Here is an opportunity to build bridges. This season offers us the opportunity to move away from the conventional slogans and frigid promises. It will demand a deeper faith and a lot of courage, like stepping out of a dark cell into a new light.
The Prayer of Stopping calls us to be present in each moment and slow the pace of our daily living. Who knows what generosity we may find in friends and strangers; what beauty we may discover in our ordinary, everyday surroundings?
The way the Church has observed Lent has changed since the early days of the Church. Professor MICHAEL OGUNU charts the development of Lent, and explains how we best follow the 40 days leading up to Easter today.
Church / Eucharist / Sacraments / Shackleton
Jesus taught that divorcees who marry a second time commit adultery (Mk 10:11). The Church has followed this teaching. Divorcees may not receive Communion. Yet Pope Francis, in his exhortation Amoris Laetitia, is accused by some of now letting them receive Communion.
Recently I received an e-mail from one of the many Catholic mailing lists I belong to. The mail asked me to pray for US President Donald Trump, and went on to tell me how profound this man was as a president of the United States because he had spoken at the March for Life
In the Pontifical Bible Commission’s book, “The Bible and Morality” they state that in judging the Christian morality of an action, the fundamental question is: To what extent is this action “inspired by the example of Jesus?”
Easter / Features / Lent / Simmermacher
Carnivals belong to the days before Ash Wednesday, not to any other time of the year, as GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER points out.
Nthabiseng Maphisa asks: Why are we so attracted to royal fairy tales? I am not close to any members of any royal family on earth. I am neither a duchess nor an empress. As far as my knowledge can stretch, I am not a princess, though I have dreams of living like one some day.
This year marks 200 years of Catholicism in South Africa. However, after so many years, there is no symbol, image or any such which says “Catholic Church” to any South African in the street.
