With a cast like Harry Connick Jr., Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Connie Britton (who’s proved her singing chops on two seasons of “Nashville), you might expect the movie “Angels Sing” (newly available on DVD and Video On Demand) to be some kind of concert film. But while there is music sprinkled throughout, it’s actually a family-oriented story about moving beyond the guilt and sorrows of the past to find joy in Christmas. Connick plays Austin, Texas resident... Read more
Though much of the Mary Poppins-related attention today will be directed at the new Disney movie “Saving Mr. Banks,” I’m reminded of a different story about everybody’s favorite flying nanny and how she influenced someone I consider to be one of the best comedy writers of our era: Phil Rosenthal. If his name isn’t familiar to you, you’ll definitely recognize the sitcom he’s responsible for creating: Everybody Loves Raymond. It was a brilliantly written show that managed to seamlessly integrate... Read more
A few weeks ago, Pope Francis made news for spontaneously embracing a severely disfigured man named Vinicio Riva during a public audience at the Vatican. According to CNN, Riva, “has long been accustomed to the unkindness of strangers. He suffers from a non-infectious genetic disease, neurofibromatosis type 1. It has left him completely covered from head to toe with growths, swellings and itchy sores.” The reason the picture became so popular worldwide is that it demonstrated that Pope Francis was... Read more
In this week’s video reflection, Father Jonathan Morris examines the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit, what they are and how God makes them present in our lives through our actions and His grace. In order to make the concept easier to understand, Father Jonathan provides an example from his childhood about helping his mother work in her garden and what that taught him about preparations that allow fruits to grow to their fullest. RELATED: A Christopher News Note about... Read more
As a fan of The Lower Lights previous albums of folk-and-bluegrass-flavored hymns and Christmas classics, I looked forward to their newest Christmas offering called “The Lower Lights Sing Noel.” Happily, the album did not disappoint. While I very much enjoyed Kelly Clarkson’s new Christmas album, “The Lower Lights Sing Noel” qualifies as my pick for best new Christmas album of 2013. This massive collaboration of 30 singers and musicians produced song interpretations that incorporate heavenly harmonies with occasional foot-stomping hootenannies.... Read more
Actress Candace Cameron Bure, who grew up on television playing D.J. Tanner on the hit sitcom “Full House,” knows first-hand that you can create a Christ-centered Christmas for kids, while still enjoying Santa Claus and the commercial aspects of the holiday. That’s exactly what she does with her three children because it reflects how her celebration of Christmas has evolved through the years. During a recent interview on “Christopher Closeup” about her new Hallmark Channel movie “Let It Snow,” Candace... Read more
The following column was written by The Christophers’ Jerry Costello: Father Joseph Marquis, not surprisingly, knows all about Christmas. But–and this is the part that might surprise you a little bit–he knows all about Santa Claus, too. At a time when many in the church downplay the role of Santa and the gifting tradition as symbols of all that’s gone wrong with Christmas, Father Marquis is something else. Not only does he embrace the concept of Santa Claus, but he... Read more
Author and theologian Dr. Edward Sri knows we’re all familiar with the Christmas story, but he also thinks we can be so familiar with it that we miss a lot of its important points. That’s why he wrote a book of daily reflections called “The Advent of Christ: Scripture Reflections to Prepare for Christmas.” Dr. Sri is a popular speaker who appears regularly on EWTN; he’s a founding leader of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students; he teaches theology and... Read more
In this week’s video reflection, Father Jonathan Morris reveals the influence of Pope Francis on his thinking recently in the area of leading with mercy. Specifically, he looks at the Biblical stories of Zacchaeus and the woman caught in adultery. Zacchaeus was a tax collector hated by his fellow Jews for working with the Romans and enriching himself in the process. The adulterous woman was breaking the laws of God. How did Jesus respond to them and get them to... Read more
Early in his life, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela spoke hard truths to the white European government that was oppressing his people. Many years later, he had to do the same thing to his fellow Africans in order to guide them toward establishing a nation grounded in healing and forgiveness. The new feature film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” based on the former South African President’s autobiography, shares that entire dramatic and difficult journey. Though black people are the majority in... Read more
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