NASA’s IXPE observed the outer rim of the supernova remnant highlighted in purple in the inset. Data from IXPE is combined with data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton.
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The Holy Father met with the country’s royalty, addressed Catholic youth, and celebrated Mass at Louis II Stadium.
The Holy Father during his homily at Monaco’s Louis II Stadium urged the faithful to “not get used to the rumble of weapons or the images of war.”
![Passaic parish celebrates its patron, St. Joseph, with Bishop #Catholic - Bishop Sweeney joined St. Joseph Parish in Passaic, N.J., to celebrate its patron’s feast on March 19. Father Dariusz Kaminski, pastor, and Father Adam Stanislaw Wasowski, parochial vicar, were among the concelebrants.
Bishop Sweeney also blessed the food and baked goods on the parish’s St. Joseph’s Table, a tradition linked to the feast.
St. Joseph’s, the mother church of Polish parishes in the Diocese, was organized in 1892.
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BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/passaic-parish-celebrates-its-patron-st-joseph-with-bishop-catholic-bishop-sweeney-joined-st-joseph-parish-in-passaic-n-j-to-celebrate-its-patrons-feast-on-march-19-father-dariusz.jpg)
Passaic parish celebrates its patron, St. Joseph, with Bishop #Catholic – 
Bishop Sweeney joined St. Joseph Parish in Passaic, N.J., to celebrate its patron’s feast on March 19. Father Dariusz Kaminski, pastor, and Father Adam Stanislaw Wasowski, parochial vicar, were among the concelebrants.
Bishop Sweeney also blessed the food and baked goods on the parish’s St. Joseph’s Table, a tradition linked to the feast.
St. Joseph’s, the mother church of Polish parishes in the Diocese, was organized in 1892.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– Bishop Sweeney joined St. Joseph Parish in Passaic, N.J., to celebrate its patron’s feast on March 19. Father Dariusz Kaminski, pastor, and Father Adam Stanislaw Wasowski, parochial vicar, were among the concelebrants. Bishop Sweeney also blessed the food and baked goods on the parish’s St. Joseph’s Table, a tradition linked to the feast. St. Joseph’s, the mother church of Polish parishes in the Diocese, was organized in 1892. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
Shrine is a place of prayer, pilgrimage and ‘encounter’ with St. John Paul II’s life, legacy #Catholic – 
WASHINGTON (OSV News) — St. John Paul II “changed the Church and the world, and you can encounter that here” at the national shrine in Washington named for the Polish pope, said Grattan Brown, the shrine’s director of mission and ministry.
“Here, one can encounter Christ through the life and legacy of John Paul II. We appeal to both the head and the heart,” Brown said.
The St. John Paul II National Shrine in Northeast Washington is marking its 25th anniversary this March.
The 118,000-square-foot shrine is located in the city’s Brookland section, affectionately called “Little Rome” for the many Catholic institutions located there.
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Its neighbors include the Archdiocese of Washington’s St. John Paul II Seminary, the Jeanne Jugan Residence operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor, Capuchin College, the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family, The Catholic University of America and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
When approached with the idea of creating a cultural center in his name, Pope John Paul told organizers he wanted a place where “people come to a greater understanding of the richness of the Catholic intellectual tradition and its relevance for the critical issues facing American society.”
Originally established as the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, it was dedicated in 2000, during the Great Jubilee Year, and inaugurated on March 22, 2001. Then-President George W. Bush attended the dedication. Originally, it offered exhibits, talks and other special events. Later for a time, it operated as a kind of academic think tank and was open by appointment only.
In 2011, the Knights of Columbus purchased the center and renovated the structure to its present form where it offers a permanent exhibit called “A Gift of Love: The Life of St. John Paul II.” It includes videos, photographs, artifacts and other displays honoring the life and legacy of the saintly pope.
Over the years, visitors to the shrine have included Pope Benedict XVI, presidents, many American cardinals and bishops, and the faithful from across the country and throughout the world.
While offering exhibits and special events, the St. John Paul II National Shrine is an important place of prayer and pilgrimage, and that includes the Redemptor Hominis Church where Mass is offered daily, and a chapel dedicated to the luminous mysteries of the rosary where a first-class relic of St. John Paul is displayed.
“Our mission has expanded and we are also a place of pilgrimage,” Brown told the Catholic Standard, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Washington. “A pilgrimage expresses first devotion to the Lord, and this is a place honoring God’s special activity in the world.”
On March 14, 2014, the U.S. bishops formally designated the center a national shrine. On April 17, 2014 — the day Pope Francis canonized Pope John Paul — the shrine hosted a live broadcast of the canonization Mass, and the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center officially changed its name to the St. John Paul II National Shrine.
“The shrine is a place dedicated to the cultural and intellectual legacies of Pope John Paul II. But it has also grown over the years into a place of pilgrimage, devotion and veneration,” said Stephen P. White, the incoming executive director of the shrine. “St. John Paul II, like all the communion of saints, is much more than a cherished memory or a role model; he is alive in Christ, part of the living Church.”
Recently the shrine purchased the Washington Retreat House next door that was formerly run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement. Brown said the shrine will renovate that facility and will be offering spiritual retreats there beginning around Advent.
Currently, the shrine is hosting an exhibit titled “Lord, You Could Not Love Me More! St. John Paul II and the Shroud of Turin.” Continuing throughout Lent, the exhibit includes a full-scale replica of the Shroud of Turin and more than 30 gallery panels featuring the holy object’s historical significance, scientific study and spiritual impact.
Richard Szczepanowski is managing editor of the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington. This story was originally published by the Catholic Standard and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.
– WASHINGTON (OSV News) — St. John Paul II “changed the Church and the world, and you can encounter that here” at the national shrine in Washington named for the Polish pope, said Grattan Brown, the shrine’s director of mission and ministry. “Here, one can encounter Christ through the life and legacy of John Paul II. We appeal to both the head and the heart,” Brown said. The St. John Paul II National Shrine in Northeast Washington is marking its 25th anniversary this March. The 118,000-square-foot shrine is located in the city’s Brookland section, affectionately called “Little Rome” for the many
The House of Representatives late Friday night passed a short-term DHS funding bill.
The post JUST IN: House Passes Short-Term DHS Funding Bill in Late Night Vote appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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When it comes to Trump’s second administration, Marco Rubio has been a pleasant surprise for conservatives.
