Is it right to fear God? What is the difference between a destructive fear and a “holy trepidation”? An Advent homily by Fr Stephen Wang: Look around you at the chapel walls. Look at the […]
Society
Making the market king
In recent days the readings at Mass have been exploring the story of the institution of the monarchy amongst God’s people. One can write for days on the different theologies of monarchy in the scripture, […]
Dying and Rising in Christ – a retreat at Worth Abbey from 7 to 9 February
A weekend to prepare for Lent and Easter, reflecting on our journey of transformation through the Easter mystery – becoming conformed to the pattern of Christ through dying and rising in Him. The retreat offers […]
New cardinals from every corner of the globe
Joshua McElwee reports on yesterday’s announcement that Pope Francis has chosen a new set of cardinals for the Catholic Church: Pope Francis on Sunday announced who he has chosen as the new cardinals of the […]
Archbishop Vincent Nichols named Cardinal by Pope Francis
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has named the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, a Cardinal. The announcement came during Pope Francis’ Angelus in St Peters Square this morning, 12th January, in which he […]
Young people ‘feel they have nothing to live for’
A study for the Prince’s Trust suggests that as many as three quarters of a million young people in the UK may feel that they have nothing to live for, and that almost a third […]
Ordinariate’s first monastery to be erected
On New Year’s Day 2014 – a year to the day since they were received into the full communion of the Catholic Church – the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary will formally become the […]
Pope Francis’s La Stampa interview: summary & highlights
The Pope’s Christmas interview to the Italian daily La Stampa shows, if nothing else, that Francis’s habit of allowing himself to be interrogated by the media is going to be a feature of his papacy, setting […]
Abby Johnson’s pro-life conversion
On Friday last week, fresh from the studios of Women’s Hour, Abby Johnson spoke to the Catholic Voices Academy in London about “Changing Minds on Abortion”. Abby is a former executive at Planned Parenthood in Texas […]
Time Magazine names Pope Francis its ‘Person of the Year’
Reuters has the story, which begins: Time magazine named Pope Francis its Person of the Year on Wednesday, crediting him with shifting the message of the Catholic Church while capturing the imagination of millions of […]
New Rector appointed to Allen Hall Seminary
News came out today that Fr Roger Taylor, the current Vice-Rector, has been appointed by Archbishop Vincent Nichols to be the new Rector at Allen Hall, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Westminster. Fr Michael O’Boy, […]
True happiness and the real meaning of the moral life
If you are looking for a wonderful introduction to Catholic moral theology, you need look no further than William C. Mattison III’s Introducing Moral Theology: True Happiness and the Virtues. I have been working through it […]
The question is not whether we will die – but how we shall live
An address given by Fr Martin Boland at the St Francis Hospice “Light up a Life” Service, on the 2nd Sunday of Advent Last year, I went to visit a man, a parishioner from the Cathedral here […]
How going to Confession can transform your life
A sermon about the importance of the Sacrament of Confession during Advent, that should be helpful even outside of the Advent season.
The Joy of the Gospel: a summary and guide to Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation
The first teaching document mainly authored by Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, is a bold and thrilling bid to send the Catholic Church worldwide on mission. Energetic, direct, lyrical, its language and style model the evangelisation to […]
Huge ‘Pope Francis effect’ still felt in terms of Mass attendance and confessions
This report is from John Allen at the National Catholic Reporter. One of Italy’s best known sociologists of religion says more than half the country’s pastors report an increase in attendance at Mass and the […]
Archbishop Vincent Nichols: Homily for the Mass for the Victims of the Typhoon Haiyan
Westminster Cathedral – Friday 15 November 2013 My brothers and sisters, this evening we gather to pray for all who have lost their lives or been caught up in the horrific devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan, […]
Reason, Morality, and Law: The Philosophy of John Finnis
John Keown, one of the Jericho Tree contributors, talks about his new co-edited volume on renowned legal philosopher, and leading authority on the law and ethics of medicine, John Finnis. Why did you decide to take on this […]
Pope appoints Rector of Allen Hall Seminary Mgr Mark O’Toole as new Bishop of Plymouth
Pope Francis has appointed as the new Bishop of Plymouth, Monsignor Mark O’Toole, until now Rector of Allen Hall Seminary in London. Mgr O’Toole’s episcopal ordination will take place at 2pm on Tuesday 28 January […]
Biblical perspectives on Movember and our love affair with facial hair
If you have spotted more moustaches than usual of late, it’s probably because we are now officially in the month of Movember. It’s the month when guys are encouraged to “grow their mo” and raise […]
The attempt to impose abortion-on-demand via Brussels
The European Parliament recently voted against an attempt to make abortion a ‘human right’ in the EU. So far, so reassuring. But the margin was narrow. And the debate exposed the growing hostility to freedom of conscience […]
