These heathers are full of beautiful colour and spring hope. I took this photo at Burton’s Garden Centre, in Kanturk, Co.Cork
On This Day
On March 13th 2013 Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected as the new Pope in the Vatican and he took the name Francis. In the decade since, he has proved to be a very popular Pope all over the world with a great love of the poor and those in prison.
Interesting Quote for Today
“Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” ~Steve Jobs
My latest video🎥
As we approach Saint Patrick’s Day💚 the following prayer video is a good one to share
This is my latest video below and it is called ‘A Spring Prayer in Lent’.
A Prayer for Lent by Pope Francis
With Lent having begun – this video underneath that I put together last year still has a very relevant message
If you would like to see a selection of my other videos on YouTube you are welcome to have a look at some of them here: https://www.youtube.com/@JamesMcSweeneyFr/videos
Spiritual Thought For The Week
The Rugby game against France was disappointing on Saturday especially from an Irish point of view. Ireland were completely outclassed and pushed to one side. The French came with a simple plan to win the game with tactics, might and strength. And we just could not respond.
Sometimes our best plans come to shreds too. We have our day worked out and then it suddenly goes upside down. Or life is going well and then it suddenly goes upside down.
Our Gospel on Sunday about the temptations of Jesus is always used in the first Sunday of Lent. It represents the struggles and difficulties that Jesus went through. Sometimes we think Jesus was somone who was in a bubble and shielded from the knocks and difficulties of life. But he went through them like all of us. Our Gospel reminds us that in the middle of the wilderness he found inner strength, courage and hope, to dig deeper, to keep going and to start again.
When it was easier to quit and give up, Jesus dug deeper and found what he needed to get going again. It’s a message for all of us too as we journey through Lent. We are invited to look at our own lives. Sometimes plans do not go well. Sometimes we are thrown off course. But spiritually we are reminded that we will always find inner strength from somewhere. We will find hope and courage like Jesus did – to dig deeper and to keep going.
One of the shortest prayers we have and probably the most beautiful is : “O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.”It can be said anytime and anywhere. It can also be said in those moments when we really need hope. I also feel it’s a calming prayer too: “O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.” It can be our prayer too this Lent.
Finally I hope your journey through Lent is a good one. I hope it goes well for you. And I share this lovely one line prayer with you again. It’s like a master key, that will help you unlock many doors: ‘O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.’
The Thought For The Week is updated each Monday
