some past featured articles and links 2023 (update end January)
January | February |
March | April | May |
June | July | August |
September |
October | November | December + other links
JANUARY:
Emeritus
Pope Benedict XVI R.I.P. Vatican News link - Biography
Peace
Sunday was celebrated in England and Wales on 15 January;
see Pax Christi, the International Catholic movement for peace for resources.
The Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity was observed in January during
the octave of St. Peter and St. Paul. Theme for 2023: 'Be-Longing: Praying for Unity amidst
injustice' -
resource links are here
Epiphany
Traditional New Year House Blessing (or any other time) "20 + C + M + B +
23"
Christus Mansionem Benedicat ~ May Christ bless this house. A tradition in
the Catholic Church was to hand out blessed chalk at the Masses for Epiphany, to
be used in blessing one’s home in the New Year. Write above your doorway as in
the example above: 20 (first two numbers of the year) + C + M + B ( for the 3
Magi, Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar), then + 23 (last two numbers of the
year), then write below: ' Christus Mansionem Benedicat', (“May Christ Bless
this House.”) -- The four crosses represent the 4 seasons. As you are writing,
pray the following prayer: "Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your
only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house
and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for
others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." ~
read more
here and
here (is adaptable for any time of year, e.g.
a new home).
Fr
David's Meditation for
Christmastide 'Peace on Earth to People
of Goodwill' - also Fr
David's East Window
(Saints) meditation and Immaculate Conception Window
meditation
A New
Beginning! by Henri J. M. Nouwen: 'We must learn to live
each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a
unique opportunity to make everything new. Imagine that we could
live each moment as a moment pregnant with new life. Imagine that
we could live each day as a day full of promises. Imagine that we
could walk through the new year always listening to the voice
saying to us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see
it!” Imagine.' - New Year
Prayers and Reflections
[of interest from our
audio library: The CTIPA Christian Unity Service, with Choral Evening Prayer, in
our Parish church, Jan 2012. Preacher: The Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton; 'if we take prayer seriously, will the process of prayer allow
the possibility of change ... structural unity, working together.'
listen / download mp3 audio (16:20 mins) ]
FEBRUARY:
MARCH:
APRIL:
MAY: