Is the blood of the Shroud too red to be true? No, according to a new research published in the scientific journal Applied Optics, which responds to one of the objections of the detractors of the Turin Shroud that supposedly wrapped Jesus, according to which it is common sense that blood turns brown, once coagulated.

It may seem something of no importance, but a lot of research on the most diverse aspects – and colour is one of them – could not stop the debate on the stains of the Shroud: a bloody confrontation, one could say.

Ladaria states the new revision “situates itself in continuity with the preceding Magisterium while bringing forth a coherent development of Catholic doctrine”.

The president of Russia points to “Christianisation” as the origin of the identity of the country, of its strength and its historical importance. Criticisms and warnings raised by those groups that in the past have firmly supported “cultural battles” to reaffirm the roots of the West.

The 30th of July is the United Nations’s international day dedicated to the 40 million victims of human trafficking around the world. “Social” campaign by the Holy See. The commitment comes from Catholic organisations such as the Salesians, female congregations, the Order of Malta and various charities.

Two years after the brutal assassination, Monsignor Dominique Lebrun, Pastor of Rouen, described the elderly priest as an "icon of martyrdom". The process of beatification pushed by Francis is ongoing. Celebrations today in the diocese.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua appeals in Pope Francis’ name for peace in the country, where over 360 people have died and government forces have occupied the opposition bastion of Masaya near the capital, Managua.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis’ representative in Nicaragua, Archbishop Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag, has made a strong appeal for an end to the violence which has racked the country since April 18th.

Many Catholic dioceses in China celebrate the Eucharist with annual or biennial events that have become part of ordinary pastoral work. The Holy See, too, in its negotiations with Beijing, follows the guiding criterion of safeguarding the sacramental nature of the Church, setting aside suspicions and uncertainties about the effectiveness of the sacraments administered in Chinese Catholic communities.

Many people are living their lives loyal to the church but far from Lord Jesus Christ. In my personal perspective, God never expects anything from any of us except our ability to genuinely love. One golden rule to understand the true meaning of love is to be true to yourself as well as to others. At the current times, people say true love is hard to find, but they are mistaken. Love does not really need one specific way to express it, or a manual for instructions to spread it. All it needs is words to show it, but, most importantly, actions to prove it.

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions are known as the Chinese Martyrs. They are what is called a representative group of 120 Chinese martyrs who were canonized by Saint John Paul II in 2000. They did not all live at the same time. Their ‘leader’, Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, was martyred in 1815, but the greatest number of the 120 were martyred in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. Wikipedia provides a full list of the martyrs here. At the same time we should not forget the other Christians who also suffered in similar persecutions.

The Templeton Prize was established in 1972 and is given annually to prominent persons who make “exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery or practical works”. The same raison d’etre was used when declaring the 2018 and 46th laureate of the Templeton Prize; His Majesty King Abdullah.

The list includes philosophers, physicists, politicians, evangelists and statesmen. Yet, they all, as the prize judges deemed, were contributors to spiritual values.