prayer Archives - Catholic Herald

prayer

How prayer helps us ‘gain a new horizon’ and better understanding of Easter mystery

April 01, 2024

As we see the Lord Jesus in prayer, there are certain practical pointers we can learn from him, even while there is a mystery at play. In his prayer, the Lord’s divine and human nature are expressed and we can learn from him in both these ways. As we seek to pray, we have no

Like us, Jesus had to learn how to pray too

March 18, 2024

The call to prayer requires teaching and encouragement. While we were made by God and for God, and have a natural desire for union with God, we need help in understanding and realising how to pursue and live this union with our heavenly Father. As we have to learn how to pray, the same is

Following the difficult path of prayer in a fallen world

March 12, 2024

Prayer is a difficult path to follow in a fallen world and in the midst of an increasingly secular and technological society. The odds are always against prayer. It requires a desirous heart to begin to pray, and a firm, well-formed heart to persevere in the life of prayer. As a help to this challenge,

Pray for England: A modest proposal

January 21, 2024

A recent survey showed that about half of the population in England had no religious faith at all. Even many of those who claimed to be Christian did not pray, did not practise, nor keep Christian moral principles. Even of those who claimed to be Catholic, very many did not practise, did not go to

Lifeline to heaven

October 03, 2021

How many millions of miles rosary beads have travelled through troubled fingers only God and his Mother know. How many miracles of grace it has worked in the lives of those who were faithful to this devotion, it must keep the angels busy to record. How many times it has pulled back from the gates

A monk’s letter to a godly man in prison

August 01, 2021

Below is a letter I have written to a prisoner, whose name is Joseph. He has been in prison for twenty-fie years and there is no chance for him to be paroled. It is of course difficult. He was very young when he was first imprisoned, but over the years he has come a long

Our Hearts Are Not Yet Fully Human

June 20, 2021

My heart is not yet fully human. It is at times quite primitive, fearful, angry, and vengeful. This is often something beyond my control, though how I deal with it is up to me and my response to grace. Our hearts are wounded, divided, wanting to do one thing, but doing the exact opposite. We

Pope Francis asks Catholics to join prayer for peace in the Holy Land

May 21, 2021

Pope Francis thanked God for the cease-fire agreed to in the Holy Land, adding a prayer “for the pursuit of paths of dialogue and peace.” He asked all Catholics – “pastors and faithful” – to “unite themselves spiritually” to a prayer initiative promoted by the Bishops of the Holy Land, who will celebrate the Vigil