Pope Leo XVI invites us to pray in March for disarmament and peace.
The event is free - the Diocese is covering the entire cost.
During this week in mid-Lent, we will introduce a variety of ways of praying each evening, and do the same again on Saturday.
Come to any or all of the online meetings, or the Saturday, or both! Dates: March 9th-13th, 7-8.30pm plus Day Retreat (10am-3pm) on Saturday 14th March.
All the sessions are online. No need to register.
To receive the zoom link, and a reminder that it’s happening nearer the time, please email Ursula, the Diocesan Spirituality representative for: uwalker@uwclub.net
 |
| Candlemass at St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster For more images see our instagram page |
On Monday, the Church celebrated the feast of Candlemas, or the Presentation of the Lord as it's otherwise known, which traditionally marks the end of the Christmas season. The day takes its name from the candles that were used to symbolise Jesus as the "Light of the World" - echoing Simeon's words in the Gospel, describing Jesus as "the Light to enlighten the Gentiles".
Here at Lancaster Cathedral, we celebrated Mass by candlelight, including the blessing of candles at the start, which was beautiful to behold and pointed towards the beauty that is the light of Christ who comes to us at all times to be our light in the darkness.
The Nunc Dimittis is the prayer sung at night prayer and reminds us of Simeon's words.
During his pontificate Pope Francis has invited us to pray for those in need around the world, whilst all his prayer intentions for the year were published the usual monthly video for May is of course not available. However instead a short video reminding us all of those prayer intentions throughout the years has been prepared with those recipients thanking Pope Francis for his prayers and encouragement to us all to pray for ...
And whilst we await and pray for the Cardinals who will discern who will be our new Pope we remember Pope Francis' prayer plan to pray for working conditions
Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfillment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized. Amen
The Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for January : Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.
 |
| Children's liturgy focal area: Footsteps following Jesus as peacemakers. |
Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the fullness of God’s presence. The readings this week call us to make straight the paths for the Lord in our own hearts and in the world around us. Baruch envisages God’s people being led home in joy and peace, and John the Baptist invites us to clear the obstacles that prevent us from fully welcoming Christ into our lives and into our hearts.
On Friday 1st November we celebrated the Feast of All Saints
On Saturday 2nd we celebrated the Feast of All Souls
On 11th November we remember those who have died in war, we also remember them on Remembrance Sunday.
 |
| Box for November Holy Souls |
There are envelopes at the back of the
churches for you to enter a list of names of your loved ones to be
prayed for during the month of November (labelled ‘Holy Souls’). An
offering for Mass to be offered for them can be included in the envelope.
Please either place in the box marked Holy Souls or in the offertory
basket.
The Mass is the greatest prayer we have as Catholics. It is a
great act of charity to pray for those who have gone before us, especially
for those who have no one to pray for them.
grant unto them O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon them,
may they rest in peace, Amen.
This month traditionally is given over to the promotion of devotion to the rosary. On 7th October we will celebrate the feast of the rosary. This recalls the Christian victory over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto following the rallying cry to say the rosary by Pope Pius V.
Mary
Stained Glass
Wondow
This simple prayer, which many of us have learnt as children, is not simply a devotion to Mary but rather a meditation on the life of Christ in the company of His mother. Why not reconsider this month our use of this prayer? How often do I say the rosary? Do I rush it? Do I pray with my family?
“With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.” John Paul II
 |
| Joyful Mystery: Visitation |
A sequence is a poem / hymn that we say at important feasts. Tomorrow we will say Behold the Bread of Angels which is the last four verses of a longer piece of writing by St Thomas Aquinas called Lauda Sion (1274).
 |
| Monstrance |
Ecce Panis Angelorum Behold the Bread of
Angels,
Factus
cibus viatorum made the food of
wayfarers,
Vere
panis filiorum, Truly the bread of
children,
Non mittendus
canibus. not to be given to the
dogs.
In
figuris praesignatur, Presignified by figure,
Cum
Isaac immolatur, When Isaac was immolated,
Agnus
Paschae deputatur, the Paschal Lamb was
commanded,
Datur manna
patribus. Manna was given to
the fathers.
Bone
pastor, panis vere, Good shepherd, true Bread,
Jesu,
nostri miserere: Jesus, have mercy on us;
Tu
nos pasce, nos tuere, Feed us, protect us,
Tu
nos bona fac videre In Make us to see good
things
terra viventium. in the land of the living.
Tu
qui cuncta scis et vales, Thou who knowest and
willest all things,
Qui
nos pascis hic mortales: Who feeds us mortals by
This;
Tuos
ibi commensales, Make thine own to be
partakers of,
Coheredes
et sodales coheirs and citizens in
Fac sanctorum
civium. that holy City of Saints
What some may also recognise is the hymn Panis Angelicus which are the last two verses of a longer hymn celebrating the Eucharist known as Sacris solemniis
This should have been the eighth day of our Novena. Hopefully having started, readers will have found other resources to reflect on during this Novena. We focus today on the Understanding which is one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Apologies to readers that our prayers and reflections for the other days of our Novena have not been shared, your understanding that sometimes life doesn't quite go as planned would be appreciated.
The 8th day in our novena (nine days of prayer) we pray especially for the young people in our parish and this year our deanery who will be confirmed at the Cathedral on the Feast of Pentecost, Sunday 19th May.
This evening we were in the Cathedral preparing for the big day and were joined by young people from the parishes of Blessed John Henry Newman, St Bernadette's, St Thomas and St Elizabeth Thurnham, St Mary and St Michael Garstang, St William and St Bernard Pilling.
Psalms are not only songs of praise but touch our lives in so many ways. Today we share a few psalms that refer to the gift of Understanding. Which is your favourite? What others can you find?
