Father Martin Flatman
@frmartinf.bsky.social
Catholic priest. Internet priest. Loves gardens, nature, history and trains
Best question from children "Why did God make people? My answer "Because God wanted creatures who could show his love at work and be aware and respond to the source of that love." Despite all the bad and sad things in the world, humans at their best are really wonderful!,
December 8, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Best question from children "Why did God make people? My answer "Because God wanted creatures who could show his love at work and be aware and respond to the source of that love." Despite all the bad and sad things in the world, humans at their best are really wonderful!,
The Pharisees in Jesus day were like our Internet world full of people condemning others. Jesus wisely spends a lot of time affirming God’s love for those who felt rejected in this way. Let's do the same.
December 4, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The Pharisees in Jesus day were like our Internet world full of people condemning others. Jesus wisely spends a lot of time affirming God’s love for those who felt rejected in this way. Let's do the same.
Teaching on the Bible Readings for next Sunday - the 2nd of Advent - is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/bible-backgr...
December 3, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Teaching on the Bible Readings for next Sunday - the 2nd of Advent - is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/bible-backgr...
Do watch Prisoner 951 which tells the true but awful story of Nazanin Zachary-Ratcliffe unjustly imprisoned in Iran. A great exposition of the Advent themes of endurance and hope.
December 3, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Do watch Prisoner 951 which tells the true but awful story of Nazanin Zachary-Ratcliffe unjustly imprisoned in Iran. A great exposition of the Advent themes of endurance and hope.
Another piece of God’s winter glory spotted on my walk today.
December 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Another piece of God’s winter glory spotted on my walk today.
Righteousness isn't a word we use much. We prefer to talk about whether something is fair or not, of being moral or immoral. I find it horrid that many are rude to one another, using nasty words rather than engaging in fair & intelligent disagreements. This is what we long for.
December 2, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Righteousness isn't a word we use much. We prefer to talk about whether something is fair or not, of being moral or immoral. I find it horrid that many are rude to one another, using nasty words rather than engaging in fair & intelligent disagreements. This is what we long for.
Said Mass at Oakenholt this morning in the room of one of the residents. This is the view from the Car Park with a view of Farmoor Reservoir in the distance.
December 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Said Mass at Oakenholt this morning in the room of one of the residents. This is the view from the Car Park with a view of Farmoor Reservoir in the distance.
God wants us to exercise equity but what does that mean? This picture helps to explain that equity means treating people by what they need.
December 1, 2025 at 6:59 AM
God wants us to exercise equity but what does that mean? This picture helps to explain that equity means treating people by what they need.
2 messages towards a deeper spiritual life. 1st that it requires effort. Paul asks us to “Cast off the works of darkness,” but 2nd he says “Put on the armour of light.” Spiritual progress can't be done in our own strength however important our efforts may be. We must turn to God
November 28, 2025 at 7:24 AM
2 messages towards a deeper spiritual life. 1st that it requires effort. Paul asks us to “Cast off the works of darkness,” but 2nd he says “Put on the armour of light.” Spiritual progress can't be done in our own strength however important our efforts may be. We must turn to God
School assemblies today and tomorrow on living in harmony. Creating a list of all the different jobs need to build a new estate of houses and showing how they must all work together in harmony. What a List !
November 25, 2025 at 6:51 AM
School assemblies today and tomorrow on living in harmony. Creating a list of all the different jobs need to build a new estate of houses and showing how they must all work together in harmony. What a List !
Advent begins next Sunday with the idea that we Christians must walk with the Lord. One great thinker however said this :-
"I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I have been." A very true remark but guess who said it ?
"I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I have been." A very true remark but guess who said it ?
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Advent begins next Sunday with the idea that we Christians must walk with the Lord. One great thinker however said this :-
"I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I have been." A very true remark but guess who said it ?
"I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I have been." A very true remark but guess who said it ?
You don't need to use any words to sing to God. St Augustine says: "Words cannot express the things that are sung in the heart. People harvesting in the fields begin in sung words, yet shortly they discard the words. They burst out into a simple sound of joy, of jubilation."
November 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
You don't need to use any words to sing to God. St Augustine says: "Words cannot express the things that are sung in the heart. People harvesting in the fields begin in sung words, yet shortly they discard the words. They burst out into a simple sound of joy, of jubilation."
Visited the National Trust’s Coleshill Estate this morning. Great cake and a pleasant walk. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxford...
November 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Visited the National Trust’s Coleshill Estate this morning. Great cake and a pleasant walk. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxford...
