Of all the feasts of the Lord that we celebrate throughout the year the one that appeals to me most, is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a feast that brings out the wonderful characteristics in the human life of Jesus, His love, His compassion, His forgiveness, His friendship.

Monday, March 19, is the feast of St. Joseph, the Husband of Mary. It is a feast of great importance in the Church. Without Joseph’s loving trust as husband of Mary our faith story would be very different. Let us take a few moments with St. Joseph today in prayer. As we say our daily prayer with St. Joseph for Vocations perhaps we might do so in a more intense way today

A few weeks ago, I had an enforced rest. My medication instead of making me feel better decided to make me feel worse, so I was put into hospital – a rare experience for me, thank God - while everything was sorted out.

Personally, for this Lent I am reflecting on the Stations of the Cross. The tenth Station – ‘Jesus is stripped of His garments’, has spoken deeply to me. The overall picture of the Way of the Cross, I see, is one of a large jeering crowd, cruel soldiers, a few courageous women

The poor, little house was clean and tidy, and she hung up her apron and went out into the sunlit yard where her little son was kneeling near the ashes where she had earlier baked the day's bread. She went over to him, ruffling his hair affectionately and then looked with a tremor of fear at the endless lines of little crosses he was drawing with the ashes.