Father Coleridge Reader

Father Coleridge Reader

Home
Podcast
Life of Christ
Liturgical Year
Archive
About
What Trinity Sunday tells us about the Church’s indefectible authority
Christ's final command was to teach, govern and sanctify all men, until the end of time. On Trinity Sunday, the Church recalls this—not as a memory, but…
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why does Saint John seem to end his Gospel twice?
St John affirms Christ’s divinity, bears personal witness, and hints at truths too great for the world to contain. His final word is a call to believe…
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What St Luke reveals about the Church’s mission and the Holy Ghost
St Luke closes his Gospel with a beginning: the fulfilment of prophecy, the command to preach repentance, and the promise of power from on high.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Mary and Converts: How Our Lady shaped the first Christians after Pentecost
The newly-baptised Christians clung to Mary as their living link to Christ—and she prayed them into holiness.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How St Peter’s Pentecost sermon revealed the Church’s mission
The fire of Pentecost revealed the Church’s universal mission—foretold in prophecy, aided by Mary’s prayer.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Most Popular
View all
How Christ Harrowed Hell
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why the Church honours St Thomas despite his doubt
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Satan as 'the prince of this world'—cast out by Christ
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why did Christ say his people 'hated both me and my Father'?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How Pentecost confirmed Mary’s mission as Mother of the Church
Christ’s prayer 'won' the Holy Ghost for the Church—and made Our Lady the Mother of all Christians.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Pentecost Prep: Peter’s first act as pope, election of Mathias
Mary’s prayer and Peter’s leadership shaped the Church’s first act of authority: the election of Mathias.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Pentecost Prep: What made the Church's first novena so powerful?
Before Pentecost, Mary led the Church’s first retreat in the Cenacle, praying for the Holy Ghost with matchless wisdom and desire.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why does Christ say the Holy Ghost 'shall bear testimony of Me'?
Christ answered hatred not with vengeance, but by sending the Spirit of Truth—so that the Apostles could bear witness to His divine mission.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why did Christ's people hate him 'without cause'?
Referring to the psalm, Christ says 'They hated me without cause'—a hatred born not of reason, but of shame.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why did Christ say his people 'hated both me and my Father'?
Christ declared that his people rejected both His words and His works, and so had no excuse—but what did he really mean by saying they 'hated my…
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why is persecution a mark of the true disciple of Christ?
Christ tells His Apostles to expect hatred, not as a curse, but as a mark of union with Him.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why does 'the world' hate Christ and his Church?
The hatred of the world is not a failure of the Church’s mission—but the seal of her fidelity.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
5
Why Our Lady remained after Christ’s Ascension
Did Our Lady ascend with Christ, and return in obedience and love for the infant Church?
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Father Coleridge Reader
Father Coleridge Reader
Gospel-focused spiritual reading, based around the liturgical year and the life of Christ, by the English Catholic hero Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ.
Partners
The WM Review
The Father Coleridge Reader is a project of The WM Review
Top posts
How Christ Harrowed Hell
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why the Church honours St Thomas despite his doubt
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Satan as 'the prince of this world'—cast out by Christ
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why did Christ say his people 'hated both me and my Father'?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What did St Paul do straight after his conversion?
 • Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ

Our Lady

View all
How did Jesus respond when he first beheld his humanity in Our Lady's womb?
Christ accepted the burden of the Cross at the first moment of life.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What do we really know about the Angel Gabriel?
The Annunciation was not the first time the St Gabriel appeared in Holy Scripture—it was the fourth. What do these other appearances tell us about this…
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Were St Joseph and Our Lady married before the Annunciation?
Phrases in the Gospel might suggest that St Joseph and Our Lady were merely engaged at the time of the Annunciation—but is this the correct…
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
4
What solitary mission priests teach us about the Incarnation
They stand as Our Lady stood after the Annunciation—alone in the hidden presence of God. They call us to join them before him.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
When did our Lady become the Mother of Sorrows?
Why does the Church read a prophecy of sorrow at Mass on the Sunday after Christmas, and what does this moment mean for the Gospel?
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Why is Christ’s Ascension still hidden in mystery?
Sacred Scripture offers only glimpses of the Ascension—leaving us to consider whether Christ ascended alone, or bore with him the redeemed souls that…
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
What the Ascension teaches about prophecy and false religious expectations
Christ did not restore Israel’s kingdom—he founded the Church and sent the Apostles to suffer. He turned their hopes from political triumph to the…
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
Who was at the Ascension of Christ?
Our Lord Jesus Christ's Ascension and visible departure left no sorrow—only joy, courage, and a mission to proclaim Him.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
1
Why Christ says ‘Have confidence, I have overcome the world’
When Christ tells the Apostles, 'Have confidence, I have overcome the world,' He speaks not of future victory but of a battle already won.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How Christ’s plain words before the Cross reveal his love for the Apostles
Christ waited to speak plainly to his Apostles—so their faith would grow freely. His words revealed not only who he was, but how deeply he loved them.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
How does the power of the Apostles’ prayer continue in the Church?
The Apostles were the first to pray with the full power of Christ's Sacrifice. Catholics should call on their powerful intercession.
 • 
Fr Henry James Coleridge SJ
© 2025 S.D. Wright
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture