The 9 January is the birthday of St Josemaria: the driving-force of St Josemaria’s life was to embrace God’s will, as the then-Cardinal Ratzinger reflected in the homily he gave on 19 May 1992, at a Mass of thanksgiving for the beatification of St Josemaria

As God used a star to guide the Magi to Bethlehem, so he uses each one of us as a light to guide family members, friends or colleagues to himself. A meditation by Fr Gavan Jennings. 

God freely chose Mary to be the Mother of his Son, Jesus. Mary freely responded to this invitation. Her spiritual motherhood extends to all the baptised. As God's adopted children, we can learn from Mary how to bring Christ to life through grace, catechesis, and our prayers for peace. A meditation by Fr James Hurley, curate of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Dublin. 

In the final days of Advent the Liturgy expresses longing of God in a very intense way. This is firstly God’s amazing longing for us, then our longing for him, and also the yearning of so many people all around us for the Redeemer. A meditation by Fr Donncha o hAodha.

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception we ask that we too may respond to divine grace, as we see Mary do, joining in the struggle to overcome evil and live in Christ.

Advent and Idols. Advent is a time for us to identify personal possessions, activities, or even qualities which we tend to idolise, and to offer them to Our Lord. A mediation by Fr Gavan Jennings.

Christ has come once. On the 25th of next month we will celebrate that first coming in a special way. But Christ is also going to come a second time that we don’t know, and we have to stay awake for it. We have to prepare for that day now. Just like the householder who ensures no burglar will break through the wall of his house during the night, you and I have to strengthen our spiritual defences against an assault at any time from the enemy that would prevent us from welcoming Christ into our hearts. A meditation by Fr James Hurley.

The Feast of Christ the King reminds us that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God is active in the  world, inviting us to intimacy with Him and to spreading the Good News. A meditation by Fr Pat Gorevan

During November we can rediscover the Church as the mystery of God’s friendship with us and of the friendship between the saints, the holy souls and ourselves who form the pilgrim Church on earth.