Carmelite Monks in Wyoming Use Cutting-Edge Technology to Build a Gothic Monastery

Carmelite Monks Near Meeteetse Use Modern Tech To Build Gothic Monastery | Cowboy State Daily: Say the word monastery and the word medieval is likely not far behind. Monasteries and monks, they just all have an old-world vibe. Perhaps not deservedly so. “When you think of monks, you think medieval, you know, Dark Ages,” Brother Isidore Mary of the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming told Cowboy State Daily. “You think of something way back in the past.”

Exploring Bethlehem’s Bright Streets, the Sky Shattered by Glorias

Chapter%206%3A%A0%20EXPLORING%20LITTLE-%20AND%20SOME%20WELL-KNOWN%20SITES%20IN%20THE%20HOLY%20LAND%u2013BETHLEHEM%u2019S%20BRIGHT%20STREETS%2C%20THE%20SKY%20SHATTERED%20BY%20GLORIAS%2C%20HOLDING%20OUR%20EUCHARISTIC%20LORD%20IN%20THE%20CAVE%20OF%20THE%20NATIVITY%2C%20AND%20OUR%20LADY%u2019S%20REST%20STOP%20%u2013%20%u0396%u03AE%u03C3%u03C4%u03B5%20%u03B6%u03B5%u03C3%u03C4%u03CC%u2026%20%22STAY%20HOT%22BEAUDOIN: This past January (of 2023), I had the amazing opportunity to go back to the Holy Land on another self-guided pilgrimage. I still had more sites that I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to visit and/or that I hadn’t known existed until recently. When I originally planned to do the trip, I was planning to limit my trip to seeing more sites in and around Jerusalem...

The answer to the murderer’s question

David Mills: The answer to the murderer's question | Pittsburgh Post-GazetteMILLS: The German branch of his company doesn’t make as much as the American branch, said the man in the nice little bougie restaurant, speaking with scorn, because they get too many holidays. The company doesn’t make them work hard enough. He told his coworker how much more his part of their company made, and shared the secret. “Here’s what you do,” he said. “You fire three people and hire one to replace them.” He seemed to assume...

Pleasure is never enough: Lighting the way to joy

Pleasure is never enough: Lighting the way to joy | Catholic CultureMIRUS: Have you ever stopped to consider how closely joy is associated with hope? This is so true that the Latin verb which means “to be without hope” is desparare, from which we get the English word despair. And despair is also what destroys joy. It is the ultimate sadness. I mention this during the Christmas Season because it is the answer to the riddle of our modern pursuit of pleasure...

The Vatican in 2024: A Year of Global Outreach and Strategic Ambiguity

The Vatican in 2024: A Year of Global Outreach and Strategic Ambiguity| National Catholic RegisterROCCA: Vatican news highlights of the year 2024 included Pope Francis’ longest trip, an 11-day journey through Asia and Oceania; the conclusion of the three-year global process known as the Synod on Synodality; and the addition of 20 new cardinals to the body that will choose the next pontiff. All these events reinforced themes that have marked the current pontificate practically from its start: a preference for travel to non-Western countries...

Vatican on Death of Jimmy Carter: ‘The Holy Father Commends Him to the Infinite Mercies of Almighty God’

Pope Francis offers condolences on death of Jimmy Carter - Vatican News: Pope Francis says he is “saddened to learn of the death of former president Jimmy Carter” and offered his “heartfelt condolences” and prayers for those who mourn his passing. In a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope recalled Carter’s “firm commitment, motivated by deep Christian faith, to the cause of reconciliation and peace between peoples, the defense of human rights and the welfare of the poor and those in need,” and commended him “to the infinite mercies of Almighty God.”

Martyr in the Cathedral: St. Thomas Becket, Defender of Religious Freedom

Martyr in the Cathedral: St. Thomas Becket, Defender of Religious Freedom| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Sixty years ago, Richard Burton starred in Becket, a film about today’s saint. The film gets some of the history wrong, e.g., it pretends that Becket was a Saxon (to add to the conflict with King Henry II) when he was, in fact, a Norman. It tends sometimes to favor the monarch (not surprising — when the “Church of England” became a pet lapdog of the monarchy, a bishop like Becket standing for the Church’s rights would not be popular)...

The Last Lullaby for the Holy Innocents

(3) The Last Lullaby for the Holy Innocents - by Stuart Weiss: On this day, we remember the children who were killed in King Herod’s rage after the birth of Christ. To mark this occasion, I want to share with you a hauntingly beautiful song that was written as a lullaby from the mother of a Holy Innocent to her child, about to be unjustly slaughtered. The lyrics come from the “Coventry Carol,” and the song itself is composed by Philip Stopford...

Pope Francis Delivers Rare Papal Radio Message on BBC’s ‘Thought for the Day’

Pope Francis records BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day message: The Pope has called for "hope and kindness" in a message for Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Pope Francis emphasised the importance of humility in the recording broadcast on Saturday. "A world full of hope and kindness is a more beautiful world. A society that looks to the future with confidence and treats people with respect and empathy is more humane," he said.

Holy Innocents: Christmas in the Shadow of the Sword

Holy Innocents: Christmas in the Shadow of the Sword| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: That the Church honors the Holy Innocents along with St. John the Apostle and St. Stephen the first martyr in the first days after Christmas should not surprise us. The correlation between acknowledging Jesus and suffering would one day be explicitly proclaimed by him. When Peter confesses him as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Jesus’ first words are to say that the Son of Man would suffer, die and rise...

This Sunday, 4 ‘Astounding Answers’ on Home Life for the Feast of the Holy Family

This%20Sunday%2C%20Four%20%u2018Astounding%20Answers%u2019%20on%20Home%20Life%20for%20the%20Feast%20of%20the%20Holy%20Family%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: This Sunday is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Year C, and the readings give solid practical advice straight from God to each of our families. Here are takeaways from previous This Sunday columns. Advice from God is badly needed, because we’ve been listening to his his enemy. In a famous radio monologue, the great Paul Harvey explains what he would do if he were the devil.

Looking Ahead to the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Looking Ahead to the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God - AdoremusCARSTENS: Some ancient philosophies emphasize the transcendent realm over the earthly. Plato, for example, held that the things we see in the present world are merely shadows and images of true things that exist in a world beyond us. Similarly, some religions downplay the material world in favor of the spiritual, either because the material world is considered an illusion or evil. In such a religion, redemption consists of escaping the world of the senses for the “purer,” true spiritual world.

Why Should You Remain Christian?

New Advent: Why Should You Remain Christian?REGISMARTIN: There are many subjective reasons as to why one remains a Christian: the community aspect of it, the justice and charity it provides to mankind, the rituals or aesthetic beauty behind it, etc. While these reasons may be fair, they are far from being considered important and objective reasons. It is important to clarify that the most important reason to remain a Christian is simple: truth.

I’m a Catholic convert. Archbishop Fulton Sheen taught me the true meaning of Christmas...

Fulton Sheen Taught Me the True Meaning of Christmas| National Catholic RegisterLAFFIN: Like many converts, I didn’t learn my way into Catholicism. I fell in love. The learning came later. I’m still learning, of course. My marriage came about the same way, incidentally. The sound of my wife’s laughter plunged me into the depths of love before I knew her middle name or her favorite ice cream flavor. All that came later. Long story very short: Just after graduating college in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy...

Angel Expert: Apparitions Reveal ‘Strong Link’ Between St. Michael and Divine Mercy

Angel%20Expert%3A%20Apparitions%20Reveal%20%u2018Strong%20Link%u2019%20Between%20St.%20Michael%20and%20Divine%20Mercy%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: Father Pierre Doat, rector of France’s Mont Saint Michel sanctuary since September 2023, describes his role as one immersed in daily wonder and standing in sharp contrast to the secular Western world, where social disintegration and the culture of death reveal a profound disenchantment. Since his arrival at this landmark of Christendom, which is actually a tidal island in Normandy, this young priest of the Community of St. Martin...

How St. Francis de Sales and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ overlap

It's a Wonderful Life, Really. | The Heights ForumGREVING: One of the great Christmas traditions is Frank Capra’s masterful film It’s a Wonderful Life. James Stewart, that most American of actors, plays the lead of George Bailey, an Everyman, a small-town ordinary guy struggling against the deceit, selfishness, and cynicism of a power-broker named Potter. Yet, for all its Americana, I find It’s a Wonderful Life a profound reflection on the teachings of my favorite saint, Francis de Sales, a seventeenth-century French bishop.

Employers (including the Church) are bound to pay their employees (including Church workers) a just wage...

A Just Wage for Church Employees: A Call to Conversion | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: By now the Catholic Church’s support of a “living wage” (along with the related but differing “just wage”) is well known. Magisterial social teaching, along with the documents of synods and bishops’ conferences, since the promulgation of Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum has consistently upheld his declaration that one “has a natural right to procure what is required in order to live”...

3 Things I Didn’t Know About Christmas

3%20Things%20I%20Didn%u2019t%20Know%20About%20Christmas%20%7C%20Parishable%20ItemsFELTES: When I was younger, I didn’t know what swaddling clothes were. Maybe because “swaddle” sounded like “squalid” and I had seen the inside of messy barns, I imagined they were dirty pajamas. It’s actually an ancient and modern practice to use cloth to wrap up infants’ arms and legs tightly to their bodies. This is called “swaddling,” and babies enjoy it — it reminds them of the warm close comfort of the womb.

Jimmy and the Patriarch, at Christmas

Jimmy and the Patriarch, at Christmas | Denver CatholicWEIGEL: The post-Christmas liturgical calendar may seem a bit Scrooge-like, as the child-centered, innocent joy of the Nativity is quickly followed by three feasts of a different, even sobering, character. First, on December 26: St. Stephen the Protomartyr, stoned to death outside Jerusalem by a mob baying for his blood...

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ and the Bible Passage That Nearly Disappeared

%u2018A%20Charlie%20Brown%20Christmas%u2019%20and%20the%20Bible%20Passage%20That%20Nearly%20Disappeared%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: An unexpected revelation has shocked many Charlie Brown fans for decades: the realization that Linus’ famous Bible monologue from Charles Schulz’s A Charlie Brown Christmas was nearly cut out completely. The recitation of a few Gospel verses is a scene many cannot imagine the television special without. The passage is meant to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas, captured by Linus’ spotlighted monologue of Luke 2:8-14, which highlights the Nativity scene and the birth of Christ.

Catholic Prisoners Through the Ages and Their Inspired Art

Catholic Prisoners Through the Ages and Their Inspired Art| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: Jubilee 2025 begins with the opening of a door to a prison. Not to let the inmates out, mind you, but to let the Pope in. Soon after opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis will visit Rome’s Rebibbia Prison on Dec. 26, where a Holy Door for the Jubilee will be opened, too. Several recent news items have highlighted the role of arts for prisoners — literature, sculpture, drawing and music.

How St. Stephen, the First Martyr, Embraced the Cross of Jesus Christ

How St. Stephen, the First Martyr, Embraced the Cross of Christ| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Catholics in the United States generally don’t go to church on Dec. 26, so they might be surprised that — a day after the birth of Jesus Christ — the Church is marking the feast of its first martyr, the deacon Stephen. Catholics in Europe — where Christmas is often a two-day affair — are perhaps more familiar with the red vestments on the “second day of Christmas” or, as another carol puts it, “on the feast of Stephen.”

On Kneeling: A Response to Cardinal Cupich

On Kneeling: A Response to Cardinal Cupich | Leah Libresco Sargeant | First ThingsLIBRESCO: Putting “O Holy Night” on the program at Christmas Masses in Chicago this year may prove a little awkward. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich’s recent message to his diocese, entitled “As we pray” strongly implies that kneeling to receive the Eucharist should be avoided, hinting that it is selfish and inappropriate. So if a soprano were to let loose a “Fall on your knees” during the Communion procession, the traditional hymn could sound like a provocation.

For First Time in History, Pope Opens Jubilee Year Holy Door Inside a Prison

Pope opens Holy Door at a prison for first time ever - Vatican News: “I wanted the second Holy Door I open to be here at a prison,” Pope Francis explained. For the 2025 Jubilee of Hope, the first Door to be opened was the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on 24 December 2024, then, for the first-time ever, the Pope opened the Holy Door at a prison.

Define ‘Christmas movie?’ Okay, define ‘Christmas’

Define "Christmas movie"? OK, define "Christmas" - by tmattMATTINGLY: What does fruitcake have to do with the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Nothing, that I can ascertain. Fruitcake just sits there on a plate like a dense, heavy, strange condensed cultural symbol of something or another that says “Christmas” or, for many, “The Holidays.” Now, here’s the reason that I bring this up. During my recent Nativity Lent talks at our home parish in Northeast Tennessee, I discussed the many ways that families...

The Gift God Offers at Christmastime

The Gift God Offers at Christmastime - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: We are rightly reminded at Christmas to keep in mind the reason for the season, or the reality that we are celebrating. A less-considered but related angle is that our very celebrating can and should change us. Or in any case it can dispose us for what often escapes our notice: a Christmas gift that God really does want to give us. Just what this gift is, what form it takes, is difficult to imagine...

We need hope in this wounded land, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says ahead of Christmas

We need hope in this wounded land, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says ahead of ChristmasBRISCOE: Speaking just hours after his wartime Christmas visit to Gaza City Holy Family Parish, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, delivered a poignant Christmas message during a press conference at the Latin Patriarchate Dec. 23. The cardinal called for renewed hope and solidarity in a region marked by violence, displacement and despair.

The Baby Who Changed Nothing At All … Except Everything

The%20Baby%20Who%20Changed%20Nothing%20At%20All%20%u2026%20Except%20Everything%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: We’re not told what happened to the shepherds after that fateful first Noel, but we can imagine that they might have gotten a little bit discouraged. They heard angels sing Gloria in Excelsis Deo and proclaim peace on earth. Then the angels left, and peace didn’t come. Later, mysterious magi followed a star from faraway lands and laid gifts at the feet of the newborn king...

Pope Francis Launches Jubilee 2025 With Opening of Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica

Pope Francis launches Jubilee 2025 with opening of Holy Door | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, officially launching the Jubilee Year 2025. “O Christ, bright star of the morning, incarnation of infinite love, long-awaited salvation, sole hope of the world, illumine our hearts with your radiant splendor,” the pope prayed on Dec. 24 during the rite of opening of the Holy Door, which was preceded by readings from the Old and New Testaments, the singing of the O Antiphons, and the proclamation of Christmas.

Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Shares Christmas Message After Gaza Visit

PHOTOS: Cardinal Pizzaballa shares Christmas message after Gaza visit | Catholic News Agency: The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, met with journalists for his Christmas press conference immediately following a visit to Gaza on Dec. 22, where he celebrated Mass and encouraged the Christians there to be a light in the darkness of war.

Under Pope Francis, a Red Hat Is No Guarantee of a Job

Under Pope Francis, a Red Hat Is No Guarantee of a Job| National Catholic RegisterGAGLIARDUCCI: Let us be clear: In the Catholic Church, cardinals are supposed to have a job. Typically, the Pope either assigns them a diocese or appoints them to a post in the Roman Curia. Under Pope Francis, however, having a red hat is no guarantee of being given a position, at least not right away. Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, for example, received his red hat more than a year ago...

