Father Coleridge Reader

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You will not win without meekness
We can only inherit our own bodies if we embrace the meekness of the beatitude.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Meekness makes all of nature ours
Only the meek can truly enjoy the gifts of God.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How the Meek will inherit the Earth, even in this life
Our Lord's promise in the beatitude does not only pertain to the next life. It pertains to the spiritual possession of all things, even in this life.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Pentecost and Our Lady – The Bride and her Spouse
What role did the Blessed Virgin Mary play at the Coming of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
The Psalm and the Beatitude of the Meek
Our Lord refers to a specific Psalm, when he says 'Blessed are the meek.' What does it tell us about this virtue?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
All our actions must be gilded with meekness: here's why
There is no area of life which meekness cannot help.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Meekness: What it is, and what it isn't
A lot of conflict and unhappiness could be avoided by the virtue of Christian meekness.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Sunday after the Ascension – Preparation for Persecution
Our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem led to his Passion and Resurrection. His triumphant entry into Heaven led to the Descent of the Holy Ghost at…
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
The Ascension – Christ's Triumphant Entry into Heaven
Our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem led to his Passion and Resurrection. His triumphant entry into Heaven led to the Descent of the Holy Ghost at…
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Fifth Sunday after Easter – Preparation for the Church
In Eastertide, we hear Christ preparing his Apostles for his Ascension and for Pentecost – and on the last Sunday before the Ascension, he prepares them…
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Fourth Sunday after Easter – Preparation for the Pentecost
Last Sunday, we heard Our Lord preparing his Apostles for his departure. This Sunday, we hear his promise to send the Holy Ghost.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ

April 2026

What St John conveys in his Resurrection account
Here's how St John's crowns the Gospel narratives, and the charge of bearing witness to Christ passes to the Church.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What St Luke conveys in his Resurrection account
Close attention to St Luke resolves the difficulties that are sometimes raised.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What St Matthew and St Mark convey in their Resurrection accounts
Why do each of the four Gospels present the Resurrection in different ways?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Third Sunday after Easter – Preparation for the Ascension begins
The Church returns to the Christ’s parting words in the Last Supper discourses, as a means of preparing for life after the Ascension.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
The Risen Christ's appearances before the Ascension
After the visits to the Sepulchre, Our Lord appeared to his Apostles in several different ways. What were the reasons for this?
How and why Our Lord appeared after the Resurrection
After the visits to the Sepulchre, Our Lord appeared to his Apostles in several different ways. What were the reasons for this?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Back to Devon: More adventures in Coleridgeana
A lost wallet sent us back to Ottery St Mary via Alfington, and we took the opportunity to see another important site from Fr Coleridge's life.
 • S.D. Wright
Good Shepherd Sunday – Second Sunday after Easter
On the Second Sunday after Easter, Our Lord tells us how and why he is ‘the Shepherd and Bishop’ of our souls.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Remembering Fr Coleridge – Fr Richard F. Clarke's recollections
Following Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ’s death on 13 April 1893, Fr Richard F. Clarke SJ, his successor as Editor of the Month, wrote a memorial about…
Remembering Fr Coleridge – The Lord Bishop of Emmaus' recollections
Following his death on 13 April 1893, Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ's old friend James Laird Patterson, Bishop of Emmaus, wrote the following tribute.
How we found Fr Coleridge's grave
To mark the anniversary of Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ's death, I took my family to Ottery St Mary, Devon, in search of the great man's grave.
 • S.D. Wright
Low Sunday – St Thomas' doubts dispelled
On Low Sunday, the Easter Octave, we hear about the institution of the sacrament of penance, and the resolution of St Thomas' doubts.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Getting the Resurrection appearances in order
The whole narrative falls into place when we notice that the Gospels present us with multiple visits to the Sepulchre.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How to avoid being disappointed by the Gospels’ accounts of the Resurrection
The accounts of the Resurrection show us what we should and should not expect from the Gospels.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How did the risen Christ reveal the Church's divine constitution?
Christ established the Church with clarity—yet left little trace of it in written form. What does this show us about her divine constitution?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How did Christ feed and teach the Apostles after his Resurrection?
In a quiet moment by the Sea of Tiberias, Christ revealed Himself again to His Apostles. These encounters were few, but they were formative, shaping the…
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why Christ appeared to the Holy Women before the Apostles
What was it about the Holy Women that made Christ choose them to prepare the Apostles?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why Christ told Magdalene not to touch Him—and what it means for us
The Risen Christ acts with a curious reserve towards St Mary Magdalene, and in a way that contrasts with the other Holy Women and St Thomas.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What happened when the Holy Women visited Christ's tomb?
The accounts of the women arriving at the Holy Sepulchre came seem very mysterious.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How Christ Harrowed Hell
As soon as Christ's soul left his body, Hell quaked.
Published on Father Coleridge Reader • 
How Jesus was nailed to the Cross
How did Jesus respond to the procedure for crucifying the condemned?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
INRI: Pilate's Revenge
The Crucifixion begins with the humiliation of Christ's enemies, and a civil declaration – even if intended as ironic – of his Kingship.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What Jesus really did for us in the Passion
It is in the Epistles that we find the fullest doctrine of what Our Lord accomplished in his Sacrifice.

