We at The Babylon Bee would like to let Governor Tim Walz know that we are now a fully functioning daycare in Minnesota serving literally millions of children.
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As we close out 2025, the time has come to announce the greatest of all awards, that prize far more coveted than a mere Nobel Prize or Oscar. After hours of intense debate, countless votes, and the sacking of two employees, we are now ready to reveal The Babylon Bee’s Persons of the Year:
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Snowy landscape around the Schmidbachtal in Beilstein, Germany, with a distinctive old pear tree.
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I came to You late, O Beauty so ancient and new. I came to love You late. You were within me and I was outside where I rushed about wildly searching for You like some monster loose in Your beautiful world. You were with me but I was not with You. You called me, You shouted to me, You wrapped me in Your Splendour, You broke past my deafness, You bathed me in Your Light, You sent my blindness reeling. You gave out such a delightful fragrance and I drew it in and came breathing hard after You. I …
Read MoreA reading from the First Letter of John
2:3-11
Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.
Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
From the Gospel according to Luke
2:22-35
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
"Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Simeon, moved by the Spirit, sees and recognizes Christ. And he prays, saying: “My eyes have seen your salvation” (v. 30). This is the great miracle of faith: it opens eyes, transforms gazes, changes perspectives. As we know from Jesus’ many encounters in the Gospel, faith is born of the compassionate gaze with which God looks upon us, softening the hardness of our hearts, healing our wounds and giving us new eyes to look at ourselves and at our world. New ways to see ourselves, others and all the situations that we experience, even those that are most painful. This gaze is not naïve but sapiential. A naïve gaze flees reality and refuses to see problems. A sapiential gaze, however, can “look within” and “see beyond”. It is a gaze that does not stop at appearances, but can enter into the very cracks of our weaknesses and failures, in order to discern God’s presence even there. (Pope Francis, Homily, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 2 February 2022)
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Pompton Lakes Knights’ fund drive benefits people with disabilities #Catholic – 
Pictured is Dave Coppola, (center) of the Knights of Columbus Marian Council 3801 in Pompton Lakes, N.J., presenting a donation to Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, and Joanna Miller, executive director of the Department for Persons with Disabilities, part of Catholic Charities, during Catholic Charities’ recent annual Christmas party at the Brownstone in Paterson, N.J. The donation was made possible through the knights’ annual disabilities drive.
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– Pictured is Dave Coppola, (center) of the Knights of Columbus Marian Council 3801 in Pompton Lakes, N.J., presenting a donation to Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey, and Joanna Miller, executive director of the Department for Persons with Disabilities, part of Catholic Charities, during Catholic Charities’ recent annual Christmas party at the Brownstone in Paterson, N.J. The donation was made possible through the knights’ annual disabilities drive. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Teens rise early to shine with God at Mendham parish #Catholic – 
On a recent Monday morning, D.J. Cerchio fought the urge to hit the snooze button so he could get up to attend 6:30 a.m. Mass before school. Cerchio, a sophomore at Mendham High School in New Jersey, is one of dozens of teenagers who gather monthly at St. Joseph Church in Mendham for the parish youth ministry’s 6:30 a.m. Mass followed by a communal breakfast of hot, fresh bagels.
It may seem counterintuitive to parents who’ve had to wake up a teenager for school, but the difficulty of getting up is a key part of the program’s success since its founding in 2013.
“I come to Mass and Bagels because it’s a challenge and the perfect start to my week. It isn’t easy to wake up early on a Monday and go to Mass, but it’s very rewarding,” Cerchio said.
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Mendham High School junior Max Krolikiewicz agrees: “I get up early so that I can start my day off with a clear head and the knowledge that I have God to guide me through the week.”
Mark Tosso, St. Joseph’s youth minister, said, “Our teens thirst for a Catholic faith that is demanding. They love the austere silence and calm of daily Mass, and the community and friendship that grows at breakfast afterwards.”
Mendham High School junior Ava Moynihan said, “I love starting my week off by spending time with the Lord as well as the amazing people who attend. I ultimately feel more at peace and less stressed for my busy week ahead when I make the sacrifice of waking up a little earlier.”
St. Joseph’s pastor, Msgr. Joseph Anginoli presides at the Masses in the parish’s historic chapel and is proud of how these teens are building habits of prayer and devotion. He said, “the faith commitment of our young people is extraordinary.” Msgr. Anginoli commended the teens for their witness and encouraged them in their determination to “live out your faith in a vibrant way at home, in school, and wherever you find yourself.”
Making the connection between our small sacrifices and Jesus’s sacrifice for us is a key element of Mass and Bagels.
“When we sacrifice comfort out of love for the Lord, we open our hearts to so much grace. And we need that grace to make it through the day ahead,” Tosso said.
Randolph High School senior Gavin Vetter said showing up “feels like starting the morning with a win, and the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the Mass helps me center myself. When you start the week with a sacrifice out of love for God, it’s not hard to see his light in the world and his love around you after.”
– On a recent Monday morning, D.J. Cerchio fought the urge to hit the snooze button so he could get up to attend 6:30 a.m. Mass before school. Cerchio, a sophomore at Mendham High School in New Jersey, is one of dozens of teenagers who gather monthly at St. Joseph Church in Mendham for the parish youth ministry’s 6:30 a.m. Mass followed by a communal breakfast of hot, fresh bagels. It may seem counterintuitive to parents who’ve had to wake up a teenager for school, but the difficulty of getting up is a key part of the program’s success since its
Teens raise early to shine God at Mendham parish #Catholic –
On a recent Monday morning, D.J. Cerchio fought the urge to hit the snooze button so he could get up to attend 6:30 a.m. Mass before school. Cerchio, a sophomore at Mendham High School in New Jersey, is one of dozens of teenagers who gather monthly at St. Joseph Church in Mendham for the parish youth ministry’s 6:30 a.m. Mass followed by a communal breakfast of hot, fresh bagels.
