Dec. 28 Feast of the Holy Family, Feast
Today is the Fourth Day within the Octave of Christmas. The Feast of the Holy Family is a movable feast, assigned to the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas.
Pope Leo XIV sends 3 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media Vatican City, Dec 28, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA). Pope Leo XIV has sent three trucks carrying humanitarian aid to parts of Ukraine hit hardest by bombardments, where residents … Read more
St. Augustine—May he who did not shrink from taking a beginning even like ours, …
May he who did not shrink from taking a beginning even like ours, perfect in us his gifts; and may he also make us children of God, he who for our sakes wished to become a child of man. — St. Augustine
Dec. 26 Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr, Feast
On the Second day within the Octave of Christmas the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stoned outside Jerusalem, he died praying for his executioners. He was one of the seven deacons who helped the apostles; he was “filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit,” and was “full of … Read more
Pope Leo XIV on Christmas night: Make room for others
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Christmas Mass during the Night in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:30 pm (CNA). Pope Leo XIV, at Christmas Mass during the Night, said Christ’s birth brings light into the world’s darkness — and where the human … Read more
Pope Leo XIV: Christians have no enemies, only brothers and sisters
Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 26, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media Vatican City, Dec 26, 2025 / 07:17 am (CNA). Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged Christians to resist the temptation to treat others as enemies, saying the mystery … Read more
Pope Leo XIV highlights Gaza, Yemen, migrants in first Christmas Urbi et Orbi message
Pope Leo XIV delivers his Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” message at the Vatican on December 25, 2025. / Daniel Ibañez/ EWTN News Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA). In his first Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” message as pope, Leo XIV urged the world to embrace “responsibility” as the sure way to peace, … Read more