- Catholic Herald (The)

Through his death on the cross, Jesus has redeemed all human pain, including the suffering caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa said The post The cross has changed the meaning of suffering, says papal preacher on Good Friday appeared first on Catholic Herald.

His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell, is a free man – news that was received with a measure of relief at the Vatican and abroad, even by persons not well disposed … The post Analysis: What the Pell case means for Vatican reform appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Bishop Egan said there was a 'fundamental right' to the last rites, which should be given wherever possible The post English bishops: Chaplains should be careful not to spread virus appeared first on Catholic Herald.

As Canada's prison system shuts down all visits, a Catholic priest has volunteered to be incarcerated rather than leave inmates without spiritual care The post Prison chaplain volunteers to be incarcerated rather than leave inmates appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Pope Francis said he wanted to be close to all the world’s priests at this time, recalling clergy who have died of COVID-19 The post On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis recalls priests dying amid pandemic appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Comment & Features Why does God allow disasters? The astonishing reason is love – Peter Kreeft How does good come out of evil? And other questions about providence – William … The post April 10, 2020 issue appeared first on Catholic Herald.

The Vatican has thanked Chinese organisations for donating medical supplies to help it combat the coronavirus The post Vatican thanks Chinese groups for donations to combat coronavirus appeared first on Catholic Herald.

“Mario is genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” How often do tenants speak like that about their landlord? But then Mario Salerno is an unusual kind of … The post ‘My faith brought it upon me’: The pandemic and the love of neighbour appeared first […]

If you are reading this in the print edition, you hold in your hands a minor historical document: the last weekly edition of the Catholic Herald. As I explained in … The post More than a monthly appeared first on Catholic Herald.

A few weeks back, the Italian bishops floated the idea that they might just decide to close all of Italy’s churches during the coronavirus lockdown. “Not because the state imposes … The post Italy and the UK: two approaches to closing churches appeared first on Catholic Herald.

A minority of people who contract the coronavirus will become so ill they will be admitted to intensive care for intubation on a ventilator. They may be placed in induced … The post The Last Rites continue. Other sacraments? It’s complicated appeared first on Catholic Herald.

It is generally acknowledged that the NHS could have been better prepared for the coronavirus pandemic. It entered the crisis with just 8,000 ventilators and so few testing kits that … The post Doctors’ new ‘Frailty Scale’ is alarming disability campaigners appeared first […]

Tucked at the back of Senator Eddie Lucio Jr’s office in the grand State Capitol building in Texas is a small side room that serves as a chapel. Statues and … The post A Catholic Democrat in Texas: Meet Senator Eddie Lucio appeared first on Catholic Herald.

In responding to coronavirus, even the most developed societies have been stretched to the limits. How much worse it is for persecuted and despised minorities, living on the margins of … The post What will happen to the persecuted – and those who have fled from danger? appeared first […]

In January I began to feel a premonition that something dangerous was spreading. Now, a week before Easter, my worst fears have been confirmed. We are now facing a highly … The post My post-crisis resolutions: Worry less – and don’t underestimate vegans appeared first on Catholic […]

Disasters like the current global pandemic invite us to ask two questions about the relation between our faith and our disaster. First, what, as a matter of historical fact, happens … The post Why does God allow disasters? The astonishing reason is love appeared first on Catholic Herald.

What is God’s providence? All creatures come from nothing and, left to their own devices, would inevitably and instantly fall back into nothingness. Consequently, God must, right here and right … The post How does good come out of evil? And other questions about providence appeared […]

The coronavirus pandemic has deprived Catholics the world over of much of their Lenten liturgical life. During Holy Week that deprivation will be felt all the more acutely, as priests … The post The Triduum gains a new meaning in this year of deprivation appeared first on Catholic Herald.

As this dreadful pandemic sweeps the land, our NHS front-liners are giving their all to tend to us. Their heroic action reminds me of another hero, a young aristocrat from … The post Bishop Egan: Receiving the Last Rites is a fundamental right appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Are our leaders panicking us into a second Great Depression? Or are they taking the right steps to prevent mass casualties? We asked two commentators to trade arguments over email. … The post Wise statesmanship or economic folly? Two writers debate the lockdown appeared first on Catholic […]

It’s surely right that the new emergency field hospital opened in London in the Excel Centre has been called “Nightingale”. Florence Nightingale is just about the most recognisable name in … The post ‘Nightingale’ is a fitting name for London’s pandemic […]

Priests need our help this Easter SIR – Can I point out that our parish priests are going to have to do without their Easter collection this year, which for … The post Letters: Let’s organise collections for our priests appeared first on Catholic Herald.

In 1348, the rats aboard ship from some great Italian commercial city, whether Venice or Genoa or somewhere else (we cannot tell) came infested with disease-ridden fleas, and Europe was … The post Piety and savagery: Boccaccio’s stories of an epidemic appeared first on Catholic Herald.

