On this episode of “Hark!”, we follow a figure the Bible never mentions, but whose bold gift leads us straight to the heart of Christmas. This is the story of “The Little Drummer Boy.”

To kick off the fourth season of “Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols,” we have a Christmas song that begins on a plodding, somber note and erupts into a thrilling epiphany. We’re exploring “We Three Kings.”

A Reflection for Friday of the First Week of Advent, by Kevin Christopher Robles

A Reflection for Thursday of the First Week of Advent, by Molly Cahill

A Reflection for Wednesday of the First Week of Advent, by J.D. Long García

A Reflection for Monday of the First Week of Advent, by Michael SImone, S.J.

How to access episodes of “Hark!” for non-exclusive radio distribution.

A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent, by Father Terrance Klein

How realistic is “Conclave”? A canon lawyer weighs in.

U.K. faith leaders oppose the assisted dying bill: “We believe that a truly compassionate response to the end of life lies in the provision of high-quality palliative care services to all who need them.”

Since launching a campaign within the Labour Party against legalized suicide, I’ve been met with the refrain, “Your only allies are the Tories.”

The pacing of “Gladiator II” says a lot about what Ridley Scott’s priorities were for this film: spectacle, immersion, pure feeling.

A look at bygone shopping malls should stand as a warning not to let parishes be taken for granted.

Despite the popularity of pilgrimages to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, located in Wisconsin, the apparition was not officially approved for worship until 2023.

Dorothy and her friends’ journey is one of discovery and gratitude, an external quest that reveals internal riches.

With ‘Maybe Happy Ending,’ two first-time Broadway writers take a big swing—and hit a home run.

Many Syrians would return voluntarily to their homeland, Father Benedict Kiely believes, “but it’s a question of what they are returning to.”

Next summer, Matt Ruhl, S.J., will ride across America by bicycle to raise awareness—and money—for Catholic schools in Belize.

For Lincoln, Thanksgiving was a day to not only reflect on our blessings but repent for our shortcomings and find ways to seek reconciliation to God and to our neighbors.

Pope Francis has asked the Vatican to study whether the Catholic Church should classify “spiritual abuse” as a new crime in order to address cases where priests use purported mystical experiences as a pretext for harming others.