At the conclusion of Dickens’ immortal tale "A Christmas Carol", Ebenezer Scrooge awakens from a terrible and frightening dream. Suddenly, this old curmudgeon, known mostly for his bad temper, starts laughing! More »

I like to think of the Advent and Christmas seasons as a great opportunity for a spiritual housecleaning. Every year the church gives us a chance to clear our hearts and make room for the divine guest, Jesus. More »

Every year, thousands of mothers with their children climb the steep, stone-paved street in Jerusalem leading to the Spafford Children’s Center. The center, which stands along the high point in the wall encircling the Old City, provides medical and other services to children of families with limited financial means. More »

Snow flutters around me as I make my way to the side entrance of the massive stone church. It is after eight and the evening air is cold and still. I nestle further into my coat as I crunch through the glistening snow. More »

Day after day, God wants to sustain us and give us a taste of Christmas joy. At its heart, a promise is only as reliable as the one who makes it. Common sense tells us that if the person making the promise is known to be dishonest or lacking in integrity, you wouldn’t take his words too seriously. More »

John of the Cross is one of the “greats” in the long line of saints who wrote and taught about what it is like to experience God. An outstanding theologian, he was the confessor, coworker, and cherished friend of St. Teresa of Avila. More »

When God breaks into human history, all the details of the story are important. In the details, he’s trying to tell us something. Here’s one significant “detail” that merits our attention during Advent: When God sent us a Savior, he sent him by way of a family—the Holy Family of Nazareth. More »

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, miraculously imprinted on St. Juan Diego’s cloak, speaks a message about life. First, it shows that Mary is carrying Christ within her. More »