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Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 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 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

December 2019

December 01, 2019

Pope writes Apostolic Letter on meaning, importance of Nativity Scene

From the translation, via Zenit: 1. With this Letter, I wish to encourage the beautiful...

January 2019

January 02, 2019

Pa rum pum pum pum: The story behind ‘The Little Drummer Boy’

As we get ready for Epiphany, and prepare to hear again the Gospel account of...

December 2018

December 29, 2018

WATCH: A secret Santa like no other. This will melt your heart.

This story from CBS News's Steve Hartman is just fantastic. Just watch.

December 27, 2018

No, that story about the ’12 Days of Christmas’ isn’t true

It happens every year around this time, so now seems as good a time as...

December 27, 2018

Christmas came anyway: Parishioners rebuild after man plowed SUV into church on Christmas Eve

Details: Members of Our Lady of Lavang Parish in Portland, Oregon did not let an...

December 26, 2018

Historic: Muslim Iraq makes Christmas Day a national holiday

For a country that is overwhelmingly Muslim, with only a small minority of Christians, this...

December 25, 2018

‘Make of our hearts a manger…’

Christmas Eve, I was invited to offer the invocation at the annual Forest Hills Christmas...

December 24, 2018

Anticipating the next chapter: Reflection for Monday, December 24, 2018

Probably the most memorable Christmas Eve I can recall was the night I proposed to...

December 23, 2018

Ross Douthat on staying Catholic at Christmas

The New York Times columnist (and convert) offers a hope-filled and eloquent testimony of faith...

December 22, 2018

This version of ‘Silent Night’ can still move me to tears

I grew up hearing this rendition by the immortal Maurice Chevalier, sung in English and...

December 18, 2018

WATCH: Meet the official Santa of Jerusalem — and his camel

This is awesome: He has a certificate from Santa School in Denver, Colorado, but Issa...

December 17, 2018

In Puerto Rico, Wendy’s has the Holy Family on its cups

The Friendly Atheist takes note of a little detail that some might consider a Christmas...

December 14, 2018

Breaking bread: Pope invites poor to Christmas lunch

From Vatican Media: In the spirit of Christmas, Pope Francis is inviting a group of...

December 07, 2018

WATCH: Unveiling of sand sculpture Nativity scene at the Vatican

Check this out, via CNS: Details: The annual unveiling of the Vatican's Christmas tree...

December 05, 2018

Where was Jesus born? Maybe not where you think.

Traditional notions of where Jesus was born are probably wrong, according to scholars: Jesus wasn’t...

December 04, 2018

Is Mariah Carey a genius?

Well, writer Michael Arceneaux seems to think so. Let's hear him out: Almost 25 years...

November 2018

November 23, 2018

White House to host singing Dominican nuns at National Christmas Tree Lighting

Singing nuns for the tree lighting? This may be a first. Details: A group of...

November 20, 2018

A Christmas tradition that should be revived: the telling of ghost stories

We're heading into the "most wonderful time of the year" when, a popular song tells...

November 16, 2018

WATCH: The amazing Elton John Christmas commercial — UPDATED

It's never too early for a great Christmas ad. This is from the folks at...

November 02, 2018

This Christmas, the Vatican Nativity scene will be made of sand

From CNS: Although sand castles and sculptures usually conjure up images of hot summers on...

November 01, 2018

Bishop Grinch: Braxton angers parents when he tells children Santa isn’t real — UPDATE

Good grief: The bishop of the Belleville Diocese in southern Illinois apparently had two very...

December 2014

December 15, 2014

“The war on Christmas is over. Jesus won.”

That's the eye-catching headline of this item in The Washington Post, summarizing a new report...

December 12, 2014

Christmas music: Do you hear what I hear? Again and again and again?

From Nate Silver's website comes this interesting look at the music we keep hearing during...

December 04, 2014

“Grossly offensive” Satanic holiday display approved for Florida Capitol

From The Orlando Sentinel: Unlike last year, a Satanic Temple display will be officially welcome...

December 03, 2014

Brooklyn launches hip new ad campaign for Christmas

From the In My Backyard Desk ... Hot on the heels of last year's buzz-worthy...

December 29, 2013

“A very Franciscan Christmas…”

Some intriguing insight on Pope Francis and his personal imprint on Christmas, from the always-worthwhile...

December 27, 2013

“All of life is Christmas, an eternal gift from God…”

Lest we forget, some beautiful words from my friend, Trappist Fr. James Stephen Behrens: The...

December 27, 2013

VA hospital bans carolers from singing Christmas songs with religious content

Details: The angels will not be heard on high, nor will the little Lord Jesus...

December 26, 2013

A pastor’s investment: give each parishioner $50—and a challenge

Photo: Dan Gross/The Gazette What a great idea: It was like a collection basket in...

December 25, 2013

Obama: “Service is a chance to celebrate the birth of Christ and live out what He taught us…”

From the President's weekly address: So many people all across the country are helping out...