Jesus’ Infancy through the Eyes of Benedict XVI
As Benedict’s entire Jesus of Nazareth trilogy masterfully illustrates, the answer lies in carefully balanced exegesis that takes the historicity of the Gospels seriously, while also attending to the...
View ArticleReflections on God’s Providence - Pope Francis and the Synod on the Family
Pope Francis and the Synod on the Family November always begins with our remembering what true life in Christ looks like—All Saints—and ends with our anticipation of a new chance at that same...
View ArticleAn Advent Reflection: Redemptor Hominis, Redeemer of Man
Introduction The encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, has a specific place in the ministry of Pope St. John Paul II. It was proclaimed the first Sunday of Lent, 1979, the first encyclical of the new...
View ArticleAdvent Preparation through the Daily Office of Readings
Introduction One of the great treasures of the Church is its Morning Office of Readings, which throughout the liturgical year offers both scriptural readings and meditations from the fathers and...
View ArticleThe Synod’s End and an Advent Prayer Time for the Church
Pope Francis During Extraordinary Synod of Bishops; Advent wreath. The Synod on the Family, called by Pope Francis to address: “The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the...
View ArticleGeorge Herbert as Advent Exemplar
As both a liturgical season and a spiritual practice, Advent invites us to consider serious questions about our Christian beliefs, and our fundamental being. Advent teaches us how to ready ourselves...
View ArticleThe Stillness of Waiting and the Beauty of Birth
How does a Christian keep an Advent orientation amid society’s pre-Christmas, frenzied rush? The key is to focus on the right things. The first Sunday in Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical...
View ArticleTotal Consecration to the Virgin Mary
Introduction When we think of Jesus Christ, what do we think of first? Do we think of an ideal of unselfishness: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31)? Do we think of an...
View ArticleAn Advent Examination
Advent is not a season of penance, but of preparation. Advent prepares us for the two comings of Christ, that is, the Incarnation and the Eschaton. However, amid the garlands and the gifts, we all know...
View ArticleA Spirituality of Advent
Advent is a time of preparation. It has many parallels to Lent: we don the purple, we suppress the Gloria (awaiting the angels to sing it again for the first time at Midnight Mass), and we are given...
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