Thinking how the risen Jesus "opened the scriptures" to the disciples reminds us that it was his mother who read to him from the Scriptures & taught him to read them & learn some of them by heart. One special reason why we honour Mary as we do today on the Feast of her Presentation.
November 21, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Thinking how the risen Jesus "opened the scriptures" to the disciples reminds us that it was his mother who read to him from the Scriptures & taught him to read them & learn some of them by heart. One special reason why we honour Mary as we do today on the Feast of her Presentation.
By train to Stoke on Trent today for the funeral of Father Simon Hall at Holy Trinity Church. A tragedy that a young priest like him should die, which is why I'm making the effort to go. Of course the one good thing is a day on trains provided Cross Country do not mess up!
November 20, 2025 at 6:31 AM
By train to Stoke on Trent today for the funeral of Father Simon Hall at Holy Trinity Church. A tragedy that a young priest like him should die, which is why I'm making the effort to go. Of course the one good thing is a day on trains provided Cross Country do not mess up!
Teaching on next weekend's Bible Readings for the Feast of Christ the King is on the website:- www.thebibleatmass.com/bible-backgr...
November 19, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Teaching on next weekend's Bible Readings for the Feast of Christ the King is on the website:- www.thebibleatmass.com/bible-backgr...
Some Christians treat Jesus as if he were a pagan god; only appearing to be a man until his godhead is revealed. This is a shocking view because it implies that God was only pretending to be a man, that he didn’t really suffer on the cross, but just appeared to!
November 19, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Some Christians treat Jesus as if he were a pagan god; only appearing to be a man until his godhead is revealed. This is a shocking view because it implies that God was only pretending to be a man, that he didn’t really suffer on the cross, but just appeared to!
Jesus isn’t an ordinary man first & then after his death a glorious king, rather he's a king because he's an ordinary man. As an ordinary man he might behave like a king, but he doesn’t. This man tells his friends he has come “Not to be served but to serve,” (Matt 20:28)
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Jesus isn’t an ordinary man first & then after his death a glorious king, rather he's a king because he's an ordinary man. As an ordinary man he might behave like a king, but he doesn’t. This man tells his friends he has come “Not to be served but to serve,” (Matt 20:28)
God is in all of us but all of us fail to be perfectly one with him. Jesus is the one man in whom God is fully and perfectly present, so we see him both as the supreme example of what we should be like in serving others, but also as God who loves and comes to us in Jesus.
November 17, 2025 at 6:59 AM
God is in all of us but all of us fail to be perfectly one with him. Jesus is the one man in whom God is fully and perfectly present, so we see him both as the supreme example of what we should be like in serving others, but also as God who loves and comes to us in Jesus.
Hooray for Simon Armitage the Uk Poet Laureate who has just said on Radio 4 that people should use the words dead and died not passed or lost
November 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Hooray for Simon Armitage the Uk Poet Laureate who has just said on Radio 4 that people should use the words dead and died not passed or lost
Packed church at Mass in Carterton Uk today as usual, plus more overspilling into the Hall and watching on Videolink. Lots of families as well as youngish singles and us oldies!
November 16, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Packed church at Mass in Carterton Uk today as usual, plus more overspilling into the Hall and watching on Videolink. Lots of families as well as youngish singles and us oldies!
What a terribly wet and gloomy day. The photo makes it look brighter than it is. Praying for those having to travel through all this and any others affected by floods.
November 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
What a terribly wet and gloomy day. The photo makes it look brighter than it is. Praying for those having to travel through all this and any others affected by floods.
Lets not get obsessed with the disasters that threaten the world nor think we must just put our faith in God and do nothing. There is nothing worse than a Christian who thinks that since the world is all in God’s hands, there is nothing we can do.
November 14, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Lets not get obsessed with the disasters that threaten the world nor think we must just put our faith in God and do nothing. There is nothing worse than a Christian who thinks that since the world is all in God’s hands, there is nothing we can do.
God is present with us in lots of ways and one is in a good loving marriage. I have been asked to join a marriage celebration next year where Faith and Ross will renew their marriage vows.
November 13, 2025 at 7:11 AM
God is present with us in lots of ways and one is in a good loving marriage. I have been asked to join a marriage celebration next year where Faith and Ross will renew their marriage vows.
Often pray for people in power whatever their political stance. It's a very tough job but that mustn't allow us to excuse them when they do things that are wrong. Bible Reading today says "For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested."
November 12, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Often pray for people in power whatever their political stance. It's a very tough job but that mustn't allow us to excuse them when they do things that are wrong. Bible Reading today says "For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested."