By Kevin J. Jones Denver, Colo., Dec 25, 2024 / 04:00 am The Catholic calendar has several ways to divide the Christmas season. The Church’s Western liturgical tradition sees Christmas as an octave, an eight-day celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The octave of Christmas begins on Christmas itself, the feast of …

By Pope Leo XIV Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:31 pm Pope Leo XIV celebrated Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday. The Mass was attended by an estimated 6,000 people inside the basilica, while around 5,000 people gathered outside in St. Peter’s Square, according to …

By Hannah Brockhaus Rome Newsroom, Dec 25, 2025 / 06:00 am If you spend any part of Christmas in Italy, you are sure to hear one of the country’s most beloved carols, “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle” (“From Starry Skies Descending”). The Christmas song, written and composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori in …

By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Dec 24, 2025 / 04:00 am There are numerous Christmas Eve traditions families around the world take part in, whether it’s watching a certain movie together, baking cookies for Santa, opening one present before going to bed, or eating a specific meal for dinner. The …

The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface …

At the time of this writing, my family of seven plus two mutts are in an Airbnb in our own town. Two weeks ago, a small leak in our bathroom turned into the space being gutted from water damage. We were assigned project managers, contractors, and an adjuster to boot. …

by CNA Staff CNA Staff, Dec 20, 2021 / 14:14 pm Christmastime is upon us. In the spirit of the holiday, the writers and editors of CNA would like to share some of their favorite Christmas movies — and where you can find them.  Merry Christmas and happy viewing! The …

November 24. 2025 – January 16. 2026 Marian Library Seeking Shelter Christmas Exhbit 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM ET Marian Library Gallery and Crèche Museum After they were turned away from the inn in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph sought shelter elsewhere. In Nativity sets, different traditions place Jesus’ birth in …

Violence begets death and destruction, revenge begets hatred and pain. News and pictures from Gaza and other war-torn lands show the physical and moral suffering of the innocent and defenceless. By Ibrahim Faltas * Holy Christmas is approaching. The Advent journey prepares us for the coming of the One who …