Christmas in a time of war December 20, 2023By George Weigel Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary, The Catholic Difference What shall we make of the burning Holy Land, during a Christmastide when we celebrate the angelic announcement of a messianic birth that marks the inbreaking of the peaceable kingdom of Isaiah 11:6-9?
Question Corner: How accurate are the Nativity scenes outside our churches? December 20, 2023By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner The point of religious art and imagery is not so much to give us a perfect, historically accurate picture of events that occurred in the life of Jesus.
Whether it’s abortion or irregular blessings, ‘accompaniment’ will be messy December 20, 2023By Elizabeth Scalia OSV News Filed Under: Commentary It’s all about accompaniment, this declaration, but — both theologically and pastorally — some will doubtlessly find it confusing and yes, messy.
Did Pope Francis change Catholic teaching on gay marriage? December 19, 2023By Father Patrick Briscoe OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marriage & Family Life The new document teaches that people seeking God shouldn’t be turned away, regardless of their state of life or moral situation.
‘Come, Holy Spirit’ — A simple prayer that never fails December 18, 2023By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary The examen is not a call to review your sinfulness, like an examination of conscience, although you may find things in your day for which you are sorry. It’s often called an examination of “consciousness” because it reviews your life as you’ve lived it in the past 24 hours.
Christmas still calls December 18, 2023By Carole Norris Greene Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Christmas, Commentary God will never dishonor himself by going back on this tremendous gift of free will. And when our choices cause us pain, God never stops encouraging us to “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Heb 4:16).
How to celebrate a Catholic Christmas December 16, 2023By Amy Welborn OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary For Catholics, Dec. 25 is only the beginning of the celebration of Christmas. As others pack away the decorations, we continue to celebrate the gift of Christ, ever present for us in the Eucharist — a continual manifestation of God’s loving care for us all year long.
Defining immigration terms: Refugee, asylum-seeker and parole December 15, 2023By Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Immigration and Migration The migration phenomenon is not easy to understand, but understanding it is not as important as our concern for those who seek protection for their families, especially for the many children involved in these migrant situations.
Putting faith into action December 14, 2023By Archbishop William E. Lori Catholic Review Filed Under: Charity in Truth, Commentary, From the Archbishop The family of the Church responded to them by striving to carry out the mission that Jesus entrusted to us.
‘Christ before me’: Pray the Breastplate of St. Patrick at the manger December 14, 2023By Father Patrick Briscoe OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Commentary The shepherd of shepherds will lead the way through unknown paths of life.
Why the Magnificat is the perfect prayer in Advent December 14, 2023By Kenneth Craycraft OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary The Magnificat is among the most theologically powerful speeches in the entirety of the New Testament.
Question Corner: Is there a big source that explains everything Catholic? December 13, 2023By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner The catechism is meant as a summary of core Catholic beliefs and is widely available both in print and online — and there are a few searchable web versions of the catechism that make it fairly simple to navigate.