Category Archives: Lent 2021

As a child, I’d easily infuriate my mother further in any disagreement we had.  Not being willing to back down, I’d often cause the common cry to be uttered, “You always have to have the last word!’ At Mass, it’s the Deacon who has the last word – when one is present, at least!  AsContinue reading “Day 10: Go in Peace”

Over the last year, we’ve paid more serious attention to the birds and the bees as we shape the ‘Wild Side’ of St Mary’s, carving out a home for nature, planting flowers to attract pollinators and others.  There’s been much publicity about the plight of bees, and how important and essential they and other pollinatorsContinue reading “Day 8: A Bee among the Flowers”

Can’t cook, won’t cook, or just prefer to watch others cooking?! There’s a feast of cooking programmes on the TV these days which may mean that many of us spend more time watching other people prepare food than standing at the stove ourselves! It’s a good way, though, to be inspired to try some newContinue reading “Day 5: Wine and Water”

Some years ago, a priest colleague of a slightly different tradition from mine, once angrily castigated me on the steps of the Cathedral for casually calling the Eucharist, “the Mass.”  The word was natural to me, and I didn’t think too much of using it even in conversation with someone of an evangelical tradition.  IContinue reading “Day 4: The Mystery of the Mass”

Eating in silence with others can be a strange experience. Anyone who’s spent some time in a Religious Community on retreat and been invited to eat with the monks or nuns will experience some time of eating in silence. We tried it a few times in College during our Lenten Retreat, although I dishonoured myselfContinue reading “Day 3: Table Talk”

On the doors of the Tabernacle at St Mary’s is a beautiful painting portraying the Annunciation. It shows the moment when Gabriel greets Mary who responds to God by saying ‘Yes’ to his plans for her and the world. It’s the moment of Incarnation, when God takes flesh. Mary was the first to receive Jesus,Continue reading “Day 2: A Doorway to Heaven”

“What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever said?” asked the boy. “Help,” said the horse. “When have you been at your strongest?” asked the boy. “When I have dared to show my weakness.” And so the gentle conversation goes throughout their journey, across the pages of Charles Mackesy’s beautiful book, “The Boy, the mole, the foxContinue reading “Day 1: A Taste of Heaven”

For the journey: what makes us who we are? At the heart of our life together is the Holy Eucharist but, like anything that is so familiar and everyday, we can easily take for granted and forget the great gift we are being given. Each day, for the 40 days of Lent, we’ll be reflectingContinue reading “Setting Off”