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FAITH/STORIES

The Holy Family by Jacques Stella

God's Word on Sunday: Being a child of God is a journey of faith

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Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Dec. 30 (Year C) 1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28; Psalm 84; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25.

Urbi et Orbi: Incarnation of Christ tells us that salvation comes through love, acceptance, Pope says

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VATICAN – Delivering his formal Christmas message and blessing, Pope Francis prayed for a world where all people would recognize that they are brothers and sisters and would work for justice and for peace.
Pope Francis kisses a figurine of the baby Jesus as he visits the Nativity scene at the conclusion of Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24.
December 24, 2018

This Christmas, come to the manger with love, charity, simplicity, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – Jesus' birth in a stable, God's coming to earth in extreme simplicity, teaches Christians that love is more valuable than anything else and is what will change the world, Pope Francis said.
Mary and Joseph on the Way to Bethlehem (1475) by Hugo van der Goes

God's Word on Sunday: God only asks for our obedience and trust

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Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 23 (Year C) Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Pope Francis greets a boy during an audience to exchange Christmas greetings with Vatican employees in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 21.

Jesus is the greatest Christmas gift, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN – This Christmas will people go to adore and be amazed by Jesus, or will they let themselves be detoured by distractions? Pope Francis asked.
Parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Toronto take part in the Simbang Gabi festivities that accompany a traditional Filipino Christmas.

Simbang Gabi adds Filipino flare to feast

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In December 2011 Fr. John Sullivan discovered what Christmas means in the Philippines.

December 20, 2018
Pope Francis greets representatives of the children and teens section of Italy's Catholic Action. Meeting the young people at the Vatican Dec. 20, the pope asked them to share their faith with their peers, being especially attentive to children who seem lonely or mistreated.

'Everything changes' with Christ's birth, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – The Annunciation – the Angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will bear God's son -- was such a tremendous, history-changing event that preaching about it is extremely difficult, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis greets a child as he arrives to lead his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 19.

Christmas is not just a cozy holiday but a chance to turn tables, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN – Christmas will not be authentic if people get caught up in a frenzy of shopping, presents and meals, all while ignoring the poor and forgetting who the celebration is really all about, Pope Francis said.
Bishop Lionel Gendron of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, Quebec, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Live Christmas as revelation of Light, Bishop Gendron says

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The following is the Christmas message released by Bishop Lionel Gendron, Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

December 18, 2018
Celebrating Mass Dec. 18 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis spoke about St. Joseph and his willingness to listen to God speaking in his dreams. The pope urged parents to dream for their children and priests to dream for their parishioners.

Ask for grace to seek truth in dreams, be silent like St. Joseph, Pope Francis says

VATICAN – While St. Joseph was a practical, down-to-earth man, he had enough faith to be open to God speaking through dreams, Pope Francis said at morning Mass.
An audience member holds a figurine of baby Jesus as Pope Francis leads his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 16.

A true Christmas celebrates Baby Jesus, who is tender, humble, Pope Francis says

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VATICAN – With Christmas just over a week away, visitors came to St. Peter's Square with their Baby Jesus figurines for a traditional blessing by the Pope.
December 12, 2018
Pope Francis swings a censer in front of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe as he celebrates Mass Dec. 12 marking her feast day in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Mary raises up the abandoned, Pope Francis says at Mass

VATICAN – Just as she did hundreds of years ago from a small hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, Mary accompanies the downtrodden and the lowly like a mother caring for her children.
The cardinals ending their service after five years as members are Australian Cardinal George Pell, 77; Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, 85, retired archbishop of Santiago, Chile; and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Congo, 79.

Three Roman Curia advisers end service on Pope's Council of Cardinals

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VATICAN – Three members of Pope Francis' Council of Cardinals have officially ended their service as papal advisers on the reform of the Roman Curia.
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