ONE hundred years ago, the world was still suffering the effects of the Great War. It had not been ‘over by Christmas’, and for years following the 1918 Armistice, many hard questions were asked of both man and God. Yet there was another question gripping the nation, one which to this day we hear throughout the Christmas pantomime season: “Do you believe in fairies?” Between 1917 and 1920 two little girls, Frances and Elsie from Cottingley near Bradford, claimed to…
Pilgrimages are rising in popularity once more; here are some that deserve more attention During this year many readers will have visited some of the well-known sites of pilgrimage throughout the world. It is wonderful that we have such places which help us express our faith and share our experiences withothers on our journey. Whilst the large and popular pilgrimages places are thriving it is also encouraging that less known centres are also flourishing in their own way. Here are…
It is true Walsingham is no Lourdes or Fatima but that is part of the appeal of the place I have recently had the privilege of making a pilgrimage to Walsingham. This is nothing remarkable as I have made at least an annual pilgrimage for the last twenty years and the place has become very much an anchorhold in my life. I went to Walsingham for the first time in the mid-1990s as a member of the Church of…
Nostalgia is something that the laity are looking for at this time of year Since 2007, the launch of the John Lewis Christmas advertising campaign has become something of a secular tradition. For many people it marks the commencement of the Christmas shopping season. Launched through social media and a two minute feature on television, this year’s advert is already set to build on the success of the last few Christmases. As Catholics we can see this phenomenon as another…