Parishes of Saggart, Rathcoole, Brittas & Newcastle

14/06/2026

The month of June is dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus who has said, "Learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). The Heart of God is revealed as loving us tenderly even when we are most undeserving.

The heart is the centre of who we are and it is our most vulnerable part, emotionally and spiritually, as well as physically. Human hearts are easily wounded and broken. They are not so easily healed and repaired.

The hearts of human beings were also central to the disaster of sin and its consequences. The Word of God has said that “the heart is deceitful above all and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). The Lord has said that the hearts of His people are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).

There was only one way to fix the human heart and redirect it towards where it can only be at rest. The infinite Love of God must become present in a human heart, must become vulnerable.

This is what happened when the Only Son of God, Who is nearest the Father’s Heart (John 1:18), was made flesh in the pure womb of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When His heart began to beat, after the Holy Spirit overshadowed Our Blessed Lady (Luke 1:35), Eternal Love became fragile flesh and blood. The Word, who is the perfect expression of the Father’s Love, is made flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Heart of the Eternal Trinity is revealed in the life and ministry of the Word made flesh – Jesus the Nazarene. He is sent from the Father to draw us home, into the depths of the Love who created us.

The human Heart of Jesus reveals the Heart of His Father. Through His human Heart, filled with tender compassion and merciful love for us, Jesus draws us, with Him into the Heart of God.

We “look upon the One who was pierced” (Zechariah 12:10, John 19:37). The human Heart of Jesus, exposed and helpless on the Cross, is torn open by evil and there pours forth blood and water – there pours forth – not death – but life in abundance (John 19:34).

God’s Life is given to us through the wounded Heart of Jesus. Jesus indicates to us His Heart and He says, ‘Come to me’ (Matthew 11:28). “It is I”, He says, “Do not be afraid” (John 6:20).

14/06/2026

05/04/2026

Easter in Valencia

22/03/2026

Holy Thursday 2nd April, Easter Sunday 5th April

17/03/2026

Saturday, 14 March 2026
St Patrick hears the voice of the Irish

Monument to St. Patrick, Westport
I thought I heard in my mind the voice of those who were beside the wood of Foclut, near the western sea, calling out "We beg you, holy boy, to come and walk again among us”. This touched my heart deeply."
"Rogamus te, sancte puer, ut venias et adhuc ambulas inter nos." (From St Patrick's Confession. Note 'Rogamus te' abbreviated to RGMS TE on monument panel)

Hearing this call was a turning point in the life-story of St Patrick as told in his Confession. Born in Britain, he had been taken captive by some Irishmen and brought to Ireland. Later he escaped back to Britain where he went for the priesthood and was eventually consecrated bishop (read his biography here). It was at this stage that visitors from Ireland came with a letter for him. In reading it, Bishop Patrick was moved by the appeal that it contained to come back again -- of his own free will and for a much friendlier welcome this time. The Westport scene depicts his landing in Ireland.

The Confession is contained in the Book of Armagh and is dated to the early 9th century. Like the Book of Kells, this Book has happily been digitized by Trinity College Dublin, allowing us to see the original text (here). Our extract is found on Folio 23v, c. three-quarters way down the second column -- in the reproduction below, lines 6-7. (The last line ends with amplius non potui legere, i.e. my heart was so touched that I could not read any more.) As can be seen, the superb ornamentation of the Gospels in the Book of Kells far outshines the more ordinary script found in the Book of Armagh.

TCD Book of Armagh, Folio 23v
As for the google digital script used here in the 21st century, the writer sees he is returning to a topic first dealt with ten years ago in 2016 (here), this time with a precious view of the original manuscript.

May our lives continue to unfold fruitfully for us all, especially when, like St Patrick, at a certain moment in our life's journey, we feel we hear a silent call to start down a road that seems to be opening up for us -- in the traditional phrase, 'our vocation'.

27/12/2025

Today is the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. Saint John the Evangelist, Protector of the Blessed Mother, Ora Pro Nobis.