Reflections on life, meaning and purpose

Israel-Hamas war casts pall over Christmas Eve vespers in Bethlehem

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa arrives in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, 2023. / Credit: Marinella Bandini, Catholic News Agency Bethlehem, Dec 24, 2023 / 13:04 pm (CNA). On Sunday, Dec. 24, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, made his entrance into Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. It was also his first entrance […]

ROME SHOT 889

Please remember me when  CHRISTMAS  shopping online. Thanks in advance. US HERE – UK HERE  These links take you to a generic “catholic” search in Amazon. Amazon remembers that you used my link and I get the credit.  WHY?  This helps to pay for insurance (massively … Read More →

Pope Francis: Do not confuse Christmas with consumerism

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Dec. 24, 2023. / Vatican Media CNA Staff, Dec 24, 2023 / 11:40 am (CNA). On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis urged Christians not to confuse Christmas with consumerism but to celebrate the birth of Christ by sharing with those who are lonely and in need. Speaking to the […]

A Christmas without war and hunger.

It is still right to say if we did not have Christmas, we would have had to invent it today. With all the strife conflict, bloodshed, hunger, suffering, abuse and injustice all around, the world needs Christmas, not every year but every day. Read all  

Cardinal Pizzaballa prays for an end to the violence and dialogue to prevail

In a Christmas message sent exclusively to Vatican News and L’Osservatore Romano, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem calls for recognizing each other as brothers and sisters, as we remember the meaning of God who became flesh and dwelt among us. He urges dialogue, reconciliation, forgiveness and friendship. And it is necessary to “look to the […]

Christmas in Ukraine overshadowed by Russian attacks

Pope Francis expresses his closeness to “our brothers and sisters suffering due to war,” including the people of Ukraine. His comments came as the war-torn nation faces a turbulent Christmas, with Russian shelling and drone attacks reportedly claiming the lives of at least four people. Read all  

‘O Come Let Us Adore Him’: Bavarian Crèches

The Nativity crib in Swabia, Germany, was created around 1618 and includes the world’s allegedly oldest Baby Jesus figurine that dates back to around 1300 in the Dominican convent in Leutkirch. Mindelheim, Germany