Back to School with the Saints: Study Tips from Heaven

By now, students and pupils should all be back at school and colleges. The long summer holidays are over, and with sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks, and perhaps a little nervousness, young people across the country are returning to their studies. 

For some, this is an exciting time of opportunity; for others, it is heavy with pressure and anxiety. Parents and teachers, too, share the challenge of nurturing minds and guiding hearts in a world that often makes education feel like a competition rather than a calling.

But as Catholics, we know we are never left to face these challenges alone. Heaven is full of helpers who once walked the road of life before us. The saints, our elder brothers and sisters in Christ, stand ready to guide us, encourage us, and intercede for us. They remind us that study is not merely about facts and exams, but about preparing our minds and souls to serve God.

In this reflection, we will look at what the saints teach us about study, perseverance, and prayer. We will draw upon Scripture (RSV-CE), explore practical tips for students, and close with a devotional and poems.

Blessed Carlo Acutis – A Millennial Witness Of The Eucharist And Lessons For The Young And Old

When the Church raises a young person to the altars, it always gives us pause. Saints are not meant to be distant figures, frozen in stained glass or tucked away in dusty hagiographies. 

They are living reminders that holiness is possible here and now — in every age, culture, and circumstance. And in our own times, God has given us a powerful sign of hope in the life of Carlo Acutis, a London-born teenager who grew up in Milan, and whose love for the Eucharist and for souls has captured the attention of the whole world.

Carlo is being recognised as the first saint of the digital generation, a child of the new millennium who knew computers, video games, and the internet, yet never lost sight of what really mattered. 

His canonisation, under Pope Leo XIV, is not only a moment of joy for the Church but also a profound reminder: holiness is not confined to monasteries or ancient times. It can flourish in the heart of a teenager, even amidst Wi-Fi signals and mobile screens.

The 24/7 Catholic Monthly - 1st September - Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary

Welcome to the September edition of The 24/7 Catholic Monthly. 

This month, we walk with Our Lady in her sorrows—not as a defeat, but as the pathway to the triumph of the Cross.

 September is traditionally dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose feast is celebrated on 15 September, the day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Her pierced heart mirrors the heart of Christ: silent, faithful, enduring. Let us lean into that sorrow—not to wallow in pain, but to find meaning, love, and strength in suffering united with Jesus.

The Wild Garden Behind Our Lady of Lourdes Church in New Milton

It is a part of the parish grounds that most people pass without noticing — tucked behind the Catholic church, close to the church hall. 

From the main road, there is nothing to suggest what lies there. 

Parishioners and others walk by on their way to Mass or meetings, perhaps pausing to greet a friend or enter the hall itself for one of the many activities held there, many people not realising that just a few steps away is a place set apart, waiting in stillness... the wild garden of Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton — a space unlike any other in the parish.

A BRAND NEW 10-Day Journey Through the Psalms to Lift Your Heart plus FREE gift!

He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds." — Psalm 147:3 (RSV-CE)
(Plus FREE GIFT)

Step into ten days of reflection, prayer, and poetry inspired by the Psalms — designed to refresh your soul, strengthen your spirit, and bring you closer to God. 
Plus a free gift in with final edition

Each day offers a short scripture, a heartfelt reflection, a guided prayer, and an original poem to help you:

• Find peace in the storms of life.

• Trust God’s timing and care.

• Heal from sorrow and brokenness.

• Delight in the Lord and lift your heart in praise.

Take ten days to pause, pray, and experience the Psalms in a fresh, life-giving way. Your heart and soul deserve this quiet, restorative journey with God.

This series is completely free, and your email is only used to send you these reflections — no marketing, no selling, no hidden agendas. Once the series ends, all email addresses are permanently deleted from the list used for this series

Click Here For More Information / Sign Up Now

Missing the Beauty of God's Creation With Heads Bowed Down… but not to God...

There is a strange kind of reverence that has crept into our daily lives. 

One sees it on buses, in cafés, in waiting rooms, on walks through the countryside - even in churches. 

It is the bowed head... but not in prayer... not in contemplation of the Divine... not even in shame or humility... 

