Leaders
A lockdownless Christmas
EU ruling over abortion harms us all
The Father’s Christmas presence Diary – Lady Antonia Fraser
Features
Stop the horror – Put an end to sexual violence against Christian women , John Pontifex
Elgar ’s digital revelation – how The Dream of Gerontius sheds new light on English Catholic culture , Joanna Bullivant
The ordeal of Cardinal Pell – The Ashes and Evelyn Waugh sustained the Australian Cardinal in prison , William Cash
A child is born to us – How the Gospel articulates the pro-life message , Bishop Mark Davies
Rome is where the heart is – Why Anglican bishops are turning to Catholicism , Jonathan Petre
The realignment continues – the exodus to Rome was prophesied decades ago , Simon Caldwell
An Abbot ’s Notebook – on the enduring appeal of the Norbertines ,Abbot Hugh Allan
Ambition and despair – the centenary of TS Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land ‘, Jayme Stayer, SJ
Papal puddings – On the Vatican’s sweet tooth , Anthony Cazalet
Death at Christmas – Covid-19 has made us more aware of our mortality – and that’s a good thing , Karl Gustel Wärnberg
Seeking solitude – Monastic life made Patrick Leigh Fermor , Artemis Cooper
Mass drop-out – Covid’s long shadow , Stephen Bullivant
Columns
Serenhedd James – Can we look forward to a better festive season?
Ken Craycraft – The joys of the unexpected at Christmas
Constance Watson – Saving face – escaping social media
Niall Gooch – How to stay chipper in the New Year
Piers Paul Read – Joseph is an essential part of the Nativity
Lara Prendergast – Taking toddlers to Mass
Special Reports
Housing First – Could a bold new initiative end rough sleeping? Olenka Hamilton GUIDE TO COUNTRY HOUSE CHAPELS – John Martin Robinson and Michael Hodges
Arts & Books
John Adamson reviews The Dissolution of the Monasteries , by James Clark
Theo Hobson reviews Whatever Happened to Tradition? by Tim Stanley
David Scott reviews Devil-land, by Clare Jackson
Gerard Russell reviews The Vanishing , by Janine di Giovanni
Susannah Herbert reviews Collected Poems , by Rowan Williams
Helena Kelly reviews Lily: A Tale of Revenge , by Rose Tremain
Christmas booksfor children –Sophia Waugh
Music – Pole stars hit the right note , Michael White
Life & Soul
Diary – Fr Alexander Sherbrooke
Pointed Arch – Exploring the Isle of Wight’s churches , Michael Hodges
The Garden – On the beech tree that embodies prayer , Charlie Hart
Tessa ’s Feasts – Tessa Balfour cooks up a festive goose
Richard J Ounsworth – On the Christmas Gospel readings
Obituary: Fra ’ Matthew Festing
Travel & Pilgrimage
Rhodes to past glories – A return to the island , William Cash
On Pilgrimage with Dr Michael Nazir-Ali