A Catholic Monthly Magazine

St Patrick’s Church, Sydney (2) (0)

Anniversary Year 2018

Fr Michael Whelan SM

The Irishman, William Davis, was sentenced to life in prison by the British in 1798 – without a trial. Being a blacksmith, he was automatically assumed to be someone who made pikes for the Irish ‘rebels’ of that year.… More

Sacred Hearts in Stained Glass (0)

Glen McCullough

Two significant feasts occur back-to-back on 8th & 9th  June: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

1

I looked in my collection of stained glass photographs, to find that I had mostly bypassed windows of the Sacred Heart because they were not strictly biblical (which was where my interest lay at the time).… More

June Crossword (0)

Across

1 Marc get organised! Study all night for the test! (4)

3 I hear there is a specialised minister called Charlie! (8)

9 There is a member of the Conservative Party in a small chapel! (7)

10 Mistake sees restorer lose set!… More

The Holy Spirit (0)

by Fr Merv Duffy SM

Lord, Holy Spirit,
You blow like the wind in a thousand paddocks,
Inside and outside the fences,
You blow where you wish to blow.

That is the first stanza of James K Baxter’s Song to the Holy Spirit which came to my mind when Fr Kevin Head
asked for a guest editorial “on the topic of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is too big and too powerful to be fenced in by any boundaries, let alone the limits of a Messenger editorial.… More

On the Eucharist (0)

During a brief day-trip to two small Italian cities, Pope Francis stressed the centrality of the Eucharist to the life and actions of the Church, saying without Christ’s love and self-sacrifice, everything would be done in vain, since everything Jesus did was for others.… More

Nay to Marist Horses? (0)

By Fr Maurice Mulcahy SM (1910-1988)

This article was recently discovered in the Marist Archives

Fr Jean-Claude Colin, founder of the Society of Mary had the task of drawing up its constitutions. A minor provision required some necessity and the higher superior's permission for a Marist to keep "a horse for riding." 

Fr Sauzeau SM on ‘Old Barney’ with his manservant W C Skilon

Actually, Colin lifted this idea and much more from the regulations of the Society of Jesus.… More

Can You Bear It? (0)

John went to a psychiatrist. “Doc,” he said, “I’ve got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there’s somebody under it. I’m going crazy!” 

“Just put yourself in my hands for one year,” said the shrink. “Come talk to me three times a week, and we should be able to get rid of those fears.” 

“How much do you charge?” 

“Eighty dollars per visit,” replied the doctor.… More

Fr Jean-Claude Colin in Rome (1) (0)

Fr Kevin Head sm

The First Visit: September 1833 – February 1834

Between 1833 and 1854, Fr Jean-Claude Colin, the Founder of the Society of Mary, visited Rome five times. In all, he spent 18 months there. The purpose of these visits was, first of all, to present the general plan for the Society of Mary to Church authorities; secondly, to discuss the Constitutions of the Society with Church authorities; and, eventually, to negotiate with the Roman Curia in regard to the complications of the mission in the Pacific that had been assigned to the Society of Mary.… More

Don’t Leave (0)

Anne Kerrigan
Artwork by Felicity Ann Nettles

For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

It was May 2016, and my husband and I were planning to be in Baltimore to celebrate the graduation of our granddaughter from Loyola College.… More

Bad News Travels Fast (0)

By Fr Kevin
Bates sm

It would be a rare dining room table, restaurant, bar or office which didn’t feature reflective conversations regarding terror events as they happen around the world. Whether it be a random shooting by an unbalanced co-worker or a ‘bullied’ student, or a carefully planned attack on a concert or a mosque or church.… More

Learning from Bears and Bees (0)

Fr Tom Ryan

“‘It's like this,’ Pooh said. ‘When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is not to let the bees know you're coming. Now, if you have a green balloon, they might think you were only part of the tree, and not notice you, and if you have a blue balloon, they might think you were only part of the sky, and not notice you, and the question is: Which is most likely?’ 

‘Wouldn’t they notice YOU underneath the balloon?’ Christopher Robin asked.… More

This Sin Business (0)

by Joy Cowley

When I read the church fathers’ teaching about sin, I acknowledge the principles but interpret them a different way. Many women do this because feminine spirituality tends to be a little different, although complementary to the male model. … More

A School for Prayer (11) – Evagrius of Pontus (3) (0)

By Fr Craig  Larkin sm, 1943 - 2015

‘Thoughts’ or logismoi are the most significant things for Evagrius of Pontus, and he considers that these are at the beginning of difficulties for anyone on the spiritual journey. What causes us trouble is not our feelings or even our actions, but first of all our thoughts.… More

June Saints (0)

by Kilian de Lacy

Saint Teresa of Portugal (1178-1250)

Born a princess, Teresa was the oldest daughter of King Sancho I. She was married to King Alfonso IX of Leon of Spain and mother of three children. Several years into the marriage, it was dissolved by the Vatican upon the revelation that Teresa and Alfonso were cousins. … More

Our Three Divine Friends (Comments Off)

Fr Tony King SM

However much we may get to know about God, even know God in a true personal way, God always remains a mystery. “Mystery” is almost another name for God. But a mystery of love, a mystery of incomprehensible goodness.… More