President Biden Commutes Sentences of 37 of 40 Federal Prisoners on Death Row

President Biden commutes sentences of prisoners on death row - Vatican News: US President Joe Biden commutes the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row to life imprisonment without parole, expressing his conviction that “we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” Pope Francis, who had a telephone conversation with the US leader in recent days, had launched an appeal to pray for the prisoners on America's death row, an appeal supported by the US bishops and humanitarian associations.

Assisted Killing Fails to Protect the Vulnerable

Assisted Killing Fails to Protect the Vulnerable - Word on FireKACZOR: UK lawmakers recently approved assisted suicide for those suffering with a terminal illness and given only six months to live. In considering medically assisted killing, O. Carter Snead provides valuable insight in his award-winning book What It Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics. What does it mean to be human? Snead rejects views that fail to adequately appreciate embodied human existence.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Support and Defend the Sacred Value of the Life of the Little Ones in the Womb’

Pope celebrates motherhood: Let us praise God for the miracle of life - Vatican NewsWELLS: On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, just a few days before Christmas, Pope Francis invited the faithful to recognize God’s presence and God’s love for each one, especially “in the gift of every life, of every child carried in its mother’s womb.” The Holy Father based his reflection on the encounter between the Virgin Mary and her cousin, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist – a meeting “of two women rejoicing at the extraordinary gift of motherhood.

How Could the Holy Family Present Jesus in the Temple When They Were Supposed to Have Fled to Egypt?

How%20Could%20the%20Holy%20Family%20Present%20Jesus%20in%20the%20Temple%20When%20They%20Were%20Supposed%20to%20Have%20Fled%20to%20Egypt%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: Many of us grew up hearing the beautiful accounts of Our Lord’s birth as described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. But taking a closer look at these episodes can sometimes become a source of confusion to the more diligent reader. One particularly pertinent problem is figuring out how to reconcile Matthew’s assertion that the Holy Family fled to Egypt right after the visit of the three wise men...

Cleveland Bishop’s Pastoral Letter Puts Prayer at the Forefront of Catholic Life

Cleveland%20Bishop%u2019s%20Pastoral%20Letter%20Puts%20Prayer%20at%20the%20Forefront%20of%20Catholic%20Life%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMASTROMATTEO: Bishop Edward Malesic of the 600,000-soul-strong Cleveland Diocese is drawing on prayer and reflection as key elements in the spiritual renewal of his Catholic flock. In a new pastoral letter, “A Flourishing Apostolic Church,” released Dec. 15, Bishop Malesic said his intent is “that we might recommit ourselves to a daily entry into the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ so that the Church of Cleveland may truly flourish.”

Crazy Love: Siobhan Nash-Marshall, In Memoriam

Crazy Love: Siobhan Nash-Marshall, In Memoriam ~ The Imaginative ConservativeDEAVEL: Perhaps it was because she was the child of diplomats and had learned their ways from growing up, but the late philosopher, writer, and humanitarian Siobhan Nash-Marshall always had an air of mystery, indeed romance, surrounding her. Communications with her always seemed conspiratorial, in large part because they were. Usually either brief, cryptic messages or phone calls in which she was announcing or planning something...

Hallow App’s Alex Jones Calls Liam Neeson Advent Partnership a ‘Mistake’

Hallow%20App%u2019s%20Alex%20Jones%20Calls%20Liam%20Neeson%20Advent%20Partnership%20a%20%u2018Mistake%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLAFFIN: The prayer app Hallow’s decision last Advent to partner with Irish actor Liam Neeson, an outspoken pro-abortion activist, drew condemnation from several prominent Catholics. The decision is one that Hallow CEO Alex Jones now says he would like to have back. “There’s a bunch of stuff we’ve worked through and learned over the last couple of years about all the ways that we have to be careful in terms of how we work”

5 Takeways From the Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

This%20Sunday%2C%20Finish%20Advent%20Like%20Mary%3A%205%20Takeways%20for%20the%20Fourth%20Sunday%2C%20Year%20C%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C and each year when we face the last stretch before Christmas, the Church’s focus shifts to Our Lady. For children, the week before Christmas is a time of unbearable anticipation. For adults it’s a time of intense preparation. Holiday travel makes life harder on both of them.

German Bishops Respond to Deadly Magdeburg Market Attack, Call for Prayer and Peace

Magdeburg Christmas market attack: German bishops pray for victims as death toll reaches 5 | Catholic News AgencyWIMMER: The president of the German Bishops’ Conference and the local bishop of Magdeburg have expressed their shock and offered prayers after a car attack at a Christmas market in eastern Germany on Friday left five people dead and more than 200 injured. The “attack in Magdeburg leaves us speechless. The horror, grief, and sympathy are felt today by many people throughout Germany and worldwide,” Bishop Georg Bätzing said, CNA Deutsch reported.

Portuguese Cardinal Defends His Decision to Take Part in Communist Party Rally

Portuguese Cardinal Defends His Decision to Take Part in Communist Party Rally| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: A Portuguese cardinal who was elevated to the College of Cardinals last year caused controversy earlier this month when he attended a communist rally held by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), the country’s oldest communist party and reputed to be one of the strongest in Western Europe. Cardinal Américo Aguiar, bishop of Setúbal diocese just outside Lisbon...

Hilaire Belloc: A Remaining Christmas

A%20Remaining%20Christmas%20HILAIRE%20BELLOC1928%20%u2013%20Hearth%20%26%20Field: he world is changing very fast, and neither exactly for the better or the worse, but for division. Our civilization is splitting more and more into two camps, and what was common to the whole of it is becoming restricted to the Christian, and soon will be restricted to the Catholic half.

Trump Picks CatholicVote President Brian Burch for US Ambassador to the Holy See

Trump picks CatholicVote President Burch for US ambassador to Holy See | Reuters: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Friday that he had picked Brian Burch, the president of the political advocacy group CatholicVote, to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. "Brian is a devout Catholic, a father of nine ... He represented me well during the last Election," Trump said on TruthSocial.

Why I’m spending Christmas in Bethlehem this year

Why I'm spending Christmas in Bethlehem this yearBRISCOE: This Christmas, while massive crowds of pilgrims will flock to Rome for the opening of the Jubilee year, I’ll be spending the holy season in Bethlehem. For many, Rome’s grand celebrations and newly polished piazzas are the obvious choice for the holiday. But for me, the small, struggling city where Jesus Christ was born holds a deeper urgency — and a quiet, heartbreaking beauty.

Jesus’ Crown of Thorns Returned to Notre Dame Cathedral

Jesus' crown of thorns returned to Notre Dame Cathedral - Catholic Herald: The relic of the crown of thorns was returned to Notre Dame in Paris on Friday last week, five years after it was saved from the devastating fire which almost completely destroyed the cathedral. The crown – a band of branches encased in a circular tube – was carried back to its home in a ceremony presided over by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, which has served as the crown’s honour guard since 1923.

Exploring Jericho — the Easter Bread Basket of the Hagia Sophia, Herod’s Hellacious Hippodrome, a Roadway Fit for a King (and Blind Beggars), and Zacchaeus’ Running Path

cccBEAUDOIN: After getting a good night’s rest, I woke up early to get on the road. I walked to the parking garage in Jerusalem where my car was waiting and drove through the quiet streets of metropolitan Jerusalem on the way to the highway. Small groups of Hasidic Jews in black two-piece suits and ties with hats walked on the sidewalks already actively about their daily business. I drove up and down the densely populated hills around Jerusalem and eventually made it to Highway 1 and headed east...

