FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Sunday 5th October : 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The prophet Habakkuk is surrounded by a people of violence, strife and greed. How is he to live in such a world? He is counselled to have patient faith, to remain faithful despite the apparent hopelessness. Christ's disciples should realise the gift of faith is given to them for perseverance.
Monday 6th October : St. Bruno
He was born in Cologne in 1033. He became professor of theology in Rheims University and later its head. But his desire was to found a monastery where poverty, manual work, silence and worship would be the basics. He founded the Carthusians at La Grande Chartreuse, where he died in 1101.
Tuesday 7th October : Our Lady of the Rosary
Today's celebration urges all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was in a special manner associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God.
Thursday 9th October : St. John Henry Newman
Born in London 21 February 1801, the noted theologian and poet was first an Anglican priest and later a Catholic priest and Cardinal. His memorial marks the anniversary of his reception into the Catholic Church on 9th October 1845. Ordained Catholic priest in Rome in 1847, and in 1848 he established the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in Birmingham. In 1879 Pope Leo XIII named him a Cardinal. He chose as his motto Cor ad cor loquitur (Heart speaks to heart). He was one of the leading figures of the Oxford Movement that originated at Oxford University in 1833, that sought to link the Anglican Church more closely to the Roman Catholic Church. The Church in Ireland is deeply aware of his gentle scholarship, deep human wisdom and profound love of the Lord. He was instrumental in the founding of Catholic University of Ireland, which evolved into University College Dublin. Invited to Ireland in 1850, he became Rector of the Catholic University of Ireland in 1854 until his resignation in 1858. He died in Edgbaston, England on 11 August 1890. He was Beatified by Pope Benedict XVI at Cofton Park, Birmingham on 19/09/2010; Canonised by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019 in Rome.
Saturday 11th October : Pope St. John XXIII
Sometimes called "Good Pope John".
Born Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli on 25/11/1881 the 4th in a family of 14 children of poor sharecroppers in the village of Sotto il Monte, Italy. He was ordained a priest of his home diocese of Bergamo in 1904. After serving in the diocese, teaching in the seminary and working as a military chaplain in World War 1, he was called to Rome in 1921, ordained bishop in 1925, becoming apostolic delegate in Bulgaria and later in Turkey and Greece, and nuncio in Paris in 1944. In 1953 he became Cardinal Patriarch of Venice. Following the death of Pope Pius XII he was elected Pope on 28/10/1958 taking the name of John XXIII. In the 5 years of his pontificate he appeared to the world as an authentic image of the Good Shepherd. He convoked the Synod of Rome, instituted the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law and convened the Second Vatican Council. His feast day was assigned to the day on which he opened the first session of Vatican II in 1962. He died 03/06/1963; was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in Rome on 03/09/2000. He together with Pope St. John Paul II were canonised in Rome on 27th April 2014 (Divine Mercy Sunday) by Pope Francis. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was in attendance.
Saturday 11th October : St. Canice
He was born in Co. Derry around 527 and died in 603. Though his people were poor, he studied at Clonard under Finnian and at Glasnevin under Mobhi. A deep friendship developed between himself and Columba, with whom he worked for a time in Scotland, where he set up a number of churches. In Ireland his principal foundation was in Aghaboe in Ossory, but this was replaced centuries later by his church in Kilkenny.