Easter
Kanye West says he’ll bring ‘Sunday Service’ to Coachella for Easter
By Paul O'Donnell — April 8, 2019
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — West's wife, Kim Kardashian, said of Kanye's rarely seen faith-oriented act, “It’s definitely something he believes in — Jesus — and there’s a Christian vibe. But there’s no preaching.”
How Lent prepares us for what is lost
By Kate Bowler — March 14, 2019
(RNS) — What happens when an accident, old age or illness robs loved ones of their memory, and we forget that they are a child of God?
Fasting from food, feeding on the Bible during Lent
By Thomas Reese — March 6, 2019
(RNS) — While fasting is a time-honored way to observe Lent, another ancient tradition concerns being nourished by the Word of God.
Modern-day crucifixions
By Jennifer Jones — April 6, 2018
(RNS) — Black men nationwide are still disproportionately killed by police. Each name turned hashtag reminds us that the scales of justice seem permanently tilted away from black and brown people in the United States.
Mother allegedly used stun gun to wake son for church
By Jerome Socolovsky — April 4, 2018
PHOENIX (AP) — Police arrested 40-year-old Sharron Dobbins on suspicion of child abuse after her 17-year-old son alerted authorities.
Parades, peeps and paradoxes
By Martin E. Marty — April 2, 2018
Easter parades survive in classic Hollywood films, on the avenues near cathedrals (which paraders pass but rarely frequent), in peeps, and in song. Seldom is there a trace of connection to the religious event which prompts Easter celebrations.
‘Hope and dignity’: Pope calls for peace in Easter message
By Yonat Shimron — April 1, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Francis reflected on the power of Christianity's core belief — that Jesus rose from the dead — in his 'Urbi et Orbi' Easter message delivered from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to a packed square of some 80,000 faithful below.
How might Easter be reinterpreted in light of climate change?
By Brandon Ambrosino — March 29, 2018
(RNS) — We can start by expanding our vision and admitting that Easter is about God’s relationship with the whole world — not just human beings.
Why isn’t there a ‘War on Easter’ like Christmas?
By Jonathan Merritt — March 28, 2018
Despite their many similarities, Easter has avoided the controversy that stalks Christmas. Here's why.
Where the buffalo roam, a Passion play approaches the century mark
By Bobby Ross Jr. — March 27, 2018
WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE, Okla. (RNS) — Oklahoma’s version of old Jerusalem — mixing rough stone structures resembling those in the Holy Land with occasional sightings of buffalo and longhorn — provides the setting for what organizers describe as North America’s longest continuously running outdoor Passion play.
Christians, Jews and the dubious history of the Passion play
By Lauren Markoe — March 27, 2018
(RNS) — I judge every Passion play by asking if it tells a story that is totally free of anti-Jewish images, costumes and teachings.
In Easter message, pope warns against the spread of conflict
By Josephine McKenna — April 16, 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) In his Easter Sunday blessing, Francis also urged the faithful to remember 'all those forced to leave their homelands as a result of armed conflicts, terrorist attacks, famine and oppressive regimes.'
A busy holiday season in Jerusalem’s Old City
By Kit Doyle — April 13, 2017
(RNS) This year Easter as celebrated by Western Christians falls on the same day as the Eastern Orthodox observance, and that in turns falls within Passover.
On Maundy Thursday, Pope Francis washes the feet of 12 prisoners
By Josephine McKenna — April 13, 2017
ROME (RNS) The 12 inmates who took part included a Muslim who is expected to be baptized as a Catholic in June, three women and two men serving life terms.
Why Easter is called Easter, and other little-known facts about the holiday
By Brent Landau — April 13, 2017
The naming of the celebration as “Easter” seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at beginning of spring.
