Author: Leigh Hatts

Uncategorized

A quiet St Patrick’s Day

This may be the quietest St Patrick’s Day for many young people as they face a 17 March without a parade in Dublin. Mary Kenny, writing in The Catholic Herald, suggests that “maybe it’s no bad thing, if St Patrick’s Day is a little more focused on Patrick himself, and a little less on pints […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Keeping Lent in our hearts

As we move deeper into Lent many are finding it difficult to attend church due to the threat of Coronavirus. In Rome and Venice there are no services on Sunday or weekdays. Those elsewhere who are able to go will find communion only in one kind and a ban on shaking hands, kneeling and using […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Beales first to welcome Father Christmas

Today’s confirmation that Beales department store in Bournemouth has gone into administration is sad news. The flagship shop on the original site and its many branches remain open but the future is uncertain. Beales in Bournemouth is one of Britain’s oldest department stores having opened in 1881. In 1885, with the shop’s upper floor devoted […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Pray for MPs on Boxing Day

Boxing Day is St Stephen’s Day when we remember the first Christian martyr. The cost of following Baby Jesus’ teaching can be high. Stephen was a deacon and is the patron saint of altar servers, who with the clergy have brought dignity to our Christmas Day liturgy, and international development charity CAFOD. He is also […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Midnight Mass on Radio 4

If you cannot go to Midnight Mass tonight listen on BBC Radio 4 at 11.30pm. The live broadcast is from St George’s Cathedral in Southwark, the Roman Catholic cathedral opposite the Imperial War Museum. The entire church was a glorious Pugin building until bombed during the Second World War. The celebrant and preacher is the […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

The Expectation of Mary

Yesterday we imagined Mary and Joseph setting out from Nazareth to reach Bethlehem. Today we think about Mary’s pregnancy due to an old custom of recalling the Annunciation on 18 December. This began with the Mozarabic Rite in Toledo and the tradition remains in Spain where they speak of Our Lady of the O as […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Britain’s Christmas Story on BBC1

One reason for the BBC being accused of ignoring religion is that its often very good programmes are hidden. Britain’s Christmas Story is a good example. Part one was shown yesterday morning. Even the Sunday morning political shows have small audiences. When Robert Peston switched his Sunday morning show to the evening viewing figures shot […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

St Lucy brings light to Advent

In Sweden this morning a young girl representing St Lucy wearing her crown of candles will make an early morning appearance in many homes and schools. There will also be Lucia processions in many darkened churches tonight. Lucy wore candles on her head to light the way and leave her hands free to assist persecuted […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

Loreto feast is universal

The Feast of Our Lady of Loreto 10 December now appears in the universal calendar. The announcement by Pope Francis was made last month with the view that it may help us during Advent to think about the Annunciation. The feast marks the day in 1294 that the Holy House from Nazareth arrived at Loreto […]

Leigh Hatts 
Uncategorized

St Nicholas’s Day in London

Haydn’s St Nicholas Mass will be the setting on Friday 6 December for the St Nicholas Day Solemn Mass at St Matthew’s Westminster.  The Mass, starting at 6.30pm, will be attended by members of the St Nicholas Society. Bishop Stephen Venner will preside and Tim Livesely of Embrace the Middle East charity, will speak. It is […]

Leigh Hatts 
book cover mockup for SE15

Looking for a Great Book to Read? Look No Further!

This section is perfect for displaying your paid book or your free email optin offer. You can turn it off or make changes to it from your theme options panel.

Get Your Copy Today>>