Bread used to celebrate the Eucharist during Catholic masses must not be gluten-free, although it may be made from genetically modified organisms, a letter sent to all diocesan bishops says. Furthermore, the bread “must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition”. Bread made from products other Read more
Astronaut Mike Hopkins spent six months on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013. He took with him a pyx with six consecrated hosts broken into four pieces. It was enough so that he could take Communion once a week for the 24 weeks he was aboard the ISS. Continue reading
Praying through the tedium at Mass can be a more authentic way of sharing the divine life. As citizens of late modern life, we seek to avoid boredom. We alleviate the stillness of a quiet moment by turning to our smartphones. We delight in the arrival of new emails, fresh stories and notifications from social Read more
The Vatican’s legal chief says according to Amoris Laetitia’s provisions, Communion can be given to people in irregular unions. But – this is only possible if they want to change their situations but cannot act on their desire because doing so would lead to further sin. In his new book The Eighth Chapter of the Read more
Fake front-page newspaper reports and a rash of posters attacking Pope Francis have been appearing in Rome over the past week. A group of conservative Catholics who do not like Francis’s liberal views are said to be behind the smear campaign. The latest attack involved a fake front page being added to the official Vatican Read more
An artist who stole and sold consecrated Hosts for an exhibit has had the charges against him dismissed. The Spanish court ruled the theft did not disrespect the Catholic faith. The artist, Abel Azcona stole more than 240 consecrated hosts from Masses, taking them by hand and keeping them. He then arranged them on the Read more
Recently I was asked to speak at a local Catholic women’s group. It had been awhile since I’d put on my speaking shoes, and I was genuinely excited. That is, until I was given my topic. Fellowship, they said. Fellowship? I couldn’t help but wince. Not suffering? Prayer? Family discord? Keeping the faith during crisis?? Nope, Read more
I used to be a third-grade teacher and a few times I was actually privileged to watch the instant when a child learned how to read. Choppy, foreign sounds would clatter out of the child’s mouth until suddenly something would click in his mind and heart and an actual word would effortlessly issue from his Read more
The Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship has made pointed statements about intercommunion, Anglican orders and Eucharist. In an interview with aleteia.org, Cardinal Robert Sarah said intercommunion between Catholics and other Christians is not a matter of following one’s conscience. Rather, intercommunion between Christians not united in faith and doctrine would promote profanation, he Read more
Bishops at the synod on the family last week grappled with the issue of access to the sacraments for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics. In 93 interventions at the synod on Wednesday and Thursday, widely different views were expressed. A key issue is whether there could be any possibility for divorced and remarried people to Read more