ZeroZeroZero may be aptly named if the title points to the resulting good in the worlds it so bleakly depicts:  those of Italian organised crime and Mexican drug cartels. The … The post ZeroZeroZero: A film greater than the sum of its name appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Well, here we all are. Confined to quarters. Recluses, by order of HM Government. No Mass, no pub, no meals out, no sports matches, no public gatherings. The Sealed Knot … The post Wodehouse, Herriot and travel literature: The best books for lockdown appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Morality By Jonathan Sacks Hodder and Stoughton, 384pp, £20/$30 An intellectual backlash is taking place against the rise of new and destructive ideologies that have emerged amid the post-Christian vacuum … The post How the philosophy of ‘I’ took over appeared first on […]

The Changing Mind: A Neuroscientist’s Guide to Ageing Well By Daniel Levitin, Penguin Life, 528pp, £18.99/$22.50 Reading this book is a prolonged encounter with déjà vu, which, as its author … The post Self-belief is not enough to make the most of old age appeared […]

Solemnity of the Resurrection “Dear brothers and sisters, on this most sacred night, in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life, the Church calls upon her sons … The post How the Easter liturgy brings us comfort in these times appeared first on Catholic Herald.

This is the high point of the Church’s liturgical year. On our beautiful Sunday, we celebrate how our humanity rose from the dead in Christ. We can live forever because … The post This Easter can be full of graces for us all appeared first on Catholic Herald.

There’s a Carry On pun in which Kenneth Williams’s highly strung character’s excuse that he was “once a weak man” is interpreted as though “weak” were an adjective of time. … The post What’s changed in my 20 years writing for the Catholic […]

Ordinary Form Divine Office Week I Sunday, April 12: Easter Sunday Acts 10:34A, 37-43; Ps 118; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9 Monday, April 13: Easter Monday Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16; … The post Mass readings: April 12-18, 2020 appeared first on Catholic Herald.

John Wilson (1799-1870) was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and took to studying innumerable histories at the library of Trinity College Dublin. Basing his studies on obscure but interesting writers who … The post Heretic of the week: John Wilson appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Easter 2020 will be the first Easter in the history of the Church when Catholics in most parts of the world will not be able to attend Mass. The situation … The post The last lockdown: 13th-century England’s six years without Mass appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Pell is likely to face several civil lawsuits from alleged abuse victims and their families. The post After criminal acquittal, Cardinal Pell likely to face several civil suits appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Catholic Churches in Tanzania are remaining open alongside other churches, even as the rest of world shuts places of worship The post Why Tanzania’s Catholic churches are staying open despite worldwide lockdown appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Thousands of baptisms and confirmations will have to be rescheduled The post Disappointed but hopeful, thousands unable to join Church this Easter appeared first on Catholic Herald.

While many parishes have taken to Facebook and YouTube for livestreamed Masses, Sacred Heart Parish is also offering something different The post ‘Staycation 2020’ is parish’s online antidote to stay-at-home restrictions appeared first on Catholic Herald.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has assembled a team of 24 priest volunteers to administer sacramental anointing of the sick to Catholics with COVID-19 The post Team of young Chicago priests answer the call to anoint COVID-19 patients appeared first on Catholic Herald.

The coronavirus crisis is delaying the reception of thousands of people into the Catholic Church. Pope Francis has prayed for the conversion of those who exploit the needy during the … The post Morning Catholic must-reads: 09/04/2020 appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Training new 'extraordinary chaplains' may prove too difficult - but there are more indirect ways to help The post Analysis: How can UK priests serve the sick in coronavirus wards? appeared first on Catholic Herald.

St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne was vandalised overnight on Wednesday, hours after Cardinal George Pell was acquitted by Australia's High Court The post Melbourne cathedral vandalised after Cardinal Pell acquittal appeared first on Catholic Herald.

The first cardinal known to have tested positive for coronavirus has thanked his flock for their prayers and saying he is recovering from the disease. The post ‘Thank God I’m healing’: Cardinal with coronavirus sends Easter message appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Pope Francis has created a new commission to study the question of a female diaconate in the Catholic Church The post Pope Francis establishes new commission to study women deacons appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Franciscans from five convents in northeastern Brazil have released a video dancing to a typical Brazilian rhythm known as the frevo with one request: "Fique em Casa" (Stay Home). The post Dancing Franciscans urge people to stay home appeared first on Catholic Herald.

An estimated 320,000 people in the UK are homeless. So what happens when everyone is asked to stay in their homes? The post ‘People are being marvellous’: UK homelessness charities and the coronavirus appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Meditating on Christ's Passion can help us as we struggle with questions about God and suffering during the coronavirus crisis, Pope Francis said The post Ponder Christ’s Passion amid the coronavirus crisis, Pope urges appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Some Catholics have endorsed an open letter asking bishops to do everything possible to make the sacraments more available The post Bishops can do more to provide sacraments despite coronavirus fears, open letter claims appeared first on Catholic Herald.

A Colombian archbishop has removed 15 priests accused of abuse from active ministry. Kenyans are mourning an archbishop who “took on the powerful people of the earth, fearlessly and without … The post Morning Catholic must-reads: 08/04/2020 appeared first on Catholic Herald.

Saving the elderly must be just as important as saving others, the Vatican’s Laity, Family, and Life dicastery has said. The post Saving elderly from coronavirus ‘a priority,’ Vatican’s laity dicastery says appeared first on Catholic Herald.

In his first interview since his release from prison, Cardinal Pell spoke about his time in his prison, his release, and Holy Week. The post ‘Prayer has been the great source of strength to me’: Cardinal Pell looks forward to Easter appeared first on Catholic Herald.