From Forbidden Knowledge to Wisdom Given

The journey we now walk began, paradoxically, with the very practices we are leaving behind.

We were Chaldeans, trained from youth to read the heavens with an intensity that bordered on obsession. 

Charts, calculations, invocations, interpretations – these were our daily bread. We told ourselves that what we did was science, tradition, inheritance. But in truth, much of it crossed into darkness. We sought not merely to observe creation, but to extract from it answers God had not given us permission to demand.

And yet, it was through one final calculation – an anomaly so profound that it shook even our hardened confidence – that everything changed.

It Isn’t Just Christmas Today — It’s Christmas Every Time We Attend Mass!

When we think of Christmas, our minds often turn to the familiar: the tree, the lights, the carols, the presents. 

We remember the smell of roasted chestnuts, the laughter of family, the quiet anticipation of midnight Mass. 

All of these are beautiful, and they mark the season of joy.

Yet in the heart of our faith, Christmas is far more than a single day or a festive calendar event. 

The mystery we celebrate on 25 December is alive every day, every time we attend Mass. It is the mystery of the Word made flesh, of God coming to dwell among us, Emmanuel — “God with us” (Matthew 1:23, RSV-CE).

The wonder of Bethlehem is not confined to history. It continues to unfold whenever we gather to worship, whenever the Eucharist is consecrated, whenever our hearts are open to receive the living Christ.

From The Crib To Cross - An Advent Reflection

Advent is a season of beginnings that already point toward endings. 

The gentle glow of the crib is never far from the looming shadow of the cross. 

From the very first candle we light, from the first antiphon we sing, something in our hearts knows that this Child's birth will not be an escape from suffering but the entrance of God into the very heart of it.

This early part of Advent invites us into a holy tension – the tenderness of Bethlehem intertwined with the sacrifice of Calvary. We look at the Child wrapped in swaddling clothes and somehow sense that those small, fragile hands will one day be stretched wide in surrender. We listen to the hush of angels and cannot forget that one day, darkness will cover the earth at the hour of His death.

And yet, this tension is not meant to sadden us. It is meant to awaken us. To remind us that love, real love, comes not only in the softness of a cradle but also in the strength of a cross. Advent holds them together for us – the beginning that already reveals the mission, the Child who was born to save, the Word made flesh who came to lay that flesh down.

"Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet" and the Advent Cry of Hope - A Voice in the Wilderness in Modern Times?

Every Advent, we hear again that haunting cry from the prophet Isaiah:

 "A voice cries out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord…" (Isaiah 40:3, RSV-CE). 

We recognise this voice in John the Baptist, calling Israel to repentance. 

And yet, every year, a strange question returns: Where is that voice now?

Could it still be crying out—quietly, humbly—through unexpected people and unexpected places?

This Advent, that ancient question took on new meaning for me as I listened again to Gavin Bryars' remarkable composition Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet. 

What began as a stray audio fragment from a homeless man on the streets of London has become, for many, a modern echo of John the Baptist: a fragile, truth-bearing voice rising from society's margins, pointing us back to Christ.

And so, in this season of longing, repentance, and hope, perhaps the wilderness is not geographical at all. Perhaps it lies wherever someone forgotten dares to sing a simple truth: Jesus' blood has never failed us yet—and never will.

The Story and Spirit of Our Lady of Lourdes, New Milton — Looking Towards Our Centenary

Last week, I reflected on why I believe Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Milton is "the best." 

It is not simply the building, nor simply the people, nor even its lovely setting between sea and forest — though all these things contribute to its beauty, rather, it is the faith of the parish, the way God has guided us, and the way Our Lady's mantle of intercession has been felt across a hundred years of prayer, worship, and mission.

This week, I want to look more closely at the parish's history — how it began, how it grew, and where it is going. I also want to look forward, for we are on the threshold of something very significant: our church's centenary in 2027. That will be a moment to celebrate, to give thanks, and to renew our mission.

A Meditation on Our Lord's Prayer – One Line at a Time

There are prayers we say, and then there are prayers that shape us. The Lord's Prayer belongs firmly in the second category. 

Many of us have whispered its familiar words so often that they slip from our tongue almost without thought. Yet beneath each short phrase lies an ocean of meaning – truth that nourishes, challenges, stretches, and steadies us. When Jesus taught us this prayer, 

He was not giving us a formula to recite... but a way of becoming.

