Podcasts about Basilica

Friends of the Rosary,On Dec. 12, Pope Leo XIV, over his first Mass on the solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica, recalled that Mary brings “that joy wherever human joy is insufficient, wherever the wine has run out.” “At Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary “awakened in the inhabitants of America the joy of knowing God loves them.” Thus, amidst ceaseless conflicts, injustices, and sorrows that seek relief,” Mary of Guadalupe proclaims the core of her message: 'Am I not here, I who am your mother?”“It is the voice,” the pope continued, “that echoes the promise of divine fidelity, the presence that sustains us when life becomes unbearable.”The pope then focused his message on Our Lady of Guadalupe's motherhood. Before her image, he expressed his desire that the faithful might feel like “true children of yours,” and he asked for her guidance to maintain their faith “when strength fails and shadows grow.”He also prayed to the Virgin for young people, “that they may obtain from Christ the strength to choose what is good and the courage to remain steadfast in the faith, even when the world pushes them in another direction.” Ave MariaCome, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠December 16, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Father John Meyerhofer, a parochial vicar, shares a homily during the Third  Sunday in Advent. It was given in the Basilica on December 14, 2025.

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Venezia's Hidden Christmas: A Gondolier's Secret Journey Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-14-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Le luci di Natale brillavano sopra i canali di Venezia, riflettendosi sull'acqua gelida.En: The Christmas lights shone above the canals of Venezia, reflecting on the icy water.It: L'aria era fresca, e l'odore del mare si mescolava con quello delle caldarroste vendute dai venditori ambulanti.En: The air was fresh, and the smell of the sea mixed with that of roasted chestnuts sold by street vendors.It: Era Natale, e la città sembrava una cartolina vivente.En: It was Christmas, and the city seemed like a living postcard.It: Tra quelle acque, Luca remava con grazia e passione.En: Among those waters, Luca rowed with grace and passion.It: Non era un semplice gondoliere; era un custode delle tradizioni veneziane, e oggi aveva una missione speciale: mostrare a Chiara, una turista di Milano, la vera magia di Venezia.En: He wasn't just a simple gondolier; he was a guardian of Veneziana traditions, and today he had a special mission: to show Chiara, a tourist from Milano, the true magic of Venezia.It: Chiara indossava un caldo cappotto rosso e un cappello di lana bianco, osservando con meraviglia il panorama.En: Chiara wore a warm red coat and a white wool hat, observing the scenery with wonder.It: Era affascinata dalla città: i suoi ponti, le sue minuscole piazze, i palazzi antichi.En: She was fascinated by the city: its bridges, its tiny squares, the ancient palaces.It: "Venire a Venezia a Natale è un sogno", disse con un sorriso.En: "Coming to Venezia at Christmas is a dream," she said with a smile.It: Ma mentre scivolavano attraverso i canali principali, folla e suoni commerciali riempivano l'aria.En: But as they glided through the main canals, crowds and commercial sounds filled the air.It: "Dov'è la vera Venezia?"En: "Where is the real Venezia?"It: si chiese Chiara ad alta voce.En: she wondered aloud.It: Luca la sentì e decise di cambiare rotta.En: Luca heard her and decided to change course.It: "Seguimi", le disse, remando verso canali meno conosciuti.En: "Follow me," he said, rowing towards lesser-known canals.It: Le strade si fecero silenziose, lontane dalle voci turistiche.En: The streets became quiet, far from the tourist voices.It: Passarono sotto ponti bassi e lungo calli segrete, dove il tempo sembrava essersi fermato.En: They passed under low bridges and along secret alleys, where time seemed to have stopped.It: Solo il suono dolce della gondola che tagliava l'acqua li accompagnava.En: Only the sweet sound of the gondola cutting through the water accompanied them.It: Improvvisamente, si fermarono sotto un piccolo ponte drappeggiato di luci dorate.En: Suddenly, they stopped under a small bridge draped with golden lights.It: "Qui," disse Luca, indicando le luci.En: "Here," said Luca, pointing at the lights.It: "È Venezia che pochi vedono.En: "This is the Venezia few see.It: È questo il Natale autentico, lontano dalle folle."En: This is the authentic Christmas, far from the crowds."It: Nello stesso momento, le campane della Basilica di San Marco iniziarono a suonare in lontananza, creando una melodia che riempiva l'aria gelida della sera.En: At that moment, the bells of the Basilica di San Marco began to ring in the distance, creating a melody that filled the chilly evening air.It: Chiara si sentì sopraffatta.En: Chiara felt overwhelmed.It: In quel momento, capì che Venezia era più di una semplice attrazione turistica.En: In that moment, she understood that Venezia was more than a mere tourist attraction.It: Era un luogo di bellezza intima e storie antiche.En: It was a place of intimate beauty and ancient stories.It: "Grazie, Luca", disse con occhi luccicanti.En: "Thank you, Luca," she said with sparkling eyes.It: "Questo è il Natale più bello che abbia mai vissuto."En: "This is the most beautiful Christmas I've ever experienced."It: Luca sorrise, sapendo di aver condiviso qualcosa di speciale.En: Luca smiled, knowing he had shared something special.It: Non era solo un gondoliere; era un narratore delle meraviglie di Venezia.En: He wasn't just a gondolier; he was a storyteller of the wonders of Venezia.It: Chiara partì da Venezia con un cuore pieno di gratitudine e un profondo amore per la città, promettendo di tornare.En: Chiara left Venezia with a heart full of gratitude and a deep love for the city, promising to return.It: Mentre la gondola ritornava al molo, Luca guardò le stelle riflesse nell'acqua e pensò che, anche nel silenzio e nel freddo dell'inverno, l'anima di Venezia continuava a brillare.En: As the gondola returned to the dock, Luca looked at the stars reflected in the water and thought that even in the silence and cold of winter, the soul of Venezia continued to shine.It: I suoi sforzi per preservare l'autenticità veneziana non erano stati vani; una turista aveva visto la magia oltre le luci appariscenti, sentendo il vero spirito del Natale veneziano.En: His efforts to preserve Veneziana authenticity had not been in vain; a tourist had seen the magic beyond the flashy lights, feeling the true spirit of a Venetian Christmas. Vocabulary Words:guardian: il custodegondolier: il gondolierevendor: il venditorepostcard: la cartolinascenery: il panoramatiny: piccolecrowd: la follatourist: la turistabridge: il pontecommercial: commercialisecret alley: la calle segretabell: la campanamelody: la melodiaguardian of traditions: il custode delle tradizioniicy water: l'acqua gelidagrazia: gracewonder: la meravigliaintimate beauty: la bellezza intimaancient stories: le storie antichestar: la stellaauthenticity: l'autenticitàmagic: la magialiving postcard: una cartolina viventechilly evening: l'aria gelida della seragondola: la gondolasparkling eyes: gli occhi luccicantisea: il maretourist attraction: l'attrazione turisticareflection: il riflessopromise: la promessa

Inspired by a dream, Prince Charles of Provence ordered an excavation that uncovered a sarcophagus believed to contain the remains of Mary Magdalene on 12th December, 1279.  The evidence presented included a papyrus note, a sweet rose fragrance filling the air, a wax-covered tablet proclaiming Mary's identity, and even a piece of skin where Jesus supposedly touched her after his resurrection.  In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly investigate how and why Mary may have ended up in France in the first place; recall the bout of ‘Magdalene mania' that gripped the mediaeval world; and explain why, for centuries, people said she was a sex worker…  Further Reading: • ‘How Early Church Leaders Downplayed Mary Magdalene's Influence' (HISTORY, 2019): https://www.history.com/news/mary-magdalene-jesus-wife-prostitute-saint • ‘The Skull and Bones of Mary Magdalene' (Atlas Obscura, 2013): https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/marys-house-in-provence • ‘Relics of St. Mary Magdalene in the Basilica of Saint-Maximin-la-Saint-Baume, France' (Pierre Repooc Productions, 2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO8MQzApXvE This episode first aired in 2023 Love the show? Support us!  Join 

