Thank you, God, for the Last Minute December 21, 2025By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window Still shopping? Not sure what you’re making for Christmas dinner—or who’s hosting? I have good news for you, last-minute friends. This is our time to shine.
The Advent the church collapsed December 15, 2025By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary Whatever your memories are at Christmas, give them to God, who has them already, and treats them all with tenderness and mercy. God will help us do the same.
Trappist bishop in Norway says Advent calls Catholics to hope in the darkness December 14, 2025By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Advent, News, World News As Advent unfolds in the far north, Bishop Erik Varden says the season’s power lies not in cheerfulness but in hope—”light shining at the darkest point of the night.”
How about a little Old Bay on your Advent December 11, 2025By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window In an era where we’re not producing the penny anymore, returning Old Bay to its original metal canister somehow feels reassuring.
Question Corner: When can Catholics sing the Advent hymn ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel?’ December 10, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Question Corner The church does not have any explicit rule about when the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” can be sung. In principle, it’s perfectly allowed to sing this throughout Advent. However, I think I can guess why your choir director wants to hold off on using this hymn until later in the season.
Advent reflections from the women doctors of the church December 6, 2025By Michelle Jones OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Saints Advent calls us beyond the false security of the merely virtuous person and into the daring surrender to God’s love of the saint.
Immigrants, refugees and the Holy Family December 6, 2025By Kenneth Craycraft OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Immigration and Migration When we have empathy for the least of these immigrants and refugees — without regard to their legal status — we have empathy for Jesus.
Movies to watch during Advent December 5, 2025By John Mulderig OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Movie & Television Reviews Just about everyone enjoys a Christmas holiday with all the trimmings, including Santa’s ho ho ho and Rudolph’s red nose. But the preparatory time of Advent can serve as an invitation to explore more deeply the true spiritual meaning of the Incarnation and to focus more intently on the virtues that reflection on that mystery should promote.
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.
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.
