Hymns
-
A Psalm Before the Feast: all creation joins the hymn of praise.
Creation’s morning liturgy meets the altar. This new hymn weaves Ireland’s birdsong and railway landscapes into a Eucharistic song of praise. Read and sing along. Continue reading
-
The Walking Nun and the Fenland Saint, a hymn and reflection for St Etheldreda’s Day.
A new creation hymn and reflection for St Etheldreda’s Day, exploring an unlikely connection between the English fens, Mid-Antrim, and a beloved Irish “walking nun.” Continue reading
-
Schooled for the Path: St Alban, Adaptive Fitness, and Small Gains—“O God of steadfast bravery” (CM)
On the Feast of St Alban, I reflect on his soldier-strength and my own adaptive fitness journey—finding “thin-place courage” in the power of small gains. Continue reading
-
Heaven Whispered Through the Trees. A hymn for St John’s Day. “When First the Hush of Morning Broke” (88.88.88)
The hymn reflects on St John the Baptist’s role as a herald of Christ, emphasizing themes of healing, compassionate service, and the Church’s mission through prayer and inspiration. Continue reading
-
The Keen and Narrow Path
A Parish Reflection for Proper 7 For Sunday 21 June 2026. There are times in the life of any parishioner when the world feels like a bit too much. Whether it’s the weight of a quiet grief, the exhaustion of daily demands, or that sudden, creeping feeling that we’ve lost our bearings, we all know… Continue reading
-
A Hymn for a Wandering People, the Weary and the Small
A new hymn and reflection exploring Celtic thin places, St Columba’s crane, and finding sensory sanctuary amidst the recent community tensions in Northern Ireland. Continue reading
-
A hymn for St Barnabas the Encourager—“Christ, Healer at the holy feast” (CM)
A hymn for St Barnabas, son of consolation, exploring belonging, encouragement, neurodivergence, and Christ’s healing presence in bread, friendship, and creation Continue reading
-
The Bread of Heaven at Clonmacnoise
Fresh from the altar at Temple Connor… At 11:00 a.m. today, on this Feast of St Columba, we gathered beside the Shannon where prayers have risen for fifteen centuries. As the notes of the Eucharist settle into the ancient stone, we reflect on what it means to be fed—and then sent. The Bread of Heaven… Continue reading
-
Celebrating Ballymena 400
Celebrate Ballymena’s 400th anniversary with this original hymn of heritage, resilience, and community. Discover how our shared history serves as a powerful modern anchor. Continue reading
-
A hymn celebrating the Eucharist—“O Christ, our Manna in the Wild” (CM)
New Hymn: Taste the mystery of the Eucharist woven into Ireland’s bogs, hills, and thin places. “O Christ, our Manna in the wild”—sing it today. Continue reading
-
Adding our verse to the song
From 14th-century Red Book words to Kilkenny’s modern fields: a new Marian hymn born in St Canice’s, capturing centuries of prayer across the Nore. Continue reading
-
The Monasticism of June
Find rest this June. Discover how the steady rhythms of the Book of Common Prayer and Benedictine stabilitas offer sanctuary for the sensory-overwhelmed, weary soul. Continue reading
-
Called to one hope
Written in honour of the Anglican Consultative Council that is meeting in Belfast soon hosted by the Church of Ireland. I have written a 4-stanza hymn that directly reflects this year’s theme, “Called to One Hope.” It purposefully anchors the global Communion within our local landscape—referencing Belfast’s heights, lough, and river—before expanding outward into our… Continue reading
-
Finding our people. A hymn for the Visitation—“O God, who lifts the lowly ones” (DCM)
What happens when Mary finds someone who understands? For the Feast of the Visitation, this new hymn explores the joy of recognition, belonging, and hidden grace through the landscapes of the Irish Midlands. A reflection on finding our people—and the sacred spaces where we can finally lay down the mask. Continue reading
-
From the Depths to the Dawn: A Reflection on Grief, Landscape, and Psalm 130
New on NeuroDivine: From the Depths to the Dawn — a hymn and reflection shaped by Psalm 130, grief, the landscapes of Antrim, and the slow movement from sorrow toward morning. Continue reading
-
The Echolocation of Grace
After dialysis, the bats over the River Barrow became unexpected signs of grace. In this reflection, Br Michael explores the intersections of chronic illness, Benedictine stability, and neurodivergent faith in the quiet, liminal space of twilight exhaustion. Continue reading
AnglicanBenedictine, AutisticFaith, AutisticSpirituality, Benedictine, BenedictineMoments, BenedictineSpirituality, CelticChristianity, CelticSpirituality, ChronicIllness, ChurchOfIreland, Dialysis, IrishSpirituality, NeurodivergentFaith, NeuroDivine, PoetryOfPlace, Prayer, QuietMoments, RuleOfStBenedict, SacredRoutine, SacredSpaces, Spirituality, ThinPlaces -
A new hymn for Trinity Sunday—”O Trinity of earth and light” (DCM)
Celebrate the Three-in-One through the otters and hearth-cats of Kildare. This new Trinity hymn weaves ancient mystery into the sensory rhythms of the Irish landscape. Continue reading
AnglicanTradition, Autism, AutisticFaith, BenedictineSpirituality, CelticChristianity, CelticSpirituality, ChurchOfIreland, ContemplativePrayer, IrishAnglicanVoice, IrishSpirituality, LiturgicalReflection, ModernMonasticism, MonasticWisdom, NeurodivergentFaith, NeuroDivine, PangurBán, PoetryOfPlace, Prayer, QuietMoments, Routine, RuleOfStBenedict, SacredRoutine, SacredSpaces, ScriptureAndStillness, Spirituality, SpiritualJourney, Trinity, TrinitySunday -
Keeping Vigil at the Veil
Beside death’s quiet veil, love keeps vigil beneath Christ’s gentle presence. Continue reading
CelticChristianity, CelticSpirituality, Christianity, DeepFeeling, EndOfLife, Faith, GriefAndLoss, HolyVigil, IrishLandscape, IrishSpirituality, LoveAndFaithfulness, NatureAsWitness, NeuroDivine, PoetryOfPlace, Portrush, QuietMoments, QuietPresence, SacredMaskingDropped, SacredPoetry, SacredPresence, SacredSpaces, SensoryGrounding, Slemish, Spirituality, ThinPlaces, UnmaskedGrief, Vigil, VulnerableFaith -
A new Pentecost hymn—”Spirit, flame upon the heather” (87 87 D)
The hymn “Spirit, Flame Upon the Heather” celebrates the Holy Spirit’s presence in nature, emphasizing individuality and community while preparing for Pentecost and expressing authentic faith. Continue reading
-
A Mystical Eucharistic Hymn by the Barrow for the Sunday After Ascension (Easter 7)—“O God who rises, veiled in light” (DLM)
Grounded in the River Barrow’s gentle flow, this contemplative Ascension hymn weaves Irish ecology with Eucharistic mystery, inviting weary souls into the Spirit’s protective, hidden peace. Continue reading
AnglicanTradition, AutisticFaith, bible, CelticChristianity, CelticSpirituality, ChristianHealing, Christianity, ChurchOfIreland, ContemplativePrayer, DivineHealer, DivinePeace, Faith, HealingTheHidden, IrishSpirituality, jesus, LiturgicalReflection, NeurodivergentFaith, NeuroDivine, PastoralMinistry, PoetryOfPlace, QuietMoments, SacredLandscape, SacredSpaces, Spirituality, SundayAfterAscension, TheEucharist
NeuroDivine 