Peter Blog a few random thoughts

PASTORAL LETTER OF BISHOP KIERAN CONRY to be read at all Masses on the weekend of 24/25 November 2012   Feast of Christ the King            Dear people of Arundel & Brighton I was in Rome for three weeks in October, at an international meeting of bishops from all over the world called the Synod. The word means something like ‘on the road together’ and while that might be true, it was clear that we are very differently prepared for the journey. For three weeks I sat between a bishop from Liberia and a bishop from Eritrea , and almost the only things we had in common were the English language and the Catholic faith, and teaching that faith (the point of the Synod) presented very different challenges for the three of us. One question that came up again and again, especially from Africa and the Middle East , was the question of relations with other religions, and especially Islam. The gospel reading today ...

Over the last number of years there are have been many rumours about the end of the world. These predictions have even given us times and dates about when it may be. It seems to me that these ideas are crazy for Jesus himself said that we do not know the time or the hour, so, how on earth can anyone else?  The Readings today give us a terrible vision of what these end times will be like. It gives the image of cosmic fireworks where everything will pass. Mark writes his gospel in the midst of the persecution in Rome of the Christian community. The community must have felt very frightened and unsure of how it was going to turn out. Mark chapter 13 in which this gospel lies in is a vision of hope after hearing the gospel you may feel that I have gone slightly mad. For it does not look a very appealing place to be. But if you look beyond this age of oppression and violence to a time after this age to a time of peace beyond the suffering and this is what Mark refers too. ...

I asked the Children this week about today’s Gospel I asked them if I had 10,000 pounds and gave a pound to charity was it a lot to give a way they said “No.” Then I said to them that if I had 2pence and gave 1 penny to charity would that be a lot of money and they said “Yes.”  She gave actually all she had. Today a Country remembers its war dead they like the widow in the gospel gave all of themselves. It is right and proper that every year we pause on this day to pray for them.  But in this act of remembrance what are we actually doing. I believe that we are doing two things we are thanking God for the sacrifice these brave men and women down the ages have given so that we can freely worship in this Church and the sacrifice that was made by those families who let their loved one go to war. But, we are also remembering the armed forces that are still today as I speak who are serving to keep this freedom. But, the emphasis has slightly changed in the last few years...

One of the hardest parts about losing a person in death of someone we love is not always necessary the funeral but when everyone has gone home and we are alone with our own thoughts. We also may find a close friend to talk to about some of the events leading up to the funeral and also what the future has in store for you. The disciples in today’s gospel had just lost their friend who they had placed so much hope in. They were talking about everything that had been going on trying their best to make sense of all the events. And Jesus walks among them but they were unable to recognize him. They only really recognize him in the breaking of bread. Often we can feel that we do not recognize the love of Christ that has been lavished upon us in times of distress or grief and we find it hard to recognize him. And yet it is here at the Eucharist that Jesus is truly present to us in a very real way. The disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread in the Eucharist. We also rec...

One can look at the Old Testament as a book which looks at  the understanding and the nature of God. The book of Deuteronomy is one of the first five books of the Old Testament in one sense we can sum up the first five books with this passage. That there is one God and “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” But, as we know the people of Israel struggled with this high ideal. We can see that seems to be a cycle of the people of Israel missing the mark, repentance and returning back to God. In the passage there are three kinds of Love that are explored the love of God, worship in the Church, love of our neighbour and love of self.  It seems that many of us get the first bit although coming to Church for others is a bit of a challenge. But the other two parts of this statement are a little harder to understand. For many people there seems to be a difference to what we do at Church and how we act in the street to our brother and...

After the last Post about Music I promised you another insight into Music. So lets look at the Reality show. It is here that we have see  many great moments and also some very bad moments. Who can ever forget some of those contestants who have graced our screens on a Saturday night.  This is one of the most cringing moments in the X factor.  Of course though not being able to sing does not mean that you will not make it to the live finals. Who can ever, and really I am trying, to forget this offering from Ireland.  Yes Jedward was one of the most annoying acts to come out of any reality show. And they are still continuing to annoy with appearing on the Eurovision song contest.There are many other acts that I can show on here but I really do not want to waste your time. I leaveyou with one more from American Idol enjoy. But hey, lets not focus on the bad there has been a lot of people who have been on these kind of shows that have been good, even when others...

NEWS Mission Bishop’s Call To Public Prayer 07/09/2012 3:00 pm Share on blogger Share on facebook Share on email Share on twitter More Sharing Services Catholics in England and Wales are being invited to pause for a moment of prayer every first Friday of the month as an act of faith and public witness.  The invitation has been made by Rt Rev Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton and Chair of the Bishops’ Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis. Speaking ahead of Home Mission Sunday, which falls on 16 September 2012, he said:  ‘On Home Mission Sunday we reflect on our role in the mission of the Church. A simple way that we can contribute to this and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, is to pray publicly during the day. I would like to invite every Catholic, especially during the Year of Faith, to pause for a moment of prayer of praise and thanksgiving at 3pm if possible, or perhaps when you break for lunch, on the first Friday...

This is a useful article I found on Indulgences.  DIRECTIONS It is during November that the Church meditates on the Communion of Saints, which is the charitable link with the faithful who have already reached heaven (Church Triumphant), the faithful departed who are still expiating their sins in Purgatory (Church Suffering) and of the pilgrim faithful here on earth (Church Militant). "In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin." ( Catechism of the Catholic Church,  1475). On November 1st the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, a holyday of obligation, honoring all those faithful in heaven. Throughout November the Church also remembers our faithful departed. The need and duty of prayer for the departed souls has been acknowled...

My Friends Son came into the kitchen after being at school where they were celebrating today’s feast day. “What have you been talking about today he was asked” So he picked up the stool in the middle of the floor and stood upon it pointing and holding onto a broom handle pointed upwards into the air. For him a Saint was someone who was a statue and not a real person. So what do we celebrate with this feast? Today’s feast celebrates all those holy Men and Women who have gone before us who have never been formally canonised.  The feast dates back to the beginning of the seventh century when the Pope consecrated the Pantheon in Rome, which was a pagan temple. There was a legend that the bones of the Martyrs and others buried at the catacombs were re-buried under its floor. And so the Church celebrates and thanks God for their personal witness to the Gospel. So what is a Saint? I want to use a piece that the Holy Father used when he was here in September last year ...