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Advent

A sister kneels before the tabernacle after inviting a group of women donating Christmas gifts to pray in the Missionaries of Charity house in Rome. / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

Living Advent with Hope and Charity: Lessons from Mother Teresa’s Sisters

Dec 16, 2024

For the Missionaries of Charity, whose charism is to serve “the poorest of the poor,” Advent isn’t just for a liturgical season — it is a way of life.

Bishop Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo of the Catholic Diocese of Yagoua in Cameroon. Credit: Catholic Diocese of Yagoua

Catholic Bishop in Cameroon Calls on Christians to be Builders of Peace, Work for Harmony During Advent

Dec 1, 2024

Bishop Barthélemy Yaouda Hourgo of the Catholic Diocese of Yagoua in Cameroon has urged Christians to embrace their role as agents of peace and reconciliation during the Advent season. 

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus address on the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 1, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

"Raise your heads," Pope Francis Tells Faithful in First Advent Message amid Multiple Conflicts

Dec 1, 2024

Pope Francis on Sunday addressed cosmic upheavals, modern anxieties, and current conflicts while emphasizing hope and spiritual vigilance.

Advent wreath / Credit: Shutterstock

Advent 2024: Four Catholic Resources to Help You Grow in Your Faith

Nov 30, 2024

As calendars get filled up and preparations are made, these four resources can help you get ready to enter into the deeper meaning of Christmas.

Credit: Lisa Missenda/Shutterstock

Yes, You Need to Go to Mass Twice this Weekend — for Sunday and for Christmas

Dec 23, 2023

The fourth Sunday of Advent falls on Christmas Eve. That means the faithful must attend two Masses in a row to meet their Sunday and Christmas Day obligations.

A firefighter scales a long ladder to the top of a nearly 40-foot-high column to pay tribute at dawn to the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of flowers on Dec. 8, 2023. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

PHOTOS: Pope Francis Honors Virgin Mary on Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8, 2023

Pope Francis prayed in front of a statue of the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Spanish Steps, which sits atop a nearly 40-foot-high column.

Advent wreath. | Credit: Shutterstock

Everything you need to know about the Advent wreath

Dec 4, 2023

Advent wreaths are traditionally made from evergreen branches and have four candles, which represent the four weeks of Advent. 

Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 24, 2022. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Here are Pope Francis’ Liturgies for Christmas 2023 at the Vatican

Nov 28, 2023

As the season of Advent draws near, the Vatican has published the schedule of Pope Francis’ liturgies for Christmas through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

The Vatican’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 3, 2022. | Daniel Ibanez/CNA

PHOTOS: Vatican Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2022

Dec 4, 2022

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Vatican. A large hand-carved wooden nativity scene was unveiled in St. Peter Square on Saturday night at the Vatican’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Still from CRTN production on Iraq. / Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International.

Ahead of Christmas, Catholic Pontifical Entity Launches 24 Days of Free Documentaries

Dec 6, 2020

The leadership of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International is announcing free access to 24 documentaries that capture the reality of Christian life in anticipation of the feast of the Nativity.

Pope Francis delivers an Angelus address overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Credit: Vatican Media.

Ask God for the Gift of Conversion in Advent: Pope Francis

Dec 6, 2020

We should ask God for the gift of conversion this Advent, Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Sunday.

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria's Abuja Archdiocese. / Archdiocese of Abuja Facebook Page.

Amid Interethnic Violence in Nigeria, Prelate Encourages Mutual Understanding of Diversity

Dec 3, 2020

Amid persistent interethnic violence between Nigeria’s Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups, the Archbishop of Abuja has encouraged members of both tribes to understand cultural diversities and to “appreciate what each has.”

Pope Francis offers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 1, 2019. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

"Advent is the season for remembering the closeness of God": Pope Francis

Nov 29, 2020

On the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis recommended a traditional Advent prayer to invite God to draw close during this new liturgical year.

Pope Francis celebrates Gaudete Sunday Mass with Rome's Filipino community Dec. 15, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis Celebrates a Filipino Christmas Tradition at the Vatican

Dec 15, 2019

On Gaudete Sunday, Pope Francis celebrated a Filipino Christmas tradition in St. Peter’s Basilica -- the Simbang Gabi Christmas novena.

Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square on December 9, 2016. Credit: Vatican Media/CNA.

Pope Francis: Advent is a Time of Conversion

Dec 15, 2019

As Pope Francis blessed children's nativity scene figurines Sunday, the pope said that the Advent season is a time of conversion to make space in one’s heart for Christ to come and fill it with joy.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Liberia (CABICOL)

“With concerted good will efforts, we can overcome”: Bishops in Liberia on Challenges

Dec 10, 2019

As Christians across the globe live the Advent Season, the Catholic Bishops in the West African nation of Liberia have used the occasion to call for collective efforts and reliance of God in facing the socio-economic challenges, encouraging dialogue and the nurturing of peace and security.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 1, 2019. Credit: Vatican Media.

Advent advice from Pope Francis: Choose prayer and charity over consumerism 

Dec 1, 2019

This Advent, choose prayer and charity over consumerism, Pope Francis said Sunday in his first Mass of the liturgical year.

A campaign graphic for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence that will conclude on December 10, 2019, Human Rights Day

During Advent, Church in Southern Africa Wants Initiatives to End Violence Targeting Women

Nov 30, 2019

As the global community continues to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence that started November 25 advocating for the elimination of all forms of gender violence, Church leaders under the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), a region that has recorded the highest cases of femicide in Africa, have called on all people to use the upcoming Advent season to promote the dignity of women and girls, taking deliberate initiatives to end gender-based violence that usually targets the female gender.

Representation of Year of the Bible, which the Church in Malawi is set to launch at Advent, December 1, 2019

Church in Malawi Set to Begin “Year of the Bible” at Advent, To Engage All Catholics

Nov 23, 2019

The Catholic Church in Malawi is set to launch the year of the Bible at the beginning of the Advent Season, Sunday, December 1, a pastoral initiative aimed at encouraging Catholics in the southeastern Africa country to intensely reflect on the word of God throughout the year 2019-2020, a Malawian Prelate told ACI Africa.