Advent

by Lisa Klewicki When we think of Christmas, we often think of shopping, gifts, parties, and relatives visiting. Preparing for Christmas can be a stressful time. However stressful the preparations are, however, it is important to slow down…

Catholic liturgy has inspired composers for centuries. Classical luminaries such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Berlioz have all composed sung Masses. Vespers services (that is, evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours) are among the…

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. (James 5:7) I gave a talk in a parish on…

While Inferno remains the most famous part of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, the poems’ two subsequent parts, Purgatorio and Paradiso are necessary for understanding Inferno in its entirety. Much like understanding only one part of the…

The word Advent means “to arrive” or “to come.” We all know how hard it can be to wait for the arrival of something good. And of course, during Advent we are waiting for the best thing of all: the birth of Jesus into our world and our…

May God bless you.  May God keep you safe.  God be with you.  God be in your heart.  May God bless and protect you.  — Daily Blessing of Child, Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers, Revised Edition (United States Conference of…

Christmas is around the corner, and Catholic Digest has found 20 memorable presents for friends and family. Some of our favorites include the Our Lady of Guadalupe apron, Tim Drake's children's book, The Attic Saint, and the Brooklyn Art…

Now I am going to tell you about something that until I did this article I knew next to nothing about — Advent fasting customs of the Eastern Rite. All I knew is that the period of Advent starts way sooner than Advent in the West. Instead…

Over the centuries, many Christians have predicted the second coming of Christ and, consequently, the end of the world. So far, none of these predictions have been correct; Jesus has not yet returned.  Jesus himself, speaking of the end…

The Nativity scene is a simple reminder of how God became human to reveal the greatness of his love "by smiling and opening his arms to all," Pope Francis said in a letter on the meaning and importance of setting up Christmas cribs.…