The Missing King and the Artist Returns Home
Jeff Stuart, an American sculptor living apart from his partner Kathy, returns to his dim studio on Christmas Eve. He recalls their past in Mexico and his unfinished creche figures, realizing he is the missing king in the journey of faith. He heads to Midnight Mass with a gift, seeking meaning after loss.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Riley Hughes
Georgetown University
Catholic Press
Catholic Literary Foundation
Thomas More Book Club
Catholic World
Jeff Stuart
Santa Claus
Spain
Mr. Stuart
Jeff
Kathy
Mexico
Jack
Pete
Jack Russell
A Weary World Rejoices By Father McGuire
The piece recalls Father Frederick A. McGuire’s wartime mission in China and his 1950 recall to lead the Mission Secretariat. It reflects on Christmas as a symbol of hope amid global fear, war weariness, and the star of Bethlehem guiding a troubled world to a new dawn.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frederick A. McGuire, C.M
Father McGuire
China
Hong Kong
U.S
Mission Secretariat
Origins and legends of the Christmas tree across Europe
An exploration of how the Christmas evergreen arose in lore and practice from ancient vegetation rites to St. Boniface and German legends. The piece recounts pagan associations, the Tree of Life, local ordinances, and a forester tale where a fir branch becomes a symbol of faith and a gift from the Christ Child.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Christ Child
Midnight Mass in a Bethlehem-like Christmas Mass scene
A lyrical Christmas meditation describes a sacred altar scene with incense, lilies, a silver lamp, a crystal chalice, and a carven angel. The poem portrays Christ’s birth and cameos Mary and a priest as vessels through which divine tenderness rests on this holy night.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Christ
Mary
Bethlehem
Jesus
Saint Marcellina’s Christmas Consecration by Liberius
Saint Marcellina, sister of Milan’s St. Ambrose, received the veil on Christmas Day likely in 353 from Pope Liberius. Ambrose later cited Liberius’s Natalis Christi sermon on her act in his 377 work on virginity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marcellina
St. Ambrose of
Milan
Liberius
St. Ambrose
St. Peter's
Natalis Christi
Saint Francis Greccio Miracle Reflects The Retired Life
In Greccio on a mountain above the town in the Rieti valley a 13th century monastery hosts a miracle cited by Saint Francis. A rich man sought seclusion near Francis and a boy with a lit brand was sent to mark the future monastery site, the brand striking a distant rock as crowds watched.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greccio
Rieti
Italy
St. Francis
Greccia
Francis
Also Mentioned on This Page
By Riley Hughes
Stuart
Acapulco
Alcapulco
By Hugo van der Goes
Uffizi Gallery
Florence
Sister Mary Jean Descy
Mission
Florence Wedge
Adam
Seth
Garden of Eden
Moses
Ammerschweier
Alsace
Strassburg
St. Boniface
Thor
Child of Bethlehem
Germany
God
Eve
Constance Greystap
St. Ambrose’s
Saint Francis
Brother Benedict Simon
O.F.M
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!