Advent is a season of hope. It is the beginning of the liturgical year, and a time for us to reflect on the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the long centuries of yearning by the Israelite people for the Messiah promised by God. During the …

The Pope sends a telegram signed by the Vatican Secretary of State to the Archbishop of Sydney, Australia upon hearing the news of the attack which killed 16 people on 14 December. Vatican News After hearing the news of the attack at Bondi Beach in Australia, Pope Leo XIV sent …

By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Dec 14, 2025 / 06:00 am Advent is a season filled with rich Catholic traditions, but a slightly lesser-known one is growing in popularity among younger Catholics. The ancient liturgy of the Rorate Caeli Advent Mass honors the Blessed Virgin Mary through a Mass celebrated …

By Martin Barillas Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dec 15, 2025 / 07:00 am Several college campuses across the country are witnessing a notable rise in baptisms and confirmations among students. Catholic evangelists tell CNA that this growth reflects a deepening desire among young adults for certainty, stability, and faith amid today’s turbulent …

By Daniel Payne CNA Staff, Dec 15, 2025 / 07:00 am Jimmy Lai, the Catholic human rights advocate whose long-running national security trial in China has drawn criticism and charges of persecution, was found guilty on Dec. 15 of multiple violations of China’s national security laws, bringing an end to several …

(Note: The first installment of this 3-part series can be found in the November 2025 issue.) Some heard it as a child. Others were well into adulthood amid a lucrative career and serious relationship. That still small voice. That restless heart. That sense of emptiness despite having everything they thought …

As the Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday – Fr Edmund Power reflects on the theme of “joy” that permeates the liturgy on the Third Sunday of Advent. By Fr Edmund Power, OSB Rejoice in the Lord always! The words of the entrance antiphon of today’s Mass, taken from the letter of St …

Pope Leo meets with artists and organisers involved in the Vatican’s Christmas Concert, saying that the festive period reminds us that God comes to meet us “at the very heart of our small human stories.” By Vatican News For 33 years, the Vatican has hosted a Christmas concert in the …

There’s always a blend of sadness and excitement when I leave Cincinnati to return to my studies in Rome. It’s tough to leave home: family, parishioners, Skyline Chili, and the Midwest’s iconic seasons, especially the snowfalls (Rome only sees snow once every 10 years); but it is exciting and a …