(Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) By Father Sean Conroy When the Church canonizes a saint, it isn’t merely adding another name to the litany; it’s affirming that holiness can blossom in our own time. I had the immense gift of attending the canonization of Pier Giorgio Frassati this Jubilee Year, and I can only describe the experience as a taste of Heaven. He was canonized a saint on the centenary of his death, yet to me, he is a friend whom I often talk to and seek h

(Photo: Lightstock) Looking for a way to go into the new year with some extra grace? Did you know the Church offers TWO chances for plenary indulgences as we ring in the New Year? New Year’s Eve The first opportunity comes on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, as we reflect on all God has done in 2025 and prepare for a new year — a Jubilee Year! For those who publicly recite the Te Deum , a plenary indulgence is granted under the normal conditions detailed below. The Te Deum  is a trad

(Photo: Lightstock) Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have come and gone, but the celebrations continue! “After the annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery, the Church has no more ancient custom than celebrating the memorial of the Nativity of the Lord and of his first manifestations, and this takes place in Christmas time,” read the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar (32). The ancient commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior resoun

Gustavus III Attending Christmas Mass in 1783, in St Peter's, Rome, Louis Jean Dezprez. (Photo: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons) By Hung Pham Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Denver  While most liturgical celebrations have one Mass, certain solemnities may have two different Masses: a Vigil Mass and a Mass for the Day. However, the celebration of Christmas is unique. For the Nativity of the Lord, the Church gives us four different Masses to celebrate: the Vigil Mass

A powerful meditation on divine overshadowing, the Trinity’s indwelling and Emmanuel at Christmas. Annunciation by Giambattista Pittoni, c. 1757. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) I’ve always found the Scripture passage in Luke 1 about the Annunciation fascinating and mysterious. After Mary gives her fiat, the Holy Spirit overshadows her, and then voilà! She is pregnant with the Lord. I’m not sure exactly how that works, though I’ve had some insights lately. The idea

(Photo: Denver Catholic file photo) Every December, just as Advent reaches its final stretch and Christmas draws near, the Archdiocese of Denver turns its gaze toward a uniquely local Marian devotion: Our Lady of the New Advent, celebrated on December 16. While many Marian titles are celebrated throughout the universal Church, this one belongs especially to us. Rooted in Colorado’s landscape, crafted for our archdiocese and embraced by generations of faithful, Our Lady of the

When plans fell apart, peace entered in, and the season of joy became real for the first time. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Forest Barnette I expected last Christmas to be really hard. It was the first time my husband, kids and I didn’t travel to see extended family. The estrangement that caused these circumstances was painful enough on its own, not to mention the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), the traditions lost and the grieving for what I’d imagined holidays with kids, cousins and

What repeated Scripture, a preschool coloring page and the wisdom of the saints reveal about desire, especially this Advent. (Photo: Lightstock) By Meg Stout Have you ever had a moment where God was communicating something really clearly to you? He can do so in many different ways: through images, thoughts that arise in prayer, words from other people, homilies or even through nature. For me, he often gets his message across through Scripture, usually at Mass. Because I can m

(Photo: Andrew Wright/Denver Catholic) By Alfonso Lara Director of Leadership Formation Archdiocese of Denver During the Advent season, as the Church awaits the coming of our Savior, it’s easy to forget that the Virgin of Guadalupe is at the heart of our celebrations. Yet her light shines brighter than ever this time of year. Mary, a woman of faith and hope, teaches us to wait in silence, with hearts open to the will of God. In her “yes,” she reminds us that even amid the wor

(Photo: Lightstock) Many Catholics experience some degree of guilt, often, though not universally, more intensely during the holiday season. Guilt can arise from spiritual, cultural and emotional factors, and is an uncomfortable feeling that no one likes experiencing. Yet this discomfort points to our original state of innocence, the innocence Adam and Eve knew in the Garden of Eden. In this sense, guilt becomes a wake-up call. It alerts us when we have sinned and invites us

