Last week we celebrated the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of Rome, and I made the comparison with the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Today we hear how some are marvelling at the Temple, “how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings”. Back in 20 BC, Herod the Great decided to greatly enhance the size and dignity of the Temple. He covered the exterior in white marble and gold plating, and according to the first century historian Jose

Today’s feast is one of those celebrations that can catch you by surprise.  We’re currently in Ordinary Time, but because today’s celebration is of such importance, it trumps the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.  So, the first question is, why? The answer is because of the importance of the Lateran Basilica.  Firstly, what is a basilica?  It’s basically a big church.  The church in the parish where I grew up in Walsall is called St Thomas’, but I know a member of the cl

Today we celebrate all those who have completed their life on earth and are now enjoying the bliss of heaven. This includes both the canonised saints, officially recognised by the Church, such as St Joseph, Our Lady, St Peter, St Paul, St Therese of Lisieux and so on, and also those more ordinary people who are in heaven, but only known by a smaller number of people, such as maybe our great-grandparents. We are all called by God to be saints, to be people who live faithfully

Some, or maybe many of you, will know the hymn The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended. It’s basically about the fact that there is prayer continually taking place all around the globe; as some are going to sleep, others are waking and taking up the baton, so to speak. The third verse says: “As o’er each continent and island the dawn leads on another day, the voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the strain of praise away.” Prayer is the very life-blood of a Christian. Without

Some years ago I was with a few priests enjoying a Sunday meal together, and somehow the topic of conversation moved onto what we are...

Back in the 1980s when Russia was under Communist rule, American president Ronald Reagan told this joke about a man in Russia who wanted...