Podcast Excerpt: The Three Wisemen

Posted by Leonard J. DeLorenzo on Dec 30, 2020 11:16:00 AM

Some of the most splendid preaching in the Catholic tradition has occurred during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Here we provided excerpts from the seasonal sermons of three exceptional preachers and Christian witnesses: St. John Newman, Fr. Alfred Delp, and St. Oscar Romero.

These sermons were the subject of the Church Life Today episode entitled “The Three Wisemen.”

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Topics: sermons, saints, Scripture, Advent, Christmas

The Essential Heart of Advent Prayer

Posted by Fr. Joseph Guido, O.P. on Dec 22, 2020 7:04:00 AM

The weather fit the day. Banks of low, grey, rippled clouds that foretold the rain and chill to come. Bare branches, their bark exposed, and the dry, brittle leaves that had once shown bright now crunching underfoot. Late November in New England and the feast of Christ the King, 2020.

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Topics: prayer, liturgical year, Advent

Rediscover Wonder through the Nativity Scene

Posted by Kelly Deehan on Dec 21, 2020 7:04:00 AM

Take a moment to visualize the Nativity scene that was in your home as a child. Try to see it through your childhood eyes once again. What do you see? Do you remember that sense of wonder as you look at that familiar figurine of baby Jesus in the manger?

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Topics: devotional prayer, Dorothy Day, Echo, Pope Francis, Advent, crèche, Nativity scene, Christian art

Welcoming the Stranger: Las Posadas

Posted by Rafael Lopez on Dec 16, 2020 5:00:33 PM

The Catholic faith has many traditions that are beautiful and deep, full of teaching and evangelization. I was lucky enough to be born and raised in Mexico, and there I learned about my faith through such traditions. For example, Las Posadas is a celebration that has lots to teach us about the Catholic faith. The celebrations last nine days, starting on December 16 and running until Christmas Eve—this way a novena is prayed. During these nine days, there is a procession from the town’s parish to a street where a manger is set up. A leader from each street organizes all the people that live on that street, and everyone works together to set up the manger, cook the food, decorate the street, make the piñatas, and buy candy for all the kids in town. The leader also chooses a boy and a girl to dress as Joseph and Mary, and another boy or girl to be an angel. Mary rides on a donkey led by Joseph from the parish to the manger, followed by all the town kids dressed as shepherds. The parish priest leads the Rosary, songs, and rituals, with the whole town following. Las Posadas serves as spiritual exercises in preparation for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The procession is then followed by celebration, as the kids break piñatas, sing songs, and play games.  

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Topics: devotional prayer, Hispanic Catholicism, Advent, Las Posadas, processions

Carolyn's Christmas Movie Countdown

Posted by Carolyn Pirtle on Dec 14, 2020 1:56:33 PM

I was recently invited to be a guest on Church Life Today, the McGrath Institute’s radio program and podcast, where I chatted with my colleague and show host Lenny DeLorenzo about Advent music and Christmas movies. Here is my personal list (emphasis on personal!) of 25 films that I watch nearly every holiday season. For the most part, I’ve ranked them in an order that contains a sort of ‘progressive solemnity’—moving from vaguely holiday-adjacent movies toward those that delve deeply into ‘the meaning of Christmas.’ 

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Topics: movie review, Advent, Christmas, Church Life Today, Christmas movies, popular culture

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The McGrath Institute Blog helps Catholics live and hand on their faith in Jesus Christ, especially in the family, home and parish, and cultivates and inspires everyday leaders to live out the fullness and richness of their faith in the simple, little ways that make up Church life.

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