Contemplating Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception: 7 Beautiful Saint Quotes Honoring Our Blessed Mother
The Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (490-492): “To become the mother of the Savior, Mary ‘was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.’ The angel Gabriel at the moment of the Annunciation salutes her as […]
Did Pope Francis Rebuke the German Synodal Way? German Catholic Response
Above: Munich, Germany. The reader may have already heard of the events that have been prominent news in German Catholic media lately. Apparently the main takeaway in the Anglophone world was: “Pope Francis Rebukes the Synodal Way!” However, that news is more ambivalent than suggested at first sight. German Catholics have been suffering under the […]
Pro-life frontline organisations must be supported as abortions surge
I imagine that most people reading this are saddened and appalled by the number of abortions now taking place in Ireland. We’ve gone from being one of the safest countries in the world for mother and baby, to seeing our abortion rate soar to heart-breaking numbers in just under five years. Equally saddening is the smug enthusiasm… […]
Irish priest in Philippines tells of bomb attack ‘shock’
A bomb attack that saw four killed and dozens injured at a university Mass in the southern Philippines has “shocked” the Church there according to an Irish Columban living in Manila. Media reports state the December 3 explosion caused panic among dozens of students and teachers in a gymnasium where Mass was taking place, at… […]
Referendum would downgrade marriage – campaigners
Pro-family campaigners have warned that a proposed referendum to amend the Constitution would be a “further downgrading of the importance of marriage to society”. The Government announced on Tuesday that it intended to ask the people to amend Article 41 of the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of Family; and delete Article 41.2… […]
How Advent has been eclipsed…
The supermarket sound system is playing ‘Rudolfph the Rednosed Reindeer’, while at the church, we are reminded that this is Advent, the season of quietly preparing for the Nativity – and not yet Christmas itself. The contrast between what the secular culture expects of us, and what Christianity teaches, is obvious. Time was when a… […]
Shane MacGowan: a man of ‘deep seated prayerfulness’
Shane MacGowan had an “inner Faith that spoke to him” according to a member of The Priests, who recorded Little Drummer Boy with the renowned musician. Tributes have poured in for the former frontman of The Pogues who has often spoken about the importance of prayer in his life. The influence of his Catholic upbringing […]
Selling Bishop’s House in Dromore signals no new bishop
After more than five years without a bishop the Diocese of Dromore’s plan to sell Bishop’s House and surrounding land in Newry to fund their redress scheme signals there will not be another bishop appointed. The land is believed to be worth about £3 million (€3.5 million). It is expected that Dromore and the Archdiocese… […]
Tánaiste urges calm over Armenian Quarter dispute in Jerusalem
Tensions are sky-high in Jerusalem’s Old City as a battle plays out between the city’s small Armenian Christian community and an Australian-Israeli businessman, which sees the Christian presence in the Armenian Quarter of the old city threatened by development plans. In a statement on the recent developments, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said that they… […]
Italy’s ‘most handsome man’ set to pursue priesthood
A young man once voted the most handsome man in Italy has quit his modelling job in order to join the priesthood. Edoardo Santini (21) was just 17 years old when he was voted Italy’s most handsome man in 2019, as part of a modelling pageant. The social media star took to Instagram to share […]