Finding peace amid Christmas season in ‘big city’ December 5, 2025By Mark Viviano Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary, Feature, Full-Court Catholic When it’s Christmastime in the city, Christ’s presence can still loom larger than any skyscraper, draw big crowds and applause, and shine brighter than any light.
Why authentic friendships outshine AI companions December 5, 2025By Sister Nancy Usslemann OSV News Filed Under: Commentary True friendship reflects the relationship of the Trinity which is irreplaceable by technology.
The boozy brew Charles Dickens popularized, and its connection to St. Nicholas December 5, 2025By Sarah Robsdottir OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary Cedric Dickens, Charles Dickens’ great grandson, talks about the significance of the hot, boozy beverage and its place in the closing scene of “A Christmas Carol” in the introduction of his book “Drinking with Dickens”:
Four steps for Christian discipleship in Advent December 4, 2025By Father Robert J Hater OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary During Advent, traditional reflections remind us that our call to evangelize involves waiting and anticipation. As we move toward Christmas, we relive the long-expected coming of the Messiah by the Jewish people.
A match made by heaven December 4, 2025By Jaymie Stuart Wolfe OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marriage & Family Life The Bible clearly tells us that the happily ever after we all long for is a marriage.
Books for Christmas 2025 December 3, 2025By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: Books, Commentary, The Catholic Difference Surveys indicate that reading books is dropping precipitously across all age groups. This is a tragedy in itself; it’s also a social disaster, as a post-literate society risks becoming a post-rational society. All the more reason, then, to consider giving books for Christmas: books that entertain, inform, and open new horizons of understanding.
Question Corner: Do Catholics give things up for Advent? December 3, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Question Corner Catholics aren’t required to “give anything up” for Advent. And even while the practice of taking on an additional, personal Lenten penance is a well-established and praiseworthy custom, Catholics technically aren’t required to do anything extra for Lent beyond the usual fasting and abstinence from meat (see Canon 1251 of the Code of Canon Law).
That’s No Coincidence December 2, 2025By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window I never would have thought those two things would happen on the same day.
‘One mightier than I is coming’: Advent with St. John the Baptist December 2, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Saints While we celebrate both John’s birth (on June 24) and death (Aug. 29), it is during Advent that the liturgy amplifies John’s role as the precursor of Christ. It is John who, as God’s instrument, tells the world to get ready, the Messiah is coming; it is John who will then single out the Messiah living in the midst of man.
The importance of ‘Gaudium et Spes,’ 60 years later December 2, 2025By Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez OSV News Filed Under: Commentary The “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World” is rich in tradition and yet boldly new in the way it presents that tradition to the world. It is a manifesto of love directed toward an ever more secularized world, a world that looks with skepticism at the church.
The time that has been given to us December 2, 2025By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary What do I choose to do with the time given me? Worry prevents me from using my precious time freely and constructively. Anxiety inhibits my boldness.
Accompanying Dad on his final journey: View from the treehouse December 1, 2025By Barb Arland-Fye OSV News Filed Under: Commentary My memories of the father who loved his family, lifted us up and lived his Catholic faith in word, thought and deed.
