“Christianity is not a matter of persuading people of particular ideas, but of inviting them to share in the greatness of Christ. So pray that I may never fall into the trap of impressing people with clever speech, but instead I may learn to speak with humility, desiring only to impress people with Christ himself.”
Ignatius of Antioch
Within each of our communities and families, there may dwell Rembrandts, Manets, Van Goghs and Picassos - all so different in shape, form and colour yet each presenting a striking impression of the richness and diversity of life.
Do you ever reflect that being with technology isn’t actually alone time for our children? Are we feeding an addiction and reducing a capacity?
Sin can be seen as a disease of the heart. All cultures are shaped by love. Love sits at every table. Efforts to confine it to family, clan or nation, never succeed. Love sees through; as Aristotle pointed out, even thieves love one another.
St Paul described those who collectively followed Jesus as being ‘the body of Christ’. Out of this vision he explained how Jesus’ death and resurrection had drawn together a new nation that affirmed the dignity and value of each human life anew.
While Christ stood dying on the cross, the watching crowd had no idea of how the death of this innocent man would ultimately inspire millions to worship the image of his cross.
Catholics believe that they should embrace times of suffering such as the season of Lent, seeing it as a time for curbing their indulgences, giving up luxuries or undertaking more wholesome activities.
After miraculously surviving a motorcycle accident, Stu Long aspires to help others and comes to a surprising realisation that he is meant to be a Catholic priest.