As we pray the words Our Lord gave us, we are not simply speaking to God – we are allowing Him to form our hearts.

Each line is an invitation, a doorway, a posture of discipleship. And perhaps the greatest risk is not that we pray it incorrectly, but that we pray it too quickly. 

If we slow down and let the Lord's Prayer speak, we discover that it does not merely guide our conversations with God – it rewrites our desires, purifies our motives, and realigns our lives with His Kingdom. This is not only a prayer to pray. It is a life to live.

In this blog post, we take time to let every line breathe. 

To sit with each phrase long enough for it to sink in and settle upon our souls.

We All Think That Our Church Is the Best. Here's Why I Think That Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Here in New Milton (And Our Parish Priest) Is the Best.

We all think that our church is the best. 

Here’s why I believe our lady of Lourdes catholic church in New Milton truly is.

It is only natural that we feel a deep affection for our own parish. 

It is, after all, our spiritual home – the place where many of us were baptised, where we received our first Confession and our First Holy Communion, where we return again and again to the altar to be nourished by the Eucharist, and where some of our most important life moments have been marked, from weddings to funerals.

Over time, every parish becomes something much more than a building. It becomes a family. That is why you will often hear people say, with genuine warmth and conviction, “Our church is the best!”

And yet, while every Catholic parish matters deeply and Christ is fully present in every tabernacle across the world, I would still like to share why, from my own perspective, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church here in New Milton truly is something very special.

It is not only about the building, or even the location, though both are beautiful. It is about the life of faith that pulses through this parish, the people who worship here, the sense of belonging, and the unique mission we live out together in this corner of Hampshire – on the edge of the New Forest and only a short walk from the sea.

Please Pray For Me

There are days when we try to stand tall, and days when we simply cannot. Days when we pretend we are composed, and days when we know that the veil has slipped and all we can say, with trembling honesty, is this: Please pray for me because I'm a sinner. Not as a dramatic confession, not as a poetic moment, but as the most truthful line of our soul.

Many of us walk around carrying invisible burdens – regrets we have never shared, wounds we hope no one sees, failures we wish we could erase. Yet something within us stirs when we finally whisper, "I need help. I need prayer." It is not a collapse but a surrender into mercy. It is the moment the prodigal son turns toward home, the moment the tax collector beats his breast, the moment the lost sheep bleats faintly in the dark hoping the Shepherd is listening.

And so this week's reflection is more than a meditation. It is a petition – a humble plea from one sinner to another, from one pilgrim to another. I ask for your prayers, and in doing so, I pray that each of us discovers the freedom and the healing that can only unfold when we admit our need for grace.

"The King of Love My Shepherd Is" - Why I Have A Line From This Hymn On This Blog

"This particular hymn was suggested to me by Father when I attended confession and has ever since has become for me a serene melody with a comforting message."

How Would You Like Our Father, Son, Holy Spirit, our Blessed Mother Mary and All the Angels and Saints to Rejoice for You? Wouldn't that be a great Christmas gift to you?

Some questions do not merely request an answer but invite a new direction, a gentle turning of the heart toward something deeper, holier, more life-giving.

This blog post's question is one of those.

It comes not to burden you, but to stir hope and possibility within you.

How would you like Our Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, our Blessed Mother Mary, and all the angels and saints to rejoice for you?

Pause for a moment and truly imagine the meaning of that question. Imagine heavenly joy rising because of you!

The 24/7 Catholic Monthly - With A FREE Gift - 1st December 2025 – Advent: Watching, Waiting, Hoping

Welcome to the December edition of The 24/7 Catholic Monthly... with a free gift!

The shops may be in full Christmas mode, but the Church offers something deeper, quieter, holier: Advent, a sacred time of longing, preparation, and hope.

This is not yet Christmas - it is the season to watch and wait. We recall the ancient people of Israel, yearning for the Messiah. We prepare our hearts to welcome Christ not only as a baby in Bethlehem, but also as King of glory at the end of time.

Am I the only one who struggles with 1 Corinthians 10:13?

Have we ever read Saint Paul's famous words about God never allowing us to be tempted beyond our strength...

... and quietly wondered if the verse was written for someone holier, braver, or far more put together than us? 

If so, we're in very good company.

