From the Friary
Reflections, news and glimpses of daily life, written by the Friars at Knock.
17 September 2026
The Wounds of Love: The True Meaning of Saint Francis’s Stigmata
High on Mount La Verna in September 1224, Saint Francis of Assisi experienced a mystical event that forever changed how the world understood devotion. While praying, he received…
12 September 2026
24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Mathew 18:21-35 Today in the Gospel, we notice that Jesus tells us a parable about a king and one of his officials. The official owes the king a huge amount of money that he…
8 September 2026
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
There is a profound, almost sacred emotion in tracing the roots of our family trees. Years ago, I witnessed this first-hand when my first cousin Edward Kelly and his wife…
6 September 2026
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 18:15-20 When I sat down with this Gospel this week, I didn't think about theology. I thought about my brother. My brother Thomas. If you know us, you know Thomas isn't…
3 September 2026
New Wine , New Heart
Luke 5:33-39 Today in the Gospel we discover Jesus gives us two simple pictures: an old garment and new wine in new wineskins. Imagine you have an old coat with a tear in it. You…
2 September 2026
Be Reconciled and at Peace in God’s Love and Mercy
We often approach the quiet space of the confessional dragging a heavy chain of our own making. Our human instinct tells us to brace for a tribunal, projecting our own harsh…
29 August 2026
22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - NO ESCAPE
Mathew 16:21-27 Today in the Gospel, we see something very human in Peter. Jesus tells His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, where He will suffer, be killed, and rise…
22 August 2026
21st Sunday In Ordinary Time - Let me tell you about Michael
Homily - Matthew 16:13-20 Let me tell you about Michael. I met Michael a few years ago. A young father, first baby, came to the parochial house with his wife for Baptism…
15 August 2026
20th Sunday In Ordinary Time
Mathew 15:21-28 What happens to our faith when God does not answer our prayers in the way we expect? That is one of the most important questions that we should ask ourselves…
2 August 2026
18th SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME
Mathew 14:13-21 When you get bad news, what do you do? You step away. You need a bit of quiet. A bit of space. To take it in. That's exactly what Jesus does in today's Gospel. He…
1 August 2026
Ignatian Retreat at Knock Prayer Centre
On 31 July, Fr. Sean Kelly, OFM Cap., was invited to preach an Ignatian Retreat at the Knock Prayer Centre, part of Knock Shrine, one of Ireland's most important places of…
31 July 2026
The Indulgence of St. Mary of the Portiuncula
Every year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Portiuncula Indulgence, a beautiful reminder of God's boundless mercy. It proclaims a simple but powerful truth: God never gets…
25 July 2026
17th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Mathew 13:44-52 In today's Gospel, we notice that Jesus begins with two very short but powerful parables. In the first, a man finds a hidden treasure in a field. In the second, a…
18 July 2026
16th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Mathew 13:24-43 There was a Franciscan friar named Brother Ruffino, one of St. Francis' closest companions. Although Brother Ruffino was a holy man, he was troubled by the…
16 July 2026
The First Person God Wants to Change Is Me
Many years ago, in India, there was a rich man who was suffering from a severe eye pain. He consulted with numerous physicians and was getting multiple treatments. He did not…
16 July 2026
Fifty Years of Faith: Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Knock Basilica
This year marks a significant milestone in the life of the Church in Ireland: the 50th anniversary of the opening of Knock Basilica. Standing beside the humble parish church…
14 July 2026
St Francis and the Simple Life
St Francis reminds us that a simple life is not an empty life, but one with room for God, creation and one another. Reflection: St Francis discovered that true joy does not come…