The post This Blunt Comment About Communism Explains Why so Many People on the Right Love Marco Rubio 2.0 (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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In 2017, on the same day that Donald Trump was first sworn in as president, the Washington Post ran a story with the headline “The Campaign to Impeach President Trump has begun.” FLASHBACK: 19 minutes after Trump was inaugurated this was the headline in the Washington Post… pic.twitter.com/vl9KVBVqXh— @amuse (@amuse) January 5, 2025 That’s right, the people on the left who have been telling all of us for years that Trump doesn’t respect our democracy or accept election results are dealing purely in projection.
The post Los Angeles Times Columnist Says if a Republican Wins the Race for Governor of California, ‘A Recall Would Begin Immediately’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Don’t be alarmed, but there may be times when your wife will leave you home along with the kids for hours — or even days — on end. Knowing what to do in these situations is vital for their survival, and yours.
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U.S. — To get ahead of the expected surge of migrants seeking refuge and freedom in the safety of America, 49 states banded together this week to enact legislation banning immigrants from California.
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| Picture of the day |
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Saint Joseph depicted holding a staff with lily blossoms and the Christ Child on a stained-glass window in the Saint Antony church in Urtijëi. Today is St. Joseph’s feast day in Western Christianity.
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A reading from the Book of Ezekiel
37:21-28
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I will take the children of Israel from among the nations
to which they have come,
and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.
I will make them one nation upon the land,
in the mountains of Israel,
and there shall be one prince for them all.
Never again shall they be two nations,
and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.
No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols,
their abominations, and all their transgressions.
I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy,
and cleanse them so that they may be my people
and I may be their God.
My servant David shall be prince over them,
and there shall be one shepherd for them all;
they shall live by my statutes and carefully observe my decrees.
They shall live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob,
the land where their fathers lived;
they shall live on it forever,
they, and their children, and their children’s children,
with my servant David their prince forever.
I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the LORD,
who make Israel holy,
when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
From the Gospel according to John
11:45-56
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what Jesus had done.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees
convened the Sanhedrin and said,
“What are we going to do?
This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation.”
But one of them, Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year, said to them,
“You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people,
so that the whole nation may not perish.”
He did not say this on his own,
but since he was high priest for that year,
he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation,
but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.
So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews,
but he left for the region near the desert,
to a town called Ephraim,
and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near,
and many went up from the country to Jerusalem
before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another
as they were in the temple area, “What do you think?
That he will not come to the feast?”
The way that the doctors of the law proceed is precisely a model of how temptation works in us, because it was truly the devil who was behind this, who wanted to destroy Jesus, and temptation in us truly works like this: it begins with something small, a desire, an idea, it grows, it infects others and in the end it justifies itself. (…) We should have the custom of identifying this process within us. That process that changes our hearts from good to bad, that leads us to a downward slope. A thing that grows, grows, grows slowly, then it infects others, in the end it justifies itself. It is rare that temptations come all at once, the devil is astute. And he knows how to take this path, the same one he took to arrive at Jesus’ condemnation. (…) The life of Jesus is always an example for us. The things that happened to Jesus are things that also will happen to us: the temptations, the justifications, good people around us –– and perhaps we do not listen to them – and bad people in the moment of temptation. We surround ourselves with them in order to allow the temptation to get stronger. But let us never forget: always, behind a sin, behind a fall, there is a temptation that began small, that grew, that infected us, and in the end we find a justification to fall. May the Holy Spirit enlighten us in this interior awareness. (Francis – Homily Santa Marta, 4 April 2020)
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Mother Angelica knew from experience that “God works through humble, unexpected instruments to spread his Gospel,” said the principal celebrant at the Mass, Father Michael Baggot, LC.
![U.S. chemical abortions as a result of telehealth rise by 25%, report finds – #Catholic – The U.S. saw a slight increase in all abortions in 2025 and a more than 25% increase in chemical abortions obtained through telehealth, according to a report from the Guttmacher Institute.There were 1,126,000 total abortions recorded in 2025 in the U.S., a less than 1% increase from 2024. The report concedes, however, that the numbers are an “underestimate” of the total number of abortions nationally because abortions that are not provided by U.S. clinicians are not included.The report also found that women traveled less frequently to obtain an abortion, coinciding with an increase in the number of chemical abortions obtained through telehealth provision.“What’s really concerning is that we see a big increase in telehealth abortions,” Michael New, a scholar at The Catholic University of America, told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.” “They found that in states with abortion bans, over 91,000 women obtained abortions by telehealth. That was over a 25% increase from the previous year.”“This really shows telehealth abortions are increasing abortion numbers,” New said. “Putting some limits on these telehealth abortions needs to be a top priority for pro-lifers.”U.S. senators launch investigation into chemical abortion drug manufacturersFive U.S. senators launched an investigation this week into chemical abortion drug manufacturers’ compliance with FDA safeguards, urging the FDA to take action on issues surrounding chemical abortions obtained through telehealth.Led by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the senators in a March 25 letter pressed the FDA to “take immediate action,” citing concerns about women’s safety, fraud risks, and illegal sales of abortion drugs.Cassidy and Sens. Steve Daines, R-Montana; James Lankford, R-Oklahoma; Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi; and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, requested records from abortion drug manufacturers Danco Laboratories, GenBioPro and Evita Solutions.“It is unclear how the three FDA-approved chemical abortion drug manufacturers, Danco, GenBioPro, and Evita, ensure that prescribers and pharmacies comply with the few remaining [Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy] requirements, especially when pills are sold online and without the in-person oversight of a medical professional,” the press release from the senators read.U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley investigates abortion drug manufacturersU.S. Sen. Josh Hawley launched his own investigation into abortion drug manufacturers last week, requesting records from Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro.Hawley is concerned that drug companies profited from abortion pills while knowing the risks to women.