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It’s the new year, and that means cracking open a new calendar. If you’re Catholic, you may have received a calendar from your Church. But upon opening it, you’ll not only find the holidays that you’re used to celebrating, but all sorts of celebrations in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. Days of the […]
Solemnity, Feast, or Memorial? How to Tell the Difference Read More »
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VATICAN CITY – Cesar Willy De Vroe had lost everything. He no longer had any contact with his three siblings, he had no worldly possessions, and his health had deteriorated. But Cesar, a homeless man who lived in Rome, was given a Requiem Mass at the Vatican yesterday. His body was laid to rest in
Homeless Man Given Requiem Mass Burial at the Vatican Read More »
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Icons are incredibly important to the Orthodox Church tradition. When you first see an icon, you may be drawn to the colors and shapes. You may think it’s a “nice picture”, and purchase one to hang in your home. But icons are much more than a work of art. Their purpose is to communicate the
8 Quick and Fascinating Facts About Icons Read More »
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CAIRO – More than 2,000 years ago, Mary and Joseph fled with Jesus to Egypt in order to escape the wrath of King Herod. Starting this year, Pope Francis is encouraging Catholics to follow in the footsteps of the Holy Family in a pilgrimage. He confirmed that Egypt will now be included as an official
Pope Francis Recognizes Egypt as an Official Pilgrimage Site Read More »
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Every year, Catholics gather outside the front doors of their home, chalk in hand. Perhaps you’ve seen the chalking above a church door, or above the front door to a friends home. But just what does the chalking mean? What do the letters and numbers symbolize? Read on to discover the tradition of chalking, celebrated
Bless Your House This Year with the Epiphany Blessing Read More »
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It’s been almost four years since Catholics around the world heard the news that Pope Benedict XVI was resigning from his place as pope. His papacy lasted almost eight years, and ended on February 28, 2013. Less than a month later, the news of Pope Francis’s election spread throughout the world. In his latest book, Benedict and
Benedict and Francis’ Shared Vision for the World Read More »
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Catherine of Siena was born into a world full of corruption, brutality, and turbulence. But despite the state of the world, she grew up to be a political force to be reckoned with. In her latest book, Saint Catherine of Siena and Her Times, Margaret Roberts argues that not only was Catherine an amazing saint, she was
8 Incredible Facts About Catherine of Siena You Probably Never Knew Read More »
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How do you know that the Catholic Church is one church founded by Christ? You could research, read books, ask apologists, or just go the easy route and ask Alexa. That’s exactly what Father Jason Signalness, a priest of the Diocese of Bismark, North Dakota, did. Watch his video to see what Alexa had to
Even Amazon Alexa Knows Who Founded the True Church Read More »
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VATICAN CITY – The commercial side of Christmas can suck even the best of us in, luring us with shining lights and after-Christmas sales. But during his latest papal audience, Pope Francis reminded Christians to keep Christ at the center of the Christmas celebrations. “If we take him away, the lights go out and everything
Pope Francis Encourages Catholics to Keep Christ in Christmas Read More »
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What if the greatest saints could have sat down with history’s greatest scoundrels and debated the big topics? What would debates between Edith Stein and Friedrich Nietzsche have looked like? Or what would Flannery O’Connor have to say to Ayn Rand if she got the chance? In his latest book, Dr. Benjamin Wiker invites readers
Saints Versus Scoundrels – Who Would Win in These Dream Debates? Read More »
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We’re all called to bless and be a blessing. After all, blessings are an incredible part of the Catholic faith. “Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a blessing, and to bless,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church says. “Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings. The more a blessing
Count Your Blessings: 6 Types of Blessings Found in the Catholic Church Read More »
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It’s almost Christmas, which means you may have quite a few Christmas parties on your calendar. If you aren’t dressing up as Saint Nicholas to pass out Christmas gifts, then you may be at a loss for what to wear. Whether it’s a holiday party for your Catholic youth group, or a small get together
7 Perfect Ugly Sweaters for Catholics Read More »
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VATICAN CITY – The world is full of technological advances, with new gadgets appearing on a daily basis. And while the Vatican gets behind proper use of modern technology (do you follow Pope Francis on Twitter?), some things are still old fashioned. For instance, for the past 500 years, the Vatican has used milk to paint
Clean and Green: The Vatican, Essential Oils, and Painting with Milk Read More »
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Sacred Heart Major Seminary released an amazing video of their (incredibly talented!) seminarians singing a rendition of “The First Noel”. The video was taken by the film crew from Spirit Juice Studios and does a fantastic job at showing off these seminarians’ talent and joy. Watch the video and then share with your friends and
Watch These Seminarians Put Their Own Twist on “The First Noel” Read More »
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If the main title, Reform Yourself! doesn’t catch you, take a good look at the subtitle of this new book written by Shaun McAfee (founder of Epic Pew!) – How to Pray, Find Peace, and Grow in Faith with the Saints of the Counter-Reformation. The subtitle is exactly what this book is all about. For
Reform Yourself with the Saints of the Counter-Reformation! Read More »
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NEW YORK – The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR) confirmed on December 13 that Father Andrew Apostoli had passed away at the age of 75. Father Apostoli had been battling cancer during the past months. “In the past month, Fr. Andrew’s health declined rapidly. We are profoundly grateful that he was able to spend
Father Andrew Apostoli, Host of Sunday Night Prime, Dies at Age 75 Read More »
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SPAIN – In the 18th century, a Spanish priest placed a time capsule in the most unlikely hiding places – the rear end of a hollow statue of Christ. His message remained hidden for over 250 years until the statue was removed from the church of Santa Águeda in Sotillo de la Ribera for a restoration
18th Century Priest Used Jesus Statue as World’s Oldest Time Capsule Read More »
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Advent is a time of preparation and hope, a season full of rich tradition. A common tradition during this season is the Advent wreath. At your local parish, and perhaps in your own home, the wreath is a reminder of the light of Christ. Each week that the candles are lit, we are reminded that
Do You Know the History of the Advent Wreath? Read More »
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Too many Christians believe that they please God better by a trembling submission to Him rather than a sweet and confiding liberty. In the pages of Holy Confidence – The Forgotten Path for Growing Closer to God, Father Benedict Rogacci shows us that time and time again, Our Lord insisted that we be at ease with Him.
Discover This Long Forgotten Path for Growing Closer to God Read More »
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WASHINGTON DC – The Catholic Church is taking Metro to court after their ad campaign encouraging Mass attendance during the holidays was rejected. The ad consists of a starry sky with shepherds, sheep, and the words: “Find the perfect gift”. The advertisement doesn’t promote an blatantly religious message, but encourages those who view the ad to
Archdiocese of Washington Sues D.C. Metro over Christmas Advertisements Read More »
