Penance Archives - Catholic Herald

Penance

March 01, 2023

The late Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, used to point out that religions should be wary of discarding their traditions, because they have a habit of coming back into fashion. There can be no better example than the tradition of giving up meat on Fridays. This was formerly the rule for Catholics, an easily understood and

Our children deserve better

June 01, 2021

At this time of year, many of our young people receive the sacraments of Holy Communion, Penance and Confirmation. These are happy occasions. But what is evident is that the preparation that children receive for the sacraments is far less rigorous than it once was, even taking remote learning into account. Whereas previous generations would

When Catholic Puritans Ruin Lent

March 22, 2021

Some Catholics hate Lent, loathe Lent, because it was taught to them as a reason to hate themselves for being so bad.

Ash Wednesday:…et in pulverem reverteris.

February 17, 2021

During the pandemic the air can feel as small and dry as the Eliot finds it at the outset of Ash Wednesday, and the will easily contracts, succumbing to a sort of lassitude that is neither care nor stillness.

How observing the Ember Days can enhance your spiritual life

December 20, 2017

Ember days are a particularly ancient and rich part of the Church’s liturgical patrimony

Lent is more than a time of penance, says Pope

March 01, 2017

At his general audience, the Pope invited the faithful to renew their hope in Christ

Even the tiniest Lenten sacrifice is valuable

March 04, 2014

There was a time when the concept of penance was widely understood but society has changed