Archive for December 25, 2022

Fresco of the Holy Family in Dobling Carmelite Monastery in Vienna, Austria. The Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family this year on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022.?w=200&h=150

By Kevin J. Jones

The 8 days of Christmas? A look at the Christmas octave

The Church’s Western liturgical tradition sees Christmas as an octave, an eight-day celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Read more

null?w=200&h=150

By Jonah McKeown

The Christmas Truce of 1914: Here’s what really happened

On a chilly Christmas morning, soldiers from both sides of the trenches clambered over the barbed wire, arms raised, and... Read more

With a cane in his right hand, 86-year-old Pope Francis delivers his 10th Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing on Dec. 25, 2022.?w=200&h=150

By Courtney Mares

On Christmas Day, Pope Francis prays for Prince of Peace to end ‘third world war’

Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 25, the pope offered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi”... Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" address on Dec. 25, 2022.?w=200&h=150

By Pope Francis

Full text: Pope Francis’ Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing 2022

The following is the full text of the pope’s Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” address delivered from the central balcony overlooking... Read more