The Catholic Octave of Christmas is a sacred and joyous period that extends beyond the traditional celebration of Christmas Day. An octave is a liturgical period of eight days, and in the context of Christmas, it begins on December 25th and...
Every Christmas season, I look forward to the “Christmas Letters” section in the various publications that I receive. Many are reflections from readers that go way back, to times past. In reading them, what is most remarkable is that the memories of...
We are more than familiar with the passage from the Gospel of Luke (2:1-14) proclaimed at Christmas Mass. Thus, it is so easy for us to picture this scene in our mind. Since I am a purist and I love doing research to get to the bottom of things...
Undeniably there is magic in the air tonight. Even those who would have reasons to be pensive and worn out find a new spiritual energy inside that prompts them to rise above their worries and troubles. This magic atmosphere must be God-sent because...
Christmas is a special time for our Christian faith. It prepares and helps us celebrate the great entrance of the Son of God into our midst. Christmas is a time of great hope, too! Amid the problems and difficulties we are assailed with, it presents...
There is a story of General Stonewall Jackson and his sister crossing a treacherous torrent just below the mighty Niagara Falls. It is said that when the violent current began to rock their boat, his sister became terrified, at which point the...
67 days? Yes, Hallmark brought us over 67 days of “Christmas” from October to early January. By any measure, it was an awful lot of canned cheer. On my satellite dish, it was more like 201 days of Christmas since we have three Hallmark channels...
In his apostolic exhortation on the call to holiness in today’s world, Gaudete et Exsultate, Pope Francis says: The saints now in God’s presence preserve their bonds of love and communion with us (no.4). As Christmas is practically on our doorstep...
