Saturday 4 October 2025 Welcome to the Saturday Examen. During this week we have heard scriptural passages of warning and of judgement, but they’re not to be heard as threats but rather as invitations to take our discipleship seriously. The Book of the Apocalypse speaks of a war in heaven between God’s angels and those of Satan. It has familiar resonances with the Two Standards meditation of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. We are invited on a daily basis to make choices for Christ and his King...
Oct 04, 2025•9 min
Friday 3 October 2025 Today is Friday the 3rd of October, the feast of Saint Francis Borgia SJ, in the 26th week of Ordinary Time. The University of Johannesburg Choir sing the Kyrie from Missa De Meridiana Terra: Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy. These imploring words, which have been sung for centuries, are a reminder of the inexhaustible mercy of God, of God’s unfailing compassion and forgiveness. As I listen, I might think for a moment about my need for that forgiveness, and the need, to...
Oct 03, 2025•13 min
Thursday 2 October 2025 Today is Thursday the 2nd of October, the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, in the 26th week of Ordinary Time. Jon Guerra sings, ‘Who is Greatest?’ Who is greatest in the kingdom? The kingdom of heaven Who would you say? Not the rich and not the strong Not the brilliant, but the small Lowly ones will be made first To inherit the universe So become like children And you will be the greatest In the kingdom of heaven So don't despise any small ones I tell you, their prayers...
Oct 02, 2025•12 min
Wednesday 1 October 2025 Today is Wednesday the 1st of October, the feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, in the 26th week of Ordinary Time. 'Saviour of my soul, this day keep me whole.' Can you join in this prayer, as you listen? Can you present yourself now to the One who forgives all our failings and shortcomings, who has given himself freely for our sake, and trust yourself entirely to his mercy? Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 9:57-62 As they were going along the road,...
Oct 01, 2025•11 min
Tuesday 30 September 2025 Today is Tuesday the 30th of September, the feast of Saint Jerome, in the 26th week of Ordinary Time. Paul Zach and Liz Vice sing, ‘I Want Jesus to Walk with Me’. I want Jesus to walk with me. I want Jesus to walk with me. All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. In my trials, Lord, walk with me. In my trials, Lord, walk with me. When the shades of life are falling Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. In my sorrows, Lord, walk with me In my sorro...
Sep 30, 2025•12 min
Monday 29 September 2025 Today is Monday the 29th of September, the feasts of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels, in the 26th week of Ordinary Time. The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing, Encore un peu de temps: “In a little while I will make heaven and earth tremble. Then the One desired by all nations will appear. I will fill this temple with glory and to this place I will bring peace.” Today’s reading is from the Book of the Apocalypse. Apocalypse 12:7-12 And war broke out i...
Sep 29, 2025•13 min
Sunday 28 September 2025 Today is Sunday the 28th of September, Harvest Sunday, beginning the 26th week of Ordinary Time. Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, sing Dulce Jesus mio. “My sweet Jesus, look with mercy on my soul.” This is not the prayer of someone proud or haughty or self-satisfied, but of a person aware that they have weaknesses and shortcomings, aware that they cannot do without the help and the love and the mercy of God. Yya1 Jesuchrixhto, apuk1rui ityaku niyausus1p1 ninait...
Sep 28, 2025•13 min
Saturday 27 September 2025 Welcome to the Saturday Examen. The reading from Thursday just gone gives us a structure for an examen. In that reading, the prophet Haggai is challenging those in Jerusalem to get on with the job of rebuilding the Temple. This restoration is a symbol of putting God first in their lives. We use the prophet’s images in this examen. Where in your life are you building the Lord’s house? Where are you sowing good seed in good soil? Where can you rejoice at the harvest? Tal...
Sep 27, 2025•10 min
Friday 26 September 2025 Today is Friday the 26th of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Eliza King sings, ‘Poor in Spirit’. How does this song speak to you today? You are the fullness, the fullness of God You are the firstborn among all creation The air that I'm breathing, You're keeping me alive The goodness around me, You're the glory of my life I know I am poor in spirit Trying to to live without You, Jesus I know I am poor in spirit I can't live without You You are the beauty in e...
