God's love for you - 27th August

Webmaster • August 27, 2023

Eucharistic Miracle of Faverney, France, 1608


In the 17th century, Protestantism and Calvinism spread quickly in France. This placed at risk the faith of many and created many uncertainties, even in the monasteries. In the city of Faverney, there was a Benedictine Abbey whose monks had departed a great deal from the rule of their founder. In 1608, on the Vigil of the Feast of Pentecost, the monks decided to prepare an altar for the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The lunette of the monstrance was very large, and because of this, they decided to put in two Hosts. When Vespers had finished the monks left the monstrance exposed on the provisional altar. On the next morning, the sacristan opened the church and found it full of smoke, with the provisional altar completely reduced to ashes. He started to yell, and immediately the religious and other people hastened and proceeded to remove the ashes with the hope of finding some part of the monstrance. When the smoke began to clear, they were astonished seeing that the monstrance was suspended in the air. The multitude increased and crowded to see the Eucharistic marvel, in which the Hosts had remained unharmed regardless of the fire. The religious were astonished, and unable to make a decision, asked the counsel of the Capuchin friars of Vesoul. These immediately prepared a new altar over the burned one, and celebrated Holy Mass. During the elevation of the Host, the monstrance slowly descended upon the new altar. When the canonical process finished, on 10 July, the Archbishop of Besançon declared that the Miracle was authentic, and on September 13, the Archbishop of Rodi - who was the nuncio in Brussels – made it known to Pope Paul V who granted a Bull of Indulgence. The miracle rekindled the faith of many. Even today it is possible to see and venerate the relic containing one of the two Hosts which remained unharmed. The other Host, unfortunately, after it was donated to the Church of Dole, was destroyed by the revolutionaries in 1794. 

By Webmaster October 3, 2025
With deep sorrow, we hear of the news of the passing of Br Brian, who peacefully went to be with the Lord on last Sunday 28th September. Please remember his family in our prayers. The Reception of Br. Brian into the Church will be on Sunday 12th October at 6:00pm in St. Joseph's Cardiff, followed by Mass. His Requiem Mass will be on Monday 13th October at 9:30am at St. Joseph's, followed by burial at Western Cemetery at 11:30.
By Webmaster October 3, 2025
Eucharistic Adoration (2) You may think: "I do not have this true, great love for Jesus. I don't think Adoration is for me..." Do not worry. When one of St John Vianney's Parishioners being asked by the Saint what he said to Our Lord during those long silent hours in front of the Tabernacle, he replied: "Nothing. I look at him and he looks at me." Sometimes, when it comes to love, simple things are the best. Within this intimate moment with Jesus, you just simply be still and quiet whilst gaze on Him, open your heart and let Him do the rest. So even you feel you have little love, just go to Him! Even you are in trouble, just go to Him! Because Our Lord really is hidden there in the Blessed Sacrament, waiting for us to go and visit Him. Remember Jesus said in the Gospel: "...I was thirsty and you gave me drink… I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me." (Matthew 25:35-36) Isn't it true that Our Lord is thirsty for souls, and by us going to Him His longing for us can be quenched? And isn't it true that He is wounded for our iniquities and bruised for our sins, and by us visiting Him so we can console Him for all the outrages He receives in His Most Sacred Heart? Isn't it true also that for our sake and His Love for us He becomes a Prisoner of Love in the Tabernacle, and by visiting Him we can show our gratitude and thank Him for dwelling amongst us and stay with us day and night until the end of time? And when we leave the Church, how can Our Blessed Lord, our God who is so generous and merciful, would let you leave empty-handed after your visit? Even your friend would treat you with maybe tea and biscuits when you go to visit. Therefore He would definitely shower you with abundant Gifts and Blessings. Blessed Carlo Acutis once said: "When we face the sun we get a tan… but when we stand before Jesus in the Eucharist we become saints."
By Webmaster October 3, 2025
Tuesday 7th October Mass at 10am Rosary at 10.30am All are welcome !  A plenary indulgence may be gained by reciting five decades of the Rosary in Church, as a family at home, as a religious community, or as a pious fraternity, or in general whenever several persons have gathered for a good purpose; in other circumstances a partial indulgence may be gained.
By Webmaster October 3, 2025
“The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.”’ (Luke 17:5-6) Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,  God, for ever and ever. Amen.
By Webmaster October 3, 2025
Family Fast Day was on Friday 3rd October. CAFOD is highlighting its work with communities in Ethiopia facing climate challenges, where their donations fund vital water infrastructure projects. This is alongside CAFOD’s continued response to urgent needs in the Holy Land,  Ukraine and Sudan. Over recent weeks, the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan especially have been getting worse, CAFOD wants to reassure you that through their local Church partners, your support – donations you have made in our previous Fast Day collections - is already reaching our neighbours who are caught up in these emergencies. And your support enables CAFOD to provide practical assistance for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters worldwide. Please use the envelopes provided or go online cafod.org.uk/parish . There is a Second Collection this weekend for this appeal.
By Webmaster September 28, 2025
Eucharistic Adoration (1) The worship of the Eucharist does not stop after the Holy Mass, Adoration during the Eucharistic Exposition is another way of public worship. When there is true love, and it increases to a certain point then adoration happens. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is adored by those who truly love Him, and He is loved in the highest manner by whoever adores Him. It is an adoring love and loving adoration. One may ask: "How can I love which I cannot see?" This, as St Thomas Aquinas said "cannot be apprehended by the senses, but only by faith..." To strengthen this, St Cyril of Alexandria said: "Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Saviour in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie." Therefore, when we go to Adoration during Eucharistic Exposition, we are spiritually seeing and visiting Him face-to-face. Jesus awaits us in this Sacrament of love to stay and be near with Him, since the Eucharist is the true and real evidence of the Love with which He loved us 'to the end'. In His Eucharistic Presence He remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us. If sports fans can make time and flock to the stadium to support the team they love, can we do the same when this special event of Eucharistic Exposition happens in the Church to show our love to Jesus? (References: *Catechism of the Catholic Church *Jesus Our Eucharistic Love by Fr Stefano Manelli)
By Webmaster September 28, 2025
1 . Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces. 2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary. 3 . The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies. 4. The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means. 5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish. 6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life. 7 . Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church. 8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise. 9 . I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary. 10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven. 11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary. 12 . All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. 13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death. 14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.  15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
By Webmaster September 28, 2025
“But Abraham said, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish...” (Luke 16:25) O God, who manifest your almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, bestow, we pray, your grace abundantly upon us and make those hastening to attain your promises heirs to the treasures of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,  God, for ever and ever. Amen.
By Webmaster September 22, 2025
The September edition is now available. This edition includes: ● Diocesan Summer Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi ● Catholic schools celebrate outstanding A-Level results across Wales ● Canonisation of St Carlo Acutis Also featured: ● Parish social media training workshops in October ● Season of Creation reflections Read/sign up today: HERE
By Webmaster September 22, 2025
Liam Kelly and friends are doing this run to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Maureen Lewis and Peter Sullivan have set up a ‘Just Giving’ page for anybody who wishes to sponsor Liam in his efforts to help people affected by this appalling disease. www.justgiving.com/page/maureenlewis