Embassy Vatican: Some Demystifications

Embassy Vatican: Some Demystifications | Denver CatholicWEIGEL: A change of presidential administrations typically leads to changes in U.S. diplomatic personnel abroad, especially at the ambassadorial level. This, in turn, leads to speculations, some of them zany, about the post of U.S. ambassador to the Holy See (typically mislabeled as “U.S. ambassador to the Vatican”). Herewith, then, some clarifications and demystifications about this position...

Why scientist Blessed Nicolas Steno — the father of modern geology, paleontology and crystallography — became Catholic

From Fossils to Faith: Bl. Nicolas Steno - The Coming Home Network: In this season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation, we are called to quiet down and prepare our hearts to receive Christ anew, to be moved in awe at His presence. We are not asked to do this on blind faith alone. Throughout creation, God has left us signs and wonders of Himself, if only we would take notice.

What Should I Meditate on for the Finding in the Temple?

What%20Should%20I%20Meditate%20on%20For%20the%20Finding%20in%20the%20Temple%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: The story of the Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple brings a range of emotions to the surface. For many Catholics, the whole episode can feel baffling, if not downright traumatic. More than any of the other joyful mysteries, this one seems to encapsulate the title of William Shakespeare’s comedy, All’s Well That Ends Well!

Advent is an opportunity to be governed by God's love

Advent, an opportunity to be governed by God's love. | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul makes the bold claim that everything associated with God works for the good of man and his salvation.[1] The demonstrative nature of St. Paul’s proclamation assumes that a relationship with God is readily possible and tenable. God’s desire to have a loving relationship with His children reflects His intention to care for our souls even when we fall...

Carrying the Dead with Us at Christmas

Carrying the Dead with Us at Christmas - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: It is not an accident that Christmas makes us think of times gone by, and especially of people gone by. Perhaps we experience this as a sort of cruel twist as we get older. We might wonder why it can’t be like it was before, when ‘everyone’ was there. There is much food for thought here; and more, there is surely a great gift hidden under this rather painful wrapping.

What the rededication of Notre Dame (should have) taught us

What the rededication of Notre Dame (should have) taught us | Catholic CultureLAWLER: The reopening of Notre Dame in Paris was a magnificent moment: a triumph of the human spirit, a moving moment for viewers all around the world, an event that drew attention to the glories of the Catholic tradition. Yet unfortunately, on a day that should have showcased the best of that tradition, the actual ceremony exposed the poverty of contemporary liturgical arts...

Pope Francis Declares 16 French Martyrs of Compiègne Saints via Rare ‘Equipollent’ Canonization

Pope Francis declares French Martyrs of Compiegne saints via equipollent canonization | Catholic News Agency: Pope Francis has officially declared the 16 Discalced Carmelite nuns of Compiègne, executed during the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution, as saints through the rare procedure of “equipollent canonization.” Mother Teresa of Saint Augustine and her 15 companions, who were guillotined in Paris as they sang hymns of praise, can immediately be venerated worldwide as saints in the Catholic Church.

5 Steps to Real Catholic Community

5 STEPS TO REAL CATHOLIC COMMUNITY! - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: While still newlyweds, my wife and I moved to a different city, which necessitated joining a new parish. We struggled to make friends and find a community. Nobody intentionally welcomed us in. Nobody reached out to us. Nobody initiated a relationship with us. We tried to get our foot in the door and were pushed out. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon experience for those trying to crack into a new Catholic parish...

Can a Catholic Attend an Invalid Marriage?

Can a Catholic Attend an Invalid Marriage? | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: A common question among Catholics is whether they are permitted to attend invalid marriages (that is, weddings which result in an invalid marriage). Despite the prevalence of the question, there has been little formal explanation by Church authority. The following then is merely one canonist’s view on the topic.

At year's end: Of wish lists and funeral plans

At year's end: Of wish lists and funeral plansSCALIA: So, at the end of 2023, I published my “Catholic Wish List” for 2024, laying out some hopes for the Church that seemed, if not “easy,” then at least reasonable and doable for the truly motivated. Readers said they shared my hopes but believed I was indulging a pipe-dream. Well, as 2024 closes, we see small signs of progress, here and there. A recent announcement that the Vatican will consider...

‘I Started to Feel a Sensation of Heat’: LA Priest Recounts the Miracle That Paved Way for Pier Giorgio Frassati’s Canonization

Los%20Angeles%20Priest%20Recounts%20the%20Miracle%20That%20Paved%20Way%20for%20Pier%20Giorgio%20Frassati%u2019s%20Canonization%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: When a seminarian was injured while playing basketball in 2017, he had no idea it would one day contribute to the cause for canonization of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Father Juan Gutierrez, 38, then a seminarian at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, got an MRI and soon learned he had torn his Achilles tendon. Concerned about the long and painful recovery and expenses, Gutierrez headed for the seminary chapel the following day “with a heavy heart.”

Aeroplanes, Advent, and ‘Power Made Perfect’

Aeroplanes%2C%20advent%2C%20and%20%u2018power%20made%20perfect%u2019JDFLYNN: Today’s the first day of the O Antiphons. And 121 years ago today, December 17, 1903, two Ohio brothers changed the world, at the base of a sand dune on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It wasn’t that Orville and Wilbur first flew the Wright Flyer that day. They’d had a successful takeoff a few days early, but the engine stalled quickly and the landing was hard. What they did on Dec. 17 was to both take off and land.

Pope Francis Reveals He Was Almost Assassinated in 2021; Suicide Bombers ‘Blown Up’ With Help of British Intelligence

British intelligence foiled Pope assassination plot: Pope Francis marked his 88th birthday by revealing that he survived two planned suicide attacks against him during a 2021 visit to Iraq because of a tip-off from British intelligence. In an excerpt from his forthcoming autobiography, the pontiff said that he was informed by police of at least two known suicide bombers targeting one of his planned events after he landed in Baghdad in March 2021.

The Best Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurants In Every State

The Best Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurants In Every State: Any city-dweller will know about all the popular restaurants in their city. Maybe they're located in a town center, locally acclaimed for having a stunning ambiance or known for having the best burgers in town made by award-winning chefs. There's a lot to be said about a well-known eatery whose food deserves every ounce of recognition it gets, and whose flash draws in visitors off the street like bugs to a lantern...

‘Die Hard’ is not a Christmas movie, unless...

(3) "Die Hard" is not a Christmas movie, unless ... - by tmattMATTINGLY: What does “tradition” mean? What is “Christmas magic”? Is any of that magic supernatural or spiritual? Thus, I will ask: Has anyone seen a Hallmark-esque movie that included any kind of reference to religious faith, maybe even a pause to explain an Advent wreath, a Nativity scene or why the family is lighting Hanukkah lights? In other words, is religious faith a concept that is safe enough to be included in shopping-mall Christmas movies about...

Jimmy Lai Quizzed Over ‘Seditious Retweet’ in Hong Kong Court

Jimmy%20Lai%20quizzed%20over%20%u2018seditious%20retweet%u2019%20in%20HK%20court: The jailed Catholic publisher Jimmy Lai returned to court in Hong Kong Monday to give testimony in his trial under the territory’s controversial National Security Law. Lai, who has been in prison since 2020, is accused of colluding with foreign powers and publishing seditious materials. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

Why do some priests steal? The reason is surprising, say scholars, and it’s not what you think

When%20some%20priests%20steal%2C%20it%u2019s%20often%20not%20due%20to%20financial%20pressure%2C%20say%20scholars%20-%20OSV%20News: With several high-profile cases involving financial mismanagement by priests emerging in recent years, two researchers have found some surprising reasons behind clerical embezzlement — and, they told OVS News, financial pressure isn’t usually one of them, as their long-term data shows.

