Magazine

Articles from Inside The Vatican Magazine.

Confetti: Italy’s Special-Occasion Candy

By Mother Martha Confetti are traditionally almonds from Avola in Sicily’s province of Syracuse coated in a hard outer shell of sugar. They are ubiquitous at many Italian (but not only) celebrations as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. At baptisms the confetti are obviously pink or blue; at first communions, confirmations and weddings, white; [...]

Jubilee Diary: Armed forces and police form human, spiritual bonds

The Pope welcomed the Armed forces, Police and Security Personnel from around the world to celebrate their spiritual bond — with each other, and with their fellow man By Anna Artymiak American police officers from the City of New York pose with a member of the Swiss Guard in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in [...]

A Long-Awaited Reunion of Science and Faith: new CatholicTech

By Dominic Andres The Catholic Institute of Technology was born on the back of a napkin, in a restaurant in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. “CatholicTech” in shorthand, it is an American research university, the first in the world to have a fully Catholic identity. It was founded by Bill and Alexis Haughey in 2023 and opened its [...]

Liturgy in Palestrina’s Time: A Delicate Balance Between Tradition and Reform

By Gabriel Diaz-Patri Giovanni Palestrina’s sacred works comprise 105 Masses in various styles, 68 offertories (where he abandoned the traditional cantus firmus technique – using an existing melody as the basis for a polyphonic composition -- in favour of free composition), 250 motets, and 35 magnificats and 45 hymns written for the Divine Office. Understanding this [...]

Pakistan’s first likely saint; US ambassador to Vatican nominee; Bishop Strickland on McElroy appointment; 3 years in, Rupnik case still “ongoing”; Nigerians honor murdered priest

Pakistan’s first sainthood candidate remains a little-known figure Akash Bashir was just 20 years old when he was killed on March 15, 2015, while preventing a suicide bomber from entering a packed Saint John’s Catholic Church during Sunday Mass. Both Bashir and the bomber were killed when the bomb exploded outside the church. Despite Bashir’s heroism [...]

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: A Profile

By Marco della Sciucca Sometimes it seems like chasing ghosts when reconstructing the life story of a sixteenth-century character, even when that character has the proportions of a giant. Such is the case of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. His exact date of birth is uncertain  — there were still no parish baptismal registers — but from [...]

Rediscover and celebrate a foundation of our Catholic culture

By Aurelio Porfiri Anyone involved in the field of Catholic sacred music knows well that Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525–1594) is considered the "master of masters," a fundamental reference point for liturgical singing. This year, we celebrate the 500th anniversary of his birth. Countless composers have drawn inspiration from him, and even today, he holds a [...]

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