Search
Newsletters
Newsletters
Latest
Magazine
Sign In
Log Out
Subscribe
Sign In
Log Out
Subscribe
Sign Out
Sections
Latest
Chapter House
Columns
Arts & Books
Life & Soul
Education
Travel & Pilgrimage
Special Reports
News
Vatican News
UK & Ireland News
US News
Rest of the World News
Archives
Historic Archive
Exact Editions
Magnificat
Magnificat
Latest Issue
Life & Soul
The sound of the season: choirs, carols, and moral memory
As Advent gives way to Christmas, Britain’s choral tradition reaches its annual peak — from Handel’s Messiah and festive carols to music shaped by war, witness, and faith
Michael White
The mince pie as an act of resistance
Mince pies are not just seasonal indulgences. They are relics of medieval Catholic England, survivors of Reformation iconoclasm, and quiet witnesses to a long struggle over faith
Thomas Colsy
Summoning the Christmas spirit
The Christmas classics worth returning to are those that still take faith seriously
Julia Hamilton
Mary’s fiat and the revolution hidden in the Creed
As the Church marks 1,700 years of the Nicene Creed, one clause still carries radical force: God chose to enter history through the free consent of a young woman
Cherie Blair
It’s okay to grieve at Christmas
Samantha Smith reflects on grief and loss at the time of Christ’s arrival
Samantha Smith
In the bleak midwinter
Gatherings of family and friends at Christmas can be complicated, as these two well-known stories relate
Bonnie Lander Johnson
The Nativity stories forshadowed
The apocryphal gospels tell strange tales of the boy Jesus. The canonical Gospels do something far more demanding — and far more true
Henry Wansborough
The false choice between woke censorship and free speech absolutism
Caught between free speech absolutism and growing state censorship, Catholics are often told they must choose a side. But the Christian tradition offers a deeper account of freedom
David Hahn
Holy day or holiday? A history of Christmas traditions
From the Nativity to Santa Claus, Christmas traditions reveal a feast shaped by faith, folklore, and modern custom
Mark McGinness
Why does Europe hate its Christians?
Thousands of attacks on Christians were recorded across Europe last year, exposing a widening gap in how religious hatred is addressed
Niwa Limbu
Joseph’s dilemma over Mary reminds us that faith never comes without risk
The Fourth Sunday of Advent invites us to inhabit a place where we learn to practise a greater degree of trust, a lesson exemplified in the story of Joseph’s betrothal to Mary and how he at first feared he had been tricked
Gavin Ashenden
St Joseph, the hidden figure of Advent
St Matthew’s quiet description of Joseph as “a righteous man” opens a profound theological vision
Fr Alan Adami OP
Christmas is a state of mind
Let go of cynicism and weariness, and embrace the sense of delight
Niall Gooch
A year in reading: my ‘most’ books of 2025
In a series of “most…” categories, Fr Gavan Jennings walks readers through his most memorable reads of 2025
Fr Gavan Jennings
All I want for Christmas is you, not an algorithm
As Christmas songs celebrate love and togetherness, a growing number of people are turning instead to AI “companions” for intimacy and advice
Naoise Grenham
The most overstimulated time of the year
December’s overload is no longer just festive stress but a symptom of digital culture’s grip on our attention
Delphine Chui
The Church responds to the Bondi Beach shooting
The most fatal terrorist attack in Australia’s history has sparked condemnation from Catholic leaders around the world
Thomas Edwards
Before the feast: the Ember Days of Advent
Nearly as old as the Church itself, the Ember Days of Advent call Christians to sanctify the seasons
Jared Staudt
Preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming, As We Commemorate His First
Advent invites Christians to prepare not only for Christ’s birth but also for His return
Katie Ascough
Australia has drawn a line on social media use for U16s and the Church should support it
Australia’s under-16 social media ban shows why the Church should defend childhood and parental authority
Thomas Edwards
Previous
Next
subscribe to the catholic herald today
Our best content is exclusively available to our subscribers. Subscribe today and gain instant access to expert analysis, in-depth articles, and thought-provoking insights—anytime, anywhere. Don’t miss out on the conversations that matter most.
Subscribe
.png)