December 12th celebrates the annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, commemorating the Virgin Mary's apparitions to Saint Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, where she requested a shrine be built on Tepeyac Hill, leaving her image miraculously imprinted on his cloak (tilma) as proof, making her Mexico's patron saint and a profound religious icon. Millions of pilgrims visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City annually, often crawling on their knees in devotion, marking a major religious and cultural event that starts the holiday season. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/w7zW2DCntoY which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. Historical Blindness podcast available at https://amzn.to/3MDYXUV Our Lady of Guadalupe books available at https://amzn.to/42QH8aS Mexico History books available at https://amzn.to/43dBlfv ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read OnlineThen the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Luke 1:30–31Of all the saints throughout the ages, none has proved to be as powerful an evangelist as the Mother of God. While on Earth, she lived a mostly hidden life, demonstrating the perfection of virtue to those closest to her. As a young mother, she cared daily for the needs of her divine Son, constantly pondering the mystery of His Incarnation as it unfolded before her eyes. Her love for her Son, lived out during Jesus' earthly life, overflowed from her Immaculate Heart and continues to do so today.After being assumed body and soul into Heaven, her work did not cease. As Queen of Heaven and Earth, she continues to intercede for her spiritual children, mediating the grace we need to grow in holiness. Throughout history, many Marian apparitions have been reported. While numerous reports have not been formally approved, some have, including the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531 to Saint Juan Diego.Following the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521 by Hernán Cortés, the capital was rebuilt into what became Mexico City. Despite the cruelty some Spanish settlers inflicted on the Indigenous people, the Catholic Church, through missionaries and leaders, including Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, sought to protect their rights and dignity while evangelizing them. Many of the Indigenous were understandably suspicious of the missionaries, yet some converted, including a man named Cuauhtlatoatzin, who took the Christian name Juan Diego after his baptism, and his wife, who took the name María Lucía.On December 9, 1531, while walking to Mass and catechism class, Juan Diego passed Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him. She spoke to him in his native language, revealed herself as the Mother of God, and asked for a chapel to be built in her honor on that very spot. When Juan took the message to Bishop Zumárraga, the bishop asked for a sign.On December 12, Juan's uncle fell seriously ill. While hurrying to find a priest for the Last Rites, Juan took a different route to avoid delaying his journey, but the Mother of God appeared again. She assured him that his uncle was already healed and provided the promised sign for the bishop. She instructed Juan to pick roses blooming unseasonably on the hill; when he brought them to the bishop in his tilma, an image of the Virgin, just as Juan had seen her, appeared on his cloak. Juan Diego's tilma now hangs in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, fulfilling the Blessed Mother's request.While the miraculous image was awe-inspiring, what followed was even more astounding. Over the next decade, millions of Indigenous people embraced the Christian faith, marking one of the most remarkable mass conversions in Church history—all due to the Blessed Mother's evangelization and intervention. Her love for the Indigenous people and her desire for their salvation brought her to them personally, confirming the truth of the Gospel preached by the Church.As we honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, reflect today on the tender love of the Mother of God. She deeply desired the salvation of the Indigenous people, just as she desires the salvation of all. Pray for her intercession so that millions more around the world may hear and accept God's saving message. Most loving Virgin of Guadalupe, as you looked down from Heaven upon the struggles and suffering of the conquered people of the Aztec Empire, your Immaculate Heart overflowed with compassion for them. As a result, you went to them personally to share the saving message of Your Son. Please pray for me, for the Americas, and for all your children, that we all will be guided to Your Son and come to know His gift of salvation. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.Main Image- Image via WikimediaFeatured Image - First Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Faith Matters is a weekly podcast for the Messenger newsletter of the Basilica School of Saint Mary, which gets distributed to Basilica School families. It features Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of the Basilica. In this week's episode, he talks about the importance of joy as we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent this weekend. Join us for festive refreshments and the Basilica Christmas Tree lighting, along with the singing of Christmas carols, in the Parish Courtyard at 6 p.m. this Sunday, December 14th, and then afterwards, at 7 p.m., for Lessons and Carols in the church. This Sunday is also Bambinelli Sunday. All are invited to bring the baby Jesus from your Nativity set to be blessed at all the Masses, including the Saturday 5 p.m. Vigil Mass.  Coming up: Food donations for less fortunate Alexandria families can be dropped off on Thursday evening, December 18th, or Friday, December 19th, during the day in our Lyceum, as part of the Basilica's Christmas Dinner Basket Program. Click here for more information.   

Mony Macias Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luc Tuymans talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Tuymans, who was born in 1958 in Mortsel, Belgium, and lives and works in Antwerp, has transformed the territory of painting in the late 20th and 21st centuries. Using photographs and images from film and other media, he tackles a breadth of subjects and motifs, including contemporary politics, cataclysmic historical events, art history, and apparently banal everyday objects and environments, with paintings that are redolent with atmosphere and poetic power. Tuymans's process of finding the images and deciding how to transform them is slow and precise, and worked through in various stages before it reaches the canvas, where he makes the final piece in oil on a single day. In the resulting pictures, the motif can be veiled or oblique, and sometimes close to abstract, and he has used the term “authentic forgeries” to describe them. In this way, they articulate the elusiveness of representation through painting—a quality Tuymans has described as the medium's “belatedness”—as well as the subjective nature of experience and memory, both personal and collective. He discusses the early impact of Piet Mondrian and Léon Spilliaert, his ongoing admiration for Francisco de Goya, and his response to Théodore Gericault and Mark Rothko in recent series of paintings. He reflects on the importance of literature, including the writings of Thomas Pynchon, and film, especially the painterly approach of David Lynch. He gives insight into his studio life and his singular approach to image-making, and answers our usual questions, including the ultimate: what is art for? Luc Tuymans: The Fruit Basket, David Zwirner New York, until 19 December; David Zwirner, Los Angeles, 24 February-4 April 2026; Luc Tuymans, Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy, until 22 February 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, December 10th, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of Our Lady of Loreto, commemorating the miraculous Holy House that journeyed from Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. As Pope Francis officially inscribed it into the General Roman Calendar in 2019, this feast reminds us of the profound mystery of the Incarnation and the sanctity of the Holy Family. Tradition tells us that angels transported Mary's childhood home to protect it during the Crusades. Historical sources, including the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, note that the stones match those from Nazareth, with Greek and Hebrew inscriptions confirming its origin (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913).The Holy House, now enshrined in the Basilica della Santa Casa, is not merely a relic but a living icon of God's presence, where the Word became flesh. Fr. Chris reflects on the domestic church, the family, and our responsibility to teach and live the faith at home: “Are you teaching your faith in your home? Are you living the virtues of our faith?” (DH 12/10). Just as Mary and Joseph nurtured Jesus in their household, parents today are called to instill faith, hope, and love within their families.Our Lady of Loreto is also the patroness of aviators, a reminder that God's protection spans both the ordinary and extraordinary journeys of life. Fr. Chris shares how personal faith is nurtured by fathers and spiritual mentors, highlighting the transformative power of guidance, prayer, and example. In a society where the family is under attack, turning to the Holy Family and Our Lady of Loreto offers protection, inspiration, and hope for every household. Let us pray for our families, asking Mary and Joseph to guide, protect, and bless them, especially during this Christmas season. ★ Support this podcast ★