“Mounting evidence suggests that mifepristone poses grave risks to women,” Hawley wrote in the letter. “Yet your company has continued to profit from the widespread distribution of this drug even as serious questions have emerged about hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, and other dangerous complications associated with its use.”Judge grants $1 murder bail, $2,000 for drug possession for Georgia woman after infant daughter diesA Georgia judge granted a $1 bond for a woman accused of murder after introducing oxycodone into her infant daughter’s system and also ordered a $1,000 bond for each of two drug charges.In late December 2025, Alexia Moore allegedly took eight misoprostol pills when she was between 22 and 24 weeks pregnant and “introduced illegal oxycodone into the infant’s system,” according to the arrest warrant. She gave birth prematurely to a baby girl who died within the hour. Moore was arrested on March 4, facing one count of murder for unlawfully causing the death of the infant with “malice aforethought” and two drug-related charges.Reports circulated blaming Georgia’s pro-life law for the arrest, but the Georgia law does not criminalize women who have abortions — no U.S. state does.Ohio bill would recognize unborn babies with heartbeats with certificate of lifeA recently proposed Ohio bill would require a certificate of life for unborn babies whose heartbeats are detectable.The bill, backed by Republican state Rep. Jean Schmidt, would recognize unborn babies with detectable heartbeats through a certificate of life.In Ohio, if an unborn baby dies, a death certificate is only required after 20 weeks’ gestation. The new bill would also move this requirement date to when the unborn baby has a heartbeat.The bill would amend the law to “require the registration of all fetal deaths” and “the filing of a certificate of life after the detection of a fetal heartbeat.”Another recent Ohio bill, backed by state Reps. Johnathan Newman and Jennifer Gross, would inform women who obtain abortion pills about abortion pill reversal.“More than 8,000 babies have been saved from the abortion reversal pill,” Newman said. “This is important legislation that supports women and protects life.”Missouri bishops urge prayer, fasting for passage of pro-life amendmentMissouri bishops are urging people to pray and fast for the passage of a pro-life amendment.An amendment enshrining a right to abortion in the state constitution passed in 2024, eliminating pro-life laws and other safeguards.“This year, Missourians will have the opportunity to restore those safeguards by voting for Amendment 3,” the bishops wrote. “The proposed constitutional amendment will protect women’s health and safety and restore protections for the unborn.”The bishops encouraged the faithful to pray the nine-month “Novena for the Dignity of Human Life” on the 25th day of each month. The novena began in February.“We ask the faithful and all people of goodwill to join us in prayer and fasting for the success of Amendment 3 and to support each human person from conception to natural death,” the bishops wrote.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/u-s-chemical-abortions-as-a-result-of-telehealth-rise-by-25-report-finds-catholic-the-u-s-saw-a-slight-increase-in-all-abortions-in-2025-and-a-more-than-25-increase-in-chemical-abortions-obtai-scaled.jpg "U.S. chemical abortions as a result of telehealth rise by 25%, report finds – #Catholic – The U.S. saw a slight increase in all abortions in 2025 and a more than 25% increase in chemical abortions obtained through telehealth, according to a report from the Guttmacher Institute.There were 1,126,000 total abortions recorded in 2025 in the U.S., a less than 1% increase from 2024. The report concedes, however, that the numbers are an “underestimate” of the total number of abortions nationally because abortions that are not provided by U.S. clinicians are not included.The report also found that women traveled less frequently to obtain an abortion, coinciding with an increase in the number of chemical abortions obtained through telehealth provision.“What’s really concerning is that we see a big increase in telehealth abortions,” Michael New, a scholar at The Catholic University of America, told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.” “They found that in states with abortion bans, over 91,000 women obtained abortions by telehealth. That was over a 25% increase from the previous year.”“This really shows telehealth abortions are increasing abortion numbers,” New said. “Putting some limits on these telehealth abortions needs to be a top priority for pro-lifers.”U.S. senators launch investigation into chemical abortion drug manufacturersFive U.S. senators launched an investigation this week into chemical abortion drug manufacturers’ compliance with FDA safeguards, urging the FDA to take action on issues surrounding chemical abortions obtained through telehealth.Led by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the senators in a March 25 letter pressed the FDA to “take immediate action,” citing concerns about women’s safety, fraud risks, and illegal sales of abortion drugs.Cassidy and Sens. Steve Daines, R-Montana; James Lankford, R-Oklahoma; Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi; and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, requested records from abortion drug manufacturers Danco Laboratories, GenBioPro and Evita Solutions.“It is unclear how the three FDA-approved chemical abortion drug manufacturers, Danco, GenBioPro, and Evita, ensure that prescribers and pharmacies comply with the few remaining [Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy] requirements, especially when pills are sold online and without the in-person oversight of a medical professional,” the press release from the senators read.U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley investigates abortion drug manufacturersU.S. Sen. Josh Hawley launched his own investigation into abortion drug manufacturers last week, requesting records from Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro.Hawley is concerned that drug companies profited from abortion pills while knowing the risks to women.“Mounting evidence suggests that mifepristone poses grave risks to women,” Hawley wrote in the letter. “Yet your company has continued to profit from the widespread distribution of this drug even as serious questions have emerged about hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, and other dangerous complications associated with its use.”Judge grants $1 murder bail, $2,000 for drug possession for Georgia woman after infant daughter diesA Georgia judge granted a $1 bond for a woman accused of murder after introducing oxycodone into her infant daughter’s system and also ordered a $1,000 bond for each of two drug charges.In late December 2025, Alexia Moore allegedly took eight misoprostol pills when she was between 22 and 24 weeks pregnant and “introduced illegal oxycodone into the infant’s system,” according to the arrest warrant. She gave birth prematurely to a baby girl who died within the hour. Moore was arrested on March 4, facing one count of murder for unlawfully causing the death of the infant with “malice aforethought” and two drug-related charges.Reports circulated blaming Georgia’s pro-life law for the arrest, but the Georgia law does not criminalize women who have abortions — no U.S. state does.Ohio bill would recognize unborn babies with heartbeats with certificate of lifeA recently proposed Ohio bill would require a certificate of life for unborn babies whose heartbeats are detectable.The bill, backed by Republican state Rep. Jean Schmidt, would recognize unborn babies with detectable heartbeats through a certificate of life.In Ohio, if an unborn baby dies, a death certificate is only required after 20 weeks’ gestation. The new bill would also move this requirement date to when the unborn baby has a heartbeat.The bill would amend the law to “require the registration of all fetal deaths” and “the filing of a certificate of life after the detection of a fetal heartbeat.”Another recent Ohio bill, backed by state Reps. Johnathan Newman and Jennifer Gross, would inform women who obtain abortion pills about abortion pill reversal.“More than 8,000 babies have been saved from the abortion reversal pill,” Newman said. “This is important legislation that supports women and protects life.”Missouri bishops urge prayer, fasting for passage of pro-life amendmentMissouri bishops are urging people to pray and fast for the passage of a pro-life amendment.An amendment enshrining a right to abortion in the state constitution passed in 2024, eliminating pro-life laws and other safeguards.“This year, Missourians will have the opportunity to restore those safeguards by voting for Amendment 3,” the bishops wrote. “The proposed constitutional amendment will protect women’s health and safety and restore protections for the unborn.”The bishops encouraged the faithful to pray the nine-month “Novena for the Dignity of Human Life” on the 25th day of each month. The novena began in February.“We ask the faithful and all people of goodwill to join us in prayer and fasting for the success of Amendment 3 and to support each human person from conception to natural death,” the bishops wrote.")