We Crave To Meet Our Lord Face To Face

There is a longing within every Christian soul that words rarely manage to capture. It is the deep, aching desire to meet Our Lord face to face. 

We imagine that moment when the veil is lifted and we finally see the One who made us, the One who loved us into existence, the One who carried us through every hardship. 

That desire is written into us because God Himself placed it there. When we feel the tug of heaven, it is the tug of home. We know that heaven is where we belong because heaven is where He is.

Although this encounter in its fullness is reserved for eternity, there are moments even now when we draw astonishingly close to Him, closer than we allow ourselves to grasp. These moments are not only spiritual but profoundly physical, because the God who took flesh in Bethlehem still gives Himself in flesh and blood. 

An easy prayer to remember...

 
"Almighty God of grace and light,
please bless (name here or description of person) and hold them tight. 
Grant them peace along their ways
and keep them safe both nights and days.

A prayer that can help us to pray unceasingly? Well, maybe.

When we read the Scriptures, one of the commands that often makes us pause is St Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonians: "Pray constantly" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, RSV-CE). The words are simple — but the challenge is great. How can we possibly pray without ceasing when life is full of work, family, obligations, and interruptions?

The saints across the centuries have taught us that unceasing prayer is not necessarily about being on our knees every second of the day. It is more about cultivating a spirit of prayer — a readiness of heart that continually turns to God. St Augustine put it beautifully when he said, "Your desire is your prayer; if your desire continues, your prayer continues." Prayer, then, is more than words. It is the lifting up of the heart to God.

But sometimes we need words — and simple words at that. In our weakness, our minds wander and our hearts grow distracted. A small, memorable prayer can become like a companion that helps us stay attuned to God's presence in the midst of daily life.

Here's an easy prayer; simple and yet profound:

Green dinosaurs wearing Santa hats but not a crib in sight - A reflection on the true meaning of Christmas

It was supposed to be a simple, cheerful visit to a local well-known garden centre. You know the kind — enormous, bustling, and bursting with Christmas spirit even before the first frosts have properly set in. 

Rows upon rows of glittering baubles, dancing reindeer, and tinsel that sparkles under soft festive lighting. The familiar scent of pine mingles with mulled spice candles, and for a moment you can almost hear the faint echo of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” in the air. 

But as I wandered deeper into the displays, something began to dawn on me — a quiet, unsettling realisation.

Among the mountains of merchandise and mechanical snowmen, there was not a single crib. Not one.

Why can't we just... wait?

The Age of Now... Click and collect in 1 hour. Next day delivery. Pizza delivery within 30 minutes. Express delivery within 4 hours. Fast food. Fast fashion. Why can't we just... wait?

Our modern world has turned speed into a virtue. We can have almost anything instantly—whether it is a meal, a gadget, a garment, or entertainment streamed in seconds.

Convenience is now seen as a kind of right.

And yet, as Christians, we know that the most important things in life are not available "on demand." Love takes time. Virtue takes effort. Holiness takes a lifetime. Salvation is a journey of patience, perseverance, and trust in God's timing.

So why can't we just… wait?

Five Quiet Miracles We Might Miss Each Day

Have we ever stopped mid-rush, wondering if God is truly present in the little moments of our day?

When life feels hectic and noisy, we might be tempted to think that miracles only happen in grand, extraordinary ways. 

Yet what if the most beautiful miracles are actually happening quietly around us — in the unnoticed, the overlooked, the everyday?

This reflection invites us to slow down and open our eyes to five simple but profound miracles that may be passing us by.

These aren’t the flashy, headline-grabbing signs from heaven; they’re gentle reminders of God’s love quietly weaving itself through the fabric of our daily life.

Jonah – The Opposite of Jesus?

There is a strange comfort in the Book of Jonah. 

Most prophets in Scripture shine with courage, obedience, and clarity of mission. 

Jonah does not. 

He runs from God, he resists God's will, he complains even after witnessing miracles, he sulks when mercy is shown, and he never truly softens in the narrative. 

Jonah stands out as the prophet who simply does not want to be one. 

His story feels familiar because it mirrors our own reluctance, our own fears, and our own instinct to run when God calls us into something costly.

An easy prayer to remember...

 

"Peace be with you", our Lord tells us,
 as He grants His peace to me and you,
Lord help me live this peace You give,
in all I think.. and say... and do.