South Africa’s first beatification
South Africa’s first beatification took place in a field in Tshitanini village outside Thohoyandou in front of a crowd of 35000, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. It was attended by all of Bl Daswa’s eight children, his brother, and mother, Ida, who sat next to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Fr Augustine O’Brien MSC, who baptised Bl Daswa in 1963, travelled from Ireland for the beatification. Fr John Finn MSC, who performed Daswa’s funeral in 1990, also attended.
Pope confesses every 15-20 days
Pope Francis has told Portugal’s Catholic Radio Renascença in an interview that he goes to confession every 15-20 days. “I confess to a Franciscan priest, Fr Blanco, who is kind enough to come here and confess me.” Laughing, the pope added: “I’ve never had to call an ambulance” to carry him away “in shock over my sins”.
Editorial: Parallel lines
In a guest editorial, Michael Shackleton writes that South Africans “have not yet fully coalesced into a common interactive people with one proud national identity. We are indeed the rainbow nation, but, like the colours of the rainbow, ours show themselves in distinct parallel lines that do not always share the same space comfortably together.”
Previous “From The Vaults” articles at www.scross.co.za/category/from-our-vaults
- Where Should the Tabernacle be Located? - October 8, 2026
- Over 50 Young People Evangelise on the Streets of Mbombela - October 7, 2026
- Pope: God Transforms Evil into Redemption - October 6, 2026
