Too often, we view the Nativity in a sentimental way. Teresa Kidron reminds us of the earthliness that characterized the stable at Bethlehem and the significance of the humble, meager conditions amidst which Christ was born.
Feast Days, Holidays, & Liturgical Seasons
Silence: An Underrated Theme of Christmas
There’s a unique quality about Christmas, one often described as the “Christmas spirit” that seems to unite people from all walks of life together in a profound way, regardless of whether they are Christian or not. What is this special something that bonds people together? Vir Christi suggests that it is silence.
An Advent Meditation on the Angelus
Vir Christi reflects upon the verses of the Angelus and the variety and abundance of spiritual fruits to be reaped by praying this simple Catholic prayer.
Prepare the Way! A Guide to a Holy Advent
Advent and Lent are both seasons of penance and preparation. Yet they are meant to be celebrated in unique ways. How? And what specifically might we do so that Advent isn’t merely a time-marking season leading up to Christmas?
Christ the King, Now and Forever
As Catholics, in our liturgical celebrations we frequently hear mentions of Christ’s kingship. It might seem redundant to have a whole solemnity identifying Jesus as King, when we have so many other feast days celebrating Jesus in other ways. So why have it?
Reclaiming Halloween as a Catholic Celebration
What is the significance of Halloween for Catholics? Why does this day matter for us? How can we celebrate this day and All Hallows Day (All Saints’ Day) in a holy way in our secular society?
Why Mary’s Assumption Matters to Us
Many Catholics know the Assumption is an important event in Mary’s life. However, they frequently fail to ask an essential question: What does the Assumption of Mary mean for you and me, in both an immediate and an eternal sense?
Live the Resurrection, Real Time
Easter is a season of new beginnings. It’s a time for us to allow the blossoming of the spiritual seeds that Lent sowed in our hearts, and also to allow the restoration of that which was broken. The cry “He is risen!” is not a far-distant memory, but rather…
Tarry in the Triduum
When Holy Week arrives, there is a sense of anticipation. Palm Sunday begins a countdown to Easter for many people, a time when we can return to the things we gave up for Lent. But is this the right way to approach Holy Week? How do we make the most effective use of our time during the holiest week of the liturgical year?
Thanksgiving: It is Right and Just
In school, children are taught that the first Thanksgiving took place when Native Americans brought food to Puritan settlers. No one really thinks about the idea of giving thanks in a Catholic context. Since we celebrate Thanksgiving every year, it is important