Advent calendars are popular, often containing chocolates or even luxury goods. But what are they and where did they originate? Here's how the faithful use them to prepare for Christmas.

Advent 2024 starts on Sunday. Dec. 1. Here's what Christians do during Advent, how long it lasts and how it's different from Christmas.

In the liturgical cycle, each Sunday of Advent is associated with a virtue, such as hope, peace, joy, and love. Here, we share a prayer to do with your family.

With the first Sunday of Advent, a new liturgical year begins in the Catholic Church, with the readings corresponding to Cycle C of odd-numbered years. What does this liturgical practice entail?

While Bethlehem is not directly involved in the conflict, it continues to suffer under the weight of economic crisis, violence from Israeli settlers, and emigration.

LONDON — The Pope’s chief liturgical official has called on all Catholic priests to start offering Mass ad orientem (facing east), beginning on the first Sunday of Advent. Guinean-born ...

Discover the significance of Advent, a season of waiting and preparation before Christmas. Learn about its themes and traditions.

Advent: More than 1,300 candles were gradually lit for the annual Darkness to Light service at Salisbury Cathedral on 29 November, which is one of the most popular events of the liturgical year.

Faith Works: In trying times for schools, military, churches, thankfulness remains vital Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Liturgical purists will debate musical propriety ...

To mark the beginning of Advent, the custos of the Holy Land and the Franciscan friars made their annual procession into the city of Bethlehem.

Well, folks, here we are: the very last day of the church’s liturgical year. Most people marked the occasion last Sunday during the Feast of Christ the King, but we still had six more days in ...