Monthly Archives: February 2026

The Eucharistic Prayer

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RCIA Session February 5th 2026

The Eucharistic Prayer is at the centre of the most important thing we do as Christians. By now you should be regularly attending Sunday Mass - if work, health or something else is preventing this then attend Mass when you can. So it is worth some time contemplating it. So often, we regular Mass goers perhaps mentally turn off during the long prayer said bye the Priest at the centre of the Mass. Perhaps we are going into a prayerful state, but not fully listening. We actually should be praying the Eucharistic Prayer at every Mass - but NOT out loud! 

If you like listening to a talk, try these, of you prefer to read, Click this link. or scroll down beyond the two films for some more reading.

 

If you are using the YouCat, please click here for general advice about the YouCat and how to use the readings. Here are the readings that go with this week’s session:

  • #208 to #223 – the Holy Eucharist [11 pages]

NB the numbers (#) refer to paragraph numbers in the YouCat and not to page numbers. The number in [square brackets] at the end tells you roughly how long this passage is in terms of the pages you need to read (excluding picture pages).

 

LONGER READINGS FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

If you have more time, and if you want to go deeper into the topic of this session, you can follow up by exploring the longer Catechism of the Catholic Church. See the standard online version here, and a digital “flip-book” edition here. Here are the readings that go with this week’s session:

NB the numbers (#) refer to paragraph numbers in the Catechism and not to page numbers. Click on the links themselves to read the paragraphs in the online version.

 

WISDOM FROM THE BIBLE

Luke 22:19-20

At the Last Supper: “Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’”

Luke 24:30-32

After the Resurrection, on the road to Emmaus: “When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’”

John 6:51, 54-56

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh… Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.’”

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgement against themselves.”

Hebrews 7:24-25

“But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

 

Saint Agatha, Virgin, Martyr

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Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15; Ps 103(102):1-2. 13-14. 17-18a; Mark 6:1-6

She was martyred at Catania in Sicily, probably during the persecution of Decius (250-253). Devotion to her was widespread in the Church in the earliest times and she is mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass.
Collect
May the Virgin Martyr Saint Agatha
implore your compassion for us, O Lord, we pray,
for she found favour with you
by the courage of her martyrdom
and the merit of her chastity.
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.

Wednesday of week 4 in Ordinary Time

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A prophet is not without honour, except in his home town.

We know nothing of Jesus' growth from child to man, but of course those living in his home town most certainly did. If we wear their sandals for a moment - it would be truly astonishing if someone you saw grow up, came home and stood up in your church and preached to you - if you had no knowledge of their spiritual formation. Sadly this natural tendency to reject astonishing truths from those you know well - or thought you know well - led to their inability to accept Jesus. So Jesus left them, and taught and healed and brought to life the good news in the surrounding villages.

The imperative to bring the good news to the world could not be halted just by some local confusion and ignorance. It will not in this day and age either - but if while trying to share the gospel you receive back indifference or worse - then move on. Others near by may well be searching for the God you know and whom you know loves us all.

Tuesday of week 4 in Ordinary Time

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Talitha cumi

Talitha cumi - we have only a few direct quotes of our Lord's words, and these are precious fragments. Talitha cumi is translated in the Gospel to 'Little Girl, Arise' - and she does. Sadly, many of us have experienced loss of little ones - during pregnancy, peri-natal, and through illness or accident in childhood. These are often not talked about - especially deaths during pregnancy - but we should remember one another, especially those who have suffered the pain of loosing a child. This is one of those things that we can pray for one another about, without knowing specific details.

Remember, that our Lord will say Talitha cumi to all those little ones who have it seems died before their time. In His own good time, God will invite us into the eternal family of Heaven - we shall be re-united with all these little ones.

Let us pray: God of All Comfort, we pray that You would draw these parents who have lost their little ones into Your loving arms. May they find peace and rest in the midst of their searing pain. Be merciful to them and let them know You are by their side. Even in their confusion, may they trust in You. Amen.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

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Malachi 3.1-4; Psalm 23; Luke 2.22-40

This feast (commonly called Candlemas because of the ancient tradition of blessing the candles for liturgical use on this day), which brings the 40-day Christmas season to a close, offers a tapestry of themes and motifs: the Light that will enlighten all nations of which the aged Simeon sings; the long-awaited but terrifying Lord the ancient prophet declared would come into his Temple to purify it; an aged prophetess, Anna whose burbling elation contrasts the poverty and taciturnity of Joseph and Mary, seemingly overwhelmed by the magnificence of the Temple.  And the forty-day-old Christ child himself, who in the overture of his life contrasts with Simeon who apparently is near to his dying breath.

Simeon’s prayer has at least since the 4th Century been sung by the Church at the close of each day, at once a prayer and a Creed: an acknowledgement that the Lord of our longing has come down from heaven for us and for our salvation, and a prayer to his Light would fill us and be transmitted through us.  Simeon stands as the pivotal figure between the Light and Joy of Christmas and the paradoxical Light and Joy of Easter as he declares that this Child is a Sign of God’s presence in the midst of his people that we must either cradle or reject.