Rejoice, The Lord Is Near — Have No Anxiety At All

Rejoice%2C%20The%20Lord%20Is%20Near%20%u2013%20Have%20No%20Anxiety%20At%20All%20%7C%20Parishable%20ItemsFELTES: A story is told of an old American Indian speaking to his young grandchild seated at his feet. “Inside of me there are two wolves,” the grandfather explains. “One of these wolves is virtuous: patient, kind, chaste, generous, forgiving, and loving. But the other wolf is vicious: angry, cruel, lustful, greedy, unforgiving, and hateful. These wolves are battling within me in a fight to the death.” The child asks, “Which wolf is gonna win, Grandpa?” The grandfather replies, “The one that I feed.”

Pope Francis Visits Corsica: ‘Popular Piety Fosters Evangelization and Community’

Pope%20in%20Corsica%3A%20%u2018Popular%20piety%20fosters%20evangelization%20and%20community%u2019%20-%20Vatican%20News: Far from being an obsolete folkloristic expression, popular piety can be a powerful means for evangelization today, fostering community and belonging, Pope Francis said in his first speech during his Apostolic Journey to Corsica.

The Mystical Art of St. John of the Cross

The Mystical Art of St. John of the Cross| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: John de Yepes came into the world in Spain in 1542, the child of silk weavers. He grew up poor, was apprenticed, and had the fortune partially to attend a Jesuit-run school. Severe in his mortifications, he had visions calling him to religious life in its austere grandeur. In 1563, he entered the Carmelites, taking the name-in-religion of John of St. Matthias. John lived in the Spain of St. Teresa of Ávila. She was engaged in efforts to reform the Carmelite order by returning to its more rigorous...

Corsica, Consalvi, China ... and Francis

Corsica, Consalvi, China. . .and Francis - The Catholic ThingDESOUZA: From his first trip as pope to Lampedusa, the travel destinations of Pope Francis have been idiosyncratic. But none quite as much as this week when, after declining the invitation for the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris, he is visiting Corsica on Sunday. Pope Francis has decided not to visit the major European capitals, except if obliged by necessity, as when he visited Krakow and Lisbon for World Youth Day. So his European visits are off the usual papal track.

Why Do the Gospels Tell Us So Little About Jesus’ Childhood?

Why%20Do%20the%20Gospels%20Tell%20Us%20So%20Little%20About%20Jesus%u2019s%20Childhood%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: For believers who take the Word of God seriously, the near-deafening silence on the part of the four evangelists about the so-called “hidden years” of Jesus—those thirty or so years between His birth and the beginning of His ministry—can be a source of disappointment. Wouldn’t it be exciting to hear some anecdotes about the Holy Family’s beach vacation on the Sea of Galilee? And wouldn’t young people benefit from a stirring tale of Jesus’s devotion to prayer and virtue during his adolescence?

Luigi Mangione and Killing to Right a Wrong

Luigi Mangione and Killing to Right a Wrong - Word on FireKACZOR: An electronic road sign in Seattle read “One Less CEO, Many More to Go.” The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson brought celebration not just in Seattle. People refused to help find the alleged killer Luigi Mangione, and others cooed over his good looks. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is entirely right to unequivocally condemn the online praise of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson...

Pope Francis Set to Visit French Island of Corsica on Sunday — 47th Trip Abroad During Papacy

Pilgrim Pope set to visit the island of Corsica on Sunday - Vatican News: On the one hand, popular piety, the faith of ordinary people, expressed in pilgrimages, acts of devotion in sanctuaries, traditional songs and prayers; on the other, the Mediterranean with its challenges, the echoes of war, the tragedy of migration that has turned the Mare Nostrum into an ‘open-air cemetery’: Pope Francis’ apostolic journey on 15 December to Corsica, Napoleon's birthplace, known as Île de beauté, the “island of beauty” with its landscapes framed by forests, beaches and mountains, endangered by man-made environmental crises, will encompass these two elements.

Christmas Calls for Tradition and Creativity

Christmas Calls for Tradition and Creativity - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: The story is told of the family that year after year, regardless of the neighbors raising questions, was true to their tradition of cutting the leg of a pig a little shorter than normal butchering practice. Eventually it came to light that their particular practice had no basis other than the diminutive size of some ancestor’s pot—a pot long out of use. The practice of traditions–including at Christmas–need not be slavish or undiscerning.

‘Blue Bloods’: The Most Catholic Network TV Series Bids Farewell

%u2018Blue%20Bloods%u2019%3A%20The%20Most%20Catholic%20Network%20TV%20Series%20Bids%20Farewell%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: The most Catholic show on network television has its finale tonight, 14 years and 283 episodes after its premiere in September 2010. Blue Bloods has had an extraordinary run in a time when network television has been hemorrhaging audiences. Blue Bloods is not only a police drama. It’s a family drama about a police family. Tom Selleck stars as Francis (Frank) Xavier Reagan, the Irish Catholic police commissioner of New York City...

‘Dumbed-Down Catholicism Was a Disaster’: The Atlantic Profiles Bishop Robert Barron and Word on Fire

How%20Robert%20Barron%20Became%20America%u2019s%20Most-Watched%20Bishop%20-%20The%20Atlantic: hen Nick Chancey was a boy in West Virginia, he didn’t have much time for Christianity. He spent the occasional Sunday hiking into the woods with his father to offer a cup of milk and a handful of quarters to forest fairies. His dad kept a small Buddhist statue at home, and dabbled in Native American spirituality and “druid and Celtic stuff,” Chancey told me. “It was not uncommon for the Baptist preacher in his Sunday best to show up on our doorstep and for my dad to cuss the guy off the porch because he was saying we were going to hell.”

Catholicism used to give me the creeps. Then I discovered the Church Fathers and my eyes were opened...

The Perfect Storm - The Coming Home Network: As a young man of twenty-nine, fresh into ministry, I was privileged to take a mission trip to Campinas, Brazil. While there, our interpreter was kind enough to show us some of the local sites, including the Metropolitan Cathedral. As a budding young Baptist minister, I simply had no box for what I encountered there. The church was very large and magnificent. The outside was topped with impressive statues of I knew not who, and the inside was filled with intricate wood carvings...

Female ‘Episcopal Delegate’ Added to Eucharistic Prayer Alongside Pope and Bishop in Belgian Province

Female%20%u2018episcopal%20delegate%u2019%20added%20to%20Eucharistic%20Prayer%20in%20Belgian%20provinceCOPPEN: A Nov. 6 letter to clergy in the vicariate of Brabant Walloon, a French-speaking area south of the capital, Brussels, proposed naming Rebecca Alsberge alongside the pope and the local bishop in the Eucharistic Prayer. In Belgium, an episcopal delegate is a territorial coordinator responsible for a region of a diocese — typically overseen by an auxiliary bishop in other countries.

Nancy Pelosi Is Half Right: Her Soul Is Her Bishop’s ‘Problem’

Nancy%20Pelosi%20Is%20Half%20Right%3A%20Her%20Soul%20Is%20Her%20Bishop%u2019s%20%u2018Problem%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: The days are drawing nigh on the end of the political careers of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, once the two most powerful Catholic politicians in the world. Given the scandal they’ve caused over the years by repeatedly distorting and openly defying some of the fundamental principles of their common faith, one might say the days can’t draw nigh soon enough.

