The week ahead – from 22 to 28 September

Laetare Sunday, purple and white mixed. The Prodigal Son as a model for Confession. Why sin makes sense. Some questions and answers about Confession. A pure heart. Episode notes.

The Liturgy of the Hours: how to do psalms, and the origin of the psalm-prayers. How to get the psalm-prayers in Universalis. The Annunciation; the namelessness of God; St Etheldreda’s and the tax-collectors. An example of justice. Episode notes.

The Transfiguration in Lent and out of it: two views of the same landscape. "Do not judge", and when and how we have to judge. Judgement as love and justice as virtue. How to donate: universalis.com/donate Episode notes.

Giving up things for Lent. Social media, and the still centre invaded by noise. Reconquering the still centre and inviting God in. The Scriptures as paint applied year by year. Paying other people to do our charity. Jonah and comedy. Ezekiel and hereditary guilt. The anniversary of this podcast. How to donate: universalis.com/donate Episode notes.

The Book of Job. Some Lenten exercises. Almsgiving: secret or public? How the Word on Fire conference went. Episode notes.

The Book of Ecclesiastes. Greek philosophy and Jewish wisdom. Where true value comes from. The goodness of work. How Universalis started. Get up and do something! Episode notes.

The Book of Proverbs. Wisdom literature in general. "The Creed in Slow Motion" and next weekend's Word on Fire conference. Episode notes.

Saint Scholastica; the Shipwreck of St Paul; Our Lady of Lourdes; Saints Cyril and Methodius, and the Basilica of San Clemente. Episode notes.

Candlemas, the feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of the Lord. Purification. The celebration and sanctification of transitions. Episode notes.

Sunday of the Word of God. Reading; listening; commentaries. Lectio Divina. Saint Thomas Aquinas. Episode notes.