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“Tis the season to be jolly,” the Christmas carol says. Yes, the holiday season brings a lot of reasons to smile and be happy, but it’s also a time of difficulty for many people. Some people have had a tough year full of loneliness and/or loss, unfortunately made worse by the holiday season. Other people
5 Saints to Help You Survive The Holiday and Winter Blues Read More »
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In the liturgical calendar of the Latin Church, December 18 has been known as the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although it is not currently in the liturgical calendar, I first came upon this feast in 2013 after reading through an old missal that was given to me as a gift. As someone that has
What Was the Mary Thinking the Week Prior to Giving Birth to Jesus? Read More »
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Christmas is such a tremendous day in the Catholic Church that it can’t be celebrated just on one day. That’s why the Church prepares with Advent, a time set aside to prepare our bodies and souls for the celebration of the Christ Child. Even though radio stations and department stores have been celebrating Christmas for
Celebrate Advent with These 6 Beautiful Austrian Traditions Read More »
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If you’re anything like me, you still have a few names left on your “gifts to buy” list. Here are a few quick and easy gifts to throw into your cart and have under the tree by Christmas morning. (And remember: Christmas begins December 25th. Technically, you’ve got until January 6th to get people gifts.
5 Last Minute Catholic Stocking Stuffers Read More »
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What if there were an episode of “Undercover Boss” in which the boss (i.e., Jesus) went undercover as a mall Santa in training?
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Why should you think about something as dark as death and the end times during a season full of preparing for Christ child? Isn’t Advent supposed to be filled with the light of the purple and pink candles and the joy of the upcoming Christmas season? It’s true, death and the final times are a
Here’s Why Advent Is the Perfect Time to Think About the Four Last Things Read More »
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Why is Mary’s Immaculate Conception during Advent each year? Many incorrectly believe that the Church’s celebration of the Immaculate Conception was Jesus’s conception, but that we celebrate it 17 days before Christmas should clue everyone in that it’s not (that would be an Immaculate Gestation!). The Immaculate Conception is 8 December each year. Now put
Why the Immaculate Conception is During Advent Read More »
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It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of preparing for Christ’s birth and lighting the Advent candles. But don’t forget to celebrate the feast days of these incredible saints, whose feast days and memorials occur during this season of preparation. 1. Saint Francis Xavier This saint’s memorial kicks off the Advent liturgical
Don’t Forget to Celebrate These Advent Saints! Read More »
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G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.” I certainly think that he would have (and hopefully you will) chuckle at the following joke:What do you call Santa when he has no money? Saint ‘Nickel-less’. Get it? Nicholas? If you enjoy wordplay, you’re welcome! However,
6 Epic Facts About the Saint Behind Santa Claus Read More »
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“All creation groans in labor Waiting for our humble savior Joyful hope for Jesus coming In our hearts is overflowing” Is this not the cry of our hearts during advent? Waiting, anticipation, preparing, making room, joy, hope, and peace. Randomly scrolling Instagram, I came across a video from The Vigil Project, when I saw
Watch this Beautiful Advent Song from Vigil Project Read More »
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In this season of Holy Patience, we reflect and wait for the coming of the Christ Child. This feast being celebrated on the 25th of December, has become a grand holiday loved by both Christian and secular peoples. The coming time of preparation is, however, a much lesser known aspect of this season. Often chocolate
7 Facts You May Not Have Known About Advent Read More »
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We all know those people who run right over Advent on their way to decorate the Christmas tree. Or maybe we are those people. You’ve just packed away your Thanksgiving leftovers and they’re already cranking up the Christmas tunes. Turn down “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” for goodness sake. It’s not even Christmas yet. Here are
12 Songs for Advent (Because It’s Not Christmas Yet!) Read More »
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Advent wreaths. Advent calendars. Putting up the Nativity set, a couple of pieces per week. Raise your hand if you’ve done the same thing for Advent over the last couple of years. Yes, I’m also there with you, waving both hands in the air. It seems like most of us fall into the same routine
6 Unconventional Ways to Celebrate Advent Read More »
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Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means the whole world is now in a full blown “IT’S CHRISTMAS, IT’S CHRISTMAS, IT’S CHRISTMAS” frenzy. The weekend after Thanksgiving has become the set of days when most people shop, decorate, and begin wrapping all those gifts they bought on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, We’re-consumed-with-consumerisum-Sunday, and Cyber
5 Simple Ways to Make Advent Meaningful for Your Family Read More »
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Have you heard of “cuffing season”? If you’re a single Catholic, there’s a good chance you may have. Cuffing season is the unofficial time during winter months when single people feel the pangs of loneliness most intensely and they seek a partner to spend the holidays with. Sometimes the desperation to not have to answer
How to Avoid Being a Victim of Cuffing Season, Catholic Edition Read More »
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With the holidays coming soon, odds are you’re already starting to receive physical letters and emails, asking for donations from a variety of different organizations and religious orders. It’s no wonder that many people check Forbes list of the top 100 largest U.S. charities to make sure they’re donating to a legitimate organization. With the
These 4 Catholic Charities Made the Top 100 Largest in the U.S. Read More »
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How’s your Advent going? Good? Great? Or… um, yeah… about that…. Maybe you’re behind on your Jesse Tree and Advent calendar. This year, just hearing about how other’s Advent seasons are going just makes you tired. Maybe you’re having a great Advent this year and are all caught up! Regardless of how your Advent season
8 Hacks to Help You Finish Advent Strong Read More »
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Christmas is right around the corner. Some of us have finished the Christmas to-do list and checked it twice. But others have run out of time, spent too much money already, or are stumped on what to give that one person who has everything. If you fall into the second category, don’t worry. There is
Epic Gift Ideas for the Last Minute Shopper Read More »
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It’s that time of year again! Time to take a relaxing stroll through the most epic (or not), hilarious (or not), and creative (or not) nativity scenes that people have come up with. Before you explore the nativity scenes for this year, take a look at the past three seasons’ collection: Part I: 10 Hilarious
You Won’t Believe These Nativity Sets-Part IV Read More »