This Sunday, He Commands You to Rejoice: 5 Takeaways for Gaudete Sunday

This%20Sunday%2C%20He%20Commands%20You%20to%20Rejoice%3A%20Five%20Gaudete%20Sunday%20Takeaways%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: This Sunday is Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, Year C. It’s called that for several reasons: “Rejoice” is the first word of the Entrance Antiphon at Mass; the pink candle means we’re more than halfway to Christmas; and the readings stop focusing on the terrible times to come and start expecting the joy that’s nearly here. Here are six takeaways from the readings at Mass, taken from previous “This Sunday” columns.

Pope Francis Meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Vatican Amid Gaza Crisis

Pope Francis meets Palestinian leader Abbas amid Gaza crisis | Catholic News AgencyWIMMER: Pope Francis received Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican on Thursday for discussions focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prospects for peace in the Holy Land. During the 30-minute audience, which was followed by meetings with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states, the leaders emphasized the importance of reaching a solution for “the two states only through dialogue and diplomacy,” according to a Vatican statement.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Maiden Who Brought the Sun to Earth

The Maiden Who Brought the Sun to Earth| National Catholic Register: In the morning twilight of Dec. 9, 1531, a breathtaking chorus of birdsong stopped the Aztec Indian Juan Diego in his tracks as he was rounding the foot of a hill called Tepeyac. The birds’ music so enthralled the fervent convert that he asked himself whether he was in a dream or, perhaps, even in Heaven, for the hill itself seemed to be singing responses to the birds each time their chorus quieted, a miraculous symphony of nature greeting the dawn...

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, ‘snake crusher,’ was flown at the Battle of Lepanto

Guadalupe at Lepanto - Crisis MagazineFITZPATRICK: Most Catholics wouldn’t consider the motherly image of Our Lady of Guadalupe a martial image. The serene, pregnant Virgin—signified by the black sash expectant Aztec women wore, appeared to St. Juan Diego and upon his cactus-fiber tilma in 1531, a decade after Christianity came to the Mesoamerican people. In a tender vision to Diego’s uncle, the same Lady disclosed her name, “Santa Maria de Guadalupe,” though many think the now-famous title is a mistranslation of “Coatlaloppe,” meaning “snake crusher,” which is anything but tender.

Here are 10 suggestions for Christmas book-giving in 2024

Books%20for%20Christmas%20%u2013%202024%20%7C%20Denver%20CatholicWEIGEL: A friend told me recently that bookstores were making something of a comeback. I hope that’s true, because browsing bookstores is one of life’s great pleasures. (For the ultimate such experience, visit Hatchards at 187 Piccadilly in London). In the spirit of happy browsing, here are some suggestions for Christmas book-giving (not “gifting”!) at a historical moment that needs equal doses of realism and hope.

Pope’s Wednesday Audience: ‘May the Holy Spirit Help Us Abound in Hope’

Pope%20at%20Audience%3A%20May%20the%20Spirit%20help%20us%20%u2018abound%20in%20hope%u2019%20-%20Vatican%20News: Pope Francis dedicated his reflection at the General Audience to the theme of “The Holy Spirit and the Bride: the Holy Spirit guides the People of God towards Jesus our hope”, the title of the cycle of catechesis that concluded on Wednesday.

Prepare the Way of the Lord with a Good Confession

Prepare the Way of the Lord with a Good Confession | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: The Word of God came to John in the wilderness. John “went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

Is Pope Francis fighting youthful battles all over again?

Is Pope Francis fighting youthful battles all over again? | Catholic CultureMIRUS: It’s amazing how out of touch with current reality we can become as we age. I’ve mentioned before Hilaire Belloc’s interesting thesis that people in their sixties tend to still fight the battles in which they were engaged in their twenties and thirties, even though current problems might be quite different. The battles we keep fighting also depend on our personal inclinations, and if our inclinations haven’t changed...

‘Wisdom’, Be Attentive! (Life Finds a Way)

%u2018Wisdom%u2019%2C%20be%20attentive%21%20%28life%20finds%20a%20way%29JDFLYNN: We’ve got the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday, and yesterday was St. Juan Diego (kinda — he was actually bumped for the Immaculate Conception, which was itself bumped from the 8th for an Advent Sunday). Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, and the pious legend (there are some interesting facts about Loreto here) that angels transported the Holy Family’s house from Nazareth to mountainous northeastern Italy.

Hundreds make horseback pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Illinois

Hundreds make horseback pilgrimage to Des Plaines Marian shrine: Fidelia Meza has a devotion to the Virgin Mary. When the 31-year-old Catholic from Kankakee County got married, she brought roses to Mary. When celebrating the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Meza typically brings her more flowers — that is, she might lay flowers near a statue of Mary in a church and pray.

Loreto or Bust: U.S. Bishop’s Italian Misadventure Leads to Unexpected Spiritual Renewal

Loreto%20or%20Bust%3A%20U.S.%20Bishop%u2019s%20Italian%20Misadventure%20Leads%20to%20Unexpected%20Spiritual%20Renewal%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: G.K. Chesterton once remarked that an adventure is really an inconvenience “rightly considered.” If that’s true, then Bishop Kevin Rhoades went on a proper quest during his recent time in Italy. One that included a series of mishaps, but also brought the 67-year-old Indiana bishop back to the roots of his vocation and to an encounter with Our Lady of Loreto...

Healing at Lourdes of British World War I Soldier Officially Declared ‘Miraculous’

Healing%20at%20Lourdes%20of%20British%20World%20War%20I%20soldier%20declared%20%u2018miraculous%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The healing of a British World War I soldier at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France has been proclaimed as the 71st miracle attributed to the pilgrimage site. Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool in England declared the miraculous healing of John Traynor, a soldier of the British Royal Navy, on Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 81st anniversary of his death.

The Holy Spirit is working through you more profoundly than you realize

The Subtle Spirit | Parishable ItemsFELTES: I would like to highlight certain stories about three people: Mary, Paul, and Caiaphas. First, consider the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate how she was created by God, conceived entirely free from the wounds of original sin. Throughout her existence, she has been filled with God’s grace. She is the holiest woman who has ever lived. And yet, she was shocked that an angel would ever visit her. “Hail, full of grace,” announced the Archangel Gabriel...

Catholic Deacon in Bay Area Says His Dazzling Christmas Light Display Has Led to 82 Marriage Proposals and Even a ‘Miracle’

82 Marriage Proposals and a 'Miracle': Inside Deacon's Christmas Light Display: Deacon Dave Rezendes remembers the time a stranger came to see his Christmas light display after flying into the Bay Area. As they were passing by, the pilot told passengers to look out the window to see the blazingly bright Livermore home. “He said everyone could see it from the window and he rented a car just to come to Livermore to see it,” Rezendes, 81, tells PEOPLE, adding that the man was not disappointed.

Roll Over, Beethoven: This Catholic Girls School is Shaking Up Radio Station’s Classics Countdown

Roll%20Over%2C%20Beethoven%3A%20This%20Catholic%20Girls%20School%20is%20Shaking%20Up%20Radio%20Station%u2019s%20Classics%20Countdown%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRESS: Each year the classical radio station in Washington, D.C. WETA (90.9) hosts the annual Classical Countdown. Listeners vote on their top three favorite classical pieces and then the top 100 pieces are played the week of Thanksgiving. For years and years, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (which includes the Ode to Joy) has taken first place...

‘From the First Moment of Her Conception ... in View of the Merits of Jesus Christ ... Free From All Stain of Original Sin’

Mary%u2019s%20Perfect%20%u2018Yes%u2019%3A%20Why%20the%20Immaculate%20Conception%20Was%20Fitting%20for%20Salvation%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterCHAPP: This year is the 170th anniversary of the promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX in his encyclical Ineffabilis Deus (1854), which declared that the Virgin Mary, “from the first moment of her conception … was, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of Mankind, kept free from all stain of original sin.”

