Advent usually creeps up on me without warning, but having the extra week between Thanksgiving and Advent has left me impatient for it to begin.

My mother was very good at teaching me to read the subtle signs of providence, and she got me very excited that this book that had been so magical for the reviewer was rediscovered in our library.

This Advent, stop worrying about Christmas presents and hanging lights, negotiating mall traffic or scouring the web for the perfect gift.

In Humanae Vitae, Paul VI plays the prophet and lays out, clearly and succinctly, what he foresees as consequences of turning away from the Church’s classic teaching on sex.

It’s one of the most stressful and exciting aspects of the Christmas season: creating our family Christmas card.

It was all fun, and there is leftover pie for today. What more can anyone expect from Thanksgiving?

It’s easy to be grateful in the happy moments, when the turkey and stuffing are on the table and a fresh pumpkin pie awaits. But can we also be grateful in the sadder times?

The root problem here is a self-centered notion of freedom that “frees” individuals from respecting others, if such respect would get in the way of their own pleasure.

Catechists, the Church needs you! We’re losing our kids to secularism.

Gratitude doesn’t always come easily, but there’s almost always something to be thankful for, though it can take time to see it.