Skip to content

We ask you, urgently: don’t scroll past this

Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources—essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.

Help Now >

Mary Remembers

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. (Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.") But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matt. 12: 47 ďż˝ 50)

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother 11 and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst." There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. (John 19: 25 ďż˝ 30)

The Angel's Visit

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be." ( Luke 1: 26- 29)

The Conversation with Joseph

"Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus." (Matt. 1:18 ďż˝ 25)

"Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son." (Matt. 2: 13-15)

The Visit to Elizabeth

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38-45)


More Advent & Christmas

Advent & Christmas 2023

Begins Sunday December 3, 2023

Ends on Sunday December 24, 2023

"And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'"
Luke 1:35

Christ the King

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Image of Christ the King

Advent 2023 starts on Sunday December 3, 2023

Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas every year.

Image of Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary[holy day of obligation]

Advent 2023 ends on Sunday December 24, 2023

Advent ends on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, every year.

Image of ChristmasBirth of Our Lord Jesus[holy day of obligation]

Image of The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God[holy day of obligation]

Epiphany

Saturday January 6, 2023

Image of Epiphany

Advent Reflections

Reflection for every day of Advent

Image of Advent Reflections

Advent Calendar

Every day of Advent

Image of Advent Calendar

Advent Candle

24 Days of December

Image of Advent Candle

Advent Wreath

Each Sunday of Advent

Image of Advent Wreath

Advent & Christmas Classes

14 Free Classes - Mobile Friendly

Image of Advent & Christmas Classes

Advent & Christmas PDFs

FREE - Printable - Catholic

Image of Advent & Christmas PDFs

Christmas Gifts

Free Shipping $70+

Image of Christmas Gifts

Nativity Scene

Holy Family

Image of Nativity Scene

St. Nicholas

December 6th

Image of St. Nicholas

Advent? What is it all about

What is Advent? The word Advent derives from the Latin word meaning coming. The Lord is coming. We may reflect that every year at this time we celebrate his coming... continue reading

The Christmas Story

The Christmas Story To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of... continue reading

Advent Daily Readings

Daily Scripture Readings for Advent The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and to quietly reflect on the promise of the baby... continue reading


More Advent & Christmas

ADVENT: A rehearsal for our meeting the Lord

Image of

When the Trapp Family Singers came to America it was just before Thanksgiving. Maria Augusta Trapp (Maria in the Sound of Music) noted in ... continue reading


Feast of the Epiphany - A Sunday Letter by Deacon Keith Fournier

Image of Photo credit: Michael Payne

My friends, brothers, and sisters in the Lord,On Sunday January 7, 2024 in the United States and many other Nations, we celebrate the Feast ... continue reading



The Deacon Saint Stephen the Proto-Martyr is a Model for all Christians

Image of Photo credit: Grant Whitty

In the Catholic Church, Christmas is celebrated for eight days (Octave, from the Latin Octava) and opens up into a wonderful liturgical ... continue reading


Love is Born on Christmas Morn, and the World is Born Anew Watch

Image of Image by Vickie McCarty from Pixabay

The Gospel passages proclaimed at the Vigil and the Midnight Mass of Christmas root the Nativity of the Lord, in the family history and ... continue reading


5 Ways to keep Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year

Image of How will you keep Christ in Christmas this year?

Christmas is a magical time of year when decorations line the streets, children are suddenly behaving and the Post Office struggles to keep ... continue reading


Advent Reflection - Day 22- The Fourth Sunday of Advent Watch

Image of

Advent Reflection - Day 22 - The Fourth Sunday of Advent  This is the last day of this year's Advent preparations. Tonight, we greet the ... continue reading


Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.