Cardinal speaks on ‘rebuilding of our life’

THE Easter break is a chance to reflect on our true needs, reset our sights and “look forward to the rebuilding of our common life”, the head of the UK Catholic Church will say.

Thousands of families will be spending the weekend mourning loved ones who have died after contracting the coronavirus, while others will be apart due to the lockdown.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols will point to the Easter story in his sermon to show that “death is not the last word”, and to urge families to seek comfort and courage in Jesus Christ.

His sermon will be broadcast on 39 BBC local radio stations tomorrow at 8am as part of an hour-long service for a “national wireless congregation”.

He will say: “We can be refreshed by this vision of love stronger than death, of selfsacrifice flowering into new life, of the bonds of humanity reaching beyond the grave.

“The life shared by every human being and binding us together is a life which will find its fulfilment in the glory of heaven. Today we can reset our sights, focusing on our true needs and on our finest gifts.

“This time of great testing enables us to distinguish what is truly important from all that is fleetingly desired, and has so often mistakenly been given pride of place in our ambitions.

“Already we have to look forward to the rebuilding of our common life. May the light of the risen Christ guide and inspire us in that task.”

Cardinal Nichols will use the sermon to highlight how faith can be a comfort

“in a time of darkness and anxiety”.