God is with us: A Christmas Sermon from the Cure of Ars

God is with us: A Christmas Sermon from the Cure of Ars

The following is a sermon given on Christmas by Saint John Vianney—the Cure of Ars—and is taken from Sermons for the Feast Days of the Year by the Cure of Ars. You can listen to this sermon narrated by Edwin Benson on Spotify. * * * “And his name shall be called Emmanuel” (Isa. 7:14) Beloved … Read more

He Chose a Greater Chivalry: St. Francis of Assisi (Part 4)

Return to Order He Chose a Greater Chivalry: St. Francis of Assisi (Part 4) 1

It had become evident that the simple, familiar, and unceremonious ways which had marked the Franciscan movement at its beginning were gradually disappearing, and that the heroic poverty practiced by Francis and his companions at the outset became less easy as the friars with amazing rapidity increased in number. And this Francis could not help … Read more

The First Christmas Crib

Return to Order The First Christmas Crib 6

The beautiful custom of setting up mangers to commemorate the birth of the Infant Jesus was started by St. Francis of Assisi. It was the year 1223. St. Francis went to Rome to obtain from Pope Honorius III authorisation to celebrate Christmas in a totally new way. St. Francis chose a forest in the vicinity … Read more