Since we are travellers and pilgrims in the world, let us ever ponder on the end of the road, that is of our life, for the end of our roadway is our home (St Columban, 8th sermon).
GospelMatthew 5:13-16(English Standard Version, Anglicised)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are
the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness
be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and
trampled under people’s feet.
‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a
hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let
your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father who is in heaven.’
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Mt 5:15; Gospel).
One of the darkest periods in the history of the world was 1939 to 1945 when much of the world was at war. At the heart of the darkness was Nazi Germany, where freedom had been almost entirely suppressed. But not quite. Between June 1942 and February 1943 a small group of students at the University of Munich with their philosophy professor Kurt Huber formedThe White Rose, a non-violent resistance group working against Hitler and the Nazi regime.
Among the leaders were Sophie Scholl and her older brother Hans who were later executed by guillotine within minutes of each other. Both were devout Lutherans. It is said that Sophie was influenced by the writings of St John Henry Cardinal Newman. Others in the group, such as Willi Graf, were devout Catholics. Not all were Christians but they shared a commitment to speaking the truth, even if it cost them their young lives. Most were in their early 20s.
One German Catholic who had a great impact on the group was Blessed Clemens August Graf von Galen, Bishop of Münster, Germany, who died just after being made a cardinal in 1946, a giant of a man physically (6 feet 7 inches /2.01 m tall), morally and spiritually. He was known as 'The Lion of Münster'. In a series of sermons in 1941 he denounced some of the policies of Hitler, including that of euthanasia. Hans and Sophie Scholl used one of these in a leaflet that The White Rose printed and distributed secretly.
It was while distributing leaflets - the movement produced a total of six, their only means of communication - at the University of Munich, that Hans and Sophie were caught and then executed.
The members of The White Rose are remembered and honoured today and a number of films have been made about them.
Hans and Sophie Scholl and their companions knew that their lives were in danger. But their Christian faith led them to be the salt of the earth . . . the light of the world. Through them at least some experienced the truth of the words of Isaiah 9:2 quoted in Matthew 4:16, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.
Salt is of use only when it is mixed with other things. The light of the sun doesn't exist for itself, for us to look at it. If we did we would be blinded. It is meant to light up everything around us, as we are meant by being salt and light to bring others to taste and see the joy of knowing Jesus the Risen Lord.
Not many are called, as some of the members of The White Rose were, to be the salt of the earth . . . the light of the world by laying down their lives. But those in The White Rose got their Christian faith, their moral values from others who for them were the salt of the earth . . . the light of the world. Some of them, including Sophie and Hans Scholl, had belonged to various Nazi movements for young people but saw through the false values being promoted and left.
In other words, they had been formed in solid values by others, older persons such as parents, some teachers perhaps. others trying to live honest and upright lives as followers of Jesus, 'missionary disciples', as Pope Francis calls us to be in Evangelii Gaudium No 120, without even being aware that they were such. The Pope reminds us there: In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples.
+++
If you google 'Sophie Scholl' or 'The White Rose' on YouTube you will find many videos about the movement. The FilmSophie Scholl - the Final Days (with English subtitles), directed by Marc Rothemund and starring Julia Jentsch as Sophie, was made in 2005. The trailer is below.
I find the opening scene incredibly poignant: two young German women living under a tyranny and singing along with American singer Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson and his orchestra (here). The Nazis were very ambivalent towards jazz music and would have considered Billie Holiday and Teddy Wilson Untermenschen - subhumans - because they were African-Americans.
Praise our Lord
Music by William Byrd, sung by Voces8.
Praise our Lord all ye Gentiles, praise him all ye people,
Because his mercy is confirmed upon us, and his truth remaineth for ever. Amen. (Psalm 117 [116]).
Traditional Latin Mass
Sexagesima Sunday
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 02-08-2026 if necessary).
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. : Gospel: Luke 8:4-15.
The Sower
Vincent van Gogh [Web Gallery of Art]
A sower went out to sow his field (Luke 8:5; Gospel).
