After the U.S. Civil War, Philadelphia rector Phillips Brooks traveled to Bethlehem seeking solace. Three years later, that experience inspired him to write this carol for the children of his parish. Does it still speak to those who carry the weight of war?
Christmas
Posted inPodcasts
Quiz: Christmas Carol History (Part 4)
How well do you know your Christmas carols? Time for one last quiz.
Posted inFaith in Focus
How a Living Nativity brought Christmas joy to our parish
It began in 1995, simply as a way to bring Christmas joy to our neighbors.
Posted inNews
Pope Leo thanks children for sharing love at school Christmas concert
“This is Christmas—God who wanted to draw near to us, especially to the smallest,” the pope said, expressing his hope that “we can feel and live this love” all year long.
Posted inPodcasts
Preaching (and living) Advent without rushing to Christmas
Tsh Oxenreider joins “Preach” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., to explore why Advent preaching needs to “cut to the chase”—and call us to conversion now.
Posted inPodcasts
Quiz: Christmas Carol History (Part 3)
How well do you know your Christmas carols? Time for another quiz.
Posted inNews
Boston archdiocese tells church to remove ICE message from Nativity, but pastor refuses for now
In a Dec. 6 statement, the archdiocese said, “The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship—not divisive political messaging.”
Posted inFaith in Focus
The Nativity isn’t cute or cozy. It should scandalize us.
It’s time to revisit the Christmas story
Posted inPodcasts
Christmas Carols: A secret lesson for preachers
This week on Preach, we’re offering an Advent treat. Host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., sits down with fellow producer Maggi Van Dorn for a rare on-mic conversation about the spiritual power of Christmas carols. Drawing on their work as producers of another America podcast, “Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols,” they reflect on […]
Posted inNews
ICE Nativity scenes: Churches reimagine Christmas story amid deportations
“We know that Jesus was born into a Roman imperial occupation, and pretty much immediately becomes a refugee in Egypt, has to flee and faces political violence,” the Rev. Michael Woolf said.