Saint Stephen, whose feast day we celebrate on Dec. 26, is one of the first ordained deacons of the Church and the first Christian martyr we read about in the Bible. Father Chris Alar, MIC, explains the clerical state of the diaconate, and reminds us that Catholic priests are also ordained deacons. Then Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, sits down with Bishop William Byrne of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, to discuss the true meaning of Christmas.

February 5 is the feast day of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. She's one of the many incredible saints in the early history of the Catholic Church, invoked in the First Eucharistic Prayer along with Saints Felicity, Perpetua, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, and Anastasia.Father Chris Alar, MIC, explains why St. Agatha merits this great honor, and why she is the patron saint of so many different people, from martyrs, breast cancer patients, bellmakers, and bakers to fire and earthquake victims.

What are plenary indulgences? How does one gain a plenary indulgence? Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, discusses these “extra credit” of graces and the requirements that will help us gain the graces from the “Treasury of the Church.”