Friends of the Rosary,Today, God loves humanity — every one of us — in His terms, in an irrational, exuberant way that defies our limited logic. This is how the divine mercy runs the universe to our joy.We read today (Matthew 18:12–14) how Jesus tests his disciples:“What is your opinion?If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hillsand go in search of the stray?And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over itthan over the ninety-nine that did not stray.In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Fatherthat one of these little ones be lost.”No shepherd on earth would behave that way. They would cut their losses, considering that the lost sheep is probably dead.The Good Shepherd is different. He goes to seek out the lost sheep. And that's good news. The Father and the Son love us unconditionally… in our imperfection.Today, the Church in the United States celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474-1548), an Indian convert, to whom the Virgin Mary appeared as he was going to Mass in Tlatlelolco, Mexico.Our Lady asked him that she desired a shrine to be built on the spot to manifest her love for all mankind. That would be the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.Ave MariaCome, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• December 9, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

La Basílica de Guadalupe recibe a millones, pero ¿cuántos se quedan en el camino?Se dice que la fe mueve montañas, pero en los caminos solitarios rumbo al Tepeyac, a veces atrae cosas que no pertenecen a este mundo.Esta noche nos adentramos en las leyendas más oscuras de la temporada de peregrinos. Desde las historias de fieles que desaparecen sin dejar rastro, hasta los misterios que rodean a la misma Basílica de Guadalupe. Además, narraremos una experiencia aterradora enviada por un escucha: una presencia inhumana acechando a un grupo de mujeres en medio del bosque, y el encuentro con una anciana fantasmal que carga un peso terrible en su costal.Prepara tu equipaje y no te separes del grupo, porque en estas carreteras, detenerse puede ser fatal.¡No olvides regalarnos tu like, suscribirte y comentar, eso ayuda muchísimo!YA DISPONIBLE EL CONTENIDO EXCLUSIVO EN PATREON:http://patreon.com/nochesdeterror* Suscripción desde 6 USD para acceder a todo el contenido exclusivo *
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Fluent Fiction - Italian: Rekindling Bonds: A Christmas Homecoming in Venezia Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-08-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Alessandro camminava per la piazza San Marco, un po' nervoso ma determinato.En: Alessandro walked through piazza San Marco, a bit nervous but determined.It: Il freddo invernale pungeva, ma la bellezza della Basilica di San Marco era mozzafiato.En: The winter cold was biting, but the beauty of the Basilica di San Marco was breathtaking.It: Le luci natalizie brillavano, avvolgendo la cattedrale in un calore accogliente.En: The Christmas lights shone, enveloping the cathedral in a welcoming warmth.It: Era il cuore di Venezia, e Alessandro era lì per un motivo speciale.En: It was the heart of Venezia, and Alessandro was there for a special reason.It: Dopo anni all'estero, aveva deciso di tornare per Natale.En: After years abroad, he had decided to return for Christmas.It: La lontananza gli aveva fatto temere di perdere il contatto con la sua famiglia.En: The distance had made him fear losing touch with his family.It: Era preoccupato che il tempo e la distanza avessero cambiato tutto.En: He was worried that time and distance had changed everything.It: Ma questa volta, la volontà di riconnettersi era più forte del timore.En: But this time, the desire to reconnect was stronger than the fear.It: Entrò nella Basilica.En: He entered the Basilica.It: Il profumo delle candele e degli incensi riempiva l'aria.En: The scent of candles and incense filled the air.It: I mosaici dorati brillavano alla luce delle fiammelle, creando un'atmosfera magica.En: The golden mosaics glowed in the light of the flames, creating a magical atmosphere.It: La chiesa era piena di persone che aspettavano la messa di Natale.En: The church was full of people waiting for the Christmas mass.It: Cercò con lo sguardo e finalmente li vide: Giulia e Matteo, i suoi fratelli.En: He searched with his eyes and finally saw them: Giulia and Matteo, his siblings.It: Giulia, con indosso una sciarpa colorata, salutò Alessandro con un grande sorriso.En: Giulia, wearing a colorful scarf, greeted Alessandro with a big smile.It: Matteo lo abbracciò forte, quasi sollevandolo da terra.En: Matteo hugged him tightly, almost lifting him off the ground.It: “Siamo così felici che sei qui,” disse Giulia.En: “We are so happy you're here,” said Giulia.It: Alessandro sentì un calore nuovo nel cuore, ma l'ansia non era ancora scomparsa del tutto.En: Alessandro felt a new warmth in his heart, but the anxiety hadn't completely disappeared.It: La messa iniziò, e Alessandro si trovò sommerso da pensieri contrastanti.En: The mass began, and Alessandro found himself overwhelmed by conflicting thoughts.It: Quando il coro iniziò a cantare “Adeste Fideles,” non riuscì più a trattenere le emozioni.En: When the choir started singing “Adeste Fideles,” he could no longer hold back his emotions.It: Durante il sermone, si girò verso i suoi fratelli e improvvisamente parlò.En: During the sermon, he turned to his siblings and suddenly spoke.It: “Scusatemi se sono stato lontano così a lungo.En: “I'm sorry for being away for so long.It: Mi sono sempre sentito un po' perso senza di voi.En: I've always felt a bit lost without you.It: Voglio far parte delle nostre tradizioni di nuovo.En: I want to be part of our traditions again.It: Mi siete mancati.” Giulia gli sorrise con calore, e Matteo mise una mano sulla sua spalla.En: I missed you.” Giulia smiled at him warmly, and Matteo placed a hand on his shoulder.It: “Alessandro, sei sempre stato parte di noi.En: “Alessandro, you have always been part of us.It: Niente può cambiare questo,” disse Matteo con voce ferma.En: Nothing can change that,” said Matteo with a firm voice.It: L'ansia che aveva tenuto Alessandro nella sua morsa svanì.En: The anxiety that had gripped Alessandro vanished.It: La famiglia era lì, più forte che mai.En: The family was there, stronger than ever.It: Dopo la messa, uscirono nella piazza, ora coperta da un sottile strato di neve che rendeva tutto più incantato.En: After the mass, they went out into the square, now covered by a thin layer of snow that made everything more enchanting.It: “È tempo di festeggiare!” esclamò Giulia.En: “It's time to celebrate!” exclaimed Giulia.It: Tenendosi tutti per mano, andarono verso casa, pronti a condividere la cena di Natale.En: Holding hands, they headed home, ready to share the Christmas dinner.It: Alessandro sentì una profonda tranquillità e una felicità autentica.En: Alessandro felt a deep calm and genuine happiness.It: La paura e l'isolamento lasciarono spazio alla gioia del momento.En: Fear and isolation gave way to the joy of the moment.It: In quella magica serata, Alessandro capì una cosa importante: le radici della famiglia erano profonde e indistruttibili.En: In that magical evening, Alessandro understood something important: the roots of family were deep and indestructible.It: Si sentiva finalmente a casa.En: He finally felt at home.It: E con il cuore pieno di speranza e amore, si unì al coro delle risate e dei canti natalizi, sicuro che non avrebbe mai più perso il loro legame.En: And with his heart full of hope and love, he joined the chorus of laughter and Christmas carols, certain that he would never lose their bond again. Vocabulary Words:the anxiety: l'ansiathe sibling: il fratello/la sorellathe distance: la lontananzathe flame: la fiammellathe mosaic: il mosaicothe choir: il corothe sermon: il sermonethe emotion: l'emozionethe fear: il timorethe bond: il legamethe isolation: l'isolamentothe warmth: il calorethe calm: la tranquillitàthe determination: la determinazionethe atmosphere: l'atmosferathe distance: la distanzathe will: la volontàthe fear: la paurathe root: la radicethe incense: l'incensothe beauty: la bellezzathe layer: lo stratothe scarf: la sciarpathe tradition: la tradizionethe joy: la gioiathe hope: la speranzathe candle: la candelathe reason: il motivoenchanted: incantatoto envelop: avvolgere

Direttore, cantante, didatta e divulgatore musicale, Walter Testolin è stato tra i protagonisti della trama L'eco di Monteverdi, ospitata da una recente edizione di Trame Sonore, Mantova Chamber Music Festival. Alla guida di un imponente ensemble vocale e strumentale, che ha visto uniti RossoPorpora, De labyrintho, La Pifarescha e More Antiquo, sua è stata la lettura del Vespro della Beata Vergine di Claudio Monteverdi nella mantovana Basilica di Santa Barbara… Occasione in cui, a 380 anni dalla scomparsa di Monteverdi, il suo monumentale capolavoro, ha rivisto la luce in uno di luoghi più significativi della sua vita. In quella Mantova che lo ha accolto al servizio dei Gonzaga dal 1590 al 1612.Testolin ci accompagna alla scoperta del monteverdiano Vespro, pagina tra le più importanti e solenni della musica sacra del XVII secolo, data alle stampe nel 1610 con dedica al Papa Paolo V e scritta sopra canti fermi a 6 voci e 6 strumenti. Proprio come indicato nel titolo Vespro della Beata Vergine da concerto composto sopra canti fermi sex vocibus et sex instrumentis. Abbiamo incontrato Walter Testolin, nella sacrestia della Basilica di Santa Barbara proprio in occasione di questa imponente esecuzione.

