What Are Frankincense and Myrrh, Anyway?
Frankincense and myrrh are a fragrant part of traditional Christmas celebrations, but what exactly are these pebble-like perfumes?
Frankincense and myrrh are a fragrant part of traditional Christmas celebrations, but what exactly are these pebble-like perfumes?
The Garden of Earthly Delights is a piece so ripe with symbolism that it inspires intense curiosity more than 500 years after it was painted.
When Octavia E. Butler wrote her science fiction novel ‘The Parable of the Sower,’ she vowed to include only things that could actually happen.
What is a placebo? Technically, a Latin phrase meaning ‘I will please.’ It’s also a Catholic prayer and a clever insult.
Not every cult is a commune-based religious organization run by a charismatic man.
For practicing Catholics, meat is off limits on Fridays during Lent. But they might be able to make an exception this March 17.
Jesus’s birthday is subject to interpretation, and there are plenty of intriguing theories to explain how we landed on December 25 to celebrate Christmas.
If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to attend a séance during the spiritualist movement, this clip will give you an idea.
Blavatsky asserted that she was able to perform extraordinary paranormal feats because she had been given access to an ancient wisdom, known only to a select few.
Casting your ballot in a house of worship may influence you more than you realize.
Despite being half-sisters, the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth Tudor was difficult.
Beavers, muskrats, and capybaras are acceptable to eat on Fridays during Lent, according to the Catholic Church.
If you plan to celebrate Fat Tuesday on March 1 with a doughnut or slice of King Cake, learn about the origins of the tradition.
Star Wars’ most infamous fallen Jedi has been bearing down on unsuspecting cathedral visitors since 1986.
You’re not really wishing someone a good ‘bye.’ ‘Bye’ is just an abbreviation—and ‘good’ is sort of a mistake.
Over the centuries, relic fragments of what are said to be St. Nick’s bones have been acquired by an impressive number of churches around the world.
Exorcism has a fascinating, unsettling history, and it’s left an indelible mark on pop culture thanks to films like 1973's 'The Exorcist.' Here are six historical exorcisms that are every bit as chilling as anything Hollywood can produce.
Stained-glass windows depicting Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were removed in 2017. Now, Kerry James Marshall is working on their replacements.
What does a fire department chaplain do? It all depends on where they work—here’s how they help out.
Is the culprit Elizabeth I’s ghost, trying to make sure every last symbol of her cousin’s Catholic faith gets destroyed, once and for all?
Medieval monks picked some very isolated places to build their monasteries.
Aztec peoples considered human sacrifice an integral, life-sustaining ritual, and the sacrificial skulls were prominently displayed.
Architects had previously suggested replacing Notre-Dame Cathedral's famed spire with a rooftop pool, a greenhouse, or a giant sculpture of golden flames.
It all started as a reminder about which relatives the Catholic Church prohibited you from marrying.