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  Pray with the Pope — April: For priests in crisis Today, 31 March 2026, Tuesday of Holy Week,  the Vatican posted the video above  with the Pope's intention for all Catholics to pray for during the month of April. We are asked to  Pray with the Pope  for his specific intention for each month. This was formerly known as the  Apostleship of Prayer .   APRIL: For priests in crisis In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd and companion on the journey, today we place in your hands all priests, especially those going through moments of crisis, when loneliness weighs heavily, when doubt clouds their hearts, and when exhaustion seems stronger than hope. You who know their struggles and wounds, renew in them the certainty of your unconditional love. Let them feel they are not mere functionaries or lonely heroes, but beloved sons, humble and cher...

Lala  Vicente  with Jordan Navor L'Arche , Cainta, near Manila. I have known both for many years. In Ireland this Sunday is the Feast of St Brigid, Secondary Patroness of the country. The Mass is that of St Brigid but the readings are those of the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 5:1-12a   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, ...

Loren Capobres addressing Pope Leo XIV in Lebanon I came across this video yesterday, Tuesday 1 December, and posted it on Facebook. When I opened Facebook this morning I found a message from Loren herself, whom I have never met, and one from a mutual friend in the Philippines, Gwen Llano, who has been involved in  Faith and Light  for many years. Gwen gave a seminar in Lebanon in 2020 and met Loren there. The website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has a report on Loren's talk  here . The report by Roy Lagarde says:  Pope Leo XIV on Monday said migrants’ experiences must push Christians to oppose war and build communities where no one seeking safety feels unwelcome, after hearing a Filipino woman’s testimony. Continue at Bangor to Bobbio .

Moses Michelangelo [ Web Gallery of Art ] (First Reading,  Exodus 17:8-13 ) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 18:1-8  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterwards he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” ’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not G...

  Madonna and Child Francisco de Zurbarán [ Web G allery of Art ] For thus says the  Lord : “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,      and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,      and bounced upon her knees. 13  As one whom his mother comforts,      so I will comfort you;      you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ( Isaiah 66:12-13 ; First Reading) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings  (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 or 10:1-9  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he ...

Sts Peter and Paul  Guido Reni  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Solemnities take precedence over Sundays in Ordinary Time. At the Vigil Mass (Saturday evening) NB: The Vigil Mass has its own prayers and readings. Those for the Mass During the Day on Sunday should not be used – though some priests seem to be unaware of this. It is incorrect to refer to the Vigil Mass as an ‘anticipated Mass’. It is a celebration proper to the evening before. The Vigil Mass also fulfills the Sunday obligation. Vigil Mass Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings  (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Mass During the Day Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings  (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (...

The Two Trinities   Murillo [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 16:12-15  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)   My apologies for having printed the wrong gospel earlier. Here is the correct gospel. Brothers and Sisters: Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us . ...

The Trinity El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  John 14:23-39  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. ‘These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be...

The Last Supper El Greco    [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 13:31-33,34-35   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) When Judas had gone out from the upper room, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ Léachtaí i nGaeilge            Fr James Gavigan (1927 - 2020) A familiar sight seven years ago her...