Fra Giuseppe Maria Gaffurini, della comunità della Basilica del Santo Sepolcro di Gerusalemme⁠⁠, medita il Vangelo del giorno.Il passo evangelico di oggi è tratto dal ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vangelo secondo Matteo 9, 35-10,1.6-8⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Basilica of St. Mary Institute for Faith and Culture Presents: Beauty and the Beast, an Exploration of the Power of Beauty, Part 5 of 5 With Fr. James Searby  In this final class of Beauty and the Beast, we look at the tale's two feasts to understand beauty as a path back to communion, meaning, and sacramentality. The tavern scene becomes a picture of the ego- loud, empty, and isolating, while "Be Our Guest" reveals what self-giving love looks like when a community pours itself out in joy. From there, Fr. James Searby explores the vocation of the artist, the vulnerability of real creativity, and the way beauty acts almost like a sacramental, opening the soul to grace. This class traces the larger cultural story as well, from the Baroque renewal of the Church to the rise of modernity and postmodernity, and finally to our quiet rediscovery of wonder today. Using the fairy tale as a map, the episode shows how the loss of beauty disfigures a culture and how its return restores the human heart. At its center is the conviction that beauty heals, reveals, and reunites, and that when we allow ourselves to receive it, the beast in all of us begins to become whole again.

The Basilica of St. Mary Institute for Faith and Culture Presents: Beauty and the Beast, an Exploration of the Power of Beauty  Part 1 of 5 With Fr. James Searby  This first episode of Beauty and the Beast opens with one of the most unforgettable scenes in The Shawshank Redemption, where a single piece of music breaks open a prison and reminds hardened men that their souls are still alive. From there, we explore what beauty actually does to the human heart, why it stirs hope, and how it can lift us beyond the walls of our own routine and cynicism. Drawing on art history, architecture, philosophy, childhood wonder, and everyday encounters with beauty, Fr. James Searby lays out the story of how our culture drifted from a world shaped by transcendent beauty into a landscape that often feels flat and utilitarian. More importantly, he shows why beauty matters now more than ever, and how it can become an entry point for renewal, depth, and authentic encounter with God. This episode sets the foundation for the whole series, inviting you to slow down, look again, and rediscover the freedom and hope that beauty awakens in every soul.

The Basilica of St. Mary Institute for Faith and Culture Presents: Beauty and the Beast, an Exploration of the Power of Beauty, Part 2 With Fr. James Searby  In this second episode of Beauty and the Beast, we step deeper into the story itself and uncover why this simple tale carries so much spiritual and human truth. Fr. James Searby explores the opening arc of the Beast, not as a children's plot point, but as a mirror of our own culture's drift into subjectivism, hurry, and the loss of virtue. Drawing from the older French versions of the tale, the golden age of Disney storytelling, and the wisdom of Aquinas, Balthasar, Plato, John Paul II, Simone Weil, and more, he shows how beauty forms the soul and why its absence slowly makes us less human. Belle's contemplative posture in a frantic village becomes a lesson in resisting the rush of modern life, while the Beast's curse reveals what happens when we turn inward and forget who we are. This episode opens up the rose, the mirror, the meaning of enchantment, and the hard truth that love and beauty both require us to slow down and see reality again. It's a thoughtful, richly layered conversation that will change the way you watch the film and the way you understand your own hunger for what is beautiful, noble, and true.

The Basilica of St. Mary Institute for Faith and Culture Presents: Beauty and the Beast, an Exploration of the Power of Beauty, Part 3 With Fr. James Searby  In this third episode of Beauty and the Beast, Fr. James Searby takes us into the heart of why beauty matters so deeply, not only artistically, but spiritually and morally. This class looks at the collision between a culture shaped by modern narcissism and a Christian vision where beauty, truth, and goodness are real, objective, and radiant. Using the story of Beauty and the Beast as a lens, he explores how our hurried, self-referential age blinds us to beauty and slowly disconnects us from what makes us human. From the sacramental meaning of the body to the power of the Eucharist, from Freud's mirror to Milton's Satan, from Gaston's hollow charm to the Beast's slow awakening, this episode traces how distraction and self-creation deform the soul, and how beauty becomes the doorway back to reality. With help from Aquinas, Balthasar, Scruton, Simone Weil, John Paul II, and classic stories like The Sound of Music, Babette's Feast, and This Beautiful Fantastic, we learn how to train the eye, the heart, and the imagination to recognize real beauty again. This episode is both an unflinching diagnosis of our cultural moment and a hopeful call to rediscover the contemplative life that heals, restores, and opens us to God.

The Basilica of St. Mary Institute for Faith and Culture Presents: Beauty and the Beast, an Exploration of the Power of Beauty, Part 4 With Fr. James Searby  In this fourth class of Beauty and the Beast, we explore beauty as communion, the way beauty draws us out of isolation and into relationship. Through Maurice's tenderness, Belle's self-giving, and the gradual healing of the Beast's house, Fr. James Searby shows how beauty creates openness, vulnerability, and shared life. Drawing on Scruton, Simone Weil, Martha Graham, theatre, liturgy, and the communal nature of art, this episode traces how beauty breaks self-enclosure, makes space for others, and restores what fear and hurry have disordered. It also looks at the danger of cultural elitism in the arts and why beauty belongs to everyone, not to a select few. At its heart, this class reveals how beauty invites us into a deeper communion with God and one another, preparing the way for next week's theme of beauty as contemplation.

Msgr. Roger J. Landry Hungarian Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Pilgrimage for the Acton Institute Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Memorial of St. Francis Xavier December 3, 2025 Is 25:6-10, Ps 23, Mt 15:29-37   To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:  https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/12.3.25_Homily_at_St._Peters_Basilica_1.mp3   The outline for the […] The post The Advent of the One Who Throws Three Great Feasts, First Wednesday of Advent, December 3, 2025 appeared first on Catholic Preaching.

Rafe tells the tale of a the second part of a recent trip to France, with stops at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette and the Basilica of Our Lady of Fourvière (and other places!).The sun shines brighter, the birds sing sweeter, the food tastes better, when one is surrounded by beautiful things.*****As always, you can reach the Buf at bufnagle@bufnagle.com*****As you know, this is an independent podcast so your hosts also carry all the expenses of running this podcast. As such, some of you have asked how you can help out. Well, here's the answer: support us on Buy Me a Coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/bufnagleOn this page, you can do a really nice thing like send us a couple dollars to help cover the cost of recording and hosting and microphones and research and all that. Any little bit really helps! Thank you in advance!!!

Father James Searby, a parochial vicar, shares a homily during the First Sunday in Advent. It was given in the Basilica on November 30, 2025.

Msgr. Roger J. Landry St. Stephen’s Chapel, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome Pilgrimage for the Acton Institute Monday of the First Week of Advent December 1, 2025 Is 4:2-6, Ps 122, Mt 8:5-11   To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:  https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/12.1.25_Homily_at_St._Pauls_Outside_the_Walls_1.mp3   The outline for today’s […] The post Five Helps to a Great Advent and a Life-Changing Pilgrimage, First Monday of Advent, December 1, 2025 appeared first on Catholic Preaching.

