Dear friends in Christ

The liturgy of this Sunday speaks to us of the virtue of Faith. Jesus assures us that if our faith was only the size of a mustard seed, it will nevertheless grow into something deep and sustaining. The Apostles say to Jesus: Lord, increase our faith! This is a simple but profound prayer which can be repeated often. Faith, as with all of the virtues, needs practise. Whenever we find ourselves up against our weaknesses, when we are in pain, when we encounter problems, whenever we are at Mass or in front of the Blessed Sacrament…we can say Lord, increase my faith! Whenever Saint Thomas Aquinas assisted at Mass or celebrated Mass, at the moment of the consecration it was his habit to pray: Tu rex gloriæ, Christe; tu Patris sempiternus es Filius…You are the King of Glory. You are the eternal Son of the Father. Many of us have the habit of praying at that same moment in the Mass, words we were taught to pray as children, the words of Saint Thomas the Apostle: My Lord, and my God. These occasions are moments when we want to express our faith and trust, so that the presence of Christ, so close to us, will sustain us. We should imitate the Apostles who, in spite of their defects in faith, relied completely on the Lord.

We have begun the month of the Holy Rosary. Let us not be slow in taking-up our beads and using them as the most powerful weapon in our armoury and pray for peace in our world. This has been the continual request of the Blessed Mother whenever she has appeared on earth in recent times. There is so much to pray for in these times; may we realise the great power we have to bring about change by the simple but beautiful prayer that is the Holy Rosary!

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale