Pilgrim Daisies Station Island, April 2020 April light on the empty path. The bare trees in silhouette. Bell tower and St Mary’s in profile against the sun.   But I look again and I see…  This path is not empty. Here are the daisies, lifting up their humble heads to the light.   For now […]

In the spring sunshine nature abounds. A reflection on the simplicity of the little blooms in this out-of-the-way corner of God’s creation.

Hello – not from Lough Derg itself, but from the safe social distance that we are all observing and sharing.  And Happy Easter to you wherever you may be. As I pondered what Easter thought I might share with you, the figure of the late Vietnamese Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân has been in my […]

The final station is held by Mary, depicted as Queen of Apostles. The moon under her feet recalls the crowned woman of the Book of Revelation, who plays her part in the great struggle with the power of evil. THE BODY OF JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB It was now evening; the long day […]

Last of the apostles is Matthias. In the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, Luke recounts how he was chosen to take the place of Judas Iscariot. THE BODY OF JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS The crowd had left the hill.  A few friends remained, to mourn the dead and to […]

The Apostle Simon, nicknamed “the zealot” to distinguish him from Simon Peter, is depicted as a young man with the hair colour associated with the Celtic peoples. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS From the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  Jesus said:  “Father, forgive them; they do not […]

The Eleventh Station from the Lough Derg Way of the Cross This apostle is known as Judas or Jude.  At the Last Supper he asked Jesus, “Lord, what is this all about?” His straightforward question drew from Jesus the promise of the gift of the Spirit and of the peace that the world cannot give. […]

The Tenth Station  James son of Alphaeus is sometimes called James the Less, that is ‘the Younger’. He was the local leader of the early Church in Jerusalem, One of the New Testament letters bears his name. JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHES Now everything was taken from him, even his clothes.  Although he was […]

The Ninth Station  The money-bag on his left identifies Matthew the tax collector.  It was in his house that Jesus declared: “I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.” JESUS FALLS FOR THE THIRD TIME This was the final fall.  Jesus had reached the very limit of physical endurance.  And yet […]

The Eighth Station This is Thomas, the man of doubt and of resurrection faith. As Jesus left for the home of Lazarus it was Thomas who said: “Let us go too, and die with him.” THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM WEEP FOR JESUS These women were moved to sympathy for Jesus.  He acknowledged their tears, but […]