The beauty and power of the O Antiphons
CNA—“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!” This favored Christmas carol is no carol at all. It’s a hymn for the season of Advent — the liturgical season that is about so…
The hidden message in ancient ‘O Antiphons’ of Advent
CNA—The O Antiphons are prayers that are recited or chanted in an ancient tradition leading up to Christmas Day. What is the hidden meaning of the O Antiphons? “Composed in the sixth or seventh century, the seven O Antiphons are drawn from the Book of the prophet Isaiah and the first letters of each antiphon…
War, economic struggles threaten Bethlehem’s century-old crafts tradition
CNA—Bethelehem, West Bank—Being an artisan in Bethlehem isn’t just a job. It’s an art, almost a calling, a treasure handed down from father to son, but one that is now at risk of being lost. After two years of war… Younger generations are choosing other career paths, and after two years of war, fathers don’t…
Catholic actor David Henrie says mission trip with Cross Catholic Outreach left big impact
CNA—Cross Catholic Outreach’s Box of Joy ministry has officially reached its 10th anniversary and marked the occasion with a trip by Catholic actor David Henrie and his family to Guatemala to deliver boxes to children there. Henrie, who serves as brand ambassador for the nonprofit, flew to Guatemala with his wife, Maria, to hand-deliver the…
Catholic historian Lee Edwards dies at 92
CNA—Author and Catholic convert Lee Edwards, one of the foremost historians of the conservative movement in America, died Thursday. He was 92. Edwards co-founded the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C., authorized by Congress in 1993 and completed in 2007. He was a distinguished fellow of conservative thought at the Heritage Foundation for about…
FOCUS co-founders Curtis and Michaelann Martin receive 2024 Mother Angelica Award
CNA—EWTN Global Catholic Network presented the 2024 Mother Angelica Award to Curtis and Michaelann Martin, co-founders of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), an organization recognized as one of the most influential forces for Catholic evangelization in the United States today. EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Warsaw presented the award to the…
2024-12-14
Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
