As was the custom among observant Jews of the time, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover and took the 12-year-old Jesus went them, as related in the gospel for this Sunday’s Feast of the Holy Family. Observant Jews through the ages have used the teaching . . .

On this Octave Day of Christmas, the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we recall the amazement all felt when shepherds first announced the good news of the birth of the savior. We’re used to being amazed by news of the latest breakthrough in technology and the niftiest new social networks . . .

“At the same time we’re in a very dark place, we’re in a very sacred place. Everybody, for the last two days, is brother and sister. You can hug strangers in the street. Everybody is so close to each other.”

Forty-three percent of recently created jobs have been in the low-wage industries of retail, food services, and employment services.