Amazing Grace is the title and first words of a well-known hymn, composed by John Newton. Its appeal goes wide among Christians. I have called this podcast after the hymn, not because I want to talk about it, or its composer, but rather because the Collect of today's Mass prays to God for grace to accompany us. So, I thought a teaching about grace would be in order. I find many Catholics do not fully understand the splendour, the power nor the amazing nature of grace.

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

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Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

What a beautiful prayer that the disciples make to Jesus! Their request is one that we can make our own too. But as the Lord often does, He wishes to teach more than the disciples expect.

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

This Sunday's parable of Lazarus, the poor man, and Dives, the rich man, is a lesson in charity towards the poor but also a lesson in the end-of-life result of living separated from God, namely Hell.

It's not popular to talk about Hell since the prevailing notion is that Hell does not exist, or that it is empty, or that as long as I am nice, I won't go there. But that is not what Our Lord teaches us in this parable and at many other times.

The drawing, "The Rich Man and Lazarus" is from Harvard Art Museums and is by John Everett Millais.

The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on their website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes.

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

The parable of the steward in this Sunday's gospel is a masterful teaching story given to us by Our Lord Jesus. The steward is referred to as dishonest, unrighteous, cunning but also astute. What and how can he be all these at once? There are so many aspects to this parable, that deserve our attention, but too many, I think, to address all at once. But, I hope what I do focus on is helpful.

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

Today's important Feast Day supplants the Sunday in Ordinary Time and gives us another opportunity to reflect upon and appreciate the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, its immense and perfect power and its effect upon all of Creation.

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

Today in Rome, Pope Leo XIV will declare that the Church has two new saints - St Pier Giorgio and St Carlo Acutis. It's been a long wait for those who love Pier Giorgio - 100 years!! Somewhat less for Carlo - 19 years. But, these two young men have much in common, more than just being young and Italian.

Both these two young saints show us holiness to an extraordinary degree but, because of who they were and the lives they led, they inspire us to greatness.

St Pier Giorgio's favourite saying "Verso L'Alto", which is English means "To the Heights" is what both of them want to do for us, namely, to lead us to the heights of heaven.

St Pier Giorgio and St Carlo, pray for us.

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

This podcast, first of all, has some comments upon the school shooting during the past week in Minneapolis, continuing to address the reality of evil and human free will, which was mentioned in the previous podcast.

Then attention is turned to Holy Communion as it is First Holy Communion Day in the parish. I explore many things and use some insights from the-soon-to-be-saint, Carlo Acutis. He called Holy Communion his highway to heaven. It worked for him. It can work for us too!

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

Once more, Jesus speaks of difficult realities. Those who think that Jesus never makes demands upon us have never read the gospels.

Today Our Lord and Saviour speaks of how we must strive to enter heaven. It should not surprise us because we follow Him who suffered and died that we might just do that, join the saints and angels in heaven.

If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay