Faith
Epiphany of the Lord
The feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord is celebrated throughout most of the world on Jan. 6, 2021. In the United States, the Solemnity is celebrated either on Jan. 6 or, according to the […]
Faith
Faith
O Christmas Tree: How the evergreen became part of the season
That green tree bedecked with lights and ornaments and topped with a star has become an important part of the season celebrating Christ’s birth. But how did it become such a beloved tradition? There certainly […]
Faith
Advent Week 4: He is always with us
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Never before have Gabriel’s words struck me as they have this year. When Gabriel speaks these words to Mary, she responds with perplexity. The divine has […]
Faith
Scaled back feast day doesn’t diminish Guadalupe devotion
The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe looked a lot different at St. John of the Cross Church in Batesburg-Leesville this year. Usually hundreds of people crowd into the parish life center, but this […]
Faith
Advent Week 3: Celebrate the joy Jesus brought to our world
The 19th-century English poet Christina Rossetti had never heard of COVID-19, climate change or many of the woes that beset us in the bleak midwinter of 2020. Yet, in her poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter,” […]
Faith
Learning about St. Luke the Evangelist
As we move toward the third week of Advent, now is a good time of the year to consider the Gospel of Luke. As the third book of the New Testament, Luke offers readers a […]
Faith
Advent Week 2: Where to find God; conversion in 2020
Long months of the vicious COVID-19 pandemic preceded the arrival of this year’s Advent season leading to Christmas. Neither Advent nor Christmas in 2020 will escape the pandemic’s shadow. But Advent is a season for […]
Faith
Advent Week 1: Seeking the face of God? Look around you
How many of you, when asked, “How are you doing?”, have replied, “I’m just waiting for this year to end”? We have experienced in 2020 a pandemic like none we have ever seen, political turmoil […]
Faith
Vatican Christmas: Details of stamps, Nativity scene, tree released
VATICAN CITY—Although the Vatican knows Christmas may be very different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it already has chosen its stamps and the Nativity scene and tree that will stand in St. Peter’s […]
Faith
Enact pro-life practices throughout the year
When the calendar page turns to October, pro-life issues come into focus for Catholics as we observe Respect Life Month; a spiritually rich time to pray and meditate on the sanctity of life. The core […]