Cardinal's Homilies
It was on 9th January 1844 that Bernadette was baptised and, as Bishop Nicholas told us, the baptismal font in which that baptism took place is now in this church at the back. It was a very special family occasion, as baptisms always are. It was t...Read more
Welcome everybody to this pilgrimage. Perhaps your journey here has been easy. Perhaps not. But we are here in this precious place. There are many more to join us. Soon we will be all together.
In this Mass we are almost at the start of our pilgr...Read more
The Church of St Peter-in-Chains in Rome is a great tourist attraction because it contains Michelangelo's magnificent statue of Moses. But the visitor can also find there the double set of chains believed to be those from which St Peter was free...Read more
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This is a most remarkable, celebration: different Christian communities, united in one voice to praise and thank God for the foundation of a Catholic monastery 600 years ago, Syon Abbey! It's a marvellous testimony to how you, the Christians...Read more
The Feast of St Benedict, the day Abbot Martin originally requested, would have been an excellent date for this most joyful celebration - the ordination to the priesthood of Dom Ambrose. However, next Saturday I'll be in Birmingham with thousa...Read more
The last time I was in this Diocese of Nottingham was for the burial of a king. Today it is for the raising up of a bishop.Â
This is the Lord's work, for it is beyond our capacities. Only He can give the gifts of episcopal character and ordina...Read more
Today is rich in gifts: given and received.Â
The first gift in view is that of five new priests, five willing today to give their lives to the Lord in this new and radical way, Bill Bowder, David Burke, Cyril Chiaha, Daniel Humphreys and David...Read more
Yorkshire is not the most obvious place for the
Well, no doubt every member of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (to use the full title) would have shouted at the TV: 'No! They're certainl...Read more
Today we celebrate the great Feast of the Most Holy Eucharist. It is a feast of unbounded joy for it is the Feast of the Love of God for us all, the love shown in Jesus.Â
St Thomas Aquinas speaks in these words: 'It was to impress the vastness...Read more
This is such a good day on which to celebrate our Communications Day Mass. St Augustine of Canterbury is a fine patron for our work for he showed many of the characteristics that we too need.Â
The words of St Paul set the scene. It is God, say...Read more
This is a wonderfully formal ceremony, rich in content and significance. Perhaps for the next few minutes I can be a little less formal and a little more personal.
It is a great privilege and pleasure to take on this role as Chancellor. There h...Read more
A couple of weeks ago Andy Murray beat his old rival Rafa Nadal on the clay courts of Madrid. Full of the excitement of his victory he wrote these words on the lens of a nearby TV camera: 'Marriage works!'Â
Sports commentators didn't know how...Read more
On this feast of the Ascension of the Lord, we take a further major step in our celebration of the Paschal Mystery, the exploration of our Easter faith.Â
I am delighted to be celebrating this great Feast here in the Church of Our Lady of the Ass...Read more
In our first reading this evening, we have heard these bold words of St Peter: 'God does not have any favourites, but anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God!'
What amazing words these must have been to their first hearer...Read more
This moment evokes many memories for me, memories particularly of Avila. I can see so clearly walls of the city, glistening in the strong sunlight. I can taste again the suckling pig, so proudly served to hungry visitors. And I can almost smell th...Read more
Our Vigil this evening started in a very deep darkness, and in many ways that is a harsh reality because there is much darkness in our lives. With the violence in Kenya, the wretchedness of those who have been forced away from their homes, and now...Read more