Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Catholic Insight

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Chant Workshop in Ottawa

For those who want to learn something about the great tradition of Gregorian chant, or hone your incipient skills, there will be a a Chant workshop offered by Miss Catherine Helferty in Ottawa with...

The Very First ‘Merry Christmas’

In one of those many ironies of history, it came as news to me that the first recorded use of the greeting 'Merry Christmas' was from Bishop John Fisher to Thomas Cromwell. Of course,...

Christmas Hymns

A fine compilation of Christmas hymnody, done in wonderful harmony. Enjoy on this day of great joy! Christus natus est, alleluia! https://youtu.be/zIQBBNIo1Hc

A Christmas Carol: Thoughts, and an Audio Book

Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol was first published on this December 19 back in 1843, and it has been a much beloved classic ever since. It is really is an Advent story, as...

Bach’s Cantata for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

J.S. Bach composed Cantatas for many Sundays and feasts (over 200!)- in the Lutheran liturgical calendar, to be sure, but one which remained close to its Catholic origins. Here is the one for the...

Musical Offering: The Alma Redemptoris Mater, in Three Versions

There are various antiphons sung in honour of Our Lady at the close of Compline, for each liturgical season - the Salve Regina for 'Ordinary Time'; the Ave Regina Coelorum for Lent, the Regina...

Handel’s Miraculous Messiah

On this Second Sunday of Advent, when we read of Saint John the Baptist's preparing the way, it is fitting to immerse oneself in at least the first part of Handel's Messiah. First performed...

Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty

Forty years ago today, on December 14, 1985, Catherine de Hueck Doherty's vagarious life came to its end in a cabin in the remote town of Combermere, Ontario. Born in Russia, and living through...

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