Pope Francis In The Chapel Of The Domus Sanctae Marthae

Pope Francis in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae (CNS)

I absolutely love this photo, seen in the Catholic Herald, of Pope Francis sitting quietly amongst the people in the back of the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae before Mass. My impression is that those in the chapel have not even cottoned on to his presence there with them. Wonderful.

Preaching Truth

St Mark the Evangelist writing his Gospel
Photo from Sacred Destinations

Today is the feast day of St Mark the Evangelist. It is a wonderful day, as far as I am concerned, for a very obvious reason – my name, Mark. (Happy feast day to all those who share the same name as me.) The second reading of Matins for today's feast of St Mark the Evangelist is from the writing of Saint Irenaeus against heresies. This reading could not have come at a more opportune moment this week as far as I am concerned.

Squirming Shepherds

From "Lousy Leaders and Sorry Sheep"

I could not help wondering if any deacons, priests and bishops felt uncomfortable standing up and giving a homily on Sunday following the Gospel reading about the Good Shepherd. (John 10: 27 – 30) I also wondered if they would feel equally awkward every day of this entire week, since the message of Sunday extends through each day of this week? Sadly, the reality is that those who should, probably do not even realise that they have a reason to squirm.

Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Anglican Book of Common Prayer

As a result of my trip down memory lane the other day when I went to visit St. Boniface Anglican Church in Germiston, South Africa, I felt led to pull out from my bookshelf, in my study, my old Anglican Book of Common Prayer. I think that the last time I looked at this Anglican Book of Common Prayer, with any degree of seriousness, was in 1987.

Is SACBC Getting Control?

Is the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) eventually beginning to take responsibility for the content of The Southern Cross? Have the bishops now realised that much of the content of this newspaper is entirely inappropriate, especially if the newspaper is going to continue to be sold to Catholics right inside of our churches? There are, thankfully, signs that this may indeed be the case!

Should We Reconsider Works Of Charity?

During Lauds this morning it struck me that, for many Christians, the Church has become merely an organisation through which Christians make a collective material contribution to the world. The value of the Church has been reduced to only the tangible activities that the Church engages in to make the world a better place.

St Boniface Anglican Church

St Boniface Anglican Church

Earlier this week I took a trip down memory lane. It is something that I have been wanting to do for a long long time now. Somehow there were always silly reasons that delayed the visit. 

Prejudice Trumps Informed Conscience

I wrote yesterday about how prejudice can block the truth. Today I came across another example of just how harmful prejudice can be. It can literally prevent us from being able to use the message given to us as a means to learn and grow. You see our prejudices cause us to needlessly experience a host of emotions that completely blocks or blurs the real message. Effectively what we then receive is not the real message, only the message that is palatable.

Prejudice Blocks Truth

On Friday the Mail & Guardian tweeted: “Archbishop of Durban Wilfred Napier: I don’t know any gays”. This tweet and the subsequent tweets from others related to this, highlighted the intense need that some people have to vilify the Church and its leaders.  It also highlighted the extent to which prejudices can cause people to misunderstand very simple statements like: “I don't know any homosexuals”.

Pope Francis Agrees With Reform Of LCWR

Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller 

Are we about to see the liberals turn on Pope Francis? I think that as the news gets out that Pope Francis has stated that he is in agreement with the Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in the United States of America, as well as the program of reform for this Conference, this may well happen.

Media Interview During Mass

I am really annoyed about the recent Mail & Guardian interview entitled “Napier: I don't know any gays”.  I am angry that Cardinal Napier was portrayed in the manner in which they did by using that ridiculous and unethical sound bite.  

How to Use A Sound Bite Unethically

Cardinal Napier

On Friday we witnessed the Mail & Guardian, which I have always considered to be a fairly reputable secular media source, degenerate.  It elected to ignore journalistic ethics and used a sound bite in a manner that clearly conflicts with what is generally considered to be an ethical means of using a sound bite in news media.  In doing so it vilified Cardinal Napier.

Our New Life In Christ

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.

Who Are The Real Bigots?

Modern Bigoted Actions Pefectly Illustrated

The definition of a bigot is a person who “has or reveals (1) an obstinate belief in the superiority of their own opinions and (2) a prejudiced intolerance of the opinions of others”.  There is no doubt that today it has become common practice for the LGBT rights activists to habitually brand their opponents in the LGBT debate as bigots.

Priests Who Don’t Wear Their Clerical Collars

Clerical Collar

Yesterday I sent out a tweet quoting the words of Fr. Maurice Emelu from Nigeria.  Fr. Emelu said:  “When you see a priest who doesn't wear his roman collar, you see a man who doubts.”  Fr. Emelu said this in one of a series of talks entitled “The Faith”, which I was watching on EWTN.

Pope Francis Hails Women

Much speculation has followed the General Audience of Pope Francis on Wednesday 3 April 2013.  As usual we have people joyously reading into the Pope’s message that which they would clearly love to read or hear in his message, even if it is not actually in his message. 

Things We Stopped, But Shouldn’t Have

Altar Servers
Holy Innocents Catholic Church

I was an altar server in the Anglican Church from a very young age.  I started when I was about 8, long before I was confirmed, and I continued until the day that I completed high school.