Morning Briefing

Wake-up time: Let's not skip Advent this year

Advent Devotion: Pray the O Antiphons every morning. Written especially for NCR by the Sisters of the Monastery of Mount St. Scholastica. The full list.

U.S. sisters' apostolic visitation report to be released Dec. 16

Texas and 16 other states filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday challenging President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, arguing that he violated his constitutional duty to enforce the laws and illegally placed new burdens on state budgets.

Marco Politi: "A tough group of conservative of bishops and priests and cardinals ... are working against the Pope." Beginning of a ‘tough period’ for Pope Francis Text and video.

Pope Francis has 'sacked' the head of the Swiss Guards because the pontiff views the solider as being 'too strict'.

Ireland: Bishops say same-sex marriage would be ‘grave injustice’ . Document highlights ‘uniqueness of the role of husbands and wives’

Orange, Calif. -- Unnamed donor gives Orange diocese $20 million About a quarter of what's needed to renovate the former Crystal cathedral.

Trenton, N.J. -- Diocese announces closure of two schools, fundraising effort to save a third

ICYMI -- Editorial: On Immigration, a Huge Job Ahead. There is a critical shortage of lawyers and other legal assistance for families navigating the immigration bureaucracy and justice system.

Looking for a little inspiration to begin your day? NCR's sister publication, Celebration, gives you two options, both based on the Scripture readings of the day:

Pencil Preaching is blog in which Celebration editor Pat Marrin combines Scripture and sketching to reflect on the Word.

Daily Bread is a series of short reflections written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings. Daily Bread is intended to help daily preachers and others who pray from the assigned Scriptures each day to orient themselves to the Living Word addressed to the church in the world. It's a great way to begin the day.