Posts Tagged
Christmas
O Little Town of Bethlehem… Pennsylvania? The story of ‘Christmas City USA’
By Jonah McKeown CNA Staff, Dec 25, 2023 / 07:00 am There are at least 18 cities and towns in the United States named Bethlehem, but one of the first and perhaps the most famous is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a town of 75,000 in the eastern state’s Lehigh Valley, a short drive …
5 things to know and share about St. Nicholas
by Hannah Brockhaus Rome Newsroom, Dec 6, 2021 / 06:00 am St. Nicholas, whose feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, is well known as possibly the real-life inspiration for the beloved Christmas character of Santa Claus. Not a lot is known about the historical Nicholas, who was bishop of …
Summoned to Love with W.H. Auden’s “For the Time Being”
Among the rich and wonderful mysteries of the Incarnation is the intersection of time by eternity. Or perhaps the better formulation is that the Incarnation introduces a different kind of time from the chronological time by which we order our hours, days, weeks, months and years. This everyday account of …
Go Forth with Hope
On my birthday in October, I learned that my grandfather, Bob, had fallen and had five broken ribs and a brain bleed. His prognosis was grim, and my heart was heavy. There were many ups and downs for over a month while we were left unsure of his life expectancy. …
How to bless your home on the Feast of Epiphany 2024
by Francesca Pollio Denver Newsroom, Jan 6, 2022 / 03:00 am Have you ever gone past a door with what appears to be random letters and numbers written at the top? These letters and numbers actually have a great significance. Traditionally on the feast of Epiphany, Catholics bless their homes …
St. Francis and the story of the first Nativity scene
by Hannah Brockhaus Rome Newsroom, Dec 23, 2023 / 07:00 am It’s a well-known origin story: how the young and wealthy Francis of Assisi freely abandoned his noble patrimony to serve Christ’s Church as a poor, itinerant preacher. One of the world’s most beloved saints, the founder of the Franciscan …
Where does the ‘Feast of the 7 Fishes’ Christmas Eve tradition come from?
By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Dec 24, 2023 / 07:00 am There are numerous Christmas Eve traditions families around the world take part in, whether it’s watching a certain movie together, baking cookies for Santa, opening one present before going to bed, or eating a specific meal for dinner. The …
Finding Restoration This Christmas Season
One reason Jesus chose to dedicate the majority of His time on earth in family life points to a reflection for this continuing Christmas season: relationships. Our lives bear scars from broken relationships, contrary to God’s plan. Christ knew this—and He came to restore us. Multiple relationships suffered due to …
Rediscover ‘original beauty’ of Christmas music with Scythian’s new ‘Christmas Out at Sea’
By Peter Pinedo Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 20, 2023 / 08:00 am Scythian, an Irish folk band headlined by two Catholic brothers, wants to help you “rediscover the original beauty” of Christmas music through their new album, “Christmas Out at Sea.” Full of energetic carols that reach moments of striking beauty …