By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Dec 7, 2024 / 07:00 am This year, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is a holy day of obligation, falls on the Second Sunday of Advent. So, are Catholics obligated to go to Mass twice? The answer is yes. The solemnity of the …

by Kate Olivera Denver Newsroom, Dec 8, 2021 / 03:00 am Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, has been patroness of the United States since the mid-19th century. But her protection of the nation dates back to its earliest history. One of the first Catholic churches in what …

By Kate Quiñones CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 09:45 am The Vatican has clarified that Catholics in the United States must still attend Mass on holy days of obligation even when they are transferred to Mondays or Saturdays, correcting a long-standing practice in the U.S. Church. In its complementary norms, the …

By Solène Tadié CNA Newsroom, Dec 7, 2024 / 20:15 pm The doors of the newly restored Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral were officially reopened to the public during a ceremony Saturday evening just over five years after a blaze ravaged the iconic structure’s roof, frame, and spire. The celebration, which began …

By Jonah McKeown CNA Staff, Dec 6, 2024 / 09:25 am The Catholic bishops of New Mexico this week articulated a strongly worded statement against a policy of mass deportation of unauthorized immigrants, a policy that President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to enact. “A mass deportation policy will not fix the broken …

By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2024 / 15:10 pm Republican Sen. Josh Hawley this week warned the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to not destroy federal records including documents related to the investigation of traditionalist Catholics or the convictions of numerous pro-life …

by Hannah Brockhaus Rome Newsroom, Dec 6, 2021 / 06:00 am St. Nicholas, whose feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, is well known as possibly the real-life inspiration for the beloved Christmas character of Santa Claus. Not a lot is known about the historical Nicholas, who was bishop of …

On my birthday in October, I learned that my grandfather, Bob, had fallen and had five broken ribs and a brain bleed. His prognosis was grim, and my heart was heavy. There were many ups and downs for over a month while we were left unsure of his life expectancy. …

By Madalaine Elhabbal Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 2, 2024 / 16:15 pm As the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris prepares to reopen on Dec. 7, U.S. bishops are calling on local American churches to show their solidarity with the Church’s “eldest daughter.” Five years ago, a devastating fire broke out across …

By Jimmy Akin National Catholic Register, Nov 30, 2024 / 04:48 am St. Andrew, whose feast day is Nov. 30, was one of the two initial disciples of John the Baptist who encountered Jesus at the beginning of John’s Gospel. He was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, but many people know …