The Fathers and Brothers of the Oratory are praying for all parishioners and worshippers at the Oratory, especially this Holy Week. Let us not forget those who are suffering the most at this time, those who have lost loved ones, and those who work in frontline positions. Whilst on 'lockdown', let us take the opportunity to sanctify our homes, [...]
When we are unable to receive Holy Communion sacramentally, we may still make an act of Spiritual Communion. Saint Thomas describes this as 'an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament, and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him.' The prayers given below are one way of expressing this desire. The Confiteor I [...]
Read our full Coronavirus measures Watch Mass live With the public celebration of Mass tragically suspended, we feel that a darkness has come over the Church. We know that it is a temporary darkness. It will pass. Nevertheless, we also know how bereft God's people are feeling. For reasons which at the moment seem beyond our control, the Lord [...]
St Philip Neri fasted habitually, not only in Lent. He ate little and drank little. But he also insisted that mortification of the razionale was more important than mortifying the body. Mortifying the razionale obliges us to flee from the futility of speculations such as the following, touted by the late media pundit Stephen Hawking: "In my opinion, there [...]
"Honour thy father and thy mother." In the practice of our religion our blood family has first call on our commitment, but not in an absolute or unqualified way. There is a danger of making a false god out of family life, thinking that the immediate family is all that matters. We can be so self-engrossed in our own natural [...]