Wicked: How the Flying Monkeys Got Their Wings

How the Flying Monkeys Got Their Wings� | The Heights ForumGRANNIS: By far the most important thing to know about the film release of Wicked is this: it’s only Act One of the musical. This caught me by surprise, because the film is called Wicked (rather than, say, Wicked, Act One or Something Bad Is Happening in Oz or even How the Flying Monkeys Got Their Wings). And I had noticed that the run time was 2:40, which seemed about right for a Broadway musical adaptation...

Catholic University of America facing $30 million deficit

Catholic University of America facing $30 million deficit: The president of The Catholic University of America announced on Tuesday a $30 million “structural deficit,” and has asked university personnel for ideas to generate revenue and cut costs in the coming year.

Christendom College’s Grand ‘Botafumeiro,’ Inspired by Santiago De Compostela, Honors Christ the King

Catholic%20college%u2019s%20grand%20%u2018botafumeiro%2C%u2019%20inspired%20by%20Spain%2C%20honors%20Christ%20the%20King%20-%20OSV%20News: It was the feast of Christ the King — Sunday, Nov. 24 — and excited yet hushed murmurs of expectation rippled through the worshippers assembled for vespers at Christendom College’s Christ the King Chapel in Front Royal.

What happened to the Pope’s face? Pope Francis faces surprises before his 88th birthday...

What happened to the Pope's face? Pope Francis faces surprises before his 88th birthday - ZENIT - English: As Pope Francis approaches his 88th birthday, the past week has brought a mix of minor injuries, unexpected protests, and moments of quiet reflection for the pontiff.

Notre Dame Cathedral ‘Back in the Light’ After Glorious Reopening

Notre%20Dame%20Cathedral%20%u2018back%20in%20the%20light%u2019%20after%20glorious%20reopening%20%A0%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The doors of the newly restored Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral were officially reopened to the public during a ceremony Saturday evening just over five years after a blaze ravaged the iconic structure’s roof, frame, and spire. The celebration, which began at around 7:20 p.m. local time, was attended by some 1,500 people, including around 40 heads of state, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This Sunday, Huge Hope: 5 Takeaways From the Second Sunday of Advent

This%20Sunday%2C%20Huge%20Hope%3A%20Five%20Takeaways%20From%20the%20Second%20Sunday%20of%20Advent%2C%20Year%20C%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: In the Gospel, we hear about the appearance of John the Baptist and his message — “Prepare the way of the Lord” — could not have found a more ill-suited time. John appears in “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,” an emperor who the ancient historian Pliny the Elder called him “the gloomiest of men” and who the historian Tacitus painted as a merciless tyrant who killed those accused of disloyalty and forbad their families from mourning them...

Immaculate Conception on an Advent Sunday: When to Go to Mass?

Immaculate Conception on an Advent Sunday: When to go to Mass? | Catholic News Agency: This year, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is a holy day of obligation, falls on the Second Sunday of Advent. So, are Catholics obligated to go to Mass twice? The answer is yes.

For Christians, and for Everyone Else, an Uncharted Future in Syria

For Christians, and for Everyone Else, an Uncharted Future in Syria| National Catholic Register: We’ve seen the images before: long lines of ragged, heavily armed, bearded men entering a city whose defenses have seemingly collapsed like a house of cards. It happened in Afghanistan twice, most recently in 2021. It happened in some cities in Iraq in 2014. It is now happening in Syria.

Nun arrested over alleged links to Italy’s most powerful mafia gang, the ‘Ndrangheta

Nun arrested over alleged links to Italy's most powerful mafia gang, the 'Ndrangheta - Catholic Herald: A Catholic nun has been arrested by Italian police on suspicion of assisting a mafia network. One of a group of 25 people arrested in the police operation, Sister Anna Donelli is alleged by prosecutors to have taken advantage of her role as a prison volunteer to act as a contact between jailed members of the so-called ‘Ndrangheta mafia gang and members of the gang on the outside, reports the Daily Telegraph...

Catholic Bishop in Africa Seriously Injured in Assault by Sudan’s Paramilitary Group RSF

Catholic bishop in Sudan seriously injured in assault by Rapid Forces | Catholic News Agency: The bishop of the Diocese of El-Obeid in Sudan has shared his harrowing experience at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who tortured him and left him seriously injured. Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali, who was accompanied by a deacon, fell into the hands of the paramilitary force while he was traveling to the embattled country.

St. Nicholas, Notre Dame’s Opening Day, and Driving Like an American Dad

Goldenballs, opening day, and drive timeCONDON: Nicholas is, of course, famous for other things, but I have always found it most curious that his is listed as patron saint of pawnbrokers — the international symbol of which is three gold balls, harkening back to the purses of gold he is meant to have deposited down a family chimney to save the resident daughters from a future of… keeping low company.

The Long Advent of 1940 and the Scandal of the Incarnation

The%20Long%20Advent%20of%201940%20%26%20the%20Scandal%20of%20the%20Incarnation%20%u2013%20Hearth%20%26%20FieldHANNING: During the arduous Advent of 1940, a motley crew of French and Belgian intelligentsia along with a few Jesuit priests prepared a Nativity play for their fellow captives and their German captors at the POW camp in Trier, Germany. In the penultimate scene of the play, the narrator beckons toward the unlikely tableau of a God born man.

The Conditions for Ultimate Greatness

The Conditions for Ultimate Greatness ~ The Imaginative ConservativeDEAVEL: A friend asked me recently, “Is there any publication that reviews books that aren’t new?” I told her proudly that we do that here at The Imaginative Conservative. Our conservative imagination is such that we don’t believe that “new” equals better or more worthy nor does “old” mean worse or unworthy. Books are not like jugs of milk...

Be Not Afraid: How to Give Your Kids Peaceful Hearts in an Anxious Culture

Be Not Afraid: How to Give Your Kids Peaceful Hearts in an Anxious Culture| National Catholic RegisterCLARK: Earlier this year, I took a five-month break from Facebook. The politically-themed posts and comments had simply become too toxic to read. In an election year, one has come to expect — albeit tearfully lament — that posts (even from many Catholics) will be grievously uncharitable. To be sure, the election cycle of 2024 offered a smorgasbord of sins against charity, but it also offered a generous helping of apocalyptic declarations.

8 Little-Known Facts About Notre Dame Cathedral

8 Little-Known Facts About Notre Dame Cathedral| National Catholic Register: Notre-Dame de Paris is about to open its doors to visitors again on Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It’s been five years since the terrible fire that ravaged its roof, roof frame and spire, causing shock throughout the world, far beyond the Catholic faithful. This medieval Gothic jewel — which, until its closure, was France’s most visited site, with some 13 million visitors a year, far ahead of the Eiffel Tower — is inextricably linked to the grand and epic history of France and to the soul of its people.

Bible Boom 2024: Why Are People Buying So Many Bibles?

Bible boom: Why are people buying so many Bibles? | Catholic News Agency: Is the Bible — already the most widely printed book of all time — having a moment? As recently reported by the Wall Street Journal, Bible sales — across a variety of editions — rose 22% in the U.S. through the end of October 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. This is despite nearly a third of U.S. adults identifying as religiously unaffiliated.

This is the book that people need to read, right now

The great P.D. James didn't write today's headlinesMATTINGLY: Is anyone out there looking for a timely Christmas present for a reader — young adults and up — who can handle hard questions? In this case, we are talking a prophetic masterpiece by one of the great British writers of the 20th Century, the late P.D. James. She kept writing into her 90s, releasing “Death Comes to Pemberley” in 2011. But the book that people need to read...

