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December 2017

December 16, 2017

Hymn of the Week: ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’

This is probably the definitive and most familiar hymn of Advent—although, in my parish, we...

December 15, 2017

Check this out: Pope Francis’s Christmas card

The video here, from Rome Reports, describes the contents. But did the Holy Father include...

December 15, 2017

Persecution: Carol singers arrested in India, charged with attempted ‘conversion’

Christian persecution persists, even during the holidays. From the BBC: Six carol singers have been...

December 15, 2017

Want to get into the Christmas spirit? This will do it.

Behold, a Christmas flashmob at a German shopping mall. This was sponsored by a German...

December 14, 2017

Did you know the story behind ‘Mary, Did You Know?’

This Christmas song has become a modern classic—and the source of much teeth-grinding, eye-rolling and...

December 14, 2017

Ohio moves to ban abortions for Down syndrome

Details: When a mother receives the news that her child will be born with Down...

December 14, 2017

WATCH: Strangers rally for a man on a roof during 15-hour standoff

The video above tells part of the story, which unfolded in Springfield, Missouri just before...

December 14, 2017

‘God wants to sing us a lullaby. His tenderness is this: he is a father and a mother…’

The pope made this insight during his homily this morning: The tenderness of God, as...

December 13, 2017

‘Everything is new’: Inside the workshop for foreign clergy serving in the U.S.

With more parishes in the United States hosting priests from other countries, here's a fascinating...

December 13, 2017

‘I don’t want to live without my wife’: After six decades together, Orthodox priest and wife die within hours of each other

A beautiful and heartbreaking love story from Albany. Details: The Rev. Alvian Smirensky, a Russian...

December 13, 2017

From the BBC: ‘Permanent deacons – a solution to the priest shortage?’

Most of us know the answer to the question in the headline is "No." But...

December 12, 2017

Poll shows decline in religious observance of Christmas

It's evidently morphing more and more into a secular, seasonal holiday, according the Pew Research...

December 12, 2017

Judge rules against Archdiocese of Washington on bus ads

You may remember this story from late November. Now, an update: The Catholic Archdiocese of...

December 12, 2017

Epic VEIL: why more young women are wearing chapel veils

From the web site Fashionista: Samantha Skinner, a high school science teacher in North Dakota,...

December 11, 2017

‘Dear Fellow Parishioners…’: A jaw-dropping note to parents about their child in church

I was flabbergasted to see this note on Facebook this morning, complaining about a child's...

December 11, 2017

It is accomplished: Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception finally completed

It happened, fittingly, on Friday, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Details: The largest Catholic...

December 10, 2017

Hong Kong plans to recruit more men to be deacons

The Church there is booming and needs help: The Hong Kong Catholic Church will recruit...

December 10, 2017

Ordination update: 10 new deacons for St. Paul and Minneapolis

From The Catholic Spirit: The deacon is a powerful icon of Christ the servant that...

December 09, 2017

Hymn of the Week: ‘On Jordan’s Bank’

This Advent perennial is being sung as the entrance hymn at my parish this week—aligning...

December 09, 2017

Sutherland Springs pastor says his faith today is stronger than ever

Remarkable and poignant, from CNN: Tuesday night was supposed to be a high point of...

December 09, 2017

Nearly 100 elderly nuns rescued from California fire

They had no where to go, but then the staff of the nursing home had...

December 08, 2017

The Silence Breaker: Homily for December 10, 2017, 2nd Sunday of Advent

Time magazine made headlines last week when it chose for its Person of the Year...

December 08, 2017

Coming up: conference on Anglican, Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic deacons in Canada

Check this out: The role of deacons in the Church will be discussed by an...

December 07, 2017

It’s Catholic Boy!

A huge h/t to my horse-loving sister, Karen, who spotted this item: It remains to...

December 07, 2017

Lead us not into translations

From Reuters: Pope Francis has said the Roman Catholic Church should adopt a better translation...

December 07, 2017

NY Times: Birth control pills may cause ‘significant’ increase in risk of breast cancer

Some not-so-surprising news from a surprising source: Women who rely on birth control pills or...

December 07, 2017

We could all use more light this Advent—and here’s where you can find it

Aleteia's own Elizabeth Scalia is busy this season doing more than shopping, planning, cooking and...

December 06, 2017

WATCH: Muslims help repair a desecrated church in Mosul

This video appeared on Facebook this week: it shows a group of Muslims pitching in...

December 06, 2017

Great moments in journalism: Don’t forget that headline, folks!

The paper, based in the U.K., apologized for the gaffe, which has become an instant...

December 06, 2017

Heads of churches in Jerusalem write to President Trump, issuing ‘solemn plea’ for peace

The heads of the Christian churches in Jerusalem have sent the following letter to President...