by CNA Staff Warsaw, Poland, Jan 6, 2022 / 13:00 pm Three Kings parades were held at more than 600 locations across Poland on Thursday. The annual processions, in which actors portray the Magi who traveled to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus, took place on Jan. 6, the Solemnity of the Epiphany. …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 6, 2022 / 06:00 am On the Solemnity of the Epiphany, Pope Francis encouraged people to spend time in the presence of Christ in adoration, like the Magi. “Let us never forget this: the journey of faith finds renewed strength and fulfillment only when …

The Epiphany of Our Lord is the Christian feast observed on the second Sunday after Christmas.  The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, a verb that means “to shine upon,” “to manifest,” or “to make known.” Thus, the feast of the Epiphany celebrates the many ways that Christ has …

by Joe Bukuras Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 25, 2021 / 09:00 am Venerable Fulton Sheen once said that in order to understand the meaning of Christmas, two philosophies of life must first be considered. One philosophy, Sheen said in one of his many television monologues, is that of man who …

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “The desire for God is written in the human heart.” During these past weeks of Advent, we have prepared our hearts to welcome Christ. It is Christ alone who satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart, and we celebrate His …

by Pope Francis Vatican City, Dec 25, 2021 / 04:50 am On Christmas Day 2021, Pope Francis delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” address and blessing from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The following is the full text of the pope’s Christmas message. Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Christmas! …

by Pope Francis Vatican City, Dec 24, 2021 / 14:00 pm Below is the full text of Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, delivered Dec. 24, 2021 in St. Peter’s Basilica. In the darkness, a light shines. An angel appears, the glory of the …

The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131; in Latin Dies Natalis. Early Celebration Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Sts. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts, and Origen, glancing …

by CNA Staff Denver Newsroom, Dec 21, 2021 / 12:28 pm As much as some of us would like a few extra days to prepare, Christmas 2021, ready or not, is Saturday, Dec. 25. “How will I possibly finish my shopping and house cleaning by then?” is not the only …

In the first ages, during the night before every feast, a vigil was kept. In the evening the faithful assembled in the place or church where the feast was to be celebrated and prepared themselves by prayers, readings from Holy Writ (now the Offices of Vespers and Matins), and sometimes …