Christian News

If life is a battle — and it is — Christmas is the day before the fighting starts, when we do what is perhaps the most important thing in the battle: Commit to each other and to Christ, our cause. Here are five takeaways for the The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), drawn from Sunday Readings columns at this site and the Extraordinary Story podcast.

There is a particular verse in the second letter of St. Peter where he reminds us that the salvific message of Christ fulfilled through his death and resurrection has granted us the opportunity to escape the corruption of the world, fueled by misplaced human passions, by becoming partakers of the divine nature...

There is a Home that is truly our home. And the Father in that home bends all His energy to make possible our taking up residence there. Permanently. It really is that simple. It is simple, but it is also somewhat involved—because life there is so rich. This is not surprising. Really and truly being at home calls for more than meets the eye...

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his first Christmas at the Vatican by reviving the tradition of offering Christmas Mass on Dec. 25 in St. Peter’s Basilica, something no pope has done since 1994. The Christmas celebrations — which will be marked by the closing of the Holy Doors — will begin on the evening of Dec. 24...

There are a growing number of scholars today who can be considered anti-feminists. These men and women are starting to look under the hood of the feminist ideology. What is surprising is that more people haven’t done so before. Most people have blithefully believed that it is simply a movement about helping women. In my forthcoming book...

Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged Christians to resist the temptation to treat others as enemies, saying the mystery of Christmas calls believers to recognize the God-given dignity of every person, even in their adversaries. “Christians, however, have no enemies, but brothers and sisters, who remain so even when they do not understand each other,” the Pope said...

There are many ways we can approach the nearly inexhaustible mystery of Christmas. We can meditate on the divine humility of God’s becoming one of us, on his deliberate choice to become a helpless baby, and to number himself among the poor. We can focus on the holiness of those gathered around a manger, especially Mary and Joseph, and on the quiet strength of the domestic church that shelters the baby Savior of the world.

The dreadful murder of Rob and Michele Reiner, allegedly at the hands of their son, has returned the filmmaker’s work to greater prominence in recent days. No doubt some families will be prompted to watch again The Princess Bride over the holidays. That would be a good choice, for the film has some powerful Christian messages.

Every December, as huge chunks of the world deck the halls and trim the trees, a special breed of pilot decides that standard flight patterns are beneath (pun intended) them. Because why fly a straight line when you can create Grinch sky art across the winter sky? This holiday season, we’ve spotted not one but two ambitious attempts to paint everyone’s favorite Christmas villain...

Catholics across the globe are lifting up 5-year old Micah Kim in prayer this Christmas season. His father, Paul Kim, a popular Catholic speaker and comedian, husband and father to six children, shared on Dec. 22, that Micah had suffered a “medical emergency” and was in an ambulance heading to the hospital...

The ancient commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior resounds through the ages and occupies a pivotal place in the Christian life. Faithful around the world mark the solemn occasion of our salvation with extra prayers, Mass attendance, sacramental participation and family traditions...

Looking for a way to go into the new year with some extra grace? Did you know the Church offers TWO chances for plenary indulgences as we ring in the New Year? The first opportunity comes on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, as we reflect on all God has done in 2025 and prepare for a new year — a Jubilee Year! For those who publicly recite the Te Deum, a plenary indulgence is granted under the normal conditions detailed below.