Nearly 30 lawmakers are urging the U.S. to “use its veto power” to prevent Michelle Bachelet from being selected as U.N. secretary-general and “to preserve the role for a more qualified candidate.”
Sol 100mm Dedicated Solar Telescope DayStar FiltersWarrensburg, Missouri DayStar’s Sol 100 Hydrogen-alpha telescope is a 4-inch instrument that allows safe viewing of normally invisible solar features. The design offers a ¾° field of view and unique coatings, optimizing the Sol 100 for the Hα wavelength $4,9951-866-680-6563www.daystar.comShop at High Point Scientific SkyMaster Pro ED 15x70mm PorroContinue reading “March into this month’s new astronomy products”
The post March into this month’s new astronomy products appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Pope Leo XIV erected the Diocese of Joypurhat on March 25, appointing Father Paul Gomes as first bishop of a region whose Catholics are largely Indigenous.
![California grandmother aims for 10,000 signatures on petition against second-trimester abortions #Catholic Mary Waldorf didn’t know anything about organizing petitions, but when a hospital worker and fellow parishioner told her that staff were forced to participate in second-trimester abortions, she felt called to do something.Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California, about 80 miles north of Sacramento, is the primary hospital in the area.“It’s the only hospital in a huge county. We all have to use it,” Waldorf told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.”Waldorf still remembers how she felt the day she found out about the abortions being performed there.“I spent the rest of the day just bawling because I know what a second-trimester abortion is,” she said.“Everybody was shocked,” she added.Waldorf went with a small group to peacefully protest in front of the hospital, holding signs. Hospital staff approached, asking why they were there.“They didn’t even know” about the later-term abortions being performed at the facility, Waldorf said.Waldorf claimed that local media will not cover the controversy. She said she has sent several letters to the editor of local papers but described the situation as a “media blackout.”A pediatrician at the hospital told her the hospital administration might reconsider if there was enough concern. “Why she told me, God only knows,” Waldorf said. “But I thought, well, if that’s the case, then what if we do a petition?”“I’m just somebody who goes to church, has grandkids, goes to work — I don’t know how to do [a petition],” she told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.” “I am not a media [figure]. But when God gives you an opportunity, you got to go for it.”The petition had about 800 signatures as of March 27. Waldorf is aiming for 10,000 — 10% of the size of the town.Waldorf said staff members have told her that the hospital allegedly has refused to allow some medical workers to opt out of assisting with abortion procedures.“They were told that the pre-op and the post-op nurses and personnel could not opt out,” Waldorf said.Waldorf runs a local chapter of 40 Days for Life, a nationwide effort aimed at praying for women seeking abortions and for their children, usually in front of abortion clinics during Lent. She says she wants women to have “true choice.”“If the mindset of people is about death, they don’t consider the child — and you have to consider both,” Waldorf said. “They’re not counseling these women. What about giving them true choice?”“The dignity of the human person is so paramount,” Waldorf added. “And I think that that is what’s being lost here completely.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/california-grandmother-aims-for-10000-signatures-on-petition-against-second-trimester-abortions-catholic-mary-waldorf-didnt-know-anything-about-organizing-petitions-but-when-a-hospital-wor-scaled.png "California grandmother aims for 10,000 signatures on petition against second-trimester abortions #Catholic Mary Waldorf didn’t know anything about organizing petitions, but when a hospital worker and fellow parishioner told her that staff were forced to participate in second-trimester abortions, she felt called to do something.Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California, about 80 miles north of Sacramento, is the primary hospital in the area.“It’s the only hospital in a huge county. We all have to use it,” Waldorf told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.”Waldorf still remembers how she felt the day she found out about the abortions being performed there.“I spent the rest of the day just bawling because I know what a second-trimester abortion is,” she said.“Everybody was shocked,” she added.Waldorf went with a small group to peacefully protest in front of the hospital, holding signs. Hospital staff approached, asking why they were there.“They didn’t even know” about the later-term abortions being performed at the facility, Waldorf said.Waldorf claimed that local media will not cover the controversy. She said she has sent several letters to the editor of local papers but described the situation as a “media blackout.”A pediatrician at the hospital told her the hospital administration might reconsider if there was enough concern. “Why she told me, God only knows,” Waldorf said. “But I thought, well, if that’s the case, then what if we do a petition?”“I’m just somebody who goes to church, has grandkids, goes to work — I don’t know how to do [a petition],” she told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly.” “I am not a media [figure]. But when God gives you an opportunity, you got to go for it.”The petition had about 800 signatures as of March 27. Waldorf is aiming for 10,000 — 10% of the size of the town.Waldorf said staff members have told her that the hospital allegedly has refused to allow some medical workers to opt out of assisting with abortion procedures.“They were told that the pre-op and the post-op nurses and personnel could not opt out,” Waldorf said.Waldorf runs a local chapter of 40 Days for Life, a nationwide effort aimed at praying for women seeking abortions and for their children, usually in front of abortion clinics during Lent. She says she wants women to have “true choice.”“If the mindset of people is about death, they don’t consider the child — and you have to consider both,” Waldorf said. “They’re not counseling these women. What about giving them true choice?”“The dignity of the human person is so paramount,” Waldorf added. “And I think that that is what’s being lost here completely.”")
Mary Waldorf is rallying her town to petition against second-trimester abortions offered by Enloe Medical Center.
The Orion Crew Survival System suits that Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency) will wear on the Artemis II test flight are seen in the suit-up room of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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A new counting method reveals millions more visitors to the iconic route than previously recorded.
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![West Milford recognizes St. Joseph for ‘trust in God’ #Catholic - On March 18, St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., held a Vigil Mass, celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, to mark the feast day of its patron, St. Joseph. Although the universal Church celebrates St. Joseph’s feast day on March 19, the parish observed it the evening before. During the Mass, the bishop censed a statue of St. Joseph.
Father Jakub Grzybowski, pastor of St. Joseph’s, concelebrated the liturgy with several priests with Bishop Sweeney. Serving as master of ceremonies was Father Jared Brogan, who directs the Worship Office for the Paterson Diocese. Deacon Stephen McKenzie of St. Joseph’s assisted with the Mass, and the Knights of Columbus participated as well.
