December 24, 2014 At 9:30 p.m. Rome time, Pope Francis presides at the Christmas Midnight Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. The full text of his homily is found below. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land ...read more

  Although it stands tall next to the obelisk in the middle of St. Peter’s Square every year, the Vatican’s Christmas tree is relatively new addition to the Holy See’s yuletide traditions. St. John Paul II introduced the Christmas Tree to St. Peter’s square in the early 80s. Why was the piazza bereft of a ...read more

  This photo was taken at our 2014 Staff Christmas Celebration on Friday evening, December 19, 2014 in the chapel of the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre in Toronto. Here are our prayers for you this Christmas: To the Child of Bethlehem Prayer of St. John XXIII O sweet Child of Bethlehem, grant that we may ...read more

By Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada We are just at the threshold of Christmas, a great event which – if we welcome it – is capable of changing our lives. A story by Tolstoy which I learned and owe to Pope Benedict XVI helps me to share the light and life that springs from ...read more

I could not speak about the Ordained life without speaking about the two questions that most people have about the priesthood: The ordination of women and celibacy. Some people will ask why women are not qualified to be priests. The reality is that it’s not about qualifications. No one is really qualified to be a ...read more

On Christmas Eve Pope Francis leads the church in celebrating the birth of Christ with Mass at The Vatican. S+L brings you full coverage with English commentary. Wednesday, Dec 24 3:30 pm ET / 12:30pm PT ...read more

The seasons of Advent and Christmas seem to come so quickly and to be filled with many activities to say the least. In the everyday planning and preparations for family and community celebrations there are inevitably certain individuals who for whatever reason go unnoticed or unrecognized. They make important contributions. They are invaluable in their ...read more

The Season of Advent helps us to prepare for Christmas where we recall in faith Christ’s coming among us. It is also a time in which we look at our present lives and reflect on the second coming of Christ in our own lives and at the end of the ages. It is definitely a ...read more

This year Salt + Light will televise a special Christmas Mass brought to you by The Sunday Mass. From its very first broadcast on Christmas Day forty-four years ago, The Sunday Mass’ television ministry has been joyfully received by the homebound and infirm. Today, their ministry encompasses Christians of all ages as The Sunday Mass ...read more

Last week we looked at the Vocation to the Ordained Life and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The tradition of the priesthood is not specific to Christianity and our tradition dates back to the early days of Judaism. God’s chosen people, the people of Israel, was considered a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”, but ...read more