Cardinal's Homilies
My brothers and sisters, there is such joy in our being here tonight. For two long years in the face of the pandemic we have stayed apart. But in these days of Holy Week, this Cathedral has again been full, even as it is this evening. Here I have...Read more
We have knelt in silence, marking the moment of the death of Jesus. We have heard the solemn proclamation of the words: 'It is accomplished'. Now, for us, the cross is no longer simply an instrument of torture but a sign of victory. That...Read more
Today marks the end of Lent. Its forty days are done, days we have tried, though probably failed, to mark with penance, prayer and extra charity. Now a new moment opens up. To understand this moment well, we need to look back. In the Reading from...Read more
Today there is one image, one phrase of just two words, that I invite you to keep in mind: faithful witness. In these two words are summed up the purpose of the incarnation and the vocation of each one of us. Before Pilate Jesus said: 'I was...Read more
Lord our God, we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a...Read more
Given onPalm Sunday,10 This morning we cross the threshold of Holy Week. Now we begin to journey with our Blessed Lord in the final days of his earthly life. Now we follow him, step by step, through all the events put before us by St Luke in the...Read more
Introduction My brothers and sisters, I welcome you to this Mass on the Feast of the Annunciation and to this solemn Act of Consecration to the Mother of God, whose readiness to do God's will is the cause of this celebration. I welcome the...Read more
My dear sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, it is our belief and joy that every celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, this included, opens for us a glimpse of heaven. This glimpse can be sensed, sometimes in the splendour of the liturgical actions...Read more
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, Today I want to take a moment, first of all, to thank you for your faithfulness and for your presence here at Mass. These last two years have been very difficult and I thank God for the gift of faith...Read more
First Reading: Acts 2.42-47; Psalm 101 Gospel Reading: John 6.1-15. The words we sang just now, in the Psalm, sum up for me the key thought for today. 'He, the Lord, is our God. He remembers his covenant forever' (Ps. 101). Yes, it is the...Read more
Our celebration of Mass today is full of comfort and consolation. This we would expect, as we are celebrating the love of God poured out for us through Mary, Our Blessed Lady, under her title of 'Our Lady of Lourdes'. This is how we should...Read more
Welcome. It seems so long since we have been together to celebrated this Mass, of the Feast of the Presentation, rejoicing in your religious commitment and consecration. I thank all of you present here today, and I welcome and thank all who are...Read more
As a new year dawns, we look for hope. Surely this next year can't be as bad as the one to which we say 'Goodbye'? There are two versions of hope worth pondering. One is that hope comes when we can look forward to an uncertain future from the...Read more
Diocese Westminster � Pastoral Letter for the Feast of the Holy Family 2021 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, The stage today is somewhat crowded. Not only is it Boxing Day and the Feast of St Stephen, but it is also the Feast of the...Read more
There is a poem by Frances Chesterton which opens with the words: 'Here is the little door'. Some of you may know it, more probably as set to music as a carol. It speaks of the visit of the Wise Men to the child Jesus with 'such tiny hands...Read more
The imagery and symbolism of light surrounds us at Christmas time: Christmas trees, home decorations, street lighting, and plenty of candles! One of my most powerful experiences of the coming of light is that of watching the dawn, the slow...Read more