L'Arche, Cainta, near Manila. I have known both for many years.
In Ireland this Sunday is the Feast of St Brigid, Secondary Patroness
of the country. The Mass is that of St Brigid but the readings are those of the
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.
Readings(Jerusalem
Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand)
Readings(English
Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India)
GospelMatthew 5:1-12a(English Standard Version, Anglicised)
At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when
he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught
them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are
the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of
God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute
you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and
be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’
A study of
abortions in the United States from 1995-2011 found that 67% of
women who were told their baby would have Down syndrome decided to abort. This
number is much higher in other countries. BBC reports that 90% of women in
England whose babies are diagnosed with Down syndrome choose to abort .
. . We see that trend in other
countries as well. For instance, the Life Institute reports that in Iceland,
nearly 100% of babies with Down syndrome are aborted. And in Germany, more than
90% of babies with Down syndrome are aborted.
Research will show that these figures have become higher in recent years in Western Countries. Since 2018 it has been legal in the Republic of Ireland, where I am from, to abort children in the womb simply because they have Down Syndrome.
Pope Francis on abortion
This central paragraphinLaudato si', the encyclical of Pope Francis 'On care for our common home' is all but ignored by the vast majority who profess to be concerned about Planet Earth. I've highlighted the words of Pope Francis and of Pope Leo XIV below because of the importance and clarity.
Since everything is interrelated, concern for the protection of nature is also incompatible with the justification of abortion. How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties? 'If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of the new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away' (Laudato Si’, No 120).
Pope Leo XIV on family, abortion and surrogacy
On 9 January in his address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See Pope Leo said: The vocation to love and to life, which manifests itself in an important
way in the exclusive and indissoluble union between a woman and a man, implies
a fundamental ethical imperative for enabling families to welcome and fully
care for unborn life. This is increasingly a priority, especially in
those countries that are experiencing a dramatic decline in birth rates.
Life, in fact, is a priceless gift that develops within a committed
relationship based on mutual self-giving and service.
In
light of this profound vision of life as a gift to be cherished, and of the
family as its responsible guardian, we categorically reject any practice that
denies or exploits the origin of life and its development. Among these is
abortion, which cuts short a growing life and refuses to welcome the gift of
life. In this regard, the Holy See expresses deep concern about projects
aimed at financing cross-border mobility for the purpose of accessing the
so-called 'right to safe abortion.' It also considers it deplorable that
public resources are allocated to suppress life, rather than being invested to support
mothers and families. The primary objective must remain the protection of
every unborn child and the effective and concrete support of every woman so
that she is able to welcome life.
Likewise, there is the practice of surrogacy. By transforming
gestation into a negotiable service, this violates the dignity both of the
child, who is reduced to a 'product,' and of the mother, exploiting her body
and the generative process, and distorting the original relational calling of
the family.
Postscript
A report on Thursday 29 January says that primary school enrolment in the current school year in the Republic of Ireland is down by 6,470 compared to last year whenenrolment fell by almost 4,000 and by just over 2,000 two years ago.
In 2018, when abortion on demand was legalised up to 12 weeks and, in special cases at a later stage of pregnancy, there were 6,666 abortions. In 2024 there were more than 10,000.
I haven't seen any commentaries yet on the clear connection between these two sets of statistics.
Rachel's Vineyardoffers healing retreats in many countries for persons affected by abortion.
Lala and Hachiko, each looking more content than the other!
Sadly, this beautiful dog choked to death from a chicken-bone.
Second Reading. 1Corinthians 1:26-31
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
+++
The two photos of Lala above show to me the truth of the words of St Paul. They show pure love. I have seen both Lala and Jordan draw love out of others, especially out of those living in L'Arche (Ang Arko): the 'core members' - the VIPs, if you wish - and the assistants.
Pope Benedict with young friends
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3; Gospel).
Traditional Latin Mass
Septuagesima Sunday
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 02-01-2026 if necessary).
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 10:1-5. Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16.
GospelMatthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17(English Standard
Version, Anglicised)
When Jesus
heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving
Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun
and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people dwelling in darkness have
seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying,
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
[While walking by the Sea
of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his
brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to
them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left
their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers,
James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their
father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat
and their father and followed him.
And he went throughout all
Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom
and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.]
Last Sunday in the Philippines was the Feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child). The gospel was Matthew 18:1-5, 10 in which Jesus tells us,Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I saw his words come to life twelve years ago at the end of Mass in Holy Family Home for Girls in Bacolod City. I lived in that city from 2002 until 2017.
In January 2014 four new girls arrived at the home. One, whom I'll call 'Josie', was aged 14 and was profoundly deaf. Her main way of communicating was Sign Language. The Sisters, staff and some of the girls began to learn some Sign Language. The other three new girls included two aged ten and one aged six.
At the end of Mass I saw 'Josie' sitting and quietly crying. I wasn't quite sure why. One of the ten-year-old new girls, rather small for her age but very lively and whom I'll call 'Grace', went over to 'Josie' and put her arms around her to comfort her. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The majority of the girls in Holy Family Home have had horrific experiences, in most cases within their own wider family circle. They truly know what it is to be dwelling in darkness.
['Josie' was able to go home in 2016. We discovered that she had some hearing and, with hearing aids, she has improved her speech and hearing considerably. The other three girls were still at Holy Family Home when I left the Philippines in June 2017].
In my latter years in Bacolod City I used to celebrate Mass in Holy Family Home on to mark the feast of St Agnes, 21 January. Each year we combined a celebration of St Agnes the Martyr (c.291 - c.304), patron saint of chastity, of young girls and of rape victims, and Blessed Laura Vicuña(1891 - 1904), a patron of abuse victims who offered her life for the conversion of her mother and whose feast day is 22 January. Their years of birth and death paralleled with 16 centuries between them.
Each year I told the girls that the life of Blessed Laura, whose father died when she was young, was so like their own and that she became a saint in the midst of and through her sufferings, especially the cruelty of her stepfather who wasn't married to her mother. Despite her young age she had the maturity, generosity and holiness to offer her life so that her mother would return to the Lord. She told this to her mother when she, Laura, was dying. It was the physical abuse of her stepfather that led to her death. Laura's prayers were answered.
Laura understood the stark reality of the words of Jesus in today's gospel: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. She also understood the power of God's mercy. In Holy Family Home I frequently made myself available for confession and many of the girls would come. Sometimes I girl would ask me to hear her confession.
Holy Family Home exists because of the sins of adults against girls, some only small children. It is a place where most of the girls have been among those dwelling dwelling in the region and shadow of death (Gospel),in a land of deep darkness (First Reading). I have brought many visitors to Holy Family Home and the one word they nearly all have used to sum up their experience is 'joy', a joy they find among the girls, though they aren't always aware of the suffering. Those who live there are a testimony to the truth of the words of Isaiah that we listen to in the First Reading, words we also listened to at the Mass During the Night at Christmas:
The second part of today's gospel - very likely the celebrant will omit this and use the shorter gospel reading - tells us of the call of the first disciples who were later called to be apostles, the brothers Simon Peter and Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee, James and John. Immediately they left their nets . . .Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Yetwe know from the gospels that they continued to fish from time to time and to encounter stormy weather.
In the Philippines most fishermen are poor and go to sea in very small boats. In some countries larger boats go far from land and often encounter very dangerous weather. And a very large percentage of international seafarers are Filipinos.
In our prayers to day let us remember our fishermen, our seafarers and those involved in rescue work at sea. Let us also remember the members of a number of European navies who in recent years have saved countless refugees travelling in unsafe boats from north Africa to southern Europe. Tragically, many refugees never make it.
Home from the Sea
Written by Phil Coulter, sung by Liam Clancy
Traditional Latin Mass
Third Sunday After the Epiphany
The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 01-25-2026 if necessary).
,%20WGA.jpg)