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Heartbeats and Harmonies: A Christmas Miracle at the Basilica Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2025-12-01-23-34-02-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A St. Stephen's Bazilika gyertyafényben ragyogott, ahogy a karácsonyi kórus ünnepi dallamai betöltötték a teret.En: The St. Stephen's Basilica glowed in candlelight as the festive melodies of the Christmas choir filled the space.Hu: A látogatók csendben hallgatták, ahogy az énekek visszhangoztak a mennyezet alatt.En: Visitors listened quietly as the songs echoed under the ceiling.Hu: Köztük volt Ákos is, aki rajongott a zenéért, de a szívbetegsége miatt ritkán mozdult ki otthonról.En: Among them was Ákos, who was passionate about music but rarely left home due to his heart condition.Hu: Ma este azonban nem szerette volna kihagyni a gyönyörű koncertet.En: However, he did not want to miss the beautiful concert tonight.Hu: Zsófia, a fiatal orvostanhallgató, szintén jelen volt.En: Zsófia, a young medical student, was also present.Hu: A hátul állt, és áhítattal figyelte a kórust.En: She stood at the back, watching the choir with reverence.Hu: A zenének különleges hatalma volt, és úgy érezte, ilyenkor minden gond elszáll.En: The music had a special power, and at times like this, she felt all worries disappeared.Hu: Ákos próbált észrevétlen maradni, de egyre nehezebben vette a levegőt.En: Ákos tried to remain unnoticed, but he was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe.Hu: A szíve gyorsan vert, és homlokán izzadságcseppek jelentek meg.En: His heart was racing, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.Hu: Hirtelen érezte, ahogy a lába elgyengül, és még mielőtt megkapaszkodhatott volna, összeesett.En: Suddenly, he felt his legs weaken, and before he could steady himself, he collapsed.Hu: A pánik gyorsan átterjedt a hallgatóságon, de Zsófia határozottan tört utat magának Ákos felé.En: Panic quickly spread through the audience, but Zsófia resolutely made her way towards Ákos.Hu: "Engedjenek oda!" – kiáltotta, és hamarosan mellette térdelt.En: "Let me through!" she shouted, soon kneeling beside him.Hu: Tudta, cselekednie kell.En: She knew she needed to act.Hu: Zsófia gyorsan felmérte Ákos állapotát, majd megkezdte az újraélesztést.En: Zsófia quickly assessed Ákos's condition and then began resuscitation.Hu: Keze biztosan működött, ahogy mindent megtett Ákos stabilizálása érdekében.En: Her hands worked confidently as she did everything she could to stabilize Ákos.Hu: Kórus tagjai segítettek, amíg megérkezett a mentő.En: Choir members helped until the ambulance arrived.Hu: A templomban szinte kézzel fogható feszültség idővel enyhült, ahogy látták, hogy Ákos állapota javul.En: The almost palpable tension in the church gradually eased as they saw Ákos's condition improve.Hu: Ákos kórházba került, és a megfelelő ellátásban részesült.En: Ákos was taken to the hospital and received proper care.Hu: Bár fizikailag kimerült volt, hálával és örömmel telve gondolt Zsófiára.En: Although physically exhausted, he thought of Zsófia with gratitude and joy.Hu: A kunyerckor kiderült, hogy nemcsak egy életmentő pillanatot élt meg, hanem új barátság is szövődött közte és Zsófia között, aki ezzel a megmozdulással magabiztosabbá vált saját képességeiben.En: It turned out that he not only experienced a life-saving moment but also formed a new friendship with Zsófia, who grew more confident in her abilities through this event.Hu: A karácsonyi koncert ugyan megzavartatott, de minden jelenlévő számára emlékezetessé vált.En: The Christmas concert was indeed disrupted, but it became memorable for everyone present.Hu: Az együttérzés és a segítségnyújtás szelleme valóságos csodát hozott el az adventi éjszakán.En: The spirit of compassion and assistance brought a true miracle to the advent night.Hu: Ákos számára pedig nem csak a karácsonyi dalok jelentősége nőtt, hanem az emberekbe vetett bizalom is új értelmet nyert.En: For Ákos, not only did the significance of Christmas songs grow, but also his trust in people took on new meaning. Vocabulary Words:basilica: bazilikaglowed: ragyogottcandlelight: gyertyafénychoir: kórusfestive: ünnepipassionate: rajongottheart condition: szívbetegségsteadied: megkapaszkodottcollapsed: összeesettpanic: pánikresolutely: határozottanreverence: áhítatresuscitation: újraélesztésassessed: felmértepalpable: kézzel foghatótension: feszültségambulance: mentőstabilize: stabilizálásaexhausted: kimerültgratitude: hálajoy: örömcompassion: együttérzésassistance: segítségnyújtásmiracle: csodasignificance: jelentőségbreathtaking: lélegzetelállítóaudience: hallgatóságdisappeared: elszállweaken: elgyengülfriendship: barátság

