The discipline of the Churches of the west, after having reduced the time of the Advent fast, so far relented, in a few years, as to change the fast into a simple abstinence; and we even find ...

which symbolizes the Church, because of the fruits almost countless seeds, and for the hope we place in the Resurrection. A special form of wreath is the Advent Wreath, lit each evening by a ...

Advent anticipates the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus’ birth and the hope of the second coming. This hour of prayer and reflection draws on moments in Scripture to help us awaken to what ...

When a holy day of obligation falls on a Sunday and so is transferred to another day, the Catholic faithful are encouraged to ...

Advent close AdventThe four weeks leading up to Christmas; during this period, Christians anticipate the story of the Nativity. is the period leading up to Christmas. It starts on the Sunday ...

Many Advent customs involve counting the days until Christmas begins, such as the secular use of a chocolate advent calendar. There are different readings on each of the four Sundays leading up to ...

The Church is not a democracy. Our beliefs and our leaders, for instance, are not determined by popular vote. Yet there are many Catholics who seem to be as apathetic about their Church as millions of ...