Sep 26, 2025•13 min
Thursday 25 September 2025 Today is Thursday the 25th of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The Winchester College Chapel Choir, with the Portsmouth Grammar School Chamber Choir sings, ‘Seek the Lord’, the second part of the Isaiah Canticles, by Dan Locklair: ‘Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; call upon him when he draws near’. How will you draw near to the Lord today? Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; call upon him when he draws near. Let the wicked forsake their ways...
Sep 25, 2025•13 min
Wednesday 24 September 2025 Today is Wednesday the 24th of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The Monks of Glenstal Abbey sing Nos autem gloriari: ‘We should glory in nothing other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection; through him we are saved and set free. May God have mercy upon us and bless us, may he make his face shine upon us and be merciful to us.’ Nos autem gloriari oportet In cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi: In quo est salu...
Sep 24, 2025•13 min
Tuesday 23 September 2025 Today is Tuesday the 23rd of September, the feast of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Leslie Jordan with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Bind Us Together’. Bind us together within your love Bind us together within your holy love As we shared in our sorrows we will share in your joy Bind us together in love Bind us together and be our peace Bind us together and be our perfect peace Though the tempest may rage we will rest in your joy Bind us togeth...
Sep 23, 2025•11 min
Monday 22 September 2025 Today is Monday the 22nd of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The Corydon Singers, conducted by Matthew Best, sing Cantique de Jean Racine by Fauré, a hymn to the invincible power and utter goodness of God, whose fire lights up the darkness, whose grace overcomes all evil. As I enter into prayer today, I trust myself to that grace, to that powerful goodness. I place myself in the hands of my loving God. Today’s reading is from the Book of Ezra. Ezra 1:1-6 In ...
Sep 22, 2025•13 min
Sunday 21 September 2025 Today is Sunday the 21st of September, beginning the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The community of Taizé sing Beati voi poveri: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.’ Today’s reading is from the Prophet Amos. Amos 8:4-7 Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah smal...
Sep 21, 2025•12 min
Saturday 20 September 2025 Welcome to the Saturday Examen. On Saturdays we like to look prayerfully and reflectively back at what we have done during this week, both our activities and our praying, to get used to seeing where God has been. Here are some suggestions about what you might look for... Think of three things, possibly, but not necessarily, three moments in prayer, when you felt the touch of God this week. Now think of just two things for which you would like to tell God that you are s...
Sep 20, 2025•7 min
Friday 19 September 2025 Today is Friday the 19th of September, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. The nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing Veritas Mea: ‘My truth and My mercy are with him; and in My Name his horn shall be exalted. Alleluia!’ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spi...
Sep 19, 2025•10 min
Friday 19 September 2025 Today is Friday the 19th of September, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. The nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing Veritas Mea: ‘My truth and My mercy are with him; and in My Name his horn shall be exalted. Alleluia!’ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spi...
Sep 19, 2025•10 min
Thursday 18 September 2025 Today is Thursday the 18th of September, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. In God alone is my soul at rest. He alone is my rock, my strength. There are probably things on my mind as I try to pray, right now. Things bothering me, worrying me, things I’ve got to do. Those hassles and concerns may be important. But for these few minutes, can I just put them on one side, and find a moment of peace for my soul? A moment of rest with my God, my rock, my strength? Today’s re...
Sep 18, 2025•14 min
Wednesday 17 September 2025 Today is Wednesday the 17th of September, the feast of Saint Robert Bellarmine SJ, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing Uqinisil’Ubaba: After travelling the whole world, I still come to the same truth that I left at home: God is truth! So why do you doubt? Don’t doubt, hold on to him and place your hope in him. Listen to God because he is truth. Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 I hope to come to...