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Mystery in the Basilica: A Tale of Art, Theft, and Triumph Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-01-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Sotto le alte cupole della Basilica di San Marco, la luce invernale filtrava attraverso le finestre colorate, tingendo le pareti di riflessi dorati.En: Under the high domes of the Basilica di San Marco, the winter light filtered through the stained-glass windows, tinting the walls with golden hues.It: La basilica era colma di visitatori, ciascuno affascinato dalla maestosità del luogo.En: The basilica was filled with visitors, each fascinated by the majesty of the place.It: C'era un'aria di festa, un evento sontuoso organizzato per celebrare l'arte e la storia veneziana.En: There was an air of celebration, a sumptuous event organized to honor Venetian art and history.It: Luca, un restauratore d'arte dedicato, osservava ogni dettaglio architettonico con rispetto.En: Luca, a dedicated art restorer, observed every architectural detail with respect.It: Accanto a lui, Giulia, un'affermata storica dell'arte, prendeva appunti meticolosi.En: Beside him, Giulia, an accomplished art historian, took meticulous notes.It: Un'ombra di preoccupazione attraversò il volto di Luca.En: A shadow of concern crossed Luca's face.It: Un antico manufatto, centrale per l'esposizione, era scomparso.En: An ancient artifact, central to the exhibition, had disappeared.It: "Senza quell'artefatto, la mostra perde senso," disse Giulia, con un tono di urgenza.En: "Without that artifact, the exhibit loses meaning," said Giulia, with a tone of urgency.It: Il suo sguardo si spostava tra la folla, cercando indizi.En: Her gaze swept across the crowd, searching for clues.It: Luca annuì.En: Luca nodded.It: Proprio quel momento rappresentava la sua opportunità di dimostrare il suo valore.En: This very moment represented his chance to prove his worth.It: "La folla è troppo grande.En: "The crowd is too large.It: Dobbiamo agire in fretta," rispose Luca, lanciando un'occhiata alla moltitudine di visitatori.En: We must act quickly," Luca responded, casting a glance at the multitude of visitors.It: Decise di fidarsi del suo istinto e propose a Giulia di lavorare insieme.En: He decided to trust his instincts and proposed to Giulia that they work together.It: Lei esitò per un attimo, poi annuì, riconoscendo la necessità della loro collaborazione.En: She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, recognizing the necessity of their collaboration.It: Seguendo una serie di intuizioni e piccoli indizi, loschi dettagli emersi da sguardi e movimenti sospetti, si ritrovarono nei corridoi ombrosi della basilica.En: Following a series of intuitions and small clues, shady details emerging from suspicious looks and movements, they found themselves in the shadowy corridors of the basilica.It: L'atmosfera lì era diversa: silenziosa e misteriosa.En: The atmosphere there was different: silent and mysterious.It: Dietro una colonna pregiata, intravidero una figura che si muoveva furtiva.En: Behind an ornate column, they glimpsed a figure moving stealthily.It: "È lui," sussurrò Luca.En: "It's him," whispered Luca.It: Con un'energia nuova, si avvicinarono silenziosamente.En: With renewed energy, they approached quietly.It: Giulia, con la sua memoria fotografica degli oggetti esposti, ricordava esattamente dove ogni pezzo doveva essere.En: Giulia, with her photographic memory of the displayed objects, remembered exactly where each piece was supposed to be.It: Dopo un confronto acceso, il ladro si rese conto di essere scoperto.En: After a heated confrontation, the thief realized he had been discovered.It: Tentò di fuggire, ma la determinazione di Luca e Giulia non gli lasciò scampo.En: He tried to escape, but the determination of Luca and Giulia left him no chance.It: Con abilità, riuscirono a fermarlo e a recuperare l'oggetto prezioso.En: With skill, they managed to stop him and retrieve the precious object.It: Il manufatto, una scultura di un'epoca lontana, fu riportato al suo posto.En: The artifact, a sculpture from a distant era, was returned to its place.It: La folla ignara continuava a godere della mostra, mentre Luca e Giulia si scambiarono un cenno soddisfatto.En: The unaware crowd continued to enjoy the exhibit, while Luca and Giulia exchanged a satisfied nod.It: Luca sentiva un'ondata di orgoglio e fiducia nelle proprie capacità.En: Luca felt a wave of pride and confidence in his abilities.It: Aveva dimostrato la sua abilità e ci era riuscito grazie all'aiuto di Giulia.En: He had demonstrated his skill thanks to Giulia's help.It: Lei, d'altra parte, aveva imparato a vedere valore nella collaborazione, apprezzando un approccio differente al loro comune obiettivo.En: She, on the other hand, had learned to see the value in collaboration, appreciating a different approach to their common goal.It: Nel cuore della Basilica di San Marco, tra mosaici dorati e la storia vibrante di Venezia, un nuovo rispetto e una sincera amicizia erano nati tra loro.En: In the heart of the Basilica di San Marco, among golden mosaics and the vibrant history of Venezia, a new respect and genuine friendship had formed between them.It: Così, mentre la luce del giorno si attenuava, il loro lavoro era concluso e il prezioso legame culturale era preservato per sempre.En: Thus, as the daylight faded, their work was concluded and the precious cultural bond was preserved forever. Vocabulary Words:the domes: le cupolethe stained-glass windows: le finestre coloratethe hues: i riflessithe majesty: la maestositàa sumptuous event: un evento sontuosothe art restorer: il restauratore d'artethe art historian: la storica dell'artethe artifact: l'artefattothe exhibit: la mostraurgency: l'urgenzathe multitude: la moltitudinethe shadows: le ombredetails: i dettaglithe atmosphere: l'atmosferathe corridors: i corridoithe column: la colonnastealthily: furtivamentethe figure: la figurathe photographic memory: la memoria fotograficathe confrontation: il confrontothe sculpture: la sculturathe pride: l'orgoglioabilities: le capacitàthe skill: l'abilitàthe collaboration: la collaborazionethe mosaics: i mosaicithe day light: la luce del giornothe bond: il legamethe thief: il ladrothe intuition: l'intuizione

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unveiling Michelangelo's Secret: A Vatican Art Mystery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-01-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Nella fredda mattina d'inverno, Alessio camminava con passo deciso verso la Basilica di San Pietro.En: On the cold winter morning, Alessio walked with a determined step towards the Basilica di San Pietro.It: La città era piena di luci natalizie e il profumo dei dolci di Natale galleggiava nell'aria.En: The city was full of Christmas lights and the scent of Christmas sweets floated in the air.It: Alessio era uno studente di storia dell'arte, curioso e determinato.En: Alessio was an art history student, curious and determined.It: In tasca, teneva una busta misteriosa, consegnatagli la sera prima senza mittente, contenente solo un indovinello.En: In his pocket, he held a mysterious envelope, handed to him the night before without a sender, containing only a riddle.It: Le parole dell'indovinello riecheggiavano nella sua mente: "Dove l'ombra incontra la luce, lì l'arte racconta la fede nascosta."En: The words of the riddle echoed in his mind: "Where the shadow meets the light, there art tells of hidden faith."It: Alessio intuiva che il messaggio celava un segreto legato a un'opera d'arte sconosciuta nel Vaticano.En: Alessio intuited that the message concealed a secret linked to an unknown work of art in the Vatican.It: Ma il tempo era contro di lui.En: But time was against him.It: Le celebrazioni di Natale avrebbero presto limitato l'accesso a molte aree.En: The Christmas celebrations would soon restrict access to many areas.It: Mentre passeggiava tra la folla di turisti, vide Chiara, una guida locale.En: As he strolled through the crowd of tourists, he saw Chiara, a local guide.It: Anche se lei era scettica di fronte ai misteri, Alessio sapeva che il suo aiuto poteva essere prezioso.En: Even though she was skeptical about mysteries, Alessio knew that her help could be valuable.It: Avvicinandosi, le mostrò la busta.En: Approaching her, he showed her the envelope.It: "Chiara," disse, "ho bisogno del tuo aiuto per risolvere questo indovinello."En: "Chiara," he said, "I need your help to solve this riddle."It: Chiara lesse attentamente il messaggio.En: Chiara read the message carefully.It: I suoi occhi si illuminarono di curiosità che cercava di nascondere.En: Her eyes lit up with curiosity, which she tried to hide.It: "Va bene," rispose, "vediamo cosa possiamo scoprire."En: "Alright," she replied, "let's see what we can discover."It: Insieme, esplorarono la Piazza di San Pietro, cercando indizi tra le statue magnifiche.En: Together, they explored Piazza di San Pietro, looking for clues among the magnificent statues.It: La folla era densa, ma Alessio e Chiara si muovevano con determinazione.En: The crowd was dense, but Alessio and Chiara moved with determination.It: Il tempo stava per scadere, eppure non si arresero.En: Time was running out, yet they didn't give up.It: Finalmente, sotto una statua poco frequentata, trovarono un piccolo scomparto segreto.En: Finally, under a rarely visited statue, they found a small secret compartment.It: Dentro, c'era una nota: "Questo monumento custodisce la mia fede e la mia arte.En: Inside, there was a note: "This monument guards my faith and my art.It: Michelangelo."En: Michelangelo."It: Chiara e Alessio si guardarono con meraviglia.En: Chiara and Alessio looked at each other in amazement.It: Quel giorno, scoprirono un legame tra la fede di un grande artista e le sue opere, un dettaglio dimenticato della storia dell'arte.En: That day, they discovered a connection between the faith of a great artist and his works, a forgotten detail of art history.It: Alessio capì l'importanza della collaborazione, mentre Chiara riscoprì l'amore per i misteri dell'arte.En: Alessio understood the importance of collaboration, while Chiara rediscovered her love for the mysteries of art.It: Mentre la sera scendeva su Roma e le luci natalizie brillavano, Alessio e Chiara si allontanarono dalla Basilica con un nuovo rispetto reciproco e una storia da raccontare.En: As evening fell over Rome and the Christmas lights shone, Alessio and Chiara walked away from the Basilica with a new mutual respect and a story to tell.It: Il Natale portava con sé un nuovo inizio e un'amicizia inattesa.En: Christmas brought with it a new beginning and an unexpected friendship. Vocabulary Words:the shadow: l'ombrathe light: la lucethe art: l'artethe faith: la fedethe scent: il profumothe envelope: la bustathe riddle: l'indovinellothe monument: il monumentothe crowd: la follathe winter: l'invernothe note: la notathe compartment: lo scompartodetermined: determinatocurious: curiosothe celebration: la celebrazionethe statue: la statuathe guide: la guidathe sender: il mittentethe area: l'areasecret: segretovaluable: preziosothe mystery: il misterodetermination: la determinazionefinally: finalmenteto hide: nascondererarely: raramentethe connection: il legamethe history: la storiamutual: reciprocounexpected: inatteso

CCH Sur cancela consulta por fallas y mantiene clases en línea A un mes del asesinato de Manzo, el caso sigue sin esclarecerseDetienen en España a dos exmonjas por venta ilegal de arte sacroMás información en nuestro podcast

The sound of religious singing in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Rome. A calm evening in February before the Basilica shuts its doors for the night, I wandered into the near-empty church to record the soothing sounds of religious hymns that seeped into the dimly lit streets of Rome.  Recorded by Andrew Ramsey.

The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes, Indiana, was the state's first Catholic church and first cathedral. During the American Revolution, it was also the home of the "Patriot Priest," Fr. Pierre Gibault.("Cradles of Catholicism" series, no. 46, Indiana)

Father Hathaway shares a Thanksgiving message with Basilica parishioners. In other important news: the Parish Offices will close today, November 26th, at 1 p.m. and will remain closed on November 27th and 28th for the holiday. There will be one Mass on Thanksgiving Day – at 9 a.m. There will be no 6:30 a.m. Mass on Friday, November 28th, but the 8 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. Masses on that day will occur. For those who attend the Thanksgiving Day Mass: please bring grocery bags of non-perishable food items that will be donated to help feed the needy. They will be brought up during the offertory. Please also consider signing up to adore the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament next week during our 40 Hours Devotion from Dec. 4-6, 2025. Click here to sign up and to find out more: https://bit.ly/4iaD2D4

Homily from the Commemoration of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, A.D. MMXXV.

Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time INovember 21, 2025 – Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary  Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time and the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to Luke. Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.The gospel of the Lord. Homily The celebration of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary began in Jerusalem in the 6th century and then slowly spread through the Christian world. The story does not come from the Bible, but is based on a third century document that tries to fill in the blanks in the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that are not told in the Gospels. It is a devotional work and can be fanciful at times. The story of Joachim and Ana presenting Mary in the Temple in Jerusalem at three years old is based on the Old Testament account of Samuel's presentation in the Temple and expresses the truth of Mary's giving herself in service to God. This brings us to today's readings, where in the gospel, we hear of Jesus' cleansing of the Temple by driving out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” Once he had restored the sacred space of the Temple, Jesus began to teach the people there. The first reading from the first book of Maccabees has a similar message. After Judas and his brothers had driven out the pagan invaders who had profaned the Temple, they purified and rededicated the Temple, so that sacrifices could once again be offered to God. This is the origin of the feast of Hanukkah, which the Jewish people celebrate to the present day. From this we see the necessity of a sacred space where the faithful can safely gather to worship and offer prayers to God. Of course, our heart is the first sacred space, where we offer ourselves to God in obedience to the commandments of love of God and love of neighbor. But it is difficult to love our neighbor if we do not first pray for and with our neighbor. And in the busyness and noise of our daily lives, we need churches and temples to help us create the space where our hearts feel the presence of God and find the peace to speak to God. The presentation of Mary teaches us that she learned at an early age to open her heart to God and participate in the sacred space that was the Temple. This forms the basis for her receptivity to the message of the angel in the annunciation and her response: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Just as Mary learned as a child to respond to God's calling, the children of our Christian community need to do the same. How do we bring up children to recognize God and revere the sacred spaces? One way is for parents to teach them their prayers and to pray with them. Another is for the children to accompany the family to church from the time they are little. Mary grew up in a devout and faith filled family. Today's children should have the same opportunity. May God bless you.Fr. Karl E. Esker CSsRBasilica of our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY

Faith Matters is a weekly podcast for the Messenger newsletter of the Basilica School of Saint Mary, which gets distributed to Basilica School families. It features Father Edward Hathaway, the rector of the Basilica. In this week's episode, Fr. Hathaway shares about issues two upcoming feast days: the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary tomorrow and Christ the King on Sunday. He also reflects about his recent pilgrimage to Italy with a group of Basilica parishioners.  To learn more about Father's pilgrimage to Italy, click here for Facebook or click here for Instagram. Reminder:  The Parish Offices will close Wednesday, November 26th, at 1 p.m. and will remain closed on November 27th and 28th for the holiday. There will be one Mass on Thanksgiving Day – at 9 a.m. There will be no 6:30 a.m. Mass on Friday, November 28th, but the 8 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. Masses on that day will occur. For those who attend the Thanksgiving Day Mass: please bring grocery bags of non-perishable food items that will be donated to help feed the needy. They will be brought up during the offertory.  The Basilica will be adopting new Sunday Mass times starting next Sunday, November 30th. The 11:30 a.m. Mass will begin at 12 (noon), and the 1 p.m. Mass will start at 1:30 p.m. All other Mass times on Sunday will remain the same. The Sunday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. will also remain the same. The two shifts in time will allow more time for worship and fellowship and to help ease the parking transitions between two of our Masses, including our standing-room only High Mass at 10 a.m.    

Dr. Tom Curran reflects on the radical transformation of Zacchaeus [Luke 19] and shares little-known facts about Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Tom references the life and death of Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Fame basketball player and coach. (NWCatholic.org)

Cuautitlán Izcalli prepara bodas masivas Marina detiene a 54 delincuentes en la operación “Pez Vela 2025”Jalisco anuncia campaña masiva de vacunación contra sarampión 

Cardinal Robert Prevost made history earlier this year, when he became the first American pontiff to lead the Catholic Church. And when he stepped out onto the balcony of St Peter's Basilica as Pope Leo XIV, dressed in traditional papal robes, some conservatives in the church took it as a sign of a symbolic shift away from what they saw as the liberal drift of his predecessor the late Pope Francis. Francis, who had put social justice at the heart of his papacy, divided opinion. Some Catholics praised his stance on issues like same-sex blessings, whilst others claimed that he had abandoned tradition for wokeness. Now six months into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV is also coming under similar scrutiny, he's already been criticized by some Catholics from the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement in the United States for blessing a block of Greenland ice. Whilst on the issue of same-sex blessings, his stated intention is to continue the same course as Pope Francis, that the Church's teaching is not going to change on this issue.But though he may also be advocating diversity, equity and inclusion, Pope Leo XIV may not necessarily be a carbon copy of his predecessor. As he prepares for his first apostolic visit to Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV already appears to be charting a more nuanced path, grounded in pastoral instincts rather than divisive politics. So, on The Inquiry this week we're asking, ‘Is the new Pope woke?'Contributors: Dr Massimo Faggioli, Professor in Ecclesiology, Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland Inés San Martín, Vice President of Communications, The Pontifical Mission Societies, New York, USA Christopher White, Author ‘Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of New Papacy', Associate Director, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA Elise Ann Allen, Senior Correspondent for Crux, Author ‘Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century', Rome, Italy Presenter: William Crawley Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Maeve Schaffer Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Editor: Tom Bigwood(Photo: Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in May 2025. Credit: Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images)

Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Optional Memorial)

St. Peter's Basilica has just installed a “Listening Kiosk” — a new station designed for spiritual dialogue, personal reflection, and pastoral outreach. But what exactly is this kiosk? Who is it for? And why is the Vatican introducing it now? In this video, I break down what the kiosk actually does, how it fits into […]

The consecration of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, originally dedicated to Christ the Savior, was first celebrated on November 9, 324 AD by Pope Sylvester I. For over 1,700 hears, this church has stood as a symbol of the Catholic Faith and the home of many historical events, including five ecumenical councils. St. John Lateran's symbolic value may be more important now than ever as the Church remains beset by modernism and a crisis of faith. This unsettling state of affairs can be seen once again in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's recent rejection, in the name of ecumenism, of certain traditional titles for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Every baptized Christian, however small or obscure, bears a dignity that no earthly monument can rival. The Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran that we celebrate today reminds us that the Church is not first of marble or of gold, but of souls. The colossal statues of the twelve apostles that line its nave are not merely ornaments of stone, but symbols of the living reality upon which Christ builds His dwelling. Those massive figures, carved by human hands, point to a greater mystery: that the same Christ who made Peter a foundation and John a witness has made of every believer a living stone in His eternal temple.It is a humbling and exalting thought that we, so frail and often faithless, are chosen to bear the weight of glory. The Church's beauty does not depend upon the grandeur of her buildings but upon the grace alive in her members. Even the smallest Christian, hidden in prayer or quiet service, adds a line to the architecture of heaven. The apostles stand in their marble stillness as reminders that our own lives are being hewn and fitted into a structure far greater than any basilica.Thus, as we look upon the Lateran's soaring arches and its steadfast saints of stone, let us remember that the true cathedral is being built not in Rome alone but in every human heart that has been washed in the waters of baptism. Each of us, by grace, is part of that living edifice, one in which the Builder Himself has chosen to dwell.And perhaps this is the deepest wonder of all: that the Master Builder works not with flawless material, but with what is cracked and common. The apostles themselves were not marble when He called them, they were fishermen, tax collectors, doubters, and sinners. Yet through the fire of His love, they were made steadfast, and their weakness became strength. So too with us: our imperfections, offered to Christ, become the very texture through which His light shines. In every heart that yields to grace, the living stone is shaped a little nearer to its final beauty. The Church grows not by triumph or grandeur alone, but by the quiet chiseling of repentance, forgiveness, and charity until, at last, the whole structure resounds with one voice, a temple radiant with the presence of the living God. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give

In this episode, we trace how the Reformation rediscovered the gospel—from Luther's 95 Theses to the rise of Protestant movements—and how God used ordinary people, Scripture, and the printing press to bring His Word back to the world.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Episode SummaryBy the early 1500s, the Catholic Church had become powerful, wealthy, and deeply political. Salvation was treated like a transaction through rituals and indulgences, and the gospel was buried under centuries of human authority. The Bible was locked away in Latin, unreadable to most people. But God was preparing a movement of rediscovery—the Protestant Reformation.In this episode, we'll see how men like Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, John Knox, and the lesser-known Anabaptists helped bring Christianity back to the simple gospel of faith in Jesus Christ.The Reformation wasn't rebellion—it was rediscovery. It was a return to the gospel buried under layers of religion.The Reformation BeginsMartin Luther, a German monk, struggled with guilt and never felt good enough for God. While reading Romans 1:17, he discovered that righteousness is a gift from God—received by faith, not earned by works. Around that time, the Church was selling indulgences to raise money for St. Peter's Basilica, claiming that people could buy forgiveness. Outraged, Luther wrote his 95 Theses and nailed them to a church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.The document spread quickly thanks to the newly invented printing press, and a movement was born. Luther stood before church authorities and declared, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Here I stand. I can do no other.” While hiding from persecution, he translated the Bible into German so ordinary people could read it for themselves.Other Reformers Across EuropeWhile Luther led in Germany, others joined the cause across Europe:Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland preached directly from Scripture, opposed indulgences, and emphasized simple, Bible-centered worship.John Calvin in France and later Geneva wrote The Institutes of the Christian Religion, organizing Christian theology and emphasizing God's sovereignty, grace, and the authority of Scripture.John Knox in Scotland, a student of Calvin, boldly preached the gospel to kings and queens and helped establish the Presbyterian Church, governed by elders with Christ as its head.William Tyndale in England translated the Bible into English so people could read it in their own language.The Reformation spread rapidly, dividing Europe between those who followed the old system and those who embraced this rediscovered gospel of...

Given on the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Our Savior, occurring on the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost, the occasion of First Holy Communion in Brisbane, 2025.

Today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. In this episode you will hear about the importance of this church and how we are all made by God to be the temple of His presence.Readings

Fr. Eric's homily on the Feast of the Commemoration of the Latteran Basilica

Mass Readings for the FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF ST JOHN LATERAN - Sunday November 9, 2025 Reading 1, Genesis 28:11-18 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 84:3, 4, 5-6, 8, 11 Reading 2, First Corinthians 3:9-13, 16-17 Gospel, Luke 19:1-10

Dedication of St. Savior's Basilica

Read OnlineJesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. John 2:19–21We celebrate, today, the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the mother church of the entire Roman Catholic Church. It was given to the Bishop of Rome in the fourth century and remained the pope's primary residence until the building of St. Peter's Basilica, at a time when the Lateran Basilica was falling into ruins. However, the Lateran Basilica to this day remains the most important Church in the world, since it is officially the Cathedral Church of Rome.As we honor this church, we honor more than a building. The Lateran Basilica is a symbol of the one true Church of Jesus Christ. Its interior is beautiful and awe-inspiring so as to point us to the unimaginable beauty of the Church Herself, which is the Mystical Body of Christ.Today's Gospel depicts Jesus entering the Temple and driving the money changers out with a whip and the animals they were selling for profit. As He did so, He cried out, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace.” Psalm 69 is then quoted: Zeal for your house will consume me.Jesus loves His Church as His own Body—because that is what it is. As His Body, the members of His Church are called and sent to act as His instruments, members of His saving action. Much more than a church building, today we honor the Church Herself—which means we honor you, insofar as you are a member of the Body of Christ. And in light of this Gospel passage for today's Feast, we are reminded of the zeal that our Lord has for the cleansing of His Church.How is the Church purified? It is purified by the cleansing of Her members. That means that Jesus desires, with perfect zeal, to drive out every sin from your soul, cleansing the filth that keeps you from fulfilling your essential role as a member of His Body.Sometimes we become slack in our own commitment to be purified. We can easily become comfortable with the sins we commit, and we can form habits that are hard to break. When this happens, it is useful to ponder this story of the cleansing of the Temple and see it as Jesus' desire to cleanse our own soul. At times, we need to be shaken up, challenged, confronted and encouraged with the unwavering zeal in the heart of our Lord. Reflect, today, upon this powerful image of Jesus cleansing the Temple. As you do, apply it to your own life. The people selling and buying in the Temple must have been shocked at Jesus' zeal and actions. If you have become complacent with your sins, try to allow this holy shock to also wake you up. Allow our Lord's zeal to affect you, and know that His purifying actions are acts of love by which He desires to free you to become a more fully functioning member of His holy Church. My zealous Lord, Your heart burns with a deep desire to cleanse me and all Your children from sin. Your zeal reveals Your deep love and Your willingness to do all that You can to make me a fuller member of Your Body, the Church. Open my mind and will, dear Lord, to all that You wish to say to me and give me the grace to respond to Your purifying action in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

This week on a special Halloween episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Micah Kiel, a professor of New Testament at Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minn., where he teaches a class called “Apocalypse-mania.” Micah is also the author of Apocalyptic Ecology: The Book of Revelation, the Earth, and the Future.  Ashley, Zac and Micah discuss: - How Catholics should read the Book of Revelation - Where our obsession with the apocalypse comes from - Revelation's (violent) critique of empire In Signs of the Times, Ashley and Zac discuss King Charles's monumental visit to the Vatican, Cardinal Burke saying the Latin liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica and Pete Hegseth's decision to retain awards for soldiers who massacred hundreds of Indigenous civilians at Wounded Knee in the late 19th century. In “As One Friend Speaks to Another,” Ashley and Zac speak to Jackson Goodman, strategic program manager at America, about his and Zac's upcoming participation in the New York City Marathon. Links for further reading:  Pope Leo and King Charles make history with first-ever joint prayer service in Sistine Chapel Cardinal Burke celebrates traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Analysis: Why is Pope Leo letting Cardinal Burke say the Latin Mass at the Vatican? Bishop, Jesuits reject Hegseth decision to honor soldiers who massacred Lakota at Wounded Knee Support Cristo Rey New York High School You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices