tradition Archives

Seeking the cross: Icy dips mark the feast of Epiphany

Jan 6, 2020

Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers plunged into the icy waters of rivers and lakes across Bulgaria on Monday to retrieve crucifixes tossed by priests in Epiphany ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.

By Veselin Toshkov

Controversial ‘Pachamama thief’ goes on U.S. tour

Nov 19, 2019

The individual responsible for stealing the “Pachamama” statues from a Roman church last month is currently on tour in the U.S.

By Christopher White

Mexicans parade as fancy skeletons ahead of Day of the Dead

Oct 27, 2019

Mexicans paraded in the streets of the capital dressed as elegant skeletons Saturday as the country’s Day of the Dead festivities extend in scope and popularity.

By Associated Press

Rose color on Laetare Sunday recalls real meaning of tradition

Mar 31, 2019

Every aspect of the Christian tradition, including the Sacred Scriptures, were once a novelty. It is precisely an openness to such creativity, born from a living encounter with Jesus Christ, that allows the Church to be rejuvenated.

By Father Jeffrey F. Kirby

Wisconsin Catholic carries on palm-weaving tradition he learned from dad

Mar 31, 2018

Jason Studnicka of Muscoda, Wisconsin weaves palms for Easter in a tradition handed down through the generations.

By Kevin Wondrash

Christmas Eve the Italian way means fish, fish and more fish

Nov 11, 2017

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American tradition to ring in Christmas Eve, when Roman Catholics celebrate the midnight birth of Jesus, known in Italian as “La Viglia.” Fish is a traditional ingredient in the Christmas Eve dinner because custom calls for the eschewing of red meat leading up to the holiday. The Culinary Institute of America has provided a recipe to celebrate this tradition.

By Associated Press

Looking forward to 10 years of Summorum Pontificum

Jun 2, 2017

A pilgrimage is being organized to mark the 10th anniversary of Summorum Pontificum, the document by Benedict XVI aimed at broadening access to the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass. According to one of the organizers the document “was not an instrument to divide” but to unite.

By Elise Harris, CNA

Roman Missal calls Easter Vigil ‘mother of all vigils’ for a reason

Apr 16, 2017

The Easter Vigil is loaded with symbolism. It must take place after dark and begins with the lighting of the fire outside and the inside lighting of the Paschal candle, whose light is passed on to individual candles. There are seven Old Testament readings telling the salvation history, sung responses between readings and a sung proclamation called an Exsultet.

By Carol Zimmermann