... instead, we see heads bowed toward tiny glowing screens - fingers scrolling, tapping, swiping. 

A posture once reserved for worship has become routine for digital distraction...

Why The 24/7 Catholic?

I named this blog The 24/7 Catholic because it expresses a desire that I had  tugging at my heart. I want to live my Catholic faith every day, every hour, every minute. All the time. Not just on Sundays, not just at Mass, not just when I’m feeling inspired - but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That’s what it means to follow Christ, right?

At least, that’s what I aspire to do...

... and yet, more often than not, I fall short...

This blog is for people like me - those of us who want to be saints, but who find ourselves slipping, stumbling, and sometimes just plain giving up. 

It’s for people who want to live the faith 24/7 but don’t always know how. 

People who go to Confession and mean it - but then snap at someone ten minutes later. 

People who say their Rosary while mentally ticking off their to-do list. 

People who love Jesus with all their hearts - but still struggle with doubt, distraction, despair, and daily demands.

This is The 24/7 Catholic - not because I’ve mastered it, but because I need to be reminded of it every single day...

10 Bible Verses That Show Jesus’ Sense of Humour. Yes, Our Lord Laughed Too!

When we think of Jesus, we rightly picture Him as the Good Shepherd, the Suffering Servant, and the Risen Lord.

 Often overlooked is His quick wit, sharp irony, and well-timed humour. 

Jesus wasn’t a gloomy figure. He enjoyed wedding feasts, told stories full of exaggeration and satire, and gently teased His disciples when they needed it.

After all, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit - and Christ was filled with it. 

Laughter is part of love, and Jesus, who is love incarnate, used humour to reveal truth, disarm pride, and draw people closer.

Let’s explore 10 moments from the Gospels that shine with Jesus’ holy sense of humour.

The 24/7 Catholic Monthly - 1st August 2025 – Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Daily Offering to the Immaculate Heart

“O Immaculate Heart of Mary, I consecrate myself to you. Take my heart and make it more like yours: pure, trusting, faithful, and surrendered to God. Intercede for me, and lead me always to your Son. Amen.”

This month, place your daily joys and trials into the heart that pondered all things, trusted God in all things, and stood faithful beneath the Cross.

To The Hebrews: - CC Galatians, Romans, Philippians

If St Paul had email, how different would his letters have been? 

While his words are divinely inspired and timeless, one can only imagine how his correspondence might have looked in a world of inboxes, CCs, and dreaded spam filters. 

So, let’s have a little fun and picture an alternate reality where the Apostle to the Gentiles had access to a first-century email accounts.

What Joy Is There in Being Regularly Late for Mass?

“Could you not watch one hour with me?” – Matthew 26:40

Mass begins. The choir sings the entrance hymn. The priest processes reverently to the altar. 

The Sign of the Cross opens our sacred encounter with heaven... and… we're not there yet.

Maybe we’re rushing up the path, breathless and distracted. Maybe we’re just leaving home, thinking, “I’ll miss the beginning, but at least I’ll make it for Communion.” Maybe it’s become a habit. A harmless little habit - so we think.

But what joy is there in being regularly late for Mass?

No Ordinary Gathering

Let’s remind ourselves what we’re walking into when we attend Mass. 

It’s not a club meeting or a lecture. It is the Holy Sacrifice. Christ offers Himself, through the hands of the priest, for the forgiveness of sins and the life of the world. Heaven breaks through. Angels surround the altar. The veil between this life and eternity is lifted.

And we are invited - not merely to observe, but to participate.

To be late is to step in halfway through a miracle!

It's Still Only July and TK Maxx is Already Stocking Halloween Products on Its Shelves! How Sad.

It’s the middle of July. The summer holidays haven’t yet begun for many families. Schoolchildren are still trudging through their final weeks of the term. 

The sun, though temperamental in Britain, is (at least occasionally) shining. And yet, in a corner of TK Maxx - among the discounted homeware and fashion bargains - sits an eerie and unwelcome sight: Halloween products. Pumpkins, skulls, witches’ hats, and cobwebbed ornaments fill the shelves like a swarm of locusts invading a peaceful land.

Isn’t it sad? Not just strange, not just out of place - but genuinely sad.