March 2026

Jesus and his enemies – How they all serve him, in spite of their intentions
Their malice itself, from which they still could have converted, served to fulfil Our Lord's divine plan.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How Jesus entered into his Passion
Our Lord Jesus Christ approaches the moment for which he was born as a triumphant Conqueror over his prostrate foes.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Palm Sunday – Christ the King's Triumphal Entry
On Palm Sunday, Christ casts his previous reserve aside, and enters into his Kingdom.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What was it like for Mary to have God incarnate in her womb?
She had, for a time, the entire responsibility for adoring Jesus on behalf of all mankind.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What was Jesus' life in the womb like?
From the first moment of his human existence, Jesus saw us and loved us.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What happened when Jesus took flesh at the Annunciation?
The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity assumed a human nature from the Blessed Virgin Mary, and became the most perfect member of our race.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
After the Annunciation, no one else knew that the Word had become flesh
Even after it was known to a few chosen souls, the rest of the world carried on as if nothing had changed.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Passion Sunday – Christ Rejected
On Passion Sunday, Christ hides his face from those who reject him.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Can WE be the Prodigal's Elder Brother?
Although a primary reading of the Parable of the Prodigal Son is about the vocation of the Gentiles, it also contains a lesson about how Catholics…
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Does the Prodigal's Elder Brother represent the Jewish people?
In one sense, yes; although as we shall see in the next part, he can also represent us too.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday
Rejoice! We're over halfway through Lent – and the Church presents us with this Gospel miracle of plenty in the multiplication of loaves.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why God's pardon can be a greater triumph to Him than a benefit to us
The father's extravagant welcome reveals God's pardon, restoring the penitent to full sonship rather than the mere servitude for which he had hoped.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why does the father give the Prodigal his portion, knowing what he will do with it?
God honours our freedom by letting rebellion run its course, and uses the consequences as a means of awakening us to our plight.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why does the younger son want his inheritance, when he lacks for nothing?
The Prodigal's rebellion begins in craving independence – the root sin beneath the others.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Third Sunday of Lent – What think you of Christ?
We are are commanded to take a position on the Third Sunday of Lent.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Second Sunday of Lent – Transfiguration
Why is the account of the Transfiguration read on the Second Sunday of Lent?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ

February 2026

The WM Review's Little Lenten Effort for 2026
Better late than never... based on St Thérèse of Lisieux's 'Little Way', here is The WM Review's Little Lenten Effort for 2026.
Published on The WM Review • 
First Sunday of Lent – Jesus in the Desert
Lent opens with Christ fasting in the desert for forty days, being tempted by the Devil, and being comforted by the Angels.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What was the order of Christ's temptations?
St Matthew and St Luke give different orderings for the three temptations. Which should be followed?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How did the Holy Ghost ‘drive’ Jesus into the desert?
The Evangelists tell us that Our Lord was “led” or even “driven” into the desert. What does this mean?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Jesus' final temptation – the climax of Satan's assault
Knowing how God treats who presume upon his mercy, the final temptation was in fact a suggestion towards destroying himself.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why on earth did the Devil suggest Christ worship him?
Behind each temptation, Satan has multiple ulterior motives – so that a temptation to one sin may really be designed to have us fall into another.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
There's more to Jesus' first temptation than just bread
The Devil's suggestion that Our Lord turn stones into bread seems innocuous, but carries something more sinister...
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
The twelve fruits of invoking the Holy Name of Jesus
St Bernardine of Siena sets out four special powers of the invocation of the Holy Name, for Beginners, Proficients and the Perfect.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why did the Devil want to tempt Jesus?
The fact is he was alarmed – and wanted to see if his fears were justified.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why did Jesus submit to be tempted by the Devil?
No one can escape being tempted – and Christ has shown us how to overcome these trials.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What does Jesus teach us by fasting for forty days?
As with every incident of Our Lord’s life, he wishes to teach us by example – but how are we to imitate him?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why did Jesus retire into the desert to fast?
It was a sign that something special was about to happen – the inauguration of the Messianic Kingdom.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why greatness in Christ’s Kingdom means self-sacrifice, not mere power
Christ overturns the worldly conceptions: true greatness is service, humility, and readiness to die for one's subjects and dependants.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why Jesus promises the chalice to St James and John, but doesn't grant their request
Jesus' reply to the Apostles isn't what we might expect.
Ss James and John's request to sit at Christ's right and left
This incident was perhaps not how it is commonly imagined by film producers today.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Quinquagesima Sunday – The Preaching of the Cross, and Blind Bartimaeus
The pre-Lent season of Gesimatide ends with an announcement of the Cross, and the opening of the eyes of the blind.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Christ's final prophecy of his coming Passion
The season of Septuagesima ends with the final declaration of what is to happen in Jerusalem in Holy Week.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Sexagesima Sunday – The Parable of the Sower
We could even call it the 'parable of parables', as it holds the key to all the rest.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Does God love repentant sinners more than those who stay faithful?
Heaven's joy over repentant sinners is like our relief after loss.
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ

January 2026

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