5th 23rd Sunday. Who can know the mind of God? It unfolds like a complicated flower—a petal at a time, whenever we will see the full picture!. This ‘tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind’. Make us know the shortness of our life! We are to carry our cross—no need to go looking for it, it’s never far away.

8th Birthday of Mary Mother of God. We have the genealogy of Jesus. It’s strange, but very important—if one or other of the ancestors had to be somewhere else, could he ever have come into the world?

12th 24th Sunday. O God, who knows that our human frailty cannot stand fast against the great dangers that beset us, grant us health of mind and body, that with your help we may overcome what we suffer on account of our sins. Today is about Mercy, it is mightiest in the mighty! Ever wonder at the antiphon—his “Mercy is over all his works”? Mercy is love of course and forgiveness and that’s the greatest. No matter what you’ve done, or not done, he wants you back and don’t be slow.

14th Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The cross, instrument of torture and death, raised aloft as a sign of glory, continues to confound the wisdom of the world. God’s instrument of salvation turns human wisdom on its head—humility is exaltation, death is life, defeat is victory!

15th Our Lady of Sorrows. Today’s Mass has a ‘sequence’. That is a poem to help us in contemplation. “Through her heart his sorrow sharing, all his bitter anguish bearing now at length the sword had passed. Oh, how sad and sore distressed was that mother highly blessed of the sole begotten one.” It’s lovely—the Stabat Mater.

19th 25th Sunday. Using our Money wisely and honestly—giving to the poor is a way of storing it up in heaven. Pray for everyone, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. God wants everyone to be saved—not just the good. Never mind the newspapers! Mercy is there for the asking.

26th 26th Sunday. The ‘good’ times are over—don’t we know!
There are people worse off than us. We have to help the poor. “It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free.” they will thank God for us and give him glory. We needn’t look for wonders! “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.” What a thought coming up to his passion and death?

29th The Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Blessed Michael, the Archangel defend us in the hour of conflict. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God restrain him we humbly pray and do thou O Prince of the heavenly hosts, thrust down to hell Satan and with him all the other wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Congress Corner: The Creed

People died for these beliefs, so they are worthwhile. God, Father Almighty. Creator of heaven and earth. When I was young, creator used to mean someone who could make something out of nothing. This was strongly emphasised, and led to wonder and awe straight away. (Now they use the word for making something beautiful so it has lost some of its meaning.) We believe in Jesus, only begotten Son of one being/consubstantial with the Father, born of the Virgin Mary. Plenty suffered for this belief and gave their lives for it. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. He is in the history books—that’s important. He was crucified, died and was buried. He rose from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. It is from here on some fervour is lost these times. He will come again to judge the living and the dead—some forget that now isn't all there is. We will have to give an account of ourselves. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is taking a woeful hammering these days. People were persecuted for coming together to worship and still are in places. And if the Church isn’t holy enough it’s because we’re not as good as we can be—let alone as good as we should be! The Holy Spirit Lord and giver of life is in for it too. Maybe not the Holy Spirit but Life, his gift, is. The Forgiveness of Sins—God does, and Jesus died for this, it’s our turn now to forgive those who have let the Church down. Forgiveness, Mercy is the greatest attribute of God. “His mercies are over all his works”. There is another place, the Communion of Saints—we’ll go on forever. Those gone before us will all help us.