Cardinal George Pell was a significant figure in Australian public life and in the life of the Catholic Church from the time of his appointment to the episcopacy in the 1980s until his death in 2023. His imprisonment for some 404 days for a crime he did not commit was one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in Australian legal history. His scape-goat treatment has been compared to that of Alfred Dreyfus in the period of the Third French Republic.As a defender of Catholic orthod...

Spanning the seasons of Lent, Easter and to Pentecost, this Ebook describes the rich heritage of customs and traditions long practiced by Catholics down the ages, up to today. Shrovetide, ashes, pancakes, mardi gras, fasting, almsgiving, pilgrimage, special saints days, simnel cake, palms, Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, Holy week, hot cross buns, processions - these are just some of the many fascinating traditional practices associated with the religious festivals. The liturgy in turn enrich...

Praying with these two new saints who were canonised on 27th April 2014. We have new friends in heaven. John XXIII and John Paul II were men of deep prayer, with a message about prayer and the spiritual life which can be learned and shared. This new prayer ebook helps and encourages the faithful to seek the intercession of these two new saints and to thus grow in their own prayer, holiness and virtue. • Insight into their spirituality and how they prayed • Two Novenas - one to John XXIII a...

This handy ebook sets out the rich heritage of customs long practised by Catholics during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The Church makes sense of the natural seasons of the year through her own liturgical seasons. Advent's four weeks, cribbing, St Nicholas, carols, the 12 days of Christmas, Candlemas, St Lucy and Boxing Day are just some of the rich traditions explained here - a fine antidote to the prospect of gluttony and materialism frequently on offer at the year?s end.

At Baptism and Confirmation we take a new name. In this eBook, the well-known Catholic author and journalist, Joanna Bogle, provides an extensive list of names to choose from. She briefly introduces each saint, and reminds us that, by taking a saint's name, we are not just selecting a name we like, or a person who inspires us, but adopting a patron who is already in heaven and who can intercede for us and help us.

In today's multicultural society we are increasingly likely to meet and become friends with people from different religious backgrounds, and to find ourselves attending an unfamiliar ceremony. When this happens, there can be few of us who know exactly what to expect, or are confident about how to behave. This chapter from Do I Kneel or Do I Bow? will tell you everything you need to understand and take part in a Muslim ceremony. Armed with this basic information, you will feel rela...

In today's multicultural society we are increasingly likely to meet and become friends with people from different religious backgrounds, and to find ourselves attending an unfamiliar ceremony. When this happens, there can be few of us who know exactly what to expect, or are confident about how to behave. This chapter from Do I Kneel or Do I Bow? will tell you everything you need to understand and take part in a Christian ceremony. Armed with this basic information, you will feel r...

Of all the New Testament characters, few - other than Jesus himself - have exerted such an enduring fascination as Mary Magdalene, believed by the Church to have been a reformed prostitute. Yet her never-ending appeal is odd for one who appears so briefly - and then so elusively - in the Bible: so what has made her so entrancing to generations of Christians and non-Christians alike? Was she, as many now argue, actually Jesus' wife and the mother of his children? And why is she intimately c...

For two thousand years, Christianity has had a varying but immense influence on world history. Accomplished historian Geoffrey Blainey leads us through the history of this world-changing religion.A Short History of Christianity vividly describes many of the significant players in the religion’s rise and fall through the ages, from Jesus himself to Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, Francis Xavier, John Wesley, and even the Beatles, who claimed to be “more popular than Jesus.” Blaine...

The popular mother-daughter team behind the hit website TheCatholicCatalogue.com helps readers to discover, rediscover, and embrace the holidays and seasons of Catholic life through this collection of prayers, crafts, devotionals and recipes.This beautifully designed book will help readers celebrate Catholicism throughout the years, across daily practice and milestones. The Catholic Catalogue is a field guide, a list of far ranging topics, that should aid ...

Founder of a monastery at Monte Cassino, between Rome and Naples, in the sixth century, St Benedict intended his Rule to be a practical guide to Christian monastic life. Based on the key precepts of humility, obedience and love, its aim is to create a harmonious and efficient religious community in which individuals can make progress in the Christian virtues and gain eternal life. Here, Benedict sets out ideal monastery routines and regulations, from the qualities of a good abbot, the twel...

Understand the Roman Catholic Church with ease and informality. Gain valuable insights into key elements of the culture and way of life of its adherants. Presented in an accesible format with clearly recognized topics.This book will help you to appreciate the significance of one of the largest organized religions in the world to understand the history of the Church, and what it means to be Roman Catholic to recognize the Catholic Church's key practices and beliefs ...