Brother Richard

I clearly see that if we expect to please him and receive an abundance of his graces, God desires that these graces must come to us from the hands of Christ, through his most sacred humanity, in which God takes delight. ~ St. Teresa of Ávila (Office of Readings)

Altar of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Basilica of St. Teresa of Ávila, Rome. Pray for us!

Come celebrate our brother Padre Pio with the Capuchins!
This year we have three days of events in both Dublin and Cork! We hope to see you there.
Details in the pics below

Today is World Calligraphy Day, and hopefully you know that #Tolkien was an accomplished calligrapher. He used different styles of handwriting and alphabets to create depth in his stories. Not just an author, poet and scholar, but an artist, too!

All images © The Tolkien Estate #BlueSky

"Fight the good fight against our ancient foe, fight him insistently with fasting, because no one will win the crown of victory without engaging in the contest in the proper way." #SaintDominic #Fast #Pray #Resist

"Prayer is living in the heart of God -- a heart of justice, peace, and righteousness." #HenriNouwen #PrayForAmerica

"The more we pray with confidence to our heavenly Father, the more we discover that we are beloved children and the more we come to know the greatness of his love (7-27-25)." #PopeLeoXIV

Imagine this

From "Meister Eckhart's Book of Secrets"

“In our time, we see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of diversity, and an economic paradigm that exploits earth’s resources and marginalizes the poor. For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion & fraternity in the world." #PopeLeoXIV

“We possess a freedom that no difficulty can rob us of: it is the freedom to love and to pray. Everyone, always, can love and pray.” #PopeLeoXIV #PrayForAmerica

"Let us return to building bridges where there are now walls. Let us open doors, connect worlds, and hope will spring forth (6-14-25)." #PopeLeoXIV

"Wherever we look, the compass of Holy Scripture points to those without enough to live on, the oppressed, those reduced to prostitution, the orphan, the widow, the foreigner, the migrant. Jesus was not afraid to identify himself with this countless throng." #PopeFrancis #Hope #WeAreFrancis

Let us imitate the spring, which doesn't ask the thirsty before they drink, what country are you from? ~ Blessed Jacob of Ghazir, 'Abuna Yaqoub', OFM Cap. (Office of Readings)

In this time of unwarranted provocation and threatened retaliation, when so many of us are afraid and seeking our center; two prayers to breathe into our core:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love

Icon: 'Saint Francis and Sultan Al-Kamil' Br. Bob Lentz

brorichard on Instagram: "Peace DreamA clear and clean Midsummer morning,a blue sky, green leavesand Robin song in the garden.But behind it allI hear the moa…" Peace DreamA clear and clean Midsummer morning,a blue sky, green leavesand Robin song in the garden.But behind it allI hear the moancarried on the rising sunin the air, in the water.The holy placeis woundedagain.The cries go upfrom both sides,pain begetting pain anger begetting angerhate begetting hateand always the womenand the childrensuffer first, suffer most.The world’s wound made manifestin the very place of it’s healing.this is paradoxthis is pain.And I think of the Muslim familywho were my friends growing up.How they fled from terror.How they loved and laughedand wept.How their son was terrified to stillness just seeing a policeman on the street.He showed me the Mosque.I showed him the Church.How their daughters wanted to be doctors and poets and scientists.How their father, a botanist, just wanted to dwell among the plants and not the politics.How their mother laughed with my mother in the same way, in the same tones.And I think of those ancestors of mine who were Jewish. One great, great grandmother at least. Known to her small village neighbours as the “Jewess”, they loved her bread, and marvelled at her beauty.What journey did they make? What were they all fleeing, but pain and loss? (Full poem in the pics above)

Peace Dream a meditation poem
www.instagram.com/p/DLMrtM1oZY...

"War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them (5-14-25)." #PopeLeoXIV #PrayForPeace

Saint Bernard dog puppy with a plaintive expression

Today is the feast St. Bernard of Menthon (+1081), from whom the dogs take their name. As Abba Xanthos said, "A dog is better than I am, for he has love and does not judge."

With Father’s Day on the horizon, let me tell you that the world’s most popular saint, Francis of Assisi, had an unreconciled relationship with his father at the time of his death. It happens to the best of us. We do the best we can.

Brother Richard Hendrick elected Provincial of the Irish Capuchin Franciscans Father Richard Hendrick OFMCap, the well-known friar and author who is simply known as Brother Richard, was elected Provincial Minister of the Irish Capuchin Franciscans on 6 June. His election marks ...

catholicnews.ie/new-irish-ca...

Starling Shower, a meditation poem:

www.instagram.com/p/DKJlHfrorF...

The light of the Only-begotten has shone on us, and we have been transformed into the Word, the source of all life...now that the righteousness of Christ has found a place in our hearts we have freed ourselves from our former condition of corruptibility. ~St. Cyril of Alexandria (Office of Readings)

"Let us resolve to bring his love everywhere, never forgetting that each of our sisters and brothers is a dwelling place of God and that his presence is manifested above all in the little ones, in the poor and the suffering, who ask us to be thoughtful and compassionate Christians." #PopeLeoXIV

Icon by Jody Cole - jcoleicons.com

"Hail, Queen Wisdom! May the Lord preserve you, with your sister, pure and holy Simplicity. Holy Lady Poverty, may the Lord preserve you, with your sister, holy Humility. Holy Lady Charity, may the Lord preserve you, with your sister, holy Obedience." #SaintFrancisOfAssisi

For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. (Jn 6)

"Peace be with you!...This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions." #PopeLeo

"Thank you Pope Francis!" #PopeLeoXIV

Pray for Pope Leo!

This photograph captures Sir David Attenborough seated outdoors on the rugged terrain of Skomer Island. Behind him, the ocean and coastal cliffs form a scenic backdrop under a clear sky. Sir David, dressed in a khaki jacket and light trousers, looks towards the camera with a gentle expression, exuding a sense of warmth, calm, and wisdom. Around him, puffins can be seen flying and perched on the rocky ground, illuminated in rays of golden sunlight as the sun sets behind the cliffs.

Happy 99th birthday to the man who gave voice to the wild. 🎉

Sir David Attenborough, thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with wisdom, wonder, and grace.

You've inspired generations to fall in love with nature.