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St. Joseph Parish honored its patron on social media, describing him as “a model of quiet strength, faithful service, and trust in God” on his feast day, March 19. As the guardian of the Holy Family, St. Joseph, they wrote, “reminds us that holiness is often found in humble, everyday acts of love and responsibility. Through his intercession, they asked that their parish family grow in faith, courage, and devotion to Christ: St. Joseph, pray for us.”
St. Joseph’s is the oldest Catholic community in the diocese and in New Jersey.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/west-milford-recognizes-st-joseph-for-trust-in-god-catholic-on-march-18-st-joseph-parish-in-west-milford-n-j-held-a-vigil-mass-celebrated-by-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-to-mar.jpg)
West Milford recognizes St. Joseph for ‘trust in God’ #Catholic – 
On March 18, St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., held a Vigil Mass, celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, to mark the feast day of its patron, St. Joseph. Although the universal Church celebrates St. Joseph’s feast day on March 19, the parish observed it the evening before. During the Mass, the bishop censed a statue of St. Joseph.
Father Jakub Grzybowski, pastor of St. Joseph’s, concelebrated the liturgy with several priests with Bishop Sweeney. Serving as master of ceremonies was Father Jared Brogan, who directs the Worship Office for the Paterson Diocese. Deacon Stephen McKenzie of St. Joseph’s assisted with the Mass, and the Knights of Columbus participated as well.
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St. Joseph Parish honored its patron on social media, describing him as “a model of quiet strength, faithful service, and trust in God” on his feast day, March 19. As the guardian of the Holy Family, St. Joseph, they wrote, “reminds us that holiness is often found in humble, everyday acts of love and responsibility. Through his intercession, they asked that their parish family grow in faith, courage, and devotion to Christ: St. Joseph, pray for us.”
St. Joseph’s is the oldest Catholic community in the diocese and in New Jersey.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– On March 18, St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., held a Vigil Mass, celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, to mark the feast day of its patron, St. Joseph. Although the universal Church celebrates St. Joseph’s feast day on March 19, the parish observed it the evening before. During the Mass, the bishop censed a statue of St. Joseph. Father Jakub Grzybowski, pastor of St. Joseph’s, concelebrated the liturgy with several priests with Bishop Sweeney. Serving as master of ceremonies was Father Jared Brogan, who directs the Worship Office for the Paterson Diocese. Deacon Stephen McKenzie of St. Joseph’s
Do you remember when the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship?
The post The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Collapsed Two Years Ago – The Rebuild is Going a Little Slow (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Last week , when a college student in Chicago named Sheridan Gorman was murdered by an illegal immigrant, a Democrat Chicago Alderwoman named Maria Hadden blamed the victim, suggesting that Gorman was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or that she might have startled the shooter.
The post Chicago Democrat Closes Her Office After Backlash for Saying Student Murdered by Illegal Alien Was in ‘Wrong Place at Wrong Time’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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President Trump called in to The Five on FOX News today and talked about a number of topics.
The post HILARIOUS! Trump Dunks on Liberal Host Jessica Tarlov During Call-In to ‘The Five’ on FOX News (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreA reading from the Book of Jeremiah
20:10-13
I hear the whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!
From the Gospel according to John
10:31-42
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.
Jesus Christ reveals the Father with his own humanity. Precisely because he is the Word incarnate that dwells among men, Jesus reveals God to us with his own true and integral humanity: “To see Jesus is to see His Father (Jn 14:9). For this reason, Jesus perfected revelation, fulfilling it through his whole work of making Himself present and manifesting Himself through His words and deeds, His signs and wonders, but especially through His death and glorious resurrection from the dead and final sending of the Spirit of truth” (DV, 4). In order to know God in Christ, we must welcome his integral humanity: God’s truth is not fully revealed where it takes something away from the human, just as the integrity of Jesus’ humanity does not diminish the fullness of the divine gift. It is the integral humanity of Jesus that tells us the truth of the Father (cf. Jn 1:18). It is not only the death and resurrection of Jesus that saves us and calls us together, but his very person: the Lord who becomes incarnate, is born, heals, teaches, suffers, dies, rises again and remains among us. Therefore, to honour the greatness of the Incarnation, it is not enough to consider Jesus as the channel of transmission of intellectual truths. If Jesus has a real body, the communication of the truth of God is realized in that body, with its own way of perceiving and feeling reality, with its own way of inhabiting and passing through the world. (Leo XIV – General Audience, 21 January 2026)
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The Supreme Court of Finland has acquitted Päivi Räsänen over her 2019 Bible verse tweet and found her guilty of hate speech over a pamphlet she wrote more than 20 years ago.
EWTN will commemorate its foundress with a Vatican Mass and daylong programming celebrating her life of faith and media innovation.
CLEVELAND, OH — The Bible finally received a much-needed modern update called the Morally Gray Edition, which removes all outdated black-and-white morality that was found in prior editions.
Read More
WORLD — The world’s leading theologians weighed in on the nature of Heaven this week, confirming what many have long believed: Heaven’s streets of gold will have no cyclists.
Read More| Picture of the day |
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An equirectangular 360×180 degree view of the choir of the nave of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. Today is Saint Patrick’s Day.