My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. Psalm 49:3
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
Psalm 119:34
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:5
A short reflection and explanation about the gift of understanding, its relationship with the gift of wisdom and how we can help to grow in understanding.
A hymn and reflection: There is a quiet understanding (2.30mins)
A worship song Give me understanding (4.30 mins)
.png){kind=logo}
Each day we will share a bible passage linked to one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, a hymn or short reflection.
St Paul's letter to the Colossians 3: 12-14 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
 |
| Statue of St Therese in Cathedral Cloister |
Little acts of kindness are often linked to St Therese of Lisieux whose feast day we celebrate in October, but her little way is something we can follow every day.
To learn more about St Therese's Little Way and acts of kindess.
And a little act of kindness activity for our younger readers Acts of kindness activity. from Mission Together.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Each day we will share a bible passage linked to one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, a hymn or short reflection.
John 20: 21-22 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit".
Today we remember Jesus' greeting after the resurrection Peace be with you. This extract is just before the account of St Thomas who then made his great declaration of faith 'My Lord and My God'.
During our confirmation preparation our young people had the chance to speak with Fr Steve about his vocation. We all have a vocation, whether that is as a priest, religious, married or single person. We are all called to follow and so a question for all not only our confirmandi is to take time to think about how we are living out our vocation and to consider if we are being called to use our gifts and talents in some other way.
 |
| Fr Steve talking to confirmandi about his vocation and answering their questions |
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,and you shall renew the face of the earth.
There are many places in our world in need of peace. Thinking of Fr Matthew's home country and the troubles in Sudan, we pray for peace in Sudan. For more information see CAFOD page for Sudan Crises
Listen to us, Lord, hear our prayers as we cry out to you. Comfort and sustain your people. Open the paths of peace, Lord.Each day we will share a bible passage linked to one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, a hymn or short reflection.
John 13: 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
And today a short animation of 1 Corinthians 13: Love is patient. Take a few moments to think about those people you love and who love you. How might we be able to follow Jesus' commandment to love one another?
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,and you shall renew the face of the earth.Let us pray.
O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithfulby the light of the Holy Spirit,grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wiseand ever rejoice in his consolation.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 |
| For God so love the world John 3: 16 |
The causes for the Israelites’ captivity in Babylon are described.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 137:1-2,3,4-5,6
A lament from exile for the loss of Jerusalem
Second Reading
Ephesians 2:4-10
In grace we have been saved, so that we may do the work of the Lord.
Gospel Reading
John 3:14-21
Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Son of Man will be raised up so that those who believe in him will have eternal life.
God so loved the world colouring: CAFOD Children's Liturgy 4th Sunday Lent Year B
It starts at dawn on the international date line in Samoa. As the earth rotates a great wave of prayer sweeps across the Pacific, New Zealand and rolls on through Asia, Japan, Philippines, Bangladesh, the countries of Africa, Middle East and Europe. Moving over the Atlantic to the Americas until sun sets in American Samoa for the final service having completed a worldwide circle of prayer.
This short musical video from people through out the world in different languages sharing the scriptural focus from Ephesians 4: 1-7 “I beg you, bear with one another in love”
In this song we are encouraged to be patient with the calling we receive, bearing one another in love and unity.
And another song about Kites a reminder and prayer for peace and for the children of Gaza who have the world record from 2011 for flying kites.
Every Friday between 7.00 and 8.00 during Lent we have an online reflection on 2 or 3 of the stations using images, scripture readings, poems, videos and Taize music to help us reflect on these two stations. We draw reflections from different stations, CAFOD, Aid to Church in Need, Mary's Story, Care for Creation, Vatican, Bishop's Conference, Missio.
This week we focus on 2 stations the 4th station where Jesus meets his mother Mary, and the 8th station where Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.
Our time of reflection starts with looking at the two stations using materials suitable for families with children and after about 15 minutes there is an opportunity for them or adults who are short of time to leave. We then revisit the two stations with further reflections and times of silence.
This allows us to explore in a different way each station. Last week one person explained how:
Its very different but that is what makes it interesting and keeps you engaged.
 |
| Slides from our stations showing 14 stations of the Cross from Aid to the Church in Need. |
“every sick person has the right to medical, psychological, spiritual and human assistance. ... Healing is not always possible, but we can always care for the sick person, caress them.”
 |
| World Christian Community of Meditation |
In last Sunday's Gospel we heard how Jesus went and found a quiet place to go and pray with to his Father. There are many ways to pray, meditation is a way of taking time to be with the Lord. We can meditate alone or in a group, within our parish we currently have a weekly online group open to all.
For further details about where, when and what happens during these meetings please see Christian Meditation page. For further details and resources including: Daily words of wisdom, newsletters, audio talks and news from the World Christian Community of Meditators please see the wccm website for further resources.
This short video and animation gives a brief introduction to how to meditate ... day by day we find deeper stillness, silence and simplicity ... perhaps a form of prayer to explore this Lent?
 |
| Jesus heals a leper |
Gospel Reading - Mark 1:40-45 Jesus cures a person with leprosy, who reports his cure to everyone.
For parishioners who have been enjoying Bible Alive, readers and / or those simply looking for something to support their Lenten Journey the weekly Gospel Share is one opportunity you may want to explore. Each week we read through the Gospel to help prepare for the upcoming Sunday readings.
We listen to the old and new testament, have a musical psalm and then listen the Gospel three times using Lectio Divina which is a way of prayer and reflecting with scripture.
You can come once, every week, during Lent, when it suits you. You can bring a friend, or come alone. If you'd like to come email catechist@lancastercathedral.org.uk for further information. All are welcome.