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

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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.

Crystals... Planets... New Age? No. God's Intelligent Design

In a world increasingly drawn to New Age spirituality, there has been a marked fascination with crystals, planetary alignments, and mystical forces. 

While many people see beauty and wonder in these things, some are tempted to attribute their origin and power to vague cosmic energies or impersonal universes. 

For Catholics, these marvels are not sources of power in and of themselves. They are signposts - indicators of something far greater: the intelligent design of Almighty God.

Let’s set aside the incense burners and astrology charts for a moment. Instead, let’s look at the very same elements that enthral New Age followers - crystals, planets, patterns in nature - and marvel not at the creation, but at the Creator. 

As St Paul wrote, “Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20, RSV-CE).

Come Home to the Catholic Church – The Door Is Still Open

Have you been away from the Church for a while?

Maybe it's been months. Maybe years. Maybe decades.

Or maybe… you never really left - you just sort of drifted.

 You still believe in God (you think). You still consider yourself Catholic (more or less). You still light a candle now and again, perhaps whisper a prayer in the car. But something has held you back from stepping back through those doors - the ones of the church building, yes, but also of your faith life.

So this blog post is for you. Whether you feel lost, lapsed, unsure, afraid, or simply out of the habit… this is your gentle reminder:

The door is still open.

The Church is still here.

Christ is still waiting for you - with love, not judgement.

The Church Isn't a Club for the Perfect - It's a Home for the Wounded

A 10-Day Journey Through the Psalms to Lift Your Heart

"Be Still And know That I Am God"
(Psalm 46:10)
A 10-Day Journey Through the Psalms
to Lift Your Heart
(Plus FREE GIFT)

Prayer For The Continued Recovery Of Father Bill - (With the Intercession of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux)

O Lord, our Shepherd, strong and true,
In Your great love, we lift to You
Our Father Bill, Your servant dear,
Whose faith and heart bring us so near.

Restore his strength, renew his grace,
Surround him with Your warm embrace.
In every trial, may he find
Your healing peace, so sweet, so kind.

Saint Thérèse, with your gentle way,
“Little Flower,” hear our prayer today.
By your trust in God above,
Send to Father Bill your tender love.

Guide him through each weary night,
Fill his soul with holy light.
With your roses, grace impart,
And heal his body, mind, and heart.

Grant wisdom to those who care,
And lighten burdens he must bear.
May Mary’s mantle, pure and mild,
Protect our cherished priest and child.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and King,
Whose resurrection life does bring,
We pray for health, for hope, for peace,
That Father Bill’s pains may soon cease.

Amen.

The 24/7 Catholic Monthly - 1st July 2025 - Offering Each Day to the Precious Blood

Welcome to the first post in a new monthly series: The 24/7 Catholic Monthly.

Each month, we journey deeper into the Catholic year, following the Church’s devotional themes, feasts, and fasts, drawing strength from Scripture, the lives of the saints, and the liturgical calendar. 

These posts will include poetry, devotions, catechesis, a meditation, a challenging quiz, and a heartfelt invitation to live as a Catholic not just on Sundays - but every moment of every day.

To begin our journey, we turn to July: the month devoted to the Precious Blood of Jesus.

🌟 Coming Soon: The 24/7 Catholic Monthly

New Series Launches 1 July: The Blood That Saves Us

(And yes – regular blog posts will carry on as normal!)

There’s something new on the horizon - something designed to strengthen our spiritual life and help us live our Catholic faith more fully throughout the year.

A Prayer for Father Bill – For Strength and Healing

O Christ, divine and full of grace,

Shine healing light upon his face.

With faithful heart and open hands,

Father Bill before You stands.

He serves Your flock with daily care,

He lifts our lives in silent prayer.

He speaks Your Word, he gives Your bread,

He walks the path where You have led.

Now in this time of needed rest,

We ask You, Lord, to heal and bless.

Bring peace to mind, bring strength anew,

Let every grace flow down from You.

Our Lady stays close by his side,

A mother’s love she does not hide.

Saint Joseph stands with steadfast peace,

And angel guards shall never cease.

O Jesus, Priest and Saviour true,

Who makes all things forever new,

Pour mercy deep and gently fill

The soul and frame of Father Bill.

Amen.

An Imaginary Look at How Jesus Would Have Appeared to Friends and Colleagues While He Was Growing Up, Working, and Preparing for His Ministry

The Incarnation of Christ is one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith. 

That God Himself became man, walked among us, and experienced the ordinary rhythms of human life is both astounding and deeply moving.

Yet, while the Gospels give us glimpses into Jesus’ public ministry, they tell us very little about His hidden years - those decades in Nazareth before He began preaching.

What was Jesus like as a child, as a young man, and as a tradesman? How did He appear to those who knew Him - His neighbours, friends, and colleagues? 

In this imaginative reflection, a follow-up post to "The Human Side Of Jesus" we will consider what it might have been like to encounter Jesus in everyday life before He stepped onto the stage of history as the Messiah.