‘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.
What does World War I have to do with the solemnity of Christ the King, which marks a century this year? November 15, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, Catholics celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. A relative newcomer to the church calendar — established in the 20th century — this feast is designed to give special recognition to the dominion Christ our Lord has over all aspects of our lives.
The history behind All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days October 28, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Saints All Saints is a churchwide holy day of obligation and normally celebrated on Nov. 1. If the first day of November falls on a Saturday or Monday, at least in the United States, the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated. All Souls’ Day takes place on Nov. 2, unless it falls on a Sunday, then the celebration is held Nov. 3.
How a Norbertine nun’s visions led to the feast of Corpus Christi June 19, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Eucharist, News, Saints, World News Beginning in 1208, Jesus would use a pious, holy and humble nun, St. Juliana of Cornillon, as his instrument to take advantage of the increasing visual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and, at the same time, return the People of God to regularly receiving holy Communion. Juliana would be Christ’s source to establish the feast of Corpus Christi.
Fathers of the Church: The Greek (or Eastern) Fathers June 10, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News The Catholic Church has long honored early Christian leaders, theologians and teachers from the East (Greek) and West (Latin) as Fathers of the Church. Unlike doctors of the church, there is no official list of Church Fathers.
The origins of our sacred creeds June 9, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Every Sunday through the Nicene Creed, we Catholics profess our faith in Jesus Christ and express our complete conviction to the divine persons of the Most Holy Trinity.
Guide to the ecumenical councils of the church June 8, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Many sacred beliefs of our Catholic faith can be traced to the 21 ecumenical councils held since the fourth century.
Fathers of the Church: The Latin (or Western) Fathers June 7, 2025By D.D. Emmons Filed Under: News, Saints, World News The Fathers helped define, establish and promote the dogmas of the Catholic faith. They not only explained and advanced Christianity, but they stood against those who would defame, deny or exploit our Lord, Jesus Christ.
How Jesus’ visits to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque spread love of his Sacred Heart June 1, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News It was a young nun named Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Visitation order at Paray-le-Monial, France, who would become Jesus’ conduit to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart throughout the Roman Church.
Conclave: Going inside and exploring the history of a papal election May 2, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News The extensive role of the cardinals in today’s papal elections and in the church can be traced to the 11th century and Pope Nicholas II.
St. Faustina and visions behind Divine Mercy Sunday April 24, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Divine Worship, Feature, News, Saints, World News Between 1931 and 1938, a young nun named Sister Maria Faustina claimed to have experienced a series of visions, messages and conversations in which our Lord Jesus asked her to establish a devotion to his Divine Mercy.
The history of St. Mary Major, the basilica where Pope Francis will be entombed April 23, 2025By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News This basilica, rebuilt and magnificently adorned over the centuries, has been a rallying point for popes and laypeople, for Romans and pilgrims alike, to venerate the maternity and life of the Blessed Mother.
