Saint Sylvester, the Last Saint of the Year and Praising God

On this last day of the calendar year, we celebrate in muted tones the mysterious and shadowy Pope Saint Sylvester I, who reigned from...

The Church Could Use A Few More Thomas (à) Beckets

A blessed continuing 'Merrie Christmas!' to all our readers, on this sixth day of Christmas, as we celebrate all these twelve days, right up...

The Hope of the Holy Innocents

The feast of the Holy Innocents, which we celebrate appropriately enough within the octave of Christmas, might seem a troubling commemoration at first glance....

St John the Evangelist and His Life-Giving Message

Two days after the Solemnity of Christmas, Mother Church celebrates the beautiful memorial of St John the Evangelist. Pope Benedict XVI, seeing the paramount importance...

Saint John, the Apostle of the Logos

On this third day of Christmas, we not only get three french hens, but, far better, we get to celebrate the beloved Apostle, Saint...

Saint John the Beloved, Seer of Patmos

BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Paul VI Audience Hall Wednesday, 23 August 2006 John, the Seer of Patmos Dear Brothers and Sisters, In the last Catechesis we had reached the meditation...

Pope Benedict and Saint Stephen

BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Saint Peter's Square Wednesday, 2 May 2012 Dear Brothers and Sisters, In our recent Catecheses we have seen how through personal and community prayer the...

On the Feast of Stephen…not Boxing Day

As the mid-19th century hymn has it, Good King Wenceslaus first went out, on the feast of Stephen, when the snow lay 'round about,...

Three Surprising Saints from the Old Testament for Advent

(December 24th, Christmas Eve, is the traditional commemoration of the 'ancestors of Christ', in particular Adam and Eve, whom we recall on this day,...

O Mary, Conceived Without Sin

(Father Marco Testa was planning to submit this reflection back on December 8th, but due to technical difficulties, the article could only be sent...