Seeing Your Life Through

The Lens of The Gospel

The Sermon on the Mount starts with the teachings of Jesus on the eight Beatitudes, a list of inner attitudes that differentiate a true disciple from a non-disciple.

In truth, no one is righteous to deserve being called blessed. That the state of being blessed flows only from the grace of God and therefore, the right to inherit the Kingdom of God also comes only from Him and not from our own effort.

Yet, as a disciple, we must be open to the ever-flowing grace of the Lord. This means we must endeavor with the help of the Holy Spirit to live or practice these beatitudes.

All the eight beatitudes starts with a declaration of blessedness.

To be blessed means to be holy, to be held in reverence and to have found favor with God. When Jesus says, “Blessed are you…”, it means we are already blessed when we are poor in spirit, when we are mournful, meek, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, clean of heart, when we work for peace and when we are persecuted because of Him.

It means we are made holy by these attitudes and that the blessings are here and we can already experience them although the rewards may come later.

Thus, Jesus is telling us never to lose sight of the greatest blessing, eternal life although we are enjoying His blessings today.

Prayer to St. Saint Brigid

You were a woman of peace.

You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness. You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peacecover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.

Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen

The relics of Saint Charbel, a Maronite Monk from Lebanon who has countless miracles attributed to his intercession, will visit Galway Cathedral on

Sunday 29^th January from 3.00pm–5.30pm.

There will be an opportunity for private prayer and to receive an individual blessing. All welcome.

Would you be willing to provide companionship to an older person locally? ALONE are seeking volunteers in your area. Full training and support provided.

If interested please contact Karen on  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or on 086 057 6401.

If you are over 60 and would like to know more about the services ALONE can offer you, please call 0818 222024.

Pilgrimage planner James Treacy is organising a pilgrimage to Fatima from 9^th to 14^th June 2023, departing Dublin, to celebrate the feast day of St Anthony of Padua, patron saint of Portugal, including a visit to the birthplace of St Anthony in Lisbon. 

Please contact James Treacy at 061 921470 for further information.