by Katie Yoder Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 20, 2021 / 14:10 pm Catholics should contemplate death in preparation for Baby Jesus’ birth, according to Sr. Danielle Victoria. “Baby Jesus came to die for us,” she told CNA of the temptation to over-sentimentalize him. Even in art – as a baby …

Every year church sanctuaries around the world mirror our hearts as they prepare to receive the newborn King. Red poinsettias, flickering candles and the smell of fresh evergreen are reminders of the joyous season. To make that possible, many parishes have a dedicated group of sacristans and decorators who donate …

by CNA Staff Greccio, Italy, Dec 17, 2021 / 04:00 am In 2019, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter on the meaning and importance of the Christmas nativity scene. He signed the document, Admirabile signum (“Enchanting image”), on Dec. 1 that year, at the Shrine of the Nativity in Greccio, a hilltown in the …

by Mary Farrow Denver Newsroom, Dec 9, 2021 / 15:00 pm For the past 16 years, Elf on the Shelf has become a tradition, both hated and loved, for families in the days leading up to Christmas. Based on a book and accompanying doll, the elf is a scout for …

When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung. The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply “Amen.” The leader may greet those present in the following words: Let us glorify Christ our light, who brings salvation and peace into our midst, now and forever. R/. …

One of our great treasures as Catholics is the rhythm of the Church calendar in which the hopeful message of God’s great love for us is renewed each year in a way that is familiar yet always new. A new Church year has just begun with the First Sunday of …

by Autumn Jones Denver Newsroom, Oct 8, 2021 / 17:01 pm On Sept. 28, a community of seminarians from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter’s European seminary released an album of Christmas Matins, “Sancta Nox: Christmas Matins from Bavaria”. This week, the 17-song collection topped the Billboard’s Traditional Classical Albums …

How do you talk to kids about the Incarnation? How do you talk to adults for that matter? Fr. Patrick shares his favorite story of Christmas that does both.

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2020 / 05:30 am MT (CNA).- Giving his traditional Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” blessing Friday, Pope Francis called for coronavirus vaccines to be made available to the world’s neediest people. The pope made a special appeal to leaders to grant the poor access to vaccines against …

A Christmas Message from Archbishop Schnurr