Trump to attend Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening as church bells to ring across US this Saturday at 2pm EST

Trump to attend Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening as church bells ring across US - Catholic Herald: The US president-elect has announced plans to travel to Paris this weekend to attend the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral, in what would be his first foreign visit since winning the presidential election at the start of November.

FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users — Be Careful Sending Texts Between Platforms

FBI%20Warns%20iPhone%20And%20Android%20Users%u2014Stop%20Sending%20Texts: Timing is everything. Just as Apple’s adoption of RCS had seemed to signal a return to text messaging versus the unstoppable growth of WhatsApp, then along comes a surprising new hurdle to stop that in its tracks. While messaging Android to Android or iPhone to iPhone is secure, messaging from one to the other is not.

Which Is More Powerful: Lasers or Lightning? There’s Only One Fun Way to Find Out

New%20Advent%3A%20Which%20Is%20More%20Powerful%3A%20Lasers%20or%20Lightning%3F%20There%u2019s%20Only%20One%20Fun%20Way%20to%20Find%20Out: From YouTuber Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs...

13 Traditions for Keeping an Advent Attitude

13 traditions for keeping an Advent attitude - OSV News: Advent is the perfect time to make a retreat, and opportunities abound, whether it’s overnight retreats, days of reflection, parish missions or evening events. Stepping away from the hustle and bustle is enticing, especially as we prepare our hearts for Christmas...

‘Luce,’ mascot of dumbed-down Catholicism

%u201CLuce%2C%u201D%20mascot%20of%20dumbed-down%20Catholicism%20%7C%20Denver%20CatholicWEIGEL: During his years as professor of fundamental theology at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, Salvatore “Rino” Fisichella was often cited by American seminarians as their favorite professor – an exponent of dynamic orthodoxy whose engaging classroom style was a blessed relief from the stolid ways of the Roman academy. Later, after Pope John Paul II issued Fides et Ratio...

The only question that matters is whether Jesus Christ is really the Lord of creation. You must decide — and act accordingly...

Doers of the Word - The Catholic ThingMAIER: Words matter. They express but also shape our thoughts, which in turn frame the way we live. Here’s an example: The words of the Nicene Creed are crucial to Christian belief. They’ve summarized and guided the Christian faith for 1,700 years. We recite them routinely every Sunday at Mass, but there was nothing routine in their origin. Good people argued, fought, and died in formulating them...

‘Harry Potter’ Author J.K. Rowling Opens Up About ‘Thousands of Threats’ She’s Received for Opposing Transgenderism

JK%20Rowling%20Opens%20Up%20About%20%u2018Thousands%20of%20Threats%u2019%20She%u2019s%20Received%20for%20Opposing%20Transgenderism%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMURPHY: Author J.K. Rowling has opened up this week about the harsh treatment she has received — including “thousands of threats of murder, rape and violence” — for daring to speak out against the dangers of gender ideology. “A trans woman posted my family's home address with a bomb-making guide,” the British author of the “Harry Potter” books reveals in a now-viral Dec. 2 social media post...

Archbishop Sheen’s Beatification ‘Inevitable’ Amid Growing Devotion, Says Foundation Head

Archbishop%20Sheen%u2019s%20canonization%20%u2018inevitable%u2019%20amid%20growing%20devotion%2C%20says%20foundation%20head%20-%20OSV%20News: Despite a few high-profile delays in recent years, the canonization of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen — the popular, scholarly archbishop and 20th-century pioneer of Catholic broadcasting — is “inevitable,” said the head of the foundation supporting his cause. “The desire to see Sheen beatified is increasing, and there is a growing devotion to him,” Msgr. Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, told OSV News.

Singing isn’t just for choir lofts. Singing is something every amateur, with love, should do at home...

Singing in the Home: Is It Essential? - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: “Only the lover sings.” Though St. Augustine’s rightly famous words strike us as true, we perhaps do not immediately grasp a corollary: love calls for and even demands singing. To sing—at least in a certain way—both expresses and cultivates the very love from which it springs. And as with so many of the basic human dispositions and practices, this should begin in the home...

SCOTUS to Hear Oral Argument on Wednesday in ‘US v. Skrmetti,’ Major Case on Sex Changes for Minors

SCOTUS%20Takes%20Up%20Case%20on%20Sex%20Changes%20for%20Minors%20%u2014%20Here%u2019s%20What%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: The Supreme Court will hear oral argument Wednesday in U.S. v. Skrmetti, one of the most consequential cases under review by the Court this term. Here is a quick primer on what the Skrmetti case is all about: In spring 2023, shortly after Tennessee lawmakers passed SB1, a law that prohibits all medical treatments intended to allow “a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex”...

9 Can’t-Miss History Books to Give to Dads This Christmas

9 Can't-Miss History Books to Gift to Dads This Christmas | The Art of Manliness: I remember when I was a kid, and my dad was in his forties, Christmas shopping for him was tough. By this point in his life, the guy had pretty much everything he wanted or needed. Socket set? Had it. Ties? He had plenty of those and didn’t want any more. Briefcase? Acquired. Cologne? He had his go-to drugstore cologne and bought more on an as-needed basis. Even though he was pretty set, the one thing he still enjoyed finding under the Christmas tree was a new book.

60 Minutes: Notre Dame rebuilt, reverently restored 5 years after world watched French cathedral burn

New Advent: 60 Minutes: Notre Dame rebuilt, reverently restored 5 years after world watched French cathedral burn: Five years after a fire ravaged the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the beloved Paris landmark is set to reopen. With finishing touches underway, French President Emmanuel Macron tells 60 Minutes what it means...

Pope Francis: Where have the people gone?

MondayVatican%20%u2013%20Vatican%20%BB%20Pope%20Francis%3A%20Where%20have%20the%20people%20gone%3F%20%7C%20MondayVaticanGAGLIARDUCCI: The new papal funeral rite has a striking detail: in the first phase, the one at home, the dead Pope is exposed in a simple white cassock. This is particularly unusual. Priests are composed in their vestments because a priest is a priest forever. All the more so for a bishop, who is “chief priest” and possesses what we call “fullness of orders” in Catholic parlance...

5 Brief Advent Themes

Five Brief Advent Themes - Community in MissionPOPE: Autumn and early winter are times of great seasonal change. The leaves turn brilliant colors then fade and fall. The shadows lengthen as the days grow shorter and colder. The warmth of summer and vacations seem distant memories and we are reminded once again that the things of this world last but a moment and pass away. Even so, we look forward as well. Christmas can be a wonderful time of year.

Survey Says: Here’s What Catholic Priests Want Their Staff Members To Know

What Catholic Priests Want Their Staff Members To Know! - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: I know hundreds of priests and bishops and am friends with many of them. It is a perk of my job that I have conversations with priests when they let their guard down and know that I can be someone they can be real with. The vast majority of our priests are amazing men who want to serve God and the Church...

Nativity Scene in Lebanon Vandalized

Nativity scene in Lebanon vandalized: Is it an early sign of seasonal tensions? | Catholic News Agency: A gun was placed near a Nativity scene on Nov. 23 in the town of Faraya in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon in the country of Lebanon, sparking outrage among locals. Residents gathered in the town square ringing the church bells in protest. Security forces have been assisting in efforts to calm the tensions.

Pope’s Sunday Angelus: ‘Be Vigilant and Turn Your Gaze to Heaven’

Pope at Angelus: Be vigilant and turn your gaze to Heaven - Vatican News: Pope Francis led the customary Angelus prayer on this first Sunday of Advent and reflected on the Gospel reading in which Jesus speaks to us about cosmic upheavals and the anxieties and fears humanity faces. The reading recounts how the Lord offers words of hope and encouragement. When speaking of the coming of the Son of Man, He tells his disciples to stand up and raise their heads to heaven as their redemption is at hand.