Fr John Sullivan SJ

19/02/2020

Fr John Sullivan SJ died on this day, 19 February 1933. He suggests that we“Take life in instalments. This day now, at least let this be a good day. Be always beginning. Let the past go. Now let me do whatever I have the power to do.”

This is "NEW Conor Harper - The Power of his Prayer" by Irish Jesuits on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

18/11/2018

"Listen to the salutation of an angel, the response of God's own mother, or the greetings of Elizabeth..How could Mary tell St. Luke the great things he related? Because she 'kept all these words, pondering them in her heart' (Luke 2:19)...Since that day her prayer rings down the ages in holy Church at Vespers, will continue until the end of time, and will fill heaven with harmony for all eternity...Lest we forget the brilliance of this gem, our true Mother the Church recalls it for us morning, noon and evening in the Angelus, in the Magnificat at Vespers, and in the countless Aves of her rosary".

- Blessed John Sullivan. Extracted from McGrath, Fergal: ‘Father John Sullivan S.J.’, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 2nd Edition, 1945, pg. 225-226

04/11/2018

"Do you want to know how to pray? Listen to the salutation of an angel, the response of God's own mother, or the greetings of Elizabeth. You say that you cannot make a meditation. How could Mary tell St. Luke the great things he related? Because she 'kept all these words, pondering them in her heart' (Luke 2:19). Ponder all these words in your own heart with her. You too will learn how to meditate. Do you want to know how to make your thanksgiving after Holy Communion? Kneel at Mary's feet whilst she sings her thanksgiving after the first Holy Communion".

- Blessed John Sullivan. Extracted from McGrath, Fergal: ‘Father John Sullivan S.J.’, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 2nd Edition, 1945, pg. 222-223

21/10/2018

"Mary brought Jesus into the house of Elizabeth, the greater to the lesser, Jesus to John, Mary to Elizabeth. Do I bring Jesus to those whom I visit?...Mary breaks out into a glorious song of praise. The highest prayer is praise. Since that day her prayer rings down the ages in holy Church at Vespers, will continue until the end of time, and will fill heaven with harmony for all eternity. It is difficult to leave the company of the two cousins so full of joy...Is it a joy to meet me? Has my word the power to move my hearers to break out in prayer?"

- Blessed John Sullivan. Extracted from McGrath, Fergal: ‘Father John Sullivan S.J.’, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 2nd Edition, 1945, pg. 222-223

07/10/2018

"What effect has His coming on Mary? Did she sit idle, contemplating the great things done in her? The Gospel tells us: 'In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country (Luke 1:39). Charity knows no delay...She faces the fatigue and weariness of a long journey to render service to her cousin in her needs. Do I rise up in haste when charity or obedience calls me to go into the hill country of trials and difficulties?"

- Blessed John Sullivan. Extracted from McGrath, Fergal: ‘Father John Sullivan S.J.’, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 2nd Edition, 1945, pg. 224

30/09/2018

Hundreds of people visited the Jesuit stand at the recent National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore Co. Offaly for a blessing with cross of Blessed John Sullivan SJ. There was a continual stream of people coming for a blessing, said Fr Kevin O’Rourke SJ, who was giving the blessings with the cross at the event.

“People from nearly every county in Ireland,” he said, adding: “It’s always a privilege to see how moved people are as they hold the cross and pray in the secret of their hearts to him to intercede for them. We had the sick and the dying, the worried and the hopeful coming for a blessing. No-one went away disappointed.”

Hundreds of people visited the Jesuit stand at the ploughing for a blessing with cross of Blessed John Sullivan SJ

23/09/2018

"If we receive special graces in prayer, do we act and think like Mary? Or do we go around relating, with vain-self-complacency any supposed grace we have received, which is a gift from God without any merit on our part. We are sinners by creation. When the humble handmaid had said her fiat, the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt amongst us. If Mary had not co-operated with grace, the hand of God would have been detained. If we do not co-operate with grace as Mary did, we shall have to give a strict account of it before God. This word of God is life".

- Blessed John Sullivan. Extracted from McGrath, Fergal: ‘Father John Sullivan S.J.’, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 2nd Edition, 1945, pg. 223

09/09/2018

"What answer will Mary make to the angel? Listen: 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word' (Luke 1:38). How great is the humility of the Mother of God. She was the one person who filled the greatest position in all time. The handmaid! She must indeed have been full of grace, not to have any feelings of pride when she was told so suddenly that she was to fill such a high destiny...If we receive special graces in prayer, do we act and think like Mary? Or do we go around relating, with vain-self-complacency any supposed grace we have received, which is a gift from God without any merit on our part".

- Blessed John Sullivan. Extracted from McGrath, Fergal: ‘Father John Sullivan S.J.’, Longmans, Green & Co., London, 2nd Edition, 1945, pg. 222-223

10/08/2018

In advance of the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland this month, a special Nationwide programme looking back on the life of Blessed John Sullivan was aired on Wednesday 8 August on RTÉ One. The documentary focuses on the life story of John Sullivan and explores what made him so remarkable that he could be declared an Irish saint. Watch back on RTÉ Player through link below.

"He stood out as a man who preached the compassion and mercy of God, themes as we know that are close to the heart of Pope Francis. A central part of our role and of our mission as Christians is also to be witnesses of mercy at a time when too often our world seems harsh and lacking in compassion". - Fr John Dardis SJ

In advance of the Popes visit to Ireland this month, we focus on the life story of Father John O'Sullivan who earlier this year was beatified by the Catholic Church.

07/08/2018

This Wednesday's Nationwide is a special programme looking back on the life of Blessed John Sullivan. Wednesday 8 August at 7pm on RTÉ One. Please spread the word.

www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/nationwide

“On this Wednesday's the story of an Irish Protestant who became a Catholic & a Jesuit priest & who could soon be canonized Saint. We look back on the life of Blessed John Sullivan. Wednesday 7pm on Pls. Spread the word. RT ”

02/07/2018

"I owe everything in the world to my mother's prayer and so know the power of a mother's prayer, especially in the hour of sorrow. I can form some idea of your anguish from what I saw of my own dear mother when her best-loved son was taken from her at the age of twenty-four without a moment's warning. She never saw his face again and never even had the satisfaction of weeping at his grave for his remains were never found. I cannot tell you what agony she endured during the days after his loss, hoping against hope that his remains might be recovered. I believe that only for her passionate love of Our Lord and her boundless faith, she would have lost her reason. To her prayers at that time and to her resignation to God's will I believe I owe everything, and God alone knows how much that means."
- Letter written by Fr John Sullivan in 1913 to the mother of a boy, Jack O'Riordan, who died at Clongowes.

24/06/2018

"Get the Magnificat into your life; live it and be always praising and blessing God. Speak to God as a child; no study, no reasoning, speak about everything to Him. We shall only know at the day of judgement all that prayer has done for souls. [When in desolation in prayer] you are to be quite indifferent to these changes, like a person in a house who doesn't know whether it is rain, snow or sunshine outside. So with you...You are to be taken up with the things of God that you pay no need to what happens to yourself...If desolation comes, thank God for it. When consolation comes you are delighted with God. When desolation comes, you have more merit and God is delighted with your soul".

- Blessed John Sullivan