De La Mennais Brothers: Making Jesus Christ better known and loved by young people

This one's from the Life Application Study Bible (NIV) which I just purchased for my Olive Tree Bible Study app. "The transfiguration was a foretaste of heaven; the participants were doing something worth noting—talking together. In God’s world, interactions count highly. People are individuals, with minds, hearts, and opinions. People are also part of a wider whole, connected by relationships built on sharing between whole persons. Friendship is the key. Make time and opportunities to talk with others. Good conversations act as training for eternity. " I love the idea here that a healthy conversation, one founded on mutual respect and friendship, can give us a taste of heaven. Again, I have been experiencing this recently in the discussion groups at the Life In The Spirit Seminar course that I have been helping with. This is being hosted by the wonderful Fr. Peter Morgan and the prayer group of his parish of St. Anne's, Overbury St., Liverpool, under the lea...

Found this on the Facebook page of Keith and Kristyn Getty . It helps explain why it is that praising God feels so right. We do it a great deal in the charismatic prayer group I belong to. It's not just superficial "happy-clappy-ness". It leaves me with a sense of wholeness, of inner peace and joy that nothing else gives me to the same extent, even when going through a very rough time. It completes my being. ********************* "Just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: “Isn’t she lovely? Wasn’t it glorious? Don’t you think that magnificent?” The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about. I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment ; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are;...

I've been a big fan of the "Playing For Change" videos since the first ones were released 8 years ago, uniting non-professional + professional musicians from around the world in recordings of well known songs, motivated by the belief that "music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people". Mark Johnson, one of the PFC co-founders, remains its chief driving force. The  Playing For Change Foundation  was subsequently launched, "dedicated to building music and art schools for children around the world, and creating hope and inspiration for the future of our planet". See here for their latest video, a truly wonderful recording of "Love Is All", this time uniting young, mainly primary school-age musicians from around the world:

"The church needs the wisdom of those who have lived life. But it also needs the energy, insight and creativity of those just starting out. It shouldn’t be either-or, but both-and."  This is from an excellent article by Michael O'Loughlin looking at the need for young adults to be in positions of leadership in the Church. You will find it here .

Anyone in need of help finding a way into prayer or of simply unwinding after a stressful day should watch this YouTube video which brings together the beautifully meditative minimalism of Arvo Pärt's Spiegel Im Spiegel (in its version for 'cello + piano), a selection of stunning nature photos and some well chosen quotes. Sit back, relax and enjoy this (full screen and on headphones if you're not connected to decent speakers). The music was recently used at a key point in Richard Curtis' film "About Time" which I wrote about in a previous article.

Here's another post on the persecution of Christians from the Catholic Herald , written by a "staff reporter" and originally published on June 3rd this year: Vatican official says 100,000 Christians are killed each year because of their faith Bishop Uzoukwu of Minna, Nigeria, at a funeral for victims of a Christmas church bombing (Photo: CNS) More than 100,000 Christians are killed each year because of their faith, and millions more face bigotry, intolerance and marginalisation because of their beliefs, a Vatican official has said. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s permanent observer to US agencies in Geneva, told the Human Rights Council that “credible research” by Massimo Introvigne, a former representative of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, on combating intolerance and discrimination against Christians, “has reached the shocking conclusion that an estimate of more than 100,000 Christians are violently killed because of s...

On my way home now after a National Vocations Directors' conference at Birmingham Univ. Chaplaincy. So much joy + optimism + Spirit-filled people looking to help develop a culture of vocation within the church and help young people discover their own specific calling from God.  Lots of mutual support + encouragement + shared ideas.  Thanks to Sr. Cathy Jones + (the absent) Fr. Christopher Jamison (on his way to Manilla) and team at the National Office for Vocations.