Welcome / Fáilte Romhat!

The Franciscan Abbey in Multyfarnham was founded in 1268 and continues to be an active centre of Franciscan mission in Ireland.  The only Franciscan Abbey in Ireland still standing on the footprint of its original foundation, the Franciscan fraternity continues its commitment of service from this special place.

Headlines

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

In this reflection, Fr Kieran considers the question from the rich young man in St Mark’s Gospel (Mk 10:17). And in this world of ours today when so much emphasis is given to the material things of this life, perhaps sometimes, we can empathise with the rich young man, maybe wanting to have our cake and eat it!

And so, as Kieran suggests, we need to look at the greatest gift of all, Jesus’ unconditional love for us and His promise of eternal life with him; are we ready, and willing, to accept that gift in preference to all else?

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God alone knows …

In Fr Kieran’s reflection on the Gospel readings of the seventh week of Easter, he writes of themes appearing frequently in this week, viz. concepts of knowledge and truth.

In particular, Kieran explores the dialogue between Peter and Jesus when Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me,” to which Peter’s reply is not just to say that he does, but to say to Jesus that: You know that I love you.”

Only God knows how much or how little we love Him. Only God knows the full history of our lives and how we will turn out. We can only hope that we love God. We can never know.

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The Holy Spirit: continuing God’s loving work

From time to time, as we read or listen to the Gospels, the words of Jesus can seem harsh, as in the Gospel that we have heard last Tuesday (Jn 16:5-11) where Jesus first tells us that, while He is going to the Father, He is giving us the Holy Spirit as the Advocate. Following this, Jesus then sounds a more gloomy tone when speaking of the Spirit as one showing the world how wrong it is about Jesus.

In reflecting on this, Fr Kieran looks to the story in Tuesday’s first reading of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:22-34), and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the life of their gaoler. And this same Spirit continues His loving work in our day.

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The Promise of Jesus – peace!

It is not unnatural or unusual to be anxious about a forthcoming event or the future in general. For some people, anxiety itself can be a terrible burden that they might carry through life. And if we speak with people who carry such a burden, the reality of it can seem like a physical weight to be carried, with each step made more difficult as the weight on the shoulders bears down.

In Fr Kieran’s reflection this week, he explores the words of Jesus when he tell us, “Peace I bequeath you, my peace I give you.” It would be all too easy to read, or hear, those words, feel comforted by them, and move on. However, this peace, this assurance, is not as we know it. To be sure, it will not easily relieve all anxiety but if we can truly take this words to heart, understand what Jesus is saying to us, then we can truly live in the unconditional love that Jesus has for each one of us, uniquely.

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Latest Updates

Participating online via our webcam

We invite you to join us via our webcam for all of our services here in the Friary church.  These include our weekday Mass with the Franciscan Community, Sunday Mass (and Vigil Mass on Saturday evening) and our very popular Novena Mass to St Anthony, which is...

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News

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

I have long been puzzled by the question the Rich Young Man asks Jesus in the tenth chapter of Mark’s Gospel: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17) It sounds like the man is asking simply what he needs to do to get into heaven. Commentators tell us that...

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God alone knows …

Listening to the daily readings from John’s Gospel this week I was struck by the philosophical themes constantly appearing, mainly to do with the concepts of knowledge and truth. In his final prayer at the Last Supper, offered to the Father for his apostles as he...

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The Holy Spirit: continuing God’s loving work

Daily preaching at Mass often involves looking for a connection between the readings, especially between the first one and the Gospel. (Usually, little or no attention is paid to the psalm unless there is an obvious link, as in the case where a prophecy in the psalm...

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The Promise of Jesus – peace!

It is nice to be remembered in someone’s will, to be left something valuable, even something of the ‘mere sentimental kind,’ some little trinket, a memento of a loved one. Jesus, at the Last Supper, is recorded as leaving something very precious to his disciples, and...

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Latest book from John O’Brien OFM – a review

There is often a sense of astonishment when reading a new work from the ever-busy pen of John O’Brien OFM. One is tempted to ask, as the Lord’s Nazareth neighbours did: “Where did the man get all these ideas?” (Mk 6:3). His eclectic imagination and great gift for...

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From the desk of Fr Kieran OFM

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

In this reflection, Fr Kieran considers the question from the rich young man in St Mark’s Gospel (Mk 10:17). And in this world of ours today when so much emphasis is given to the material things of this life, perhaps sometimes, we can empathise with the rich young man, maybe wanting to have our cake and eat it!

And so, as Kieran suggests, we need to look at the greatest gift of all, Jesus’ unconditional love for us and His promise of eternal life with him; are we ready, and willing, to accept that gift in preference to all else?

read more

God alone knows …

In Fr Kieran’s reflection on the Gospel readings of the seventh week of Easter, he writes of themes appearing frequently in this week, viz. concepts of knowledge and truth.

In particular, Kieran explores the dialogue between Peter and Jesus when Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me,” to which Peter’s reply is not just to say that he does, but to say to Jesus that: You know that I love you.”

Only God knows how much or how little we love Him. Only God knows the full history of our lives and how we will turn out. We can only hope that we love God. We can never know.

read more

The Holy Spirit: continuing God’s loving work

From time to time, as we read or listen to the Gospels, the words of Jesus can seem harsh, as in the Gospel that we have heard last Tuesday (Jn 16:5-11) where Jesus first tells us that, while He is going to the Father, He is giving us the Holy Spirit as the Advocate. Following this, Jesus then sounds a more gloomy tone when speaking of the Spirit as one showing the world how wrong it is about Jesus.

In reflecting on this, Fr Kieran looks to the story in Tuesday’s first reading of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:22-34), and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the life of their gaoler. And this same Spirit continues His loving work in our day.

read more

Multyfarnham Friary Avoids Plunder in 1646 and 1647

We have another instalment from our local historian, Paschal Sweeney. This time, he writes of how the friary in Multyfarnham avoided being plundered in the immediate aftermath of the victory at Benburb in 1646 during the Irish Confederate Wars. He also introduces us to two of the illustrious people associated with the friary, viz. Giovanni Battista Rinuccini (1592–1653) Archbishop and Papal Nuncio, and Fr James Fitzsimons. Read the whole story here.

The Rebellion of 1641, the Friary, its people and lands

Our historian, Paschal Sweeney, offers another fascinating insight into the history of the friary and the friars here at Multyfarnham. In this piece, Paschal looks at the years in and around 1641, a time when the friary would seem to have been at the centre of so much that was going on and a centre of Franciscan influence in Ireland.

Brother Mícheál Ó’Cléirigh OFM at Multyfarnham Friary (1590-1643)

Paschal tells us about the great Brother Mícheál Ó’Cléirigh OFM and the famous Annals of the Four Masters

Respite and Revival at Multyfarnham

Read here the latest part of the historical story of the Multyfarnham Friary, whose history dates back to 1268.

The Flight of the Earls and Multyfarnham Friary

In September 1607 Bishop Brady died in Multyfarnham Friary. In accordance with his own wishes his body was laid to rest in the cloister, the burial place of the friars, and immediately under the door that led to into the church. The exact location of his grave, like...