Christmas: Origins of the Feast
Where did December 25 come from as the celebration of Christmas, the birthday of Jesus? What are the origins of the feast of Christ's Navity?...
16 December, 2019
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Advent of Peace – Fast before the Feast
Christmas is a joyous celebration of the birth of Peace. So why does the Church precede the feast of December 25 with a somber season of fast and penance? A meditation for the Second Sunday of Advent, cycle A. ...
03 December, 2019
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Jesse Tree – an Advent Tradition
[dropcaps type='normal' font_size='100' color='' background_color='' border_color='']T[/dropcaps]he Jesse Tree is a centuries-old family Advent devotion that has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent years. It has particular value since it helps both kids and adults a like to locate Jesus, the Messiah, within the lineage...
30 November, 2019
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Advent – The Reason for the Season
The Advent season is more about preparing for the second coming of Christ than for Christmas. To prepare for his final coming is more about action than end-times speculation....
19 November, 2019
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Awake & Alert – Rouse yourself with this Advent Podcast
In this 13 minute podcast, Sonrise Morning Show host Anna Mitchell Interviews Dr. Italy on the insistent command in many of the scripture readings of the season, to rouse ourselves from sleep. What does it mean to be spiritually awake and alert? The Season of Advent...
19 November, 2019
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Advent Reminds us to Wake Up – You Snooze, You Lose!
During a time when parties and endless carols dull our spiritual senses, the message of Advent urges to wake up and be alert and vigilant. Our society is asleep spiritually. Here are some ideas to rouse ourselves, our famlies and our neighbors to...
24 November, 2018
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Catholic Gift Giving – Restoring Meaning to Christmas & Birthdays
[dropcaps type='normal' font_size='100' color='' background_color='' border_color='']A[/dropcaps]ctions speak louder than words. One picture is worth a thousand words. Talk is cheap. We have lots of different sayings that generally express the same thing–words alone are inadequate to express lots of things, especially personal messages like “I love...
15 December, 2017
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How to Prepare the Way in Advent – Podcast
In this 14 minute podcast, Dr. Italy shares some insights into our predicament - we tend to be lulled to sleep spiritually through the constant motion of modern life. This is especially true in Advent, which is perhaps the busiest time of the year due...
12 December, 2017
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John is the Voice, Jesus is the Word – Augustine
Augustine contrasts the role of John the Baptist, the voice crying out in the wilderness, with that of his cousin, Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. The humility of John, who prepared the way of the Lord, is highlighted. His joy was complete to...
10 December, 2017
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Prepare the Way – Advent & Road Construction
Advent's theme can be summed up in the word's of Isaiah 40: Prepare the way of the Lord! But what are the mountains that need to be leveled and the valleys that need to be filled in? Here's a road map through the desert of...
09 December, 2017
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