‘Pope Francis tells participants at a Congress for the Pastoral Care of Vocations in Europe not to be afraid to take up the challenge of continuing to proclaim the vocation to consecrated life and to ordained ministry’ reports Vatican News. Ireland was represented by Fr Willie Purcell (National Diocesan Vocations Office), Bishop Donal McKeown (Bishop…

Day 8 of the Pentecost Novena; Once again we meditate upon the breath as an encounter with the Holy Spirit who is the breath, the life (Ruah) of God, the One who gives life to and sustains all that is. Read the prayer below slowly and gently and during the day often return to the…

John F. Kennedy in Cork, 1963 With the present incumbent currently visiting Ireland, it seems appropriate to share this image of John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, in Cork on 28 June 1963. Kennedy spent four days in Ireland as part of a European tour. His visit to Cork was one of the…

Day 7 of the Pentecost Novena: Today our meditation comes from the great St. Augustine and invites us to be aware of the activity of the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier: the One who invites us into holiness through every motion of our being when we dwell in awareness of the Divine Presence. Read the…

Day 6 of the Pentecost Novena: Today we turn to the great Franciscan mystic and teacher St. Bonaventure and his prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit: read the prayer slowly aware of where these gifts are needed in your life and in the lives of those you pray for. Veni Sancte Spiritus! O…

Day 5 of the Pentecost Novena: Today we invoke the Holy Spirit in the words of St. Francis of Assisi: This prayer for discernment, also know as the prayer of the cave or the prayer before the crucifix is one that comes from the early part of the life of Francis when he was seeking…

Our meditation today comes from the litany of the Holy Spirit: spend a moment with each of these titles and activities of the Holy Spirit and allow them to breathe renewal and peace into your heart. Veni Sancte Spiritus! Ray of heavenly light, Author of all good, Source of heavenly water Consuming fire Ardent charity…

Today we pray the ancient invocation Veni Sancte Spiritus! Come Holy Spirit! Let this prayer rest in your breath and being in these days. Allow it to rise mantra like to your lips from your heart with each breath in these days…. . Come, Holy Spirit, from heaven shine forth with your glorious light. Veni…

  Today our meditation is the wonderful invocatory hymn written by the 15th century mystic Bianco di Siena: “Come down, O love divine” It invites us to meditate on the Spirit as the Divine Love between the Father and the Son and to see the path of humility as our way into His presence in…