It may seem counterintuitive to parents who’ve had to wake up a teenager for school, but the difficulty of getting up is a key part of the program’s success since its founding in 2013.
“I come to Mass and Bagels because it’s a challenge and the perfect start to my week. It isn’t easy to wake up early on a Monday and go to Mass, but it’s very rewarding,” Cerchio said.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Mendham High School junior Max Krolikiewicz agrees: “I get up early so that I can start my day off with a clear head and the knowledge that I have God to guide me through the week.”
Mark Tosso, St. Joseph’s youth minister, said, “Our teens thirst for a Catholic faith that is demanding. They love the austere silence and calm of daily Mass, and the community and friendship that grows at breakfast afterwards.”
Mendham High School junior Ava Moynihan said, “I love starting my week off by spending time with the Lord as well as the amazing people who attend. I ultimately feel more at peace and less stressed for my busy week ahead when I make the sacrifice of waking up a little earlier.”
St. Joseph’s pastor, Msgr. Joseph Anginoli presides at the Masses in the parish’s historic chapel and is proud of how these teens are building habits of prayer and devotion. He said, “the faith commitment of our young people is extraordinary.” Msgr. Anginoli commended the teens for their witness and encouraged them in their determination to “live out your faith in a vibrant way at home, in school, and wherever you find yourself.”
Making the connection between our small sacrifices and Jesus’s sacrifice for us is a key element of Mass and Bagels.
“When we sacrifice comfort out of love for the Lord, we open our hearts to so much grace. And we need that grace to make it through the day ahead,” Tosso said.
Randolph High School senior Gavin Vetter said showing up “feels like starting the morning with a win, and the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the Mass helps me center myself. When you start the week with a sacrifice out of love for God, it’s not hard to see his light in the world and his love around you after.”
– On a recent Monday morning, D.J. Cerchio fought the urge to hit the snooze button so he could get up to attend 6:30 a.m. Mass before school. Cerchio, a sophomore at Mendham High School in New Jersey, is one of dozens of teenagers who gather monthly at St. Joseph Church in Mendham for the parish youth ministry’s 6:30 a.m. Mass followed by a communal breakfast of hot, fresh bagels. It may seem counterintuitive to parents who’ve had to wake up a teenager for school, but the difficulty of getting up is a key part of the program’s success since its
DePaul principal knighted into Equestrian Order at St. Patrick’s Cathedral #Catholic – 
On Oct. 11, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, knighted Russell D. Petrocelli, principal of DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., along with other new knights into the Eastern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem during an investiture Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
The Eastern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is an association of Roman Catholic Christian faithful entrusted with an important mission from the Holy Father — to serve as witnesses to the Christian faith and supporters and protectors of the Church and the living Christian communities in the Holy Land.
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The Order’s mandate dates back to the crusader knights, who were responsible for protecting Christian pilgrims traveling to the sacred sites. Today, the Order’s members continue to aid the Church in the Holy Land and to strengthen the practice of Christian life amongst its members.
Petrocelli is also principal of the DePaul Catholic 8th Grade Prep, immediate past president of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), and a member of the NJSIAA Executive Committee, Non-Public North B.
– On Oct. 11, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, knighted Russell D. Petrocelli, principal of DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., along with other new knights into the Eastern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem during an investiture Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The Eastern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is an association of Roman Catholic Christian faithful entrusted with an important mission from the Holy Father — to serve as witnesses to the Christian faith and supporters and protectors of the Church
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Empty wheelchairs used during the Nov. 4, 2025, anti-assisted suicide event in Rome. / Credit: Courtesy of ProVita & Famiglia
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 28, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Despite opposition from advocacy groups and Catholic leaders, multiple states and countries advanced legislation in 2025 to expand access to physician-assisted suicide.
Delaware
Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed a bill in May legalizing physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live. The law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, allowing patients to self-administer lethal medication.
After the bill was signed, several disability and patient advocacy groups filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Delaware on Dec. 8 alleging that the law discriminates against people with disabilities.
Illinois
The House passed a bill in May to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Illinois, and it stalled in the Senate during the regular session. After it was taken up during the fall veto session, senators passed it on Oct. 31.
The bill, which allows doctors to give terminally ill patients life-ending drugs if they request them, was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on Dec. 12. The law “ignores the very real failures in access to quality care that drive vulnerable people to despair,” according to the Catholic Conference of Illinois.
Illinois joined states that permit the practice including California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia.
New York
The New York State Assembly advanced an assisted suicide measure in May, which Cardinal Timothy Dolan called “a disaster waiting to happen.” Despite calls from Catholic bishops, the New York Legislature passed the “Medical Aid in Dying Act” in June.
The legislation is expected to be signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Colorado
Assisted suicide has been legal in Colorado since 2016. In June 2025, a coalition of advocacy groups sued the state over its assisted suicide law, claiming the statute is unconstitutional for allegedly discriminating against those who suffer from disabilities.
The suit was filed on June 30 in U.S. district court by organizations including Not Dead Yet and the Institute for Patients’ Rights. It calls Colorado’s assisted suicide regime “a deadly and discriminatory system that steers people with life-threatening disabilities away from necessary lifesaving and preserving mental health care.”