Sep 17, 2025•12 min
Tuesday 16 September 2025 Today is Tuesday the 16th of September, the feast of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, bishop, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. Salt of the Sound sings, Kyrie Eleison. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. Kyrie eleison Christe eleison Lord have mercy, mercy on us Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 7:11-17 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man w...
Sep 16, 2025•13 min
Monday 15 September 2025 Today is Monday the 15th of September, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing the Nunc Dimittis from Rachmaninov’s Vespers, the song of Simeon: “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples”. As I listen, can I become aware that I am in God’s presence now, that I too am God’s se...
Sep 15, 2025•11 min
Sunday 14 September 2025 Today is Sunday the 14th of September, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, beginning the 24th week of Ordinary Time. The community of Taizé sing Dieu ne peut que donner son amour: “God can only give faithful love, tenderness and forgiveness.” Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John. John 3:13-17 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son...
Sep 14, 2025•11 min
Saturday 13 September 2025 Welcome to the Saturday Examen. Our Saturday prayer usually invites you to ask God to show you more clearly where and how God has been most active in your life this week. Start, then, by asking God for the gift of recognizing more clearly what has been going on in these past few days. Now take a few moments to re-live this last week. Where have you been, what have you been doing, who have you been with? Now notice where the highlights of the week have been. Where have ...
Sep 13, 2025•8 min
Friday 12 September 2025 Today is Friday the 12th of September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. Paul Zach sings, ‘Create in Me’. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord Create in me a clean heart, O Lord Against you only I have sinned Done evil in your sight But you have shown me what I’ve done With mercy in your eyes Then wash my shame and guilt away My weary soul renew From all my sinning turn your face Let me return to you Create in me a clean heart, O Lord Create in me a clean heart, O Lord So...
Sep 12, 2025•11 min
Thursday 11 September 2025 Today is Thursday the 11th of September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. The Brilliance sing, ‘Christ Be With Me’. Christ be with me, Christ before me Christ behind me, Christ within me Christ below me, Christ above me Christ be with me At my right hand, at my left hand As I lie down, as I rise up As I stumble, as I fall down Christ as I stand Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me Christ in every eye that s...
Sep 11, 2025•12 min
Wednesday 10 September 2025 Today is Wednesday the 10th of September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. Nóirín Ní Riain, with the monks of Glenstal Abbey, sings the Beatitudes. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 6:20-26 Then [Jesus] looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, ...
Sep 10, 2025•12 min
Tuesday 9 September 2025 Today is Tuesday the 9th of September, the feast of Saint Peter Claver, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Praise to the Lord’. How will you draw near to the Lord today? Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near Join me in glad adoration Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning Sheltering you under his wings,...
Sep 09, 2025•12 min
Monday 8 September 2025 Today is Monday the 8th of September, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. The Gaudete Ensemble sings 'Ave Generosa' by Margaret Rizza. On this feast day, spend some time reflecting on who Mary is to you... How has she inspired you in your life? Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but bef...
Sep 08, 2025•12 min
Sunday 7 September 2025 Today is Sunday the 7th of September, beginning the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. Jon Guerra sings, ‘Take Up Your Cross’. If anyone would come after me Let him deny himself Take up his cross Follow me If anyone would come after me Let him deny himself Take up his cross Follow me Whoever would save his life Will lose it Whoever loses his life for me Will find it If anyone claims to worship God Let him give all away Take up his cross Follow me Whoever would save his life Will...
Sep 07, 2025•13 min
Saturday 6 September 2025 Welcome to the Saturday Examen. This week, we’ve watched Jesus interacting with the disciples and others. In the stillness, allow the Spirit to bring to mind your prayer times this week and the journey you’ve been on. Where have you felt closest to Jesus? Why was this? What did you experience? What has challenged, unsettled or disturbed you? When did you feel resistant to God? Tell God about these times. Where have you sensed the Spirit at work in you this week? What gr...
Sep 06, 2025•10 min
