Special guests at dinner under Bernini’s colonnade — the homeless December 12, 2023By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News For the first time in history, 150 homeless people had a festive meal, served by Italian journalists and their families, under the famous baroque Bernini’s colonnade in St. Peter’s Square.
Pope marks 800th anniversary of Nativity scene, asks prayers for Holy Land December 11, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Away in a cave near Greccio, Italy, St. Francis of Assisi had the first Nativity scene — a live one — staged for the faithful on Christmas Eve in 1223. A 15th-century fresco now decorating the cave inspired the Nativity scene erected in St. Peter’s Square for the 800th anniversary celebrations.
Power of presence December 11, 2023By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Commentary, The Domestic Church This Advent and Christmas season, the time is right for us to rediscover that familiar story and experience God’s presence in a new way, knowing we are exactly where we need to be.
So, this is Advent December 10, 2023By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window That day when I had that sudden thought, the child who would become our younger son was newly born and not far away. Only God could have known that.
Neapolitan crèches call us to see Christ wherever we are December 10, 2023By Emily Stimpson Chapman OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Commentary, Feature The detailing of each and every piece of the presepe found along the Via San Gregorio Armeno is exact and minute, the work of artists who spend years honing their craft.
This Advent, echo John the Baptist: ‘Behold the Lamb!’ December 9, 2023By Father Patrick Briscoe OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary John the Baptist cries out to us, like parents urging their children, saying “This is the Lord!”
A new baby for Advent December 7, 2023By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window There is nothing like that wait for the baby to arrive, especially in those final hours before the birth.
Archbishop exhorts Advent vigilance as national shrine’s Holy Door sealed December 6, 2023By Julie Asher OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Feature, News, World News Archbishop Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was the main celebrant of the Mass, which included his blessing and sealing the basilica’s entrance door as a Holy Door for the Catholic Church’s Holy Year 2025, which has as its theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Message of Peace Light, now in U.S., seen as more urgent amid Israel-Hamas war December 4, 2023By Alicia Venter OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As Catholics across the New York metropolitan area were given the opportunity to light their first candle of the Advent season the weekend of Dec. 2-3, a flame drawn from a source that dates back 1,000 years arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens.
Radio Interview: Hound of the Lord December 4, 2023By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Books, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview, Saints Eleanor Bourg Nicholson’s new children’s book, “The Hound of the Lord,” creatively retells the inspiring story of St. Dominic from the perspective of the saint’s ever-watchful canine companion, “Torch.”
Answer Advent call for vigilance with charity, confession, pope suggests December 4, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, News, Vatican, World News The Advent call for “vigilance” does not mean staying awake and watchful out of fear, but rather out of a longing for the coming of the Lord, Pope Francis wrote.
Spend this Advent season with the saints December 3, 2023By Bert Ghezzi OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Saints Advent prepares us for Jesus’ coming at Christmas and for his coming into our lives afresh. And no one knows how to get ready to welcome Christ better than the saints.
