It’s hard to accept that we are called to praise.
What shout of joy amid such poverty?
Christmas
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
Is ‘Silent Night’ the greatest Christmas song ever?
On Christmas Eve 1818, in the church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf near Salzburg, “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”) was sung for the first time. Today, the carol has been translated into some 300 languages.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
How parishes can turn ‘Christmas Catholics’ into regular Massgoers
Christmas is the chance to welcome the stranger; to be the good innkeeper and not the bad one.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
John Cheever’s sad Christmas story is ideal Advent reading
The simultaneous pull of love and sadness is pure Cheever and permeates his Christmas story.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
How to celebrate Epiphany with Baby Jesus baked in: ‘Rosca de Reyes,’ or ‘Kings Bread’
‘Rosca de Reyes’ gives a sweet ending to the 12 days of Christmas.
Posted inFaith, The Good Word
Epiphany: Is there really no such thing as a free gift?
Gift giving is always an exchange. But here is an exception that may yet prove the rule.
Posted inFaith, News
Christians and Muslims join for Christmas Mass in liberated Mosul
The Iraqi national anthem opened the Mass as women wailed with emotion.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Middle East Catholic patriarchs express hope amid uncertainty at Christmas
“This is our homeland and we insist (we) remain here.”
Posted inDispatches, Faith
What we can learn from the silence of Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful and joyful mystery and we humans can never, ever really understand it.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis prays for world’s suffering children on Christmas
Standing on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on a clear, crisp Christmas day, Pope Francis spoke about the world’s children before formally giving his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).