Give the Gift of Hope to the MissionsMaureen Crowley Heil
Advent is a season of preparation, a time to begin anew spiritually and ready a home for the Christ Child in our hearts. Our culture, however, pulls us in other directions and we find ourselves faced ...
Watch for himScott Hahn
The new Church year begins with a plea for God's visitation. "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down," the prophet Isaiah cries in today's First Reading. In today's Psalm, too, ...
General principles of Sacrosanctum Concilium, especially the MassFather John F. Baldovin, SJ
The second chapter of the constitution turns to the Eucharist in particular. This chapter reaffirms a number of the theological and pastoral principles set out in the first chapter, among them the richer ...
Sunday Scripture: Reflections for Dec. 3, First Sunday in AdventJem Sullivan
Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 1 Cor 1:3-9 Mk 13:33-37 Advent offers us a graced time to recognize that the deepest longings of our heart are for God. The prophet Isaiah shines ...
What are the rules for Catholics and Christmas trees?Jenna Marie Cooper
Q: When I was a kid, we put up the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and took it down a day or two after Christmas. As an adult, I put the tree up a day or two after Thanksgiving and left it up until Jan. ...
At the end of all thingsJaymie Stuart Wolfe
I love it when Thanksgiving and the Solemnity of Christ the King converge. (It's almost worth the stress of celebrating Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day all ...
Serving 'The Least' Among UsMaureen Crowley Heil
Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who was the National Director of our Pontifical Mission Societies from 1950-1966, once famously said, "Never measure your generosity by what you give, but rather ...
When the end comesScott Hahn
The Church year ends today with a vision of the end of time. The scene in the Gospel is stark and resounds with Old Testament echoes. The Son of Man is enthroned over all nations and peoples of every ...
Pastoral principles in the Liturgy ConstitutionFather John F. Baldovin, SJ
Another important principle for reform that was to have enormous pastoral consequences was the desire to enrich the liturgy's use of Scripture, expressed in a general mandate to broaden the use of ...
The past and present of Ordinary TimesLucia A. Silecchia
If you are a letter writer, a highlight of Advent is the opportunity to put pen to paper and greet friends and loved ones with Christmas cards reminding them that they are close to your heart in the great ...
