Father Martin Flatman
@frmartinf.bsky.social
Catholic priest. Internet priest. Loves gardens, nature, history and trains
Going into Oxford to make my Confession before Christmas today. I won't bore you with my sins, although if you read my Posts you might pick up SOME of them, such as always thinking I am right, and lacking humility, and getting annoyed with people I think of as idiots!!
December 18, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Going into Oxford to make my Confession before Christmas today. I won't bore you with my sins, although if you read my Posts you might pick up SOME of them, such as always thinking I am right, and lacking humility, and getting annoyed with people I think of as idiots!!
Going to do a School Assembly today talking about how difficult it was for Mary and Jospeh to find peace when Jesus was born, My actors will travel to Bethlehem and then on to Egypt. Hopefully we will all realise how lucky we are to have peace in our part of the world.
December 17, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Going to do a School Assembly today talking about how difficult it was for Mary and Jospeh to find peace when Jesus was born, My actors will travel to Bethlehem and then on to Egypt. Hopefully we will all realise how lucky we are to have peace in our part of the world.
We respond too fast to that person who disrupts our plans, without praying about it. We make some crack “Oh that’s just like you!”- and thus bring up all sorts of resentments from the past. How many family break ups happen because of some sharp unthinking remark. Beware!
December 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
We respond too fast to that person who disrupts our plans, without praying about it. We make some crack “Oh that’s just like you!”- and thus bring up all sorts of resentments from the past. How many family break ups happen because of some sharp unthinking remark. Beware!
Prayer is not saying words or sending thoughts to God, it's more like talking through things with a friend. If doing this helps us make a decision then God has answered our prayer. Joseph got his answer via a dream but the answer can come into our mind in many ways.
December 16, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Prayer is not saying words or sending thoughts to God, it's more like talking through things with a friend. If doing this helps us make a decision then God has answered our prayer. Joseph got his answer via a dream but the answer can come into our mind in many ways.
Most of us have plans for Christmas. Family or friends coming to visit us? But how do we react if plans are disrupted? Do we just get angry or upset & try to find someone (even God) to blame? Joseph considered things carefully when he discovered Mary was pregnant. No blame.
December 15, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Most of us have plans for Christmas. Family or friends coming to visit us? But how do we react if plans are disrupted? Do we just get angry or upset & try to find someone (even God) to blame? Joseph considered things carefully when he discovered Mary was pregnant. No blame.
Here is my Homily for this weekend on why God made people? An excellent question put to me by a pupil at one of our local Primary Schools. You can see me give this Homily on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xus9... Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2025
YouTube video by Father Martin Flatman
www.youtube.com
December 13, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Here is my Homily for this weekend on why God made people? An excellent question put to me by a pupil at one of our local Primary Schools. You can see me give this Homily on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xus9... Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
I was pleased to hear the Pope's favourite book on prayer is “The Practice of the Presence of God.” When it was said he did not pray when he visited a mosque, he replied “How do you know I did not pray? I just told you about this book. I might well be praying now.” I bet he was!!
December 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I was pleased to hear the Pope's favourite book on prayer is “The Practice of the Presence of God.” When it was said he did not pray when he visited a mosque, he replied “How do you know I did not pray? I just told you about this book. I might well be praying now.” I bet he was!!
To change our mind-set & see more of the goodness in the world rather than be swamped by the bad, we need God's help which means prayer. Not saying prayers but deep thoughts within whilst doing any activity. See Pope Leo's favourite book - the Practice of the Presence of God.
December 11, 2025 at 7:15 AM
To change our mind-set & see more of the goodness in the world rather than be swamped by the bad, we need God's help which means prayer. Not saying prayers but deep thoughts within whilst doing any activity. See Pope Leo's favourite book - the Practice of the Presence of God.
To find joy we need to be awake to the quiet good things in the world; & we need to work hard at directing our minds in that direction so we avoid pointless grumbling. Of course we must also be aware of things that are wrong, but not in a way that skews our view of the world
December 10, 2025 at 6:51 AM
To find joy we need to be awake to the quiet good things in the world; & we need to work hard at directing our minds in that direction so we avoid pointless grumbling. Of course we must also be aware of things that are wrong, but not in a way that skews our view of the world
God as Creator can be seen in every beautiful thing, from the smallest flower to the brightest star. God as love makes humans as creatures who can love. But love is not love unless it is freely given, so we're able to choose freely what we do, and sadly that allows us not to love
December 9, 2025 at 7:15 AM
God as Creator can be seen in every beautiful thing, from the smallest flower to the brightest star. God as love makes humans as creatures who can love. But love is not love unless it is freely given, so we're able to choose freely what we do, and sadly that allows us not to love
Reposted by Father Martin Flatman
A damp day at Avebury today as the liquid sunshine gets heavier and heavier
📷 Dec 2025 #StandingStoneSunday
📷 Dec 2025 #StandingStoneSunday
December 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
A damp day at Avebury today as the liquid sunshine gets heavier and heavier
📷 Dec 2025 #StandingStoneSunday
📷 Dec 2025 #StandingStoneSunday
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!,
Homily for this weekend. We all long for people to be kinder to one another don’t we? But that's not easy. You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK_0... Text on website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent 2025
YouTube video by Father Martin Flatman
www.youtube.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Homily for this weekend. We all long for people to be kinder to one another don’t we? But that's not easy. You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK_0... Text on website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
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.
Here again is my Homily/Sermon for this Sunday. May we cast away the works of darkness but also put on God's armour of light. Text is on the website thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIL5...
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November 30, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Here again is my Homily/Sermon for this Sunday. May we cast away the works of darkness but also put on God's armour of light. Text is on the website thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIL5...
Homily for this 1st weekend of Advent on how we should walk with God with a quote but not from the Bible. "I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I have been" You can see me give it on Youtube youtube.com/watch?v=pIL5... Text on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent
YouTube video by Father Martin Flatman
youtube.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Homily for this 1st weekend of Advent on how we should walk with God with a quote but not from the Bible. "I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I have been" You can see me give it on Youtube youtube.com/watch?v=pIL5... Text on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
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 ?