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International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry emphasized that “the policy we have announced is based on science.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-header-emerald-cove-arizona-02-EMERALDCOVE1025-6e27237d620b47f089d4a164dc593ac5.jpg)
![Religious sisters lose lawsuit against Smith & Wesson alleging ‘facilitation’ of mass shootings #Catholic Several congregations of religious sisters have lost their lawsuit against the iconic American gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson, which claimed the company has “facilitated” mass shootings in the United States. A version of the lawsuit was first filed in December 2023 in Nevada district court by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, the Sisters of Bon Secours USA, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province.The filing alleged that Smith & Wesson is “intent on marketing and selling AR-15 rifles in whatever manner results in the most sales.” The suit claimed the company was pursuing such marketing even if it “is illegal and attracts a dangerous category of buyers [and] facilitates an unrelenting and growing stream of killings.”The sisters had filed the suit as shareholders in the company, claiming that Smith & Wesson’s marketing “causes the company to face an ever-increasing and substantial likelihood of liability that threatens its long-term existence.” The filing specifically targeted the company’s board of directors on behalf of the company and its shareholders in what is known as a “derivative lawsuit.”The sisters in the original lawsuit failed to meet a required $500,000 security bond deadline, leading to the suit’s dismissal. They subsequently refiled in federal court in February 2025. In a March 23 order dismissing the suit, U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro said the nuns failed to establish standing to bring the action against the board members.The judge said the nuns could amend the lawsuit if they wished, though the court reimposed the $500,000 security bond, ordering that the sisters must post the amount if they wished to continue the suit.Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852. It operates out of Tennessee and Nevada.The company makes and sells a wide array of firearms, including ArmaLite-type rifles, commonly referred to as “AR-15s,” which it has been selling since 2006.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/religious-sisters-lose-lawsuit-against-smith-wesson-alleging-facilitation-of-mass-shootings-catholic-several-congregations-of-religious-sisters-have-lost-their-lawsuit-against-the-scaled.jpg "Religious sisters lose lawsuit against Smith & Wesson alleging ‘facilitation’ of mass shootings #Catholic Several congregations of religious sisters have lost their lawsuit against the iconic American gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson, which claimed the company has “facilitated” mass shootings in the United States. A version of the lawsuit was first filed in December 2023 in Nevada district court by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, the Sisters of Bon Secours USA, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province.The filing alleged that Smith & Wesson is “intent on marketing and selling AR-15 rifles in whatever manner results in the most sales.” The suit claimed the company was pursuing such marketing even if it “is illegal and attracts a dangerous category of buyers [and] facilitates an unrelenting and growing stream of killings.”The sisters had filed the suit as shareholders in the company, claiming that Smith & Wesson’s marketing “causes the company to face an ever-increasing and substantial likelihood of liability that threatens its long-term existence.” The filing specifically targeted the company’s board of directors on behalf of the company and its shareholders in what is known as a “derivative lawsuit.”The sisters in the original lawsuit failed to meet a required $500,000 security bond deadline, leading to the suit’s dismissal. They subsequently refiled in federal court in February 2025. In a March 23 order dismissing the suit, U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro said the nuns failed to establish standing to bring the action against the board members.The judge said the nuns could amend the lawsuit if they wished, though the court reimposed the $500,000 security bond, ordering that the sisters must post the amount if they wished to continue the suit.Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852. It operates out of Tennessee and Nevada.The company makes and sells a wide array of firearms, including ArmaLite-type rifles, commonly referred to as “AR-15s,” which it has been selling since 2006.")
Multiple congregations of sisters alleged that the gun manufacturer was partly complicit in “an unrelenting and growing stream of killings.”
François Pauly will succeed Jean-Baptiste de Franssu at helm of Institute for the Works of Religion.
Russian drone strikes damage historic church, monastery in Lviv ahead of Holy Week #Catholic – 
LVIV, Ukraine (OSV News) — A historic Bernardine monastery complex and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in the western Ukraine city of Lviv were hit by aerial drone strikes March 24, just ahead of the observance of Holy Week.
They are the newest sacred space casualties of Russian attacks and part of what is described by officials as the largest attack in a single 24-hour period since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Local authorities confirmed that historic apartment buildings near the 16th-century Bernardine monastery — part of the city’s historic center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — were struck and caught fire and the tower of the monastery also experienced damage.
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene also was damaged during the aerial strike, with windows broken and glass shattered around the church floor March 24, as shown in a video shared by Vatican News.
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“Thank God … it happened in the afternoon,” Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki of Lviv told Vatican News. “People were still at work, children had not yet returned from school, and there were no fatalities. There are only injured people,” he emphasized.
As Russia fired almost 400 long-range drones on the war-torn country overnight, six people were killed and 46 injured, The Associated Press reported, citing Ukrainian officials.
Elsewhere, in the neighboring Ivano-Frankivsk region, a maternity hospital was hit.
In a March 25 statement, UNESCO said it was “deeply alarmed” by the strikes, noting that “cultural property is protected under the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.”
The agency added it “stands ready to support the authorities with assessments, protection measures and emergency assistance.”
In a March 24 Facebook post, Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv — located just over a mile from the site of the attack — recapped the impact of the strikes across the nation, adding, “We express our condolences to all the victims. Eternal memory to the innocently killed.”
“The attack by ‘shaheeds’ in Lviv shows that the enemy chooses densely located residential buildings,” the university said in the post, referring to Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
According to the BBC, in his video address on March 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the scale of the latest attacks “clearly shows that Russia has no intention of really ending this war.”
Russia’s military has not publicly commented on the attacks.
Archbishop Mokrzycki said that the war, now in its fifth year, is taking a heavy toll among Ukrainians, used to aerial alarms and mourning large numbers of killed soldiers daily in cities across Ukraine.
“This war is also ongoing on another front,” Archbishop Mokrzycki told the Polish section of Vatican News. He pointed out the experience of war affects residents not only during moments of attacks, but also in everyday life, marked by loss and uncertainty.
– LVIV, Ukraine (OSV News) — A historic Bernardine monastery complex and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in the western Ukraine city of Lviv were hit by aerial drone strikes March 24, just ahead of the observance of Holy Week. They are the newest sacred space casualties of Russian attacks and part of what is described by officials as the largest attack in a single 24-hour period since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Local authorities confirmed that historic apartment buildings near the 16th-century Bernardine monastery — part of the city’s historic center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage seeks to be a sacred journey for US at 250 years #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — The upcoming National Eucharistic Pilgrimage — which takes place as the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026 — marks a moment for “a country still in conversion,” and “a country still on pilgrimage,” said Jason Shanks, president of the National Eucharistic Congress organization.
Shanks joined pilgrimage organizers, along with several of its nine perpetual pilgrims, for an online March 25 press conference announcing further details of the event, which takes place May 24 through July 5.
With a theme of “One Nation Under God,” the route will run from Florida to Maine, spanning more than 2,200 miles in most of the nation’s 13 original colonies. Over the course of 43 days, pilgrims will travel through 18 dioceses and archdioceses, as well as two Eastern Catholic eparchies.
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Nine perpetual pilgrims will accompany the Blessed Sacrament, with public events — including Masses, Holy Hours, sacred music concerts, talks and charitable outreach — taking place along the way.
Pilgrimage organizers are inviting the faithful to participate in a spiritual bouquet of 250,000 Holy Hours, with a signup form available on the pilgrimage website, eucharisticpilgrimage.org/one-nation-under-god.
The spiritual bouquet will be presented in the nation’s capital as a sign of “prayers for peace in our world, for unity and peace in our country, and for God’s hand to continue to guide all of those in the United States,” said Shanks.
The 2026 pilgrimage, which continues the 2024 and 2025 journeys undertaken as part of the National Eucharistic Revival, has been placed under the patronage of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the woman religious and Italian immigrant who became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized after a lifetime of work ministering to immigrants.
Along with Mother Cabrini, other holy men and women who will be commemorated throughout the pilgrimage are St. Katharine Drexel, the Philadelphia banking heiress who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and served Black American and American Indian communities; St. John Neumann, the Bavarian-born Redemptorist who as bishop of Philadelphia established the nation’s parochial school system, as well as the Forty Hours devotion; and the soon-to-be-beatified Georgia Martyrs, six Spanish Franciscans who were slain while missioning to the Indigenous Guale people in the late 16th century.
The stops along the Cabrini Route will highlight sites significant to Catholicism’s contributions to U.S. history, said Shanks.
“Before there was a Constitution, there was a consecration,” he said, pointing to Masses celebrated on the territory of what would later become the U.S.
Historians have cited a number of such liturgies, including Masses reported to have taken place in 1541 in the future states of Kansas and Texas, and the Sept. 8, 1565, liturgy celebrated by Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales at the site of present-day St. Augustine, Florida.
In 1664, the London-born Jesuit Father Andrew White celebrated Mass in the Maryland colony.
“We’re excited to unite our country in memory of its history and to sort of explore the Catholic contribution to this American experiment,” Shanks said.
Among the pilgrimage events honoring the nation’s development will be a Eucharistic procession through historical Williamsburg, Virginia; a blessing from Arlington Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, with a procession past national landmarks in the capital; Eucharistic adoration in Pilgrim Memorial State Park in Plymouth, Massachusetts; and a crossing of the Delaware River into New Jersey — a nod to George Washington, who led 2,500 Continental Army troops across the body of water on Christmas night in 1776, surprising enemy Hessian troops, mercenaries of the British empire, and securing major U.S. victories in the Revolutionary War.
The pilgrimage concludes with Mass and a Eucharistic procession over the July 4 holiday weekend in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and which served as the nation’s capital from 1790 to 1800, when the new city of Washington became the nation’s seat of government.
Pilgrim Zachary Dotson said at the press conference that “the real beauty” of the theme “One Nation Under God” lies in “the great humility that it takes to truly believe that and follow that.”
“There’s nothing more healing than God’s divine mercy and love, which is open and available to all people,” he said.
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.
– (OSV News) — The upcoming National Eucharistic Pilgrimage — which takes place as the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026 — marks a moment for “a country still in conversion,” and “a country still on pilgrimage,” said Jason Shanks, president of the National Eucharistic Congress organization. Shanks joined pilgrimage organizers, along with several of its nine perpetual pilgrims, for an online March 25 press conference announcing further details of the event, which takes place May 24 through July 5. With a theme of “One Nation Under God,” the route will run from Florida to Maine, spanning more than 2,200
![Life must be defended in a world wounded by warfare, pope says #Catholic - VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The sanctity of life, from conception to its natural end, must be defended, especially now, in a world marked by “the madness of war,” Pope Leo XIV said.
When greeting Polish-speaking visitors during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 25, Pope Leo highlighted Poland’s pro-life celebration during his greetings, saying initiatives such as their “Spiritual Adoption of a Conceived Child” were truly needed.
“In a time marked by the madness of war, it is important to defend life from conception to its natural end,” he said.
Poland celebrates the Day of the Sanctity of Life every March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, which falls nine months before the Lord’s birth Christmas Day and celebrates Jesus’ incarnation in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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Similar prayer initiatives exist around the world, including in the United States. The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who is set to be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis, also inspired a spiritual adoption program, in which participants pledge to pray daily for nine months for an unborn child whose mother is considering abortion.
Sometimes “spiritual parents” are encouraged to name the unborn child and to pray for him or her daily, and, at the end of nine months, hold a baby shower to collect supplies and money to donate to local pregnancy centers.
Marking the feast of the Annunciation, Pope Leo invited Catholics to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary more closely and to “always be ready to do God’s will.”
“As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to imitate Our Blessed Mother in her total ‘yes’ to the Lord, and so open our hearts to his will for our lives,” he told English-speaking pilgrims and visitors.
In his main catechesis, the pope continued his series of reflections on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, specifically, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, “Lumen Gentium.”
Pope Leo explained that the hierarchical structure of the Church is not a “human construct” for fulfilling some kind of organizational function, but is “a divine institution whose purpose is to perpetuate the mission given by Christ to the apostles until the end of time.”
The Catholic Church, he said, is “founded on the apostles, whom Christ appointed as the living pillars of his mystical body, and possesses a hierarchical structure that works in the service of the unity, mission and sanctification of all her members.”
Since the apostles are called to faithfully preserve Christ’s “salvific teaching, they hand on their ministry to men who, until Christ’s return, continue to sanctify, guide and instruct the Church ‘through their successors in pastoral office,'” he said.
While all the faithful make up “the one priesthood of Christ,” he said, those ordained ministers who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, that is, bishops, priests and deacons, do have a unique ministry.
Endowed with “sacred power” for service in the Church, the bishops, “first and foremost, and through them the priests and deacons, have received tasks (‘munera’ in Latin), which lead them to the service of ‘all those who belong to the People of God,’so that, ‘working toward a common goal freely and in an orderly way, [they] may arrive at salvation,'” the pope said, citing the council document.
This apostolic mission is “collegial and communal,” reflecting the Lord’s desire for “shepherds of His people” who serve with love, he said. That is why St. Paul VI presented the hierarchy as being “born of the charity of Christ, to fulfil, spread and ensure the intact and fruitful transmission of the wealth of faith, examples, precepts and charisms bequeathed by Christ to His Church.”
“Dear sisters and dear brothers, let us pray to the Lord that He may send to His Church ministers who are ardent with evangelical charity, dedicated to the good of all the baptized, and courageous missionaries in every part of the world,” Pope Leo said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/life-must-be-defended-in-a-world-wounded-by-warfare-pope-says-catholic-vatican-city-cns-the-sanctity-of-life-from-conception-to-its-natural-end-must-be-defended-especially-now-in-a-w.jpg)
Life must be defended in a world wounded by warfare, pope says #Catholic – 
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The sanctity of life, from conception to its natural end, must be defended, especially now, in a world marked by “the madness of war,” Pope Leo XIV said.
When greeting Polish-speaking visitors during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 25, Pope Leo highlighted Poland’s pro-life celebration during his greetings, saying initiatives such as their “Spiritual Adoption of a Conceived Child” were truly needed.
