As you know, in this time of Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas, we prepare to welcome our Lord into our hearts.  It is a time of reflection, of penance, but also of subdued joy.  For some though, it can be a difficult time, particularly when December 25th arrives.  The joy of Christmas may ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI’s travel schedule for 2011 is quickly getting booked up after two Apostolic Journeys were announced within seven days. The Holy Father’s participation in World Youth Day Madrid, in August, had been expected for sometime.  In fact back in July he became the first pilgrim to register. It was also announced some weeks ...read more

As you may have read from our Vatican correspondent Alicia Ambrosio here, there’s been a lot of focus on Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks on condoms.  The comments come in the interview book “Light of the World,” which is released this week, but of which excerpts were published in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on Saturday.  ...read more

On Saturday evening in Rome, the story reverberating around the Vatican walls was not the 24 new Cardinals who had just been created, or which Roman church they would be assigned as their titular church. Instead, while the two dozen new Cardinals were meeting and being congratulated by the faithful, the story making headlines on ...read more

Muslims around the world celebrated Tuesday the feast of Eid al-Adha – commonly known as Eid, which marks the end of Hajj. Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the city in Saudi Arabia, regarded as the holiest site in Islam, since the prophet Muhammad proclaimed Islam in that city in the 7th century. Hajj ...read more

[audio:http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/audio/wyd2011_theme.mp3|titles=WYD2011 Theme Song][/audio] The official hymn for World Youth Day 2011 was released on the eve of November 9th, Feast of the Virgin of Almudena, Patroness of Madrid. “Firm in the Faith,” was performed by the Youth Orchestra of the Community of Madrid and the Youth Choir of the Escolanía de El Escorial. Both groups ...read more

Twice during our coverage of Pope Benedict’s trip to Spain this past weekend, S+L interviewed Carol Glatz from Catholic News Service. Glatz covered the papal visit as one of the Vatican Accredited Media Personnel (VAMP). She was among 61 reporters, photographers and cameramen who were privy to a much closer view of the Pope than ...read more

Did you know that, in a mere 11 hours, Pope Benedict will be in plane over the Mediterranean, en route to Spain? You’re not alone if this is the first you’ve heard of it. But if the Holy Father doesn’t figure into your plans this weekend, you will have missed one of the most visually ...read more

Though today we celebrate all the many wonderful holy men and women who have gone before us, November is traditionally a month where we remember our dearly departed, the poor souls in purgatory. We may also want to regularly call to mind the Papal intentions for this month.  Pope Benedict XVI’s general prayer intention for ...read more

On Sunday Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. During his homily he announced the theme of the next Synod of Bishops, in 2012. That Synod will be focused on new Evangelization. The Holy Father said: I have decided to dedicate the next Ordinary General Assembly, ...read more