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It’s that magical and exciting time of year: shopping carts are filled, festive cards are addressed and mailed out, and stockings are hung by the chimney with care. The hustle and bustle of the Chrismtas season is upon us, and while you’re hopefully adequately celebrating the wonderful Advent season, there’s no doubt that most people […]
10 Unique Gifts for Your Favorite Priests Read More »
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For real. This one tops them all:
“Bethlehemian Rhapsody” Might One of the Best Christmas Videos Ever Read More »
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If you’re looking for an Advent meditation, look no further than the poem “Annunciation” by Denise Levertov. IT. IS. FANTASTIC. It presents an exploration of the moment between when Gabriel asked Mary to be the Mother of God and her saying yes to God’s plan. It is a great meditation for Advent and there are
This Poem Will Help Make Your Advent EPIC 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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Advent is fast approaching and will be gone before we know it, particularly because it is an unusually short season this year with the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve landing on the same day. Since we only have 3 full weeks of the season, it is especially important to be intentional about how
7 Tips and Resources for a Fruitful Prayer Life this Advent 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 »
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The holiday season usually brings with it joyful singing, time with family, shining lights, fragrant Christmas trees and homemade baked goods. But for some of us, the holidays may not be the most wonderful time of the year. If the holiday season has become hard to celebrate because of a loss, Thanksgiving and Christmas can
The Catholic Guide to Holiday Loneliness Read More »
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We’ve all seen it: the red and green Christmas displays practically falling out the front doors of every Target, Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, and department store in town. The Black Friday advertisements are already circulating with their abundant coupons and promise of deals. The commercials with popular Christmas carols are already playing on every channel, the promise
5 Ways to Celebrate Advent Read More »
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Taylor Swift and her family joined a rural Missouri Catholic family for some festivities the day after Christmas. Cyrus Porter (a.k.a. “Popo”), is a World War Two veteran and a huge Taylor Swift fan. A local news story about his love for Taylor went viral earlier in the year. So when his daughter gathered the
Taylor Swift surprises Catholic grandpa for Christmas Read More »
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Christmas is here and there’s plenty to do since it doesn’t end until the Epiphany. In all of the rush, here are five things you cannot forget to put on your Christmas to-do list this year. 1. Stop and ponder this season in your heart So often in all of the hustling of the
You Cannot Forget to Put These 4 Things on Your Christmas To-Do List this Year Read More »
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“Dear Internet, after all I’ve done for you, I will not be happy again unless I have this… My flourishing as a human will never happen until you buy me this… Is into much to ask that you supply with this…” – Mark Shea Keeping us giggling all year long, here’s a few special items
Dear Internet: Here’s What Mark Shea Wants for Christmas Read More »
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A 10-year-old girl from Northern Ireland has wowed people around the world after a video of her singing in her school choir went viral. The video of the choirs’s version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” — recorded at the school’s Christmas show — has gained almost 170,000 views in three days. Kaylee Rodgers, from Donaghadee, County
This Girl With Autism Singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” Will Blow You Away Read More »
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It’s no secret that we do things a bit differently in the East. Our churches look (and smell) different, our hymns sound different, and our liturgical calendar has feast days that don’t even occur in the West. It only follows that our Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany traditions should differ too. Here’s how the Byzantines deck
The Christmas Experience Every Byzantine Understands Read More »
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It’s that time of year again! Time for the annual trek through epic and not-so-epic, hilarious and not-so-hilarious, bad and not-so-bad nativity sets! Advent and Christmas at EpicPew would not be the same without a listicle of these unique nativity sets. In case you’ve missed the past few years, here’s the links to the previous
You Won’t Believe These Nativity Sets – Part III Read More »
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Although the season of Christmas often brings with it lights, jolly singing, and bright Christmas trees, it is not always a joyful season for all of us. Whether this is the first holiday after a loss, or the fifteenth holiday, each offers new difficulties and challenges. But, despite the grief, the Incarnation and Nativity is
5 Quotes from John of the Cross to Help You When the Holiday Season is Hard Read More »
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Christmas trees are a tradition unlike any other for the holidays. Stemming (pun intended) from an Old Germanic tradition, the tree symbolizes life in the winter darkness, just as Jesus came and still comes in the winter darkness as the Light and Life of the World. The Christmas tree is really a reminder of who
These Christmas Trees Are Just Ridiculous Read More »
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Christmas is days away and if you’re like me you’re thinking, “I’m not ready for Christmas to be here yet! I need to prepare! There is still so much to do!” Of course many of us are also thinking about the last minute shopping, cleaning, and to-do items left on those mile-long lists. How many
6 Last-Minute Ways To Prepare Yourself for Christmas Read More »
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It is true that on December 7, 1914, Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary hiatus of the war for the celebration of Christmas. The warring countries refused to create any official cease-fire, but on Christmas the soldiers in the trenches declared their own unofficial truce. During World War I, on and around Christmas Day 1914,
The Unexpected Story of the Christmas Truce of 1914 Read More »
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Beautiful. Here’s the latest from The Vigil Project, “Prepare him room”
Listen to this beautiful Advent video “Prepare Him Room” from The Vigil Project Read More »
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