“In a time marked by the madness of war, it is important to defend life from conception to its natural end,” he said.
Poland celebrates the Day of the Sanctity of Life every March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, which falls nine months before the Lord’s birth Christmas Day and celebrates Jesus’ incarnation in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Similar prayer initiatives exist around the world, including in the United States. The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who is set to be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis, also inspired a spiritual adoption program, in which participants pledge to pray daily for nine months for an unborn child whose mother is considering abortion.
Sometimes “spiritual parents” are encouraged to name the unborn child and to pray for him or her daily, and, at the end of nine months, hold a baby shower to collect supplies and money to donate to local pregnancy centers.
Marking the feast of the Annunciation, Pope Leo invited Catholics to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary more closely and to “always be ready to do God’s will.”
“As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to imitate Our Blessed Mother in her total ‘yes’ to the Lord, and so open our hearts to his will for our lives,” he told English-speaking pilgrims and visitors.
In his main catechesis, the pope continued his series of reflections on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, specifically, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, “Lumen Gentium.”
Pope Leo explained that the hierarchical structure of the Church is not a “human construct” for fulfilling some kind of organizational function, but is “a divine institution whose purpose is to perpetuate the mission given by Christ to the apostles until the end of time.”
The Catholic Church, he said, is “founded on the apostles, whom Christ appointed as the living pillars of his mystical body, and possesses a hierarchical structure that works in the service of the unity, mission and sanctification of all her members.”
Since the apostles are called to faithfully preserve Christ’s “salvific teaching, they hand on their ministry to men who, until Christ’s return, continue to sanctify, guide and instruct the Church ‘through their successors in pastoral office,’” he said.
While all the faithful make up “the one priesthood of Christ,” he said, those ordained ministers who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, that is, bishops, priests and deacons, do have a unique ministry.
Endowed with “sacred power” for service in the Church, the bishops, “first and foremost, and through them the priests and deacons, have received tasks (‘munera’ in Latin), which lead them to the service of ‘all those who belong to the People of God,’so that, ‘working toward a common goal freely and in an orderly way, [they] may arrive at salvation,’” the pope said, citing the council document.
This apostolic mission is “collegial and communal,” reflecting the Lord’s desire for “shepherds of His people” who serve with love, he said. That is why St. Paul VI presented the hierarchy as being “born of the charity of Christ, to fulfil, spread and ensure the intact and fruitful transmission of the wealth of faith, examples, precepts and charisms bequeathed by Christ to His Church.”
“Dear sisters and dear brothers, let us pray to the Lord that He may send to His Church ministers who are ardent with evangelical charity, dedicated to the good of all the baptized, and courageous missionaries in every part of the world,” Pope Leo said.
– VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The sanctity of life, from conception to its natural end, must be defended, especially now, in a world marked by “the madness of war,” Pope Leo XIV said. When greeting Polish-speaking visitors during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 25, Pope Leo highlighted Poland’s pro-life celebration during his greetings, saying initiatives such as their “Spiritual Adoption of a Conceived Child” were truly needed. “In a time marked by the madness of war, it is important to defend life from conception to its natural end,” he said. Poland celebrates the Day of the Sanctity of
Astronomers typically describe the cosmos with numbers that are, well, astronomical. They measure distances within our galaxy in light-years, where 1 light-year equals 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion kilometers), while other galaxies lie millions or even billions of light-years away. And stars typically live billions of years within a universe some 13.7 billion years old.Continue reading “JWST reveals how dust becomes planets”
The post JWST reveals how dust becomes planets appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Captured Nov. 29, 2024 by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, this infrared view of Saturn shows its glowing icy rings and layered atmosphere. Several moons are visible, including Janus, Dione, and Enceladus.
Read More
Starmer seems to believe that if a policy hurts Reform UK, it’s a good one.
The post British Labour Government Temporarily Blocks Crypto Donations for Political Parties in Blow to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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The Iranian regime has just unleashed a deranged AI-generated propaganda video showing a nuclear missile slamming into the Statue of Liberty, whose head has been replaced by the horned idol of Baal.
The post ‘ONE VENGEANCE FOR ALL’: Iran Releases Provocative AI Propaganda Showing a Nuclear Bomb Destroying the Statue of Liberty with the Head of Baal — References Epstein Island and Far-Left Talking Points appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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A tentacled object seen in a viral photo from the International Space Station alarmed some viewers over the last few days.
The post NASA Astronaut Responds to Online Panic Over “Tentacled” Object on ISS appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreA reading from the Book of Genesis
17:3-9
When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him:
“My covenant with you is this:
you are to become the father of a host of nations.
No longer shall you be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a host of nations.
I will render you exceedingly fertile;
I will make nations of you;
kings shall stem from you.
I will maintain my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,
to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
I will give to you
and to your descendants after you
the land in which you are now staying,
the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;
and I will be their God.”
God also said to Abraham:
“On your part, you and your descendants after you
must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”
From the Gospel according to John
8:51-59
Jesus said to the Jews:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death.”
So the Jews said to him,
“Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?
Who do you make yourself out to be?”
Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
You do not know him, but I know him.
And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad.”
So the Jews said to him,
“You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM.”
So they picked up stones to throw at him;
but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
The Gospel (…) proposes for our meditation the last part of chapter eight of John, which contains as we heard a long discussion on the identity of Jesus. A little earlier he had presented himself as "the light of the world" (v. 12), using at least three times (vv. 24, 28, 58) the expression "I AM", that forcefully recalls God’s name as it was revealed to Moses (cf. Ex 3: 14). And he added: "If any one keeps my word, he will never see death" (Jn 8: 51), thus declaring that he had been sent by God, who is his Father, to bring men and women the radical freedom from sin and death that is indispensable for entering eternal life. However, his words wounded the pride of those with whom he was conversing and even the reference to the great Patriarch Abraham became a source of conflict. "Truly, truly, I say to you", the Lord said, "before Abraham was, I Am" (Jn 8: 58). Without mincing his words, he declared his pre-existence, hence his superiority as regards Abraham, provoking understandably a shocked reaction in the Jews. But Jesus cannot be silent about his identity; he knows that in the end the Father himself will account for him, glorifying him through his death and Resurrection because, precisely when he is raised on the Cross, he will be revealed as the Only-Begotten Son of God (cf. Jn 8: 28; Mk 15: 39). (Benedict XVI – Homily in the Holy Mass on the fourth anniversary of the death of John Paul II, 2 April 2009)
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