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Irish Capuchin Franciscans

3 days ago

Today we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. This beautiful image sees Mary carried to Heaven by Angels as she sleeps. To learn more about this dogma (truth) of our Catholic Faith, visit Franciscan Media : www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/ ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

3 days ago

In Times of Darkness (Matt 11:21-28)

In today’s Gospel a troubled mother pleads with Jesus to cure her tormented daughter. It is so unlike Jesus that he answered her not a word. But he knew what he was doing.  He was drawing out deeper depths of her faith.  Her persistence developed a deeper faith.  She is a model of faith in three qualities: persistence, humility and a sense of humour.

Persistence

She is in desperation for the sake of her daughter but her persistence is remarkable.  She will not take “no” for an answer.  She is like the woman of the parable who wears down a reluctant judge with the only weapon she had, her persistence.  Jesus addresses her as “woman.” Is this a womanly strength?  Is it forced on women as the only way to break through the hard-hearted logic of a world organised by men? This very week I heard that if you want something done, ask a woman.  But if you want to talk about it, ask a man!  Her motherly love will not be diverted.  Love is greater than logic. Although she is persistent yet her faith is also very humble.  She kneels before Jesus.  Her prayer is simplicity itself: “Lord, help me.”

This humble faith has room for humour.  There is a sense of playfulness when Jesus says, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.” Jews commonly referred to other nations as dogs.  The voice of Jesus is not a racial slur, and one must hear the tone of humour in his voice.  While one must be serious about God, one might be playful with God.  The persistent mother catches the tone and enters the repartee.  “Ah, yes, sir; but even the house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master.”

When God is silent

The prophet Jeremiah has a beautiful saying about God’s love.  “I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my love for you.”   But how does one survive when God is silent, just as Jesus initially did not answer a word to the Canaanite woman?   She was a woman of great faith.    Many of the mystical saints, people of great faith, experienced long periods of darkness and spiritual dryness.  Saint Teresa of Calcutta lived for forty years without any consolations in prayer. ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

7 days ago

Well done to all the team in Ards Capuchin Friary and Centre for the Care of Creation. For more information visit their webiste: www.ardsfriary.ie ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

7 days ago

Today we clebrate the feast day of St Clare of Assisi. We extend our good wishes to all the Poor Clares around the World as we honour their founder. St Clare of Assisi, pray for us.

Listen to the story of St Clare: www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-clare-of-assisi/?utm_campaign=New%20Newsletter%202... ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

2 weeks ago

Loneliness, Hunger of the Heart (Matt 14:13-21)

When Jesus received the news of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, he withdrew by boat with the apostles to a lonely place where they could be by themselves.

Another name for loneliness is the hunger of the heart.  A popular film years ago was called “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.” One cause of loneliness is the emptiness experienced after the death of a loved one.  Even Jesus felt the need to cope with this emptiness.  A person who is grieving needs time and space.  Different people deal with grief in different ways.   In the weeks after the funeral, many people will be very tired physically, emotionally and spiritually.  One may not have the emotional energy to pray.  It is important to let them know that you are praying for them. Pray also for the discernment to know when to accompany the person grieving and when to let the person have time alone. 

A lonely place

The quietness that Jesus sought did not last for long.  People soon found out where he was and flocked there.  Out of pity for them he set aside his own need and attended to their needs.   Hours slipped by and the disciples were concerned because the people had not brought food.  It is interesting that the apostles did not say to Jesus that this is a hungry place but that this is a lonely place.  They had touched on the inner hunger of the heart, loneliness. 

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta was shocked when her Sisters of Charity went to serve in a poor area of New York.  In Calcutta, the Sisters ministered to the dying and fed hundreds of hungry people every day.  But in New York they were confronted by the hunger of loneliness felt by deserted old people.  This is how Mother Teresa described it: “The worst disease is not leprosy; it is being unwanted, being left out, being forgotten.  The greatest scourge is to forget the next person, to be so suffocated with the things we have that we have no time for the lonely Jesus – even a person in our own family who needs us.” 

In today’s Second Reading Saint Paul writes: “Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food.. ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

3 weeks ago

Treasure in the Heart (Matt. 13:44-52)

In today’s gospel Jesus continues the seven parables about the kingdom of heaven in our lives.  What is this kingdom?  In the gospels, the kingdom of heaven has several different shades of meaning.  In today’s parables it refers to the hidden treasure in the heart.  “The kingdom of God is within you.”  It is the realization that God is not only up there but is also in here, in my heart and soul.  That is what Pope Francis called the joy of the gospel, the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.  Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness”.  Inner emptiness is no longer a lonely place: rather, it is space for enjoying the nearness of God in a personal relationship.

This inner joy is described in the parable of a hidden treasure that someone unexpectedly discovered in a field.  He goes off, sells everything he owns and buys the field. The discovery represents a totally unanticipated experience that brings about a sudden conversion, a new awareness of God as present in one’s life.  It is like a new birth and some people refer to the experience as being born again. 

For others the experience is like that of a merchant who was searching for a very valuable pearl.  He also sells all he owns to buy this pearl. These are the people who spent time reading and studying, or exploring various philosophies of life until eventually they found Jesus and all that he means.  Whether it comes in a sudden conversion experience, or as the result of much study and searching, they hold on to this treasure at any cost.  The cost of discipleship usually involves repentance in the sense of a conversion of thought, values and behaviour.

A Church of all sorts

The seventh and last of the parables describes the kingdom as a fishing net dragging in a mixture of many kinds of fish. This refers to the catholic dimension of the kingdom since the word catholic means all-embracing.  There is room for all sorts:  for those who focus on conserving the past side-by-side with those who are impatient for change. ... See MoreSee Less