Christian Today

Egypt: Catholics and Copts recognise shared baptism | Independent Catholic News

Mary asks us to pray for peace Cardinal tells Fatima pilgrims | Independent Catholic News : Cardinal Vincent Nichols led a group from the Diocese of Westminster on pilgrimage to Fatima from 24th to 27th April.Cel...

Pope Francis: The Christian is a witness of obedience | Independent Catholic News : Pope Francis today reflected on the fact that being Christian is not a social status. Speaking during the homily at the Mass in the ...

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots : From the Eyewitness to History website , this report of the beheading of Mary Stuart, the deposed Queen of Scotland on February 8, 1587, 4...

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: The Queen of Scotland's Confessor, RIP : According to the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913, Father Robert Abercromby was: A Jesuit missionary in Scotland in the time of the per...

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: St. George and the English Martyrs : In England today both Catholics and Anglicans are celebrating the Feast of St. George. He is best known as the slayer of a dragon but St...

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: Carthusian Gardens: Cells and Horticulture : Via Tea at Trianon : English Heritage describes how the Carthusians at Mount Grace Priory had gardens outside their cells: The garden of ...

Canada: Message of Bishops on 150th Anniversary of Confederation | Independent Catholic News : On the memorial of , Protectress of Canada, 17 April 2017, which was also Easter Monday, the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI, Bish...

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: Pilate's Wife and Her Dream : The Gospel according to St. Matthew contains a small detail not in the other Passion accounts. The wife of Pontius Pilate sends a message ...

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: Sarum Rite Holy Thursday: The Stripping of the Alt... : As this blogger notes , the Sarum Use celebration of Holy Thursday is more solemn than the Latin Rite. As the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rit...

11 April - Saint Stanislaw - Independent Catholic News : Bishop and martyr. Patron saint of Poland. St Stanislaw was born in 1010 to a noble family in Szczepanow. After his ordination, he received a canonry in Krakow. In 1072 he was consecrated bishop and became a reformer, a tireless preacher and generous benefactor to the poor. At that time, the king, Boleslaw II, was abusing his power in many ways. O

10th April - Saint Beocca and Martyrs of Chertsey - Independent Catholic News : Monks and martyrs of Chertsey in Surrey - now on the outskirts of London. They died when their monastery was ransacked by invading Danes in 870. Many other members of the community are said to have perished with them. Their memory has been kept alive in several chronicles. William of Malmesbury also wrote an account of them.

8th April - Saint Julia Billiart - Independent Catholic News : Nun and foundress. St Julia Billiart was born in Cuvilly, France in 1751. The fifth of seven children, she attended a little one room school. She enjoyed all subjects, but was particularly attracted to the religion lessons taught by the parish priest. Recognizing something 'special' in her, the priest secretly allowed her to make her First Communion at

7th April - Saint John Baptiste de la Salle - Independent Catholic News : Teacher and founder. St John was born at Rheims in France, in 1651 to a wealthy family. He was given a canonry as a young man. He trained for the priesthood at Saint Sulpice, In 1678 he became a priest, and could have continued living a rather relaxed life. Instead, he decided to devote himself to the education of poor boys. He gave up his canonry

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: Walpole and Rawlins; Oldcorne and Ashley : Four martyrs on April 7: two in 1595 and two more in 1606: St. Henry Walpole, who is one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales canonize...

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: Four Martyrs: One Canonized; Three Beatified : Four martyrs on April 7: two in 1595 and two more in 1606: St. Henry Walpole, who is one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales canonized ...

6th April - Saint William of Aebelholt - Independent Catholic News : Augustinian abbot. Born in France in 1127, William of Aebelholt went on to become one of Denmark's most revered saints. His letters are a valuable source of information about the early church there. William was a canon in Paris when in 1171

5th April - Saint Vincent Ferrer - Independent Catholic News : Friar. St Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia in Spain, in 1357. His father was an Englishman, married to a Spanish lady. At the age of 18 he joined the Dominican friars and soon became known as a powerful preacher. In 1390, he accompanied Cardinal Pedro de Luna to France. When de Luna become Pope at Avignon in 1394, he summoned St Vincent and made him master of the papal palace. St Vincent made great

Pope: Think about how you wear the Cross - Independent Catholic News : Pope Francis said Christians should not wear the crucifix as an ornament of badge of belonging, but to look to Jesus on the Cross as He who died for our salvation. In his homily during morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday, Pope Francis said, in today's liturgical reading Jesus says to the Pharisees three time: 'You will die in your sins.' That's because their hearts were closed

4th April - Saint Benedict the African - Independent Catholic News : Laybrother. Born in Sicily in 1526, of African slave parents, St Benedict was freed by his owner at a young age. When he was 21 some Franciscan hermits saw him being publicly insulted because of his colour. They were impressed by the dignified and patient way he endured being taunted, and invited to join their group. In time he became their leader. When the group dispersed, in around 1564, he joined the Franciscan Friars at Palermo, as a laybrother, working in the kitchens.

3rd April - Saint Luigi Scrosoppi - Independent Catholic News : Italian priest and founder of the Sisters of Providence. St Luigi was born on 4 August 1804, at Udine in Italy, the youngest of three sons of Domenico Scrosoppi, a jeweller and his wife Antonia Lazzarini. His brother Carlo was ordained when Luigi was six, and his brother Giovanni several years later. When he was 11 or 12 years old, Luigi's home region was struck by drought, famine, typhus, and smallpox in quick succession; the sight of such misery, complete poverty, and the number of orphans had a lasting effect on him.

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation: St. John Payne and His Pains : On April 2, 1582, Father John Payne , who had come to England with Father Cuthbert Mayne, to serve the Catholics of England, was martyred...

1st April 
 - Saint Hugh of Grenoble - Independent Catholic News : Bishop and monk. St Hugh was born in 1052, at Chateauneuf in France. He was the son of a knight called Odilo and educated at the cathedral school at Valence, where he became a canon. Hugh is said to have been very gifted, and good looking. He was also very shy. The bishop of Die, who was a papal legate made him his secretary. In 1080 he attended the Synod of Avignon which reviewed the

Tyburn Nuns purchase Foundress's house in France - Independent Catholic News : The Tyburn Nuns have bought the house in France where their foundress, Mother Marie-Adèle Garnier, was born in 1838. The purchase of the property in Grancey-le-Château, a Burgundy town in the Archdiocese of Dijon, was completed just months after the Cause for the Canonisation of Mother Marie-Adèle was opened. The nuns, whose Mother House in London is sited yards from the site of the execution of more than 100 Catholic martyrs of the Protestant Reformation, intend to install a chapel inside the house and to turn the property into a centre for pilgrimage..