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December 29 – Saint Thomas Becket
St. Thomas was born in London, England around the year 1117. He was the son of pious parents, and his mother converted to Christianity through the example and teachings of his father. From his early youth, Thomas was educated in religion and holiness. After his childhood, Thomas was then taught …
The most frequently asked questions about Pope Benedict XVI
By CNA Staff CNA Newsroom, Dec 28, 2022 / 11:00 am On Dec. 28 the press office of the Holy See announced that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s condition had taken a turn for the worse and that he was receiving medical care at his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. …
Meet the Holy Innocents: The ‘infant martyrs’ who died for Baby Jesus
By Katie Yoder Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 28, 2022 / 09:35 am The Holy Innocents did not know Jesus, but they died in his place. Dec. 28 marks the feast of these baby boys who are, today, recognized as the first martyrs and pro-life patron saints. Their story appears in the Gospel of …
Pope Francis: Pray for a ‘very ill’ Benedict XVI
By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 28, 2022 / 02:16 am Pope Francis on Wednesday asked for prayers for a “very ill” Benedict XVI. Francis made the appeal for the 95-year-old pope emeritus at the end of his weekly public audience on Dec. 28 in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. “I …
Vatican: Benedict XVI under medical care as health takes sudden turn
By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 28, 2022 / 03:48 am The Vatican confirmed Wednesday that pope emeritus Benedict XVI has experienced a sudden decline in his health, but is stable and under medical care. “I can confirm that in the last few hours there has been a worsening due to …
December 28 – Holy Innocents
The Holy Innocents are the children mentioned in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 2:16-18. Herod, perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry, and sent his soldiers to kill all male children ages two and under that were in Bethlehem and on the boarders, according to …
Remembering the first Christmas in space: Here’s how it happened
By Jonah McKeown St. Louis, Mo., Dec 26, 2022 / 10:00 am 1968 was a turbulent year for America. As the Vietnam War raged and peaceful figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr., lost their lives at assassins’ hands, cities across the United States were convulsed by riots. In the midst …
December 27: St. John the Apostle
St. John, the son of Zebedee and brother of St. James the Great, was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He became the “beloved disciple” and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake the Savior in the …
The 8 days of Christmas? A look at the Christmas octave
by Kevin J. Jones Denver, Colo., Dec 25, 2022 / 08:00 am The Catholic calendar has several ways to divide the Christmas season. The Church’s Western liturgical tradition sees Christmas as an octave, an eight-day celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The octave of Christmas begins on Christmas itself, the feast …
This Santa rides a camel around Jerusalem every year. Here’s why
By Hannah Brockhaus, ACI MENA Rome Newsroom, Dec 23, 2022 / 10:00 am Every year on the feast of St. Nicholas, Issa Anis Kassisieh dons a red suit, black boots, and a thick white beard. He mounts a camel in the outskirts of Jerusalem and rides into the streets of the Old …
