 
A Word with Fr Michael - Ordination of Bishop Brendan Leahy as bishop of Limerick
 
We have a word with Fr Michael Liston this week as he reflects on the ordination of our new bishop and what it means for the diocese.

You can listen to Fr Michael HERE.

The primary role of the bishop is to announce the gospel - to proclaim the word of faith; to speak about Jesus Christ who called us all to a new belonging in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit and that we would live in the love of the Blessed Trinity. The bishop also has to sanctify the faithful by ensuring the proper celebration of the Chrisitian mysteries so that we can gorw in faith and the final role is to undertake the role of governance in the diocese taking decisions and responsibility for the practicalities of life as a community.

It is not an easy calling in this modern age but it is made difficult because we all think we know about the faith and we just have to do it. A bishops role is to help us to be learners in the ways of God.

Each bishop is a successor of the apostles. Gathered together around the Pope, they are the successors of the Eleven. Each bishop is a sign of the apostolic continuty amongst us going right back to our early ancestors in faith in Ireland walking among us, with us in union with Peter. But it is also a reminder that to walk as a christian is not the easiest thing in the world as the poem reminds us:

The fair, fair wind that will arise for us
is suffering, trouble and expulsion;
And when everyone thinks we are going to be drowned,
it is then we will be saved.

Is é an cóir gaoithe éiríos duit,
páis, trioblóid agus díbeart,
agus an uair síltear tú a bheith báite,
is ann a bheidh tú sábháilte.

Paschal mystery for us as christians is that the dynamic of suffering is the fuel of resurrection, after all if there was no Cross there would be no glory! 

The Rite of Ordination of a Bishop is wonderfully rich in word, in symbol and even in movement. It is, above all else, a time of prayer. Some parts of the rite of ordination reach back into Old Testament times; such as the ancient rite of the laying on of hands, this has been part of the rite of Ordination since the time of the early church. It is seen as a calling down of the Holy Spirit. Then follows the prayer of Consecration of Fr. Brendan as Bishop of Limerick, the Book of the Gospels is held over his head during this prayer, to remind Fr. Brendan and all of us of the central role of God’s Word in our lives. Bishop Brendan will then be anointed with the oil of Chrism, again a very ancient action. After this he will be presented with the insignia / symbols of the office of Bishop; the ring, a sign of the Bishop’s fidelity to the Church, the mitre, the headdress of a Bishop and the pastoral staff symbolising his shepherding role. He, then, shares the sign of peace with the other bishops and is brought to the Bishop’s Chair called the Cathedra, from which comes the word ‘Cathedral’. In this moment then Bishop Brendan is said, to use the traditional phrase, to ‘take possession of the Diocese.’

Liturgical Odds and Ends

Liturgy of the Hours  - Week 3

Saints of the Week

April 15th - St Ruadhrán of Lothra
April 16th - St Bernedette of Lourdes
April 17th - St Kateri Tekakwitha
April 18th - St Laserian
April 19th - St Emma of Bremen
April 20th - St John Payne (martyr)