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Catholic News Agency
10 things that Pope Francis wants us to learn from the nativity scene
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 …
4 things to know about Pope Francis on his 85th birthday
by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 17, 2021 / 01:00 am “There is only one thing that really makes us age, grow old interiorly: not age, but sin,” Pope Francis said in 2017, during a speech about the Virgin Mary. As Francis turns 85 on Dec. 17, his ninth birthday …
Pro-life advocates decry FDA decision allowing women to get abortion pills by mail
by Katie Yoder Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 16, 2021 / 15:42 pm The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted restrictions on mifepristone, a drug approved for use in medical abortions, on Thursday. The decision authorizes doctors to prescribe the drugs online and mail the pills, allowing women to perform early …
Pew survey: Half of U.S. Catholics pray every day, and the number is dropping
by Joe Bukuras Boston, Mass., Dec 16, 2021 / 17:44 pm A new survey of U.S. adults found that 51% of Catholics pray every day, down from 59% from 2014. Meanwhile, the portion of Americans with no religious affiliation continues to rise. Those are some of the highlights of a …
There’s still time to see ‘The Chosen’ Christmas special in theaters (but you better hurry)
by Joe Bukuras Boston, Mass., Dec 15, 2021 / 13:30 pm Filming for season three of the popular internet series “The Chosen” will begin in Spring 2022, but fans won’t have to wait that long to get their fix because a brand new Christmas episode of the show is now …
Despite Kentucky tornadoes, Virgin Mary statue still stands—and Catholics offer help
by Kevin J. Jones Owensboro, Ky., Dec 13, 2021 / 19:01 pm The deadly storms that hit nine states in the Midwest and the South produced an image of a statue of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child, seemingly untouched outside the damaged building of Resurrection Catholic Church. Tina Casey, …
Pro-life Catholics gather 7,700 roses for Pelosi on Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast
by Katie Yoder Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 14, 2021 / 11:47 am A pro-life campaign led by the archbishop of San Francisco gathered thousands of roses for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) outside the U.S. Capitol on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. “The Feast of Our Lady of …
Live nativity scene (camel included) gives Catholic University students a welcome study break
by Shannon Mullen Washington D.C., Dec 12, 2021 / 22:29 pm You knew this wasn’t your average live nativity scene when you saw the camel. Delilah, to be more precise. On Sunday night, Dec. 12, she was the B.M.O.C. (Biggest Mammal on Campus) at The Catholic University of America — …
Vatican liturgy office issues guidelines for catechist ministry
by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 13, 2021 / 06:00 am The Vatican’s liturgy office on Monday issued a rite and guidelines for the institution of lay catechists in the dioceses of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis created the lay ministry of catechist in May with the release of the motu proprio Antiquum …
Pope Francis prays for victims of tornadoes in South and Midwest
by CNA Staff Vatican City, Dec 12, 2021 / 04:47 am Pope Francis expressed his closeness on Sunday to the victims of tornadoes that struck at least six U.S. states, killing scores of people. Speaking after his Angelus address on Dec. 12, he referred to the tornadoes that left a …
