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John Paul II embraced his suffering with love: Cardinal reflects 15 years after saint’s death
by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Apr 2, 2020 / 11:00 am (CNA).- Pope St. John Paul II embraced suffering with love, even during his illness, a cardinal and the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica said on the 15th anniversary of the saint’s death. The spread of the coronavirus pandemic, and …
Vatican authorizes special Masses and Good Friday prayers for coronavirus pandemic
Vatican City, Apr 1, 2020 / 12:01 pm (CNA).- The Vatican has asked priests around the world to recite a new prayer during this year’s Good Friday liturgy, and urged them to offer Masses for the end of the coronavirus pandemic. The Congregation for Divine Worship issued the new intention …
How college students can spend their time during the coronavirus
by Perry West Denver, Colo., Mar 31, 2020 / 04:00 pm (CNA).- The coronavirus pandemic has led colleges across the country to close their dorms, and offer classes online. As students return home with time on their hands, Catholics involved in campus ministry have offered advice on how to spend …
‘So much of this is out of our control’: Pregnancy amid a pandemic
by Mary Farrow Denver, Colo., Mar 29, 2020 / 05:00 am (CNA).- Sarah Sefranek, a Catholic wife and mother living in Parker, Colorado, is 37 weeks pregnant with her fourth child. While she normally homeschools her other children even when there’s not a global pandemic on, coronavirus restrictions have changed …
Rome’s De Donatis is first cardinal known to have coronavirus
Vatican City, Mar 30, 2020 / 12:45 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, has tested positive for coronavirus. He is the first cardinal known to have the virus. The cardinal has been admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome with a fever. He …
Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed indefinitely
CNA Staff, Mar 30, 2020 / 02:30 pm (CNA).- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was closed last week and has no definite timeline for reopening. This is the first time in nearly 700 years the holy site has closed for an extended period due to disease. The church building, …
Six sisters from same Italian convent have died, as coronavirus spreads among religious orders
by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Mar 30, 2020 / 09:06 am (CNA).- Six sisters in one northern Italian convent have died of coronavirus, and nine sisters are being treated in the hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, according to Italian media. Coronavirus is spreading among several religious houses in Italy. …
Brooklyn pastor is first Catholic priest in US known to die of coronavirus
CNA Staff, Mar 27, 2020 / 10:21 pm (CNA).- A Brooklyn parish announced the death of its pastor, Fr. Jorge Ortiz-Garay, who died of coronavirus at approximately 6 p.m Friday evening. The priest is the first in the U.S. known to have died from the virus. Journalist Rocco Palmo was …
Can’t go to confession during coronavirus? Consider an ‘act of perfect contrition’
by Jonah McKeown Vatican City, Mar 27, 2020 / 05:00 am (CNA).- Imagine that Michael, a practicing Catholic, committed a mortal sin yesterday. Normally, Michael would go to confession. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, he can’t. It simply isn’t available. What can Michael do? Despite some creative efforts by …
Pope Francis will offer Easter liturgies in St. Peter’s Basilica and with no public
By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 27, 2020 / 06:40 am (CNA).- Pope Francis will follow a slightly modified schedule this year for the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter, which will all take place inside St. Peter’s Basilica and without the presence of the public, the Vatican announced Friday. …
