Ireland has a great tradition of lighting candles for special occasions – weddings, job interviews, for the sick and of course for good exam results. Over 50,000 young people will receive their Leaving Certificate results tomorrow and the pathways they follow will take them in many and varied directions. Tonight we pray for them, for…

continue reading

Today is the feast of St Clare of Assisi although this year it’s not celebrated on the date as it falls on a Sunday. Clare died in 1253 and left behind her a legacy that burns brightly to this day – The Poor Clare Nuns and Sisters. Clare’s life was centred on radical poverty and…

continue reading

Today begins the nine days of prayer (novena) leading to the feast of Saint Clare of Assisi. This Novena prayer is used by the Poor Clare’s and they invite you to join with them over the coming days.   Happy feast of Our Lady of the Angels! We begin the novena to St. Clare today,…

continue reading

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart. St Pio had a strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and everyday prayed the ‘Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart’ for the many hundreds of people who asked him for prayer. But why the heart? Well, for centuries the heart has been the symbol…

continue reading

Pentecost Novena Day 9: Today we meditate upon the Holy Spirit as the Love of the Father and the Son. Veni Sancte Spiritus! Love of the Father, Love of God the Son, from whom all came, in whom was all begun; who formest heavenly beauty out of strife, creation’s whole desire and breath of life:…

continue reading

Day 8 of the Pentecost Novena; Once again we meditate upon the breath as an encounter with the Holy Spirit who is the breath, the life (Ruah) of God, the One who gives life to and sustains all that is. Read the prayer below slowly and gently and during the day often return to the…

continue reading

Day 7 of the Pentecost Novena: Today our meditation comes from the great St. Augustine and invites us to be aware of the activity of the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier: the One who invites us into holiness through every motion of our being when we dwell in awareness of the Divine Presence. Read the…

continue reading

Day 6 of the Pentecost Novena: Today we turn to the great Franciscan mystic and teacher St. Bonaventure and his prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit: read the prayer slowly aware of where these gifts are needed in your life and in the lives of those you pray for. Veni Sancte Spiritus! O…

continue reading

Day 5 of the Pentecost Novena: Today we invoke the Holy Spirit in the words of St. Francis of Assisi: This prayer for discernment, also know as the prayer of the cave or the prayer before the crucifix is one that comes from the early part of the life of Francis when he was seeking…

continue reading