Father Martin Flatman
@frmartinf.bsky.social
Catholic priest. Internet priest. Loves gardens, nature, history and trains
St Aelred : born in Hexham around 1109 : sent into the service of King David of Scotland & rose to the position of Master of the Royal Household. After a personal struggle he gave up his court life & entered the Cistercian monastery of Rievaulx where he eventually became Abbot.
January 12, 2026 at 7:06 AM
St Aelred : born in Hexham around 1109 : sent into the service of King David of Scotland & rose to the position of Master of the Royal Household. After a personal struggle he gave up his court life & entered the Cistercian monastery of Rievaulx where he eventually became Abbot.
Some priests try to make people come to Mass, by getting them to fear the fires of hell. But God wants us to be his friends not to be slaves cringing in fear. In the long run it doesn’t work. Fear and force build up resentment & it is no way to build the kingdom of God
January 11, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Some priests try to make people come to Mass, by getting them to fear the fires of hell. But God wants us to be his friends not to be slaves cringing in fear. In the long run it doesn’t work. Fear and force build up resentment & it is no way to build the kingdom of God
Watched the latest Superman Movie. Lots of bang & crash but the major theme of a very rich man using his money to gain power & destroy Superman rang lots of bells. Wonder who they were getting at ? Loved the bit where we saw his monkey robots spreading fake news on the Internet.
January 10, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Watched the latest Superman Movie. Lots of bang & crash but the major theme of a very rich man using his money to gain power & destroy Superman rang lots of bells. Wonder who they were getting at ? Loved the bit where we saw his monkey robots spreading fake news on the Internet.
Homily for this weekend the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord about bringing the Gospel to the whole world through love not fear. You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=22JC... Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 2026
YouTube video by Father Martin Flatman
www.youtube.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Homily for this weekend the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord about bringing the Gospel to the whole world through love not fear. You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=22JC... Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Why does Jesus choose to be baptised as he begins his public work? Because he chooses to join in with a load of ordinary people like us, who knowing they are far from perfect, have come to ask for forgiveness and a new way forward. He identifies with them and thus with us.
January 9, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Why does Jesus choose to be baptised as he begins his public work? Because he chooses to join in with a load of ordinary people like us, who knowing they are far from perfect, have come to ask for forgiveness and a new way forward. He identifies with them and thus with us.
I'm reading a Jack Reacher at the moment but have to be careful because Jack wins, not just because he is intelligent & caring (which is fine), but also because in the end he imposes his will on others by his own physical strength. This is not the right way to solve problems
January 8, 2026 at 11:11 AM
I'm reading a Jack Reacher at the moment but have to be careful because Jack wins, not just because he is intelligent & caring (which is fine), but also because in the end he imposes his will on others by his own physical strength. This is not the right way to solve problems
The image of God as light is an important one. We hardly notice the fact that we can see things because there is light. Why has the coming of Jesus not transformed the world? The answer is that the work of God is slow & gentle - the still small voice not thunder and storm.
January 7, 2026 at 6:57 AM
The image of God as light is an important one. We hardly notice the fact that we can see things because there is light. Why has the coming of Jesus not transformed the world? The answer is that the work of God is slow & gentle - the still small voice not thunder and storm.
Happy Epiphany. I am saying Mass in Kidlington, nr Oxford UK today at 11. All the children from the local school will be there, as we celebrate the fact that Jesus is for all the peoples of the world represented by the Wise Men from the East.
January 6, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Happy Epiphany. I am saying Mass in Kidlington, nr Oxford UK today at 11. All the children from the local school will be there, as we celebrate the fact that Jesus is for all the peoples of the world represented by the Wise Men from the East.
Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas so tonight is Twelfth Night. Our Christmas lights are still shining out in our street whilst all the others are dark. Tomorrow is the Feast of the Epiphany when we celebrate the fact that Jesus is born for all the nations.
January 5, 2026 at 6:53 AM
Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas so tonight is Twelfth Night. Our Christmas lights are still shining out in our street whilst all the others are dark. Tomorrow is the Feast of the Epiphany when we celebrate the fact that Jesus is born for all the nations.
Snowdrops just coming out by the front door. Praise God for little things. Light in the darkness.
January 4, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Snowdrops just coming out by the front door. Praise God for little things. Light in the darkness.
Here is my Homily for this weekend on what it means to say that Jesus is God. I will be preaching it live in Kidlington near Oxford UK at 11am on Sunday.
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMA... Text on website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMA... Text on website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Homily for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas 2026
YouTube video by Father Martin Flatman
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Here is my Homily for this weekend on what it means to say that Jesus is God. I will be preaching it live in Kidlington near Oxford UK at 11am on Sunday.
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMA... Text on website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMA... Text on website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Had to record my Homily twice today as the cold must be getting to my brain and I realised I had got something completely wrong. Talking about the cold - we have had a little snow and it is very icy out there - some kind neighbour has been out and put our waste bin away for us.
January 2, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Had to record my Homily twice today as the cold must be getting to my brain and I realised I had got something completely wrong. Talking about the cold - we have had a little snow and it is very icy out there - some kind neighbour has been out and put our waste bin away for us.
If Jesus prays to God how can he be God? Like love, God can be & is in more than one place, so in some way Jesus, as God here within the Universe, is communing with God the power underlying & outside the Universe, in effect making real his claim that “I and the Father are one.”
January 2, 2026 at 7:08 AM
If Jesus prays to God how can he be God? Like love, God can be & is in more than one place, so in some way Jesus, as God here within the Universe, is communing with God the power underlying & outside the Universe, in effect making real his claim that “I and the Father are one.”
I talk of God as “The power underlying the Universe.” meaning that God is, in a sense, “outside” the Universe, but it also means that God is also within the Universe. God is within us & also within everything that sustains life. So God is life; God is goodness, and God is love.
January 1, 2026 at 3:45 PM
I talk of God as “The power underlying the Universe.” meaning that God is, in a sense, “outside” the Universe, but it also means that God is also within the Universe. God is within us & also within everything that sustains life. So God is life; God is goodness, and God is love.
A special Blessing from the Bible for you wherever you are and whoever you are.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:22-27)
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:22-27)
January 1, 2026 at 6:49 AM
A special Blessing from the Bible for you wherever you are and whoever you are.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:22-27)
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:22-27)
Teaching on the background to next weekend's Bible Readings is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/bible-backgr...
December 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Teaching on the background to next weekend's Bible Readings is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/bible-backgr...
The New Year on Jan 1st is an artificial construct so I don't mark it. I would prefer the world to celebrate the solstice as the New Year: the day when days start getting longer; but I fear I am outnumbered! I will go to bed at my usual time and hope not to be woken at Midnight
December 31, 2025 at 7:19 AM
The New Year on Jan 1st is an artificial construct so I don't mark it. I would prefer the world to celebrate the solstice as the New Year: the day when days start getting longer; but I fear I am outnumbered! I will go to bed at my usual time and hope not to be woken at Midnight
I believe in an ideal of love that every human should aim for, but it's an ideal that none can achieve. Give up the ideal & we sink into selfishness or we despair at our failures. Somehow the gap between the ideal & us has to be bridged so everything we attempt is worthwhile.
December 30, 2025 at 7:03 AM
I believe in an ideal of love that every human should aim for, but it's an ideal that none can achieve. Give up the ideal & we sink into selfishness or we despair at our failures. Somehow the gap between the ideal & us has to be bridged so everything we attempt is worthwhile.
Governments have tried to use Christianity to enforce obedience & morality & justify war. Christianity has fought to stop itself being corrupted & today's saint St Thomas Becket of Canterbury is one example of a man who became a martyr defending the Church's independence.
December 29, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Governments have tried to use Christianity to enforce obedience & morality & justify war. Christianity has fought to stop itself being corrupted & today's saint St Thomas Becket of Canterbury is one example of a man who became a martyr defending the Church's independence.
Oops, I have changed the ending of my Homily for today stressing how vital was the practical action of Joseph in saving his family. If you really want to see the change, look at the website at the final two paragraphs. . . www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
December 28, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Oops, I have changed the ending of my Homily for today stressing how vital was the practical action of Joseph in saving his family. If you really want to see the change, look at the website at the final two paragraphs. . . www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Miracles are earthy events & every birth shows this. It requires more effort than we men can imagine & practical knowhow from those who give support. I wonder who supported Mary? I guess some local women came in, maybe the owner of the stable? a little miracle from God.
December 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Miracles are earthy events & every birth shows this. It requires more effort than we men can imagine & practical knowhow from those who give support. I wonder who supported Mary? I guess some local women came in, maybe the owner of the stable? a little miracle from God.
Although many people believe firmly that there is a power of love & goodness underlying the universe; when it comes to the details of Christmas stories, they think of them just as lovely stories, not realising that the stories have real facts underlying them.
December 25, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Although many people believe firmly that there is a power of love & goodness underlying the universe; when it comes to the details of Christmas stories, they think of them just as lovely stories, not realising that the stories have real facts underlying them.
My Christmas Message will be preached in Blackbird Leys Catholic Church on Christmas Eve at 5pm and in Kidlington Catholic Church on Christmas Day at 11am.
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZhk...
Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZhk...
Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Homily for Christmas 2025
YouTube video by Father Martin Flatman
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:52 AM
My Christmas Message will be preached in Blackbird Leys Catholic Church on Christmas Eve at 5pm and in Kidlington Catholic Church on Christmas Day at 11am.
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZhk...
Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
You can see me give this Homily on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZhk...
Text is on the website www.thebibleatmass.com/latest-homil...
Christians must read the Bible through the teaching of Jesus. Like a refiner's fire, Jesus ignores or discards some things & emphasises & brings out the real meaning of others. Those who try to use verses from the Old Testament without reference to what Jesus teaches are wrong.
December 23, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Christians must read the Bible through the teaching of Jesus. Like a refiner's fire, Jesus ignores or discards some things & emphasises & brings out the real meaning of others. Those who try to use verses from the Old Testament without reference to what Jesus teaches are wrong.
Extraordinary that any Christian reading the words of Mary (Luke 1:46-56) would not do all they can to feed the hungry. "He has shown strength with his arm......
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty."
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty."
December 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Extraordinary that any Christian reading the words of Mary (Luke 1:46-56) would not do all they can to feed the hungry. "He has shown strength with his arm......
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty."
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty."