Melanie McDonagh, Author at Catholic Herald

Melanie McDonagh

Supporting the work of Pro Terra Sancta in the Holy Land: rebuilding with living stones

November 25, 2023

The conflict in Israel/Palestine has taken a terrible toll in human life, but also in human livelihoods. The collapse in the local economy is less gut-wrenching than the fate of Hamas hostages and the victims of the bombardments, but it’s important nonetheless. Whereas formerly Palestinians living in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories could make a

JK Huysmans’ final book is a compelling exploration of monastic liturgy

September 29, 2023

Melanie McDonagh reflects upon Benedictine blues. It’s hard now to convey the importance of the novelist JK Huysmans for the French literary scene of the late 19th century and for the Catholic revival in France. He was famous as an elaborate stylist, for his idiosyncratic vocabulary, as a Decadent, as a Catholic convert. The tired

Our Lady of Alltötting: A shrine where Mary helped

August 04, 2023

Melanie McDonagh follows Pope Benedict XVI to the feet of Our Lady of Altötting. To begin with, I didn’t think I was going to like Altötting, Pope Benedict XVI’s favourite place of pilgrim-age. I had booked a room in a pilgrim hotel in May, so I was indignant when I arrived at the beginning of July

‘Her voice did not break’: Carlo Acutis’ mother packs out London’s churches

June 02, 2023

The cause for the canonisation of Carlo Acutis, an Italian 15 year old who died in 2006, has been bolstered by the accounts of healings and conversion attributed to his intercession, but you could say he performed a mini-miracle last night – his mother packed out the church of Corpus Christi Maiden Lane on a

King Charles is perfectly positioned to come to the defence of Christians in Jerusalem

May 09, 2023

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III, and the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem, The Most Reverend Dr Hosam Elias Naoum were centre stage at the Coronation – and it was the holy oil they blessed in Jerusalem that was used for the anointing of King Charles. Today the two of them, the

Camilla: a modern and complex Queen Consort

May 08, 2023

The Coronation events have been, as far as the King is concerned, very much a joint affair. Queen Camilla was centre stage throughout. During the service itself he ensured that she would be anointed as Queen, as his grandmother and great-grandmother were; that ceremony, unlike his, was in public view. Buckingham Palace has intimated that

The King’s coronation oath: an explainer for Catholics

May 02, 2023

The Order of Service for the Coronation of King Charles on Saturday is now available online, and a very interesting read it is. The central element is obviously the anointing of the King, but there’s much else of interest there. I especially commend the bit about the presentation of the Regalia, whereby peers of non-Christian

Francis of Assisi: a saint for all seasons

April 12, 2023

The director of the National Gallery speaks to Melanie McDonagh about their new exhibition. It’s almost 800 years since St Francis of Assisi died at the age of 44, but the man who preached to the birds and made friends with the wolf remains perhaps the most universally appealing Catholic saint. Next month a show

EXCLUSIVE interview: Bishop Barron, the face of the modern Church?

March 03, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron reaches a huge online audience with his Word on Fire ministry. What’s his secret, asks Melanie McDonagh There aren’t, frankly, many Catholic bishops who have to field questions about how it is they’re so brilliant at reaching young people, but that’s Bishop Robert Barron for you. He’s known as the Bishop for

The Christian presence in the Holy Land is under threat

January 22, 2023

Jerusalem’s unique triune culture is under threat, with Christians’ presence in the Holy City most at risk

In St Peter’s Square: Notebook from Rome

January 05, 2023

The dome of St Peter’s was shrouded in mist for the funeral of Pope Benedict, with the cupola and the cross disappearing behind the figures of the apostles that surmount the facade. It was an extraordinary crowd gathered in the freezing cold. There were many Germans, many Italians and people from everywhere else you could think of.

On the eve of Pope Benedict’s funeral: Notebook from Rome

January 04, 2023

Photo: Vatican Media The crowds are quieter this time. By comparison with the enormous throng of people – most of them Poles – who came to see Pope John Paul II lying in St Peter’s Basilica, the thousands queuing to pay their respects to Pope Benedict are fewer but even more diverse. I met a

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Europe’s frightening birth rate

December 07, 2021

Earlier this year, Pope Francis took part in a meeting in Rome to address the demographic crisis in Italy where the average number of children is 1.3 for the average woman – way below replacement rate for the population. He tackled squarely a problem that has affected Europe in general and Italy particularly acutely. “A

Is the Pope ambiguous on Biden’s abortion stance?

September 21, 2021

The Pope has enabled priests to absolve in confession those who participate in abortions.

Abortion law SB8 will save countless lives

September 03, 2021

Women will have babies, babies whose conception was unwelcome, but who will now have a chance of life. And that’s bad news?

Why Johnson was right to appoint Tony Abbott

September 05, 2020

Tony Abbott’s new role as senior trade advisor to the UK government has sparked controversy. Russell T Davies, the Dr Who screenwriter, and Sir Ian McKellan won’t be pleased at the confirmation that Tony Abbott, the former Australian PM, is to be a trade envoy for the British Government. They, and two dozen other people