In Poetry for the Season, poet Sally Read lead us through poems, new and old, familiar and unfamiliar, that are redolent of the liturgical season, and explored what they might mean to us and our faith. Sally is the author of three collections of poetry, all published by Bloodaxe Books, and Night’s Bright Darkness, the story of her conversion to Catholicism from atheism, and Annunciation, a Call to Faith in a Broken World, both published by Ignatius Press. Her first collection of poems as a believer, Dawn of this Hunger, is reaching completion. Sally trained and worked as a psychiatric nurse in her twenties, but was always writing poetry. During her conversion Sally came to understand that all poets seek to see with the eyes of God—that is, to perceive the connections between things, and their meaning in the world—and that poetry is the fabric of the Catholic faith in that it lives in scripture, liturgy, prayer and the way we think about Truth. Poetry for the Season aims to seduce you with beauty and make you see that real poetry is never far from God. Sally broadcast from Rome where she lives with her family. To listen to previous episodes, please listen on the following Podcast services:  Spotify, Google Podcasts, Radio Public, and other podcast services.

The Hermit

David has created a a newly edited version of his Peter Calvay Trilogy Wisdom from the Western Isles. Part One, The Hermit  tells the story of an academic, James Robertson from the USA, whose wife tragically died in childbirth. He turned from prayer and sought solace in drink instead. His life changed radically when he met Peter, the hermit, on the Island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, where Peter was living the eremitical life on the remote Island of Calvay. Peter introduces James to prayer and he is led from Christian Meditation through to the understanding of Christian Contemplative prayer.  It turned out to be a spiritually  life-saving experience for James and it could be the same for you if you tune in to this fascinating story read by the author himself.  David Torkington is an English Spiritual Theologian, author and speaker,  specializing in Prayer, Christian Spirituality and Mystical Theology.  His website with details of his blogs, podcasts, Facebook and twitter accounts  can be found on www.davidtorkington.com

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Wisdom from the Workshop:

What must it have been like to grow-up next to St Joseph? Jesus grew-up under the protective and affectionate gaze of his foster father. In a time when many young people are looking
for father-figures to lead them into their identity and destiny, Pope Francis has inaugurated a year dedicated to St Joseph pointing the Church to this model of fatherhood and discipleship. Based on the Litany of St Joseph and their own personal friendship with St Joseph, Fr Gabriel Kyte, CFR and Br Francois Fontanie, CFR of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal will be leading us in a reflection and prayer each Wednesday throughout the month of March. Fatherhood and masculinity has been undermined in our culture but the Lord is faithful and is drawing men and women to find in the Church sources of authentic fatherhood rooted in the love of God, our Heavenly Father. With the year of St Joseph our attention has been drawn to him who remains an icon of God the Father for all of us. St Joseph desires to draw us to Jesus his son to find in Him our identity as sons and daughters. Join us in this time of prayer as we make the journey from St Joseph’s workshop to the Father’s House!

Introduction to the Prayer of the Church

Introduction to the Prayer of the Church.  Father Euan Marley, a Dominican priest at Blackfriars in Cambridge, introduces listeners to the Liturgy of the Hours.

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