Posted by universalis on 14 July 2025
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Eastertide is over, and the high theological feasts are behind us as well. Ordinary Time stretches out before us, but it isn’t smooth and featureless. There are inspiring saints to be celebrated and the words of the liturgy are always fresh.
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Posted in Newsletters | Tagged: Pope Francis, Universalis | Comments Off on July 2025 newsletter
Posted by universalis on 26 April 2025
The National Gallery has an exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300 ‒1350, which runs until 22 June. Following established practice, the exhibition website is likely to be destroyed at that time so that nobody can read anything about it. The exhibition catalogue will survive: it is edited by Joanna Cannon and its ISBN is 978-1857097160.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Duccio, Siena, Transfiguration | Comments Off on Duccio’s Maestà
Posted by universalis on 21 April 2025
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Pope Francis, R.I.P
There is surely no better time to die than at the very beginning of the Easter season. Just when one has prepared oneself to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, one is called home by God, to begin the journey which will end in living that same joy.
Praying for the recently dead at this time has a special resonance for us as Christians, because the person and the season coincide so well. For those of you who want to read the Office of the Dead, here are the instructions for doing so in the Universalis apps and programs.
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Posted in Newsletters | Tagged: Pope Francis, Universalis | Comments Off on Easter 2025 newsletter
Posted by universalis on 2 April 2025
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We are half way through Lent, and Laetare Sunday on 30 March marks the occasion by having rose-coloured vestments: half way between Lent’s purple and the white of Easter and the Resurrection.
The Gospel for Laetare Sunday this year is the parable of the Prodigal Son. It comes at this time in Lent because it forms a perfect framework for how we deal with sin: repentance, confession, forgiveness, celebration.
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Posted in Newsletters | Tagged: Universalis | Comments Off on Mid-Lent 2025 newsletter
Posted by universalis on 1 April 2025
In years B and C of the three-year cycle, the characteristic Gospels of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent are not read: the Samaritan Woman, the Man Born Blind, and Lazarus.
These Gospels are important, and can and should be read on some other day of those weeks.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Lenten Mass readings: weeks 3, 4 and 5
Posted by universalis on 19 February 2025
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Welcome to February!
This newsletter covers the Word on Fire conference, Universalis on social media, and the latest podcast episodes.
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Posted in Newsletters | Tagged: Universalis | Comments Off on February 2025 newsletter
Posted by universalis on 7 January 2025
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Happy New Year!
There is a sad law of nature about newsletters, and it is this. When there is nothing to report, there is plenty of time to write newsletters to report it. When there is a lot to report, there is no time to write newsletters at all.
The year 2024 has been one of those busy times. Now the new year has come, it is a good time to catch up with what has been going on.
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Posted in Downloadable Universalis, Newsletters | Tagged: Universalis | Comments Off on January 2025 newsletter
Posted by universalis on 27 November 2024
Background: The bishops of England, Wales and Scotland have decreed that on 1 December 2024 the inhabitants of those countries must stop using the Jerusalem Bible for the readings at Mass and start using the English Standard Version (a flavour of the RSV) instead.
- This affects the readings at Mass only, not the Liturgy of the Hours.
- Nobody outside these countries is affected in any way at all.
How it works
In England, Wales and Scotland, before 1 December 2024, you will see the Jerusalem Bible.
In England, Wales and Scotland, from 1 December 2024 onwards, you will see the ESV.
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Posted in Calendars, Liturgy | Tagged: bible, christianity, English Standard Version, ESV, lectionary, mass | Comments Off on The English Standard Version (ESV)
Posted by universalis on 7 October 2024
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Happy Feast of the Rosary!
One of the unexpected benefits of doing the podcast is that in the course of finding something to say about the feasts of the Church, I discover far more than I ever knew about them, and come to value them as they should be valued. Listen to this week’s podcast and you’ll see what I mean. Here is the audio directly and here is the whole Podcasts page. Or just go to the home page at universalis.com and you’ll find a Podcasts button at the top right.
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Posted in Downloadable Universalis, Newsletters | Tagged: Universalis | Comments Off on October 2024 newsletter
Posted by universalis on 5 August 2024
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This is August, when no-one reads anything, especially newsletters. Still, do have a look at this one, even if it is only at the end of the month.
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Posted in Downloadable Universalis, Newsletters | Tagged: Universalis | Comments Off on August 2024 newsletter
Electric Prayer 