God's love for you - 8th December

Webmaster • December 7, 2024

The Incarnation (2)


In the Incarnation, Our Lord's Divine nature joined together with our human nature, became true God and true man in one Person. God entirely a man and a man entirely God, there is no half and half. St Francis de Sales used iron and fire as an analogy to made us understand better: when you withdraws a hot iron plate after placing it into the furnace, one cannot say if the inflamed iron is fire or iron since they both so mixed together. It turned into a condition that can be described as iron is on fire and an iron fire, yet iron is still an iron in the fire and fire is still fire in the iron. In this Mystery, God made us physically see something that is beyond our human imagination and understanding - one who never dies can die, one who cannot feel sufferings can suffer, one who is Invisible and Almighty born into the world in a form of a babe that needs to be look after by human. Such sacrifice. Why does God spend such effort to do so? Why did Incarnation happen? You may say in order to die on the Cross for our salvation. It is true, but St Francis de Sales also said just a sigh or even a drop of tears from Our Lord would have unlimited price and merit, sufficient to redeem us all. Yet He did not wish to do so, rather our dear Jesus willed to go through countless pains and sufferings, from the moment of Incarnation, through His examples and later through His Words, to show and teach us how to live with reason and not our flesh's desires. Some may say, so to establish the Eucharist and dwell amongst us until the end of time. Also St Peter has said, through Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead, caused us to be born again to a living hope to an unfading reserved inheritance in Heaven for us. All these are so true. But ultimately, don't all these reasons point towards one thing: God's Love, for us. These were all done for our sake. You are being loved. This Christmas, let us put aside all those thoughts of busy shopping, visiting, dinner planning...for a while, and think about this true meaning of Christmas. Love Him back in this Christmas.


(References: • 1 Peter 1:3-4 • The Sermons of St Francis de Sales for Advent & Christmas, "The union of the Divine and human natures in Our Lord", 24 December 1620)

By Webmaster April 11, 2026
Archbishop Mark O’Toole’s Letter The Archbishop has written to Catholics in Wales urging them to vote in the upcoming Senedd Election. His letter called on Catholics to “participate actively in these elections and to fulfil their civic duty by voting for candidates who will best uphold the dignity of the human person and the common good.” He also wrote: “This is your opportunity to shape the future of Wales through a Catholic lens for the good of all. As you discern among the candidates and their approach to these and other important issues, I encourage you to pray for those who are seeking election and those who govern. May their decisions be always guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and a true desire to serve the people of Wales, especially the most vulnerable.” Five Key Areas of Importance Ahead of the election, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has issued a document outlining the work of the Catholic Church in Wales as well as the Catholic community’s main policy requests. The document highlights five key areas of importance for the Catholic Church in Wales: Education, Life Issues, Historic Churches, Healthcare and the Environment. To read/download: www.cbcew.org.uk/2026 -senedd-election/ Guide for Catholics Caritas Cardiff-Menevia has produced a guide – The Senedd Election 2026: Every Vote Counts – to help explain the new electoral system, who can vote, and how to make an informed choice. Every Catholic in our Diocese to read the guide, reflect carefully, and use their vote. Visit: https://rcadc.org/wp-content/ uploads/2026/03/Caritas-The-Seneddelection-2026v3.pdf
By Webmaster April 11, 2026
Divine Mercy Sunday 12th April 2026 On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.  The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment…” (Diary 699)
By Webmaster April 11, 2026
Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (John 20:27-28) God of everlasting mercy, who, in the very recurrence of the paschal feast kindle the faith of the people you have made your own, increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed, that all may grasp and rightly understand in what font they have been washed, by whose Spirit they have been reborn, by whose Blood they have been redeemed. 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 April 11, 2026
Sunday 19th April 4:30pm The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales will hold a Holy Hour to pray for the promotion of a culture of life in our lands. Please join the Bishops in prayer as peers in the House of Lords continue to debate whether to make Assisted Suicide law, so to offer this petition to Our Lord for the dignity of life from conception to natural end and to pray that assisted suicide will not become law. CBCEW have produced a two-page PDF that can be printed and used to pray in this Holy Hour. If you wish to observe a personal Holy Hour at home (i.e. where the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed), then the use of readings and reflections in the document can help guide this.
By Webmaster April 3, 2026
The Rosminian Fathers in St Peter’s Parish would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter!
By Webmaster April 3, 2026
“So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going towards the tomb. Both of them were running together… Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” (John 20:3,4,8,9) O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord's Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life.  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 March 28, 2026
Palm Sunday 29 March at 6pm St Peter’s Church  Peaceful service of music & Lent readings led by the 9.30am Sunday Mass music group
By Webmaster March 27, 2026
Mass Times Palm Sunday (29th March) 9:30am 11:30am Maundy Thursday (2nd April) 7pm Good Friday (3rd April) Children Station of the Cross 10.30am Liturgy at 3pm Station of the Cross at 6pm Holy Saturday Vigil Mass (4th April) at 8pm Easter Sunday (5th April) 9:30am 11:30am
By Webmaster March 27, 2026
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ Is there any greater love on earth than this? Oh lovers of this world, your love can never compare before Him! On that day, with ceaseless tears, I accompanied the Mother of our Master Jesus to witness this greatest Love story ever told. It is not some sort of human romance, but a suffering and sacrificing Love. It is on Mount Calvary, when my beloved Divine Master being nailed to the cross, His once most beautiful face became so disfigured and defiled that one can scarcely recognize with their own eyes, His whole Body were covered with wounds and bruises from the most horrific tortures…But it is exactly when the Most Innocent Son of God and Son of Man being branded as a criminal, being crucified shamefully on the cross, being fearfully hanged openly between heaven and earth, a most powerful message was sent deep into the hearts of all those who wish to accept – God’s Love for you. A Love which despite in the midst of great sufferings to a point that no human being could possibly survive, despite surrounded by insults, but still willing to pray to the Father to forgive the enemies. A Love which give graces to realise one’s own sinfulness, and as long as one truly repent, Infinite Mercy and Salvation will still be granted to them. A Love which despite in the midst of great sorrow and felt being abandoned, but can still totally forgot Oneself and thirsted for the Salvation of souls. And how would I forget Your Last Words for me, when You gave Your Mother to me to be my Mother. Not only You showed me a Love which You gave up Your very last earthly consolation which you needed so much, in order that we might be relieved from our terrible grief for You, but also You gave Your Mother as a Mother to all who believe in You, who become children of God. My beloved Lord, this cup of Sufferings, which is so bitter that Your human nature once shuddered with fear and sweated great drops of blood. But You drank it to the very last drop. Not only to accomplish the Will of the Father, but also because the fire of Your Love for us, so through Your Most Precious Blood and Most Sorrowful Passion the whole human race can be redeemed. Even though you knew not everyone is willing to receive this Saving Grace, yet You still did this for us! Reflection: It was not easy to stand at the foot of the Cross. Our Lady, St John and other holy women not only need to overcome their sorrow and grief when looking at Jesus suffering and dying on the Cross, they also need to stand courageously against those hostility from the Pharisees, soldiers and bystanders, as well as the fear of being caught as a follower of Jesus. But love and compassion to Jesus filled their hearts, they were not afraid to show and confess they belong to Jesus and supported each other. They loved because He first Loved them. What about ourselves? Are we willing to go to profess our faith and let this hostile and indifferent world to know about this Love? Follow Him courageously, but most importantly, let your sins die with Him, so one
By Webmaster March 27, 2026
Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Saviour to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection.  Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.