Today is the Feast of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary. The photos were taken in the Chapel of St. Bernadette at the Alexian Mission in Győrújbarát, Hungary.

On the same day, March 17, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Tears in Hungary, which is the most beautiful treasure of the Cathedral of Győr. The famous painting was placed in Győr with the help of Irish Bishop Walter Lynch, who fled from Cromwell's campaign against Ireland and Scotland, is very popular among the Irish. Bishop János Püsky of Győr invited him to Győr, where he lived for the rest of his life and bequeathed the image known as the Weeping Madonna to the city in 1663.

 

In February 2013, three members of the Irish Alexian community,
Brother Dermot O'Leary, Brother Dominic Walsh and Brother Luke Polding,
visited Hungary and of course they also visited the image of the Weeping Madonna

In 2024 the Irish Alexian Brothers hosted the Lynch descendant Kathleen Lynch

 Brother Barry in front of the Irish Weeping Madonna
in the Győr Cathedral, Hungary (September, 2024)

Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, we celebrate your feast day with joyful hearts. We thank you for your unwavering faith, your courageous witness, and your tireless efforts to bring the light of Christ to Ireland. We ask for your intercession as we strive to live lives of faith and service, mirroring your dedication to God and your love for your people. Guide us on our path, protect us from harm, and intercede for us before the throne of God. Amen.

Our Heavenly Father,

As we begin this new week and enter the quieter, more contemplative time of the fourth week of Lent, we turn to You in gratitude. We thank You for the awakening beauty of spring, the warmth of the sun, and the rebirth of nature, all of which bear witness to Your providential love. We thank You that the renewal of the created world reminds us that, through Your grace, our hearts too can always be renewed.

We ask You, Lord, to strengthen our faith, so that it may not live only in our words, but may also be made visible in our daily actions. Grant that our love may not remain an unspoken promise, but may be a helping hand, a comforting word, and a patient heart toward those we meet along our journey. Teach us during this season of Lent to practice sincere repentance, humility, and mercy. Help us to be more attentive to one another and to notice those who need encouragement, help, or a kind word.

Bless this week ahead of us, Lord. Grant that these new days may bring us new opportunities: opportunities for goodness, for growth, for practicing love, and for drawing closer to you. Guide our steps so that we may seek Your will in all things, and may our lives be a testimony to Your goodness. Stay with us this week as well; watch over our families, comminities, our work, ministry and our thoughts, so that every day may serve Your glory.

Amen.

Vintage postcard from Knock.

Heavenly Father, as we begin this week and enter the Third Week of Lent, we come before You with humble hearts. Thank you for the gift of a new week, a new opportunity to draw closer to You and to grow in our faith. We acknowledge our weaknesses, our struggles, and the areas in which we fall short of Your will. Grant us the grace to recognize our shortcomings and the courage to turn away from sin. Help us to resist the temptations that surround us. We pray for strength to continue our Lenten journey, to deepen our prayer life, and to practice acts of charity and kindness. May we use this time to reflect on the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter. Bless us this week with Your guidance, Your protection, and Your peace. May we be instruments of Your love in the world, and may our actions reflect Your light. We ask all this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, at the beginning of the week, in the season of spring and renewal, we turn to you. We give thanks for the season of Lent, a time of purification, deepening, and drawing closer to you. We give thanks for the renewal of nature, the sunshine, and the fresh air that awakens hope and confidence in us. Help us to reap the fruits of our Lenten sacrifices and enable us to let go of old bad habits so that we may begin a new life. Fill our hearts with love, joy, and patience so that we may live each day positively. We ask you to guide us this week, give us wisdom in our decisions, strength to overcome difficulties, and help us to be open to others. Grant that our faith may grow stronger, our hope may never die, and our love may help us overcome all obstacles. Bless this week and grant that, as a fruit of our faithfulness during Lent, we may grow closer to you and already experience the joy of the resurrection. Amen.