Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christopher Closeup

Home
Catholic
Religious Music & Entertainment

Holidays

Select a Category Act One American Idol Andy Griffith Show Audrey Assad Baseball Bible Books Catholic Charities Christmas Christopher Awards Christopher Closeup Christopher News Notes Current Events Down syndrome Education Father Jonathan Morris Father Keller Films Forgiveness Fringe Government Hallmark History Holidays Humor Inspiration Leadership Lost Marriage Media Medical Military Movies Music NY Med Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time Parenting Patheos Movie Club Person of Interest Politics Pope Francis Prayer Pro Life Saints Senior Citizens Signed Sealed Delivered Special Needs Sports Three Minutes a Day TV Uncategorized Volunteering Women Youth

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

December 2016

December 20, 2016

Singer JJ Heller on Christmas, Panic Attacks, and God’s Power to Turn Brokenness Into Beauty

Every year when the Christmas season comes around, singer-songwriter JJ Heller is transported back to...

November 2016

November 30, 2016

Jennifer Nettles on Being “a Child of God” and Listening to His “Still Small Voice”

"It's important to be able to enjoy and be entertained by stories of faith, stories...

November 10, 2016

Starbucks Red Cups Include Nativity Scene This Year

There was a lot of hubbub over the fact that Starbucks released plain red cups...

November 03, 2016

US Post Office Releases Its 2016 Nativity Stamp for Christmas

As the time for writing and mailing Christmas cards quickly approaches, the U.S. Post Office...

August 2016

August 15, 2016

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was the Original Christopher (Christ-bearer)

It appears that my friend Abby Fuhrmann has something in common with the late screen...

May 2016

May 20, 2016

Pictures Galore from the 2016 Christopher Awards, Where Stories of Heart and Courage Dominated

After months of preparation, the 67th annual Christopher Awards took place in New York City...

December 2015

December 14, 2015

For Monday Mirthiness, Watch Phil Rosenthal in “Jewish Die Hard”

If the Bruce Willis movie "Die Hard" is too violent for your tastes, you might...

December 11, 2015

A Disabled Child Finds Joy & Encouragement Around Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

(All photos property of The International Academy of Hope) I've written about The International Academy...

December 10, 2015

Seven Classic TV Christmas Episodes to Boost Your Holiday Spirit

Every December, I rewatch classic TV Christmas episodes either on DVD or via reruns on...

December 09, 2015

“An Invisible Thread Christmas Story” Highlights Act of Kindness That Changed Two Lives

"Excuse me, lady. Do you have any spare change? I'm hungry." Those were the first...

December 08, 2015

The Best Christmas Gift You’ll Ever Receive

“If I knew things would no longer be, I would have tried to remember better.”...

November 2015

November 09, 2015

How Buying Underwear for Christmas Can Support Adoptive Families

The amount of catalogs and advertisements I get in the mail always increases the closer...

May 2015

May 22, 2015

A Memorial Day Prayer from The Christophers

Heavenly Father, Today we honor those who gave their life for their country on foreign...

February 2015

February 18, 2015

Lent is More Than the Catholic Version of a Self-Help Program

Here's some wisdom from Kerry Weber in a short video entitled "What is Lent?"

December 2014

December 24, 2014

If You’re Looking for a Christmas Movie That Doesn’t Neglect Jesus, This One’s For You

(Photo via Hallmark Movies and Mysteries) This year, I was very behind on my regular...

December 18, 2014

Balancing the Sacred with the Secular at Christmas: Jonathan Jackson + Enation Reflect

When I interviewed Jonathan Jackson, Richard Lee Jackson, and Daniel Sweatt of Enation a few...

December 17, 2014

How 12 Anonymous Christmas Gifts Brought Healing to a Grieving Family

The poinsettia and note on her front porch were the beginning of a Christmas mystery...

December 10, 2014

Why I Still Believe in Santa Claus: A Response to the Santa Haters

In the classic Bill Murray comedy "Stripes," there's a scene in which all the new...

December 09, 2014

Michael W. Smith on Christmas, His Dad’s Dementia, and His Concert of Peace in Bahrain

“All is well, all is well / Angels and men rejoice / For tonight darkness...

November 2014

November 11, 2014

An Air Force Major’s Legacy of Heroism

The following column was written by The Christophers' Jerry Costello: The nice thing about Veterans...

August 2014

August 15, 2014

Advice for the Spiritual Sons and Daughters of Mary

A few months ago, The Christophers recognized Father David T. Link with our James Keller...

April 2014

April 17, 2014

A Christopher Prayer for Easter

Lord, Instill us with the hope we celebrate this Easter, the hope we're supposed to...

March 2014

March 17, 2014

An Irish Blessing to Strengthen Faith, Hope and Love

The late Father Andrew Greeley once penned this Irish Blessing: “May your hope be… As...

December 2013

December 18, 2013

VIDEO: Father Jonathan Morris on the Essence of Christmas

In Father Jonathan Morris's Christmas message, he reflects on the idea that God so loved...

December 17, 2013

Making Christmas Happy and Holy

The following is the text of the Christopher News Note "Making Christmas Happy and Holy."...

December 16, 2013

Regaining Your Christmas Spirit: A Review of “Angels Sing”

With a cast like Harry Connick Jr., Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Connie...

December 10, 2013

Holiness and Hootenannies on the Best Christmas Album of 2013

As a fan of The Lower Lights previous albums of folk-and-bluegrass-flavored hymns and Christmas classics,...

December 07, 2013

Candace Cameron Bure Talks Jesus, Santa, Parenting, Priorities and Purpose

Actress Candace Cameron Bure, who grew up on television playing D.J. Tanner on the hit...

December 06, 2013

A Modern Heir to St. Nicholas

The following column was written by The Christophers' Jerry Costello: Father Joseph Marquis, not surprisingly,...

December 04, 2013

Reflections on the Advent of Christ

Author and theologian Dr. Edward Sri knows we're all familiar with the Christmas story, but...