This period, known as Emmanuel or "God with us," shifts the focus from anticipation to presence. Five candles burn on the Advent wreath this morning. Four around the edges, their flames steady after ...

A woman lights a candle on the first Sunday of Advent at Our Mother of Sorrows Church in Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 3, 2023, the start of the Advent season. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller) “People will die of ...

As we listen to these readings for the first Sunday of Advent, we may be perplexed by what we hear. First, Paul’s letter to the Romans urges his listeners to put away what is dark and cultivate the ...

Ask almost anyone, anywhere, and they’ll tell you that 2025 has been a hard year. We’ve witnessed global wars, school shootings and an alarming rise in political violence. We’ve endured a ...

The fourth Sunday of Advent is symbolized by lighting the final candle on the wreath, representing love. This Advent season ...