(Photo: Adobe Stock) By Michelle Connor Harris, Psy.D. Executive Director St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities Bring to mind your best Christmas memory. Was it receiving a particular gift that you longed for? Decorating the Christmas tree? Maybe it was baking Christmas cookies with your mom and getting to lick the last bit of frosting from the spatula. If you’re a parent, perhaps you recall the giddy anticipation of your children on Christmas Eve and their

(Photo: Unsplash) Every Advent, the Church invites us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas. And here in the Archdiocese of Denver, we are blessed with a uniquely beautiful way to do that: the Days of Prayer to Mary, a local tradition that places a week of intentional Marian devotion between two of December’s greatest feasts. A Week Framed by Mary December is full of Mary’s radiant presence. We begin the Days of Prayer to Mary with the Solemnity of the I

Even in life's mess and disappointment, Advent teaches us to hope again — not in what we can control, but in the God who has already come to save us. (Photo: Lightstock) Isn’t it interesting that every year, the weeks between November 28th and December 26th look completely different from the rest of the year? The Christmas season, religious or not, transforms everything: the décor in our homes, the parties on our calendars, the outfits we wear and the media we consume. On one

Bishop Jorge Rodríguez celebrates Mass at Cure d'Ars Parish in Denver. (Photo by Ryan Brady) Good news! This holiday season, the Church is giving us a great gift: the chance to go to Mass TWICE in one weekend! That might not seem like a “gift” to some, with all the demands of the holiday season pressing down. But this weekend, we celebrate a few fantastic feasts that you won’t want to miss. First, on Sunday, December 7, we gather to celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. We’l

Between shopping lists and Nativity plays, Seinfeld, Elf and St. Paul offer us a reminder: God became man to dwell in our mess. That changes everything. (Photo: Lightstock) On a famous episode of the TV comedy Seinfeld , George Costanza follows this advice: “Do the opposite.” His life decisions have turned out disastrously in work, romance, finance and more. He has always trusted his instincts, but he has been wrong every time. Now, he will “Do the opposite.” If every instinc

(Photo: Lightstock) "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.” Isaiah 9:2 Every December, as our homes and neighborhoods begin to sparkle with lights, our hearts are drawn again to this ancient prophecy from Isaiah. The glow that fills our streets and sanctuaries is more than seasonal cheer; it reflects a far greater truth. That great, true light has indeed shone among us: the light of Jesus Christ,

(Photo: Lightstock) As Advent draws near, many Catholic homes and parishes are preparing more than wreaths and lights. They’re setting up a Jesse Tree — a beautiful, hands-on tradition that invites families to journey through salvation history, reflect on Christ’s coming and serve those in need. A Tradition Rooted in Scripture and History The Jesse Tree takes its name from the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall

(Photo: Lightstock) As Thanksgiving draws near, families across the archdiocese are preparing their tables for Thanksgiving: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings. For some of those families, the preparations take on a holy hue through the rich and beautiful practice of bringing food to church to be blessed before it is shared. Roots in the Eucharist and Harvest Feasts The Church’s call to give thanks is ancient. In fact, the very word Eucharist comes from t

(Photo: Lightstock) It's that time of year again, and you might be prepared to be put on the spot another year in a row. "You're Catholic, right? Why don't you pray before dinner?" "You go to Mass all the time, right? You pray!" But what do we even begin to say?? Do we do the simple "Bless us, O Lord..." and head to the culinary races? Or do we seize the opportunity of spiritual openness and give a little more? No matter where your family is spiritually, those moments before

From living wills to the sacraments, the Church guides us to prepare for death not with fear, but with faith and hope in the Resurrection. (Photo: Unsplash) By Deacon John Volk, MD   There’s an old saying: “Don’t rehearse for bad news.” While that can be good advice, sometimes it is wise to have a discussion with loved ones about how to approach medical decisions in the later years and at the end of life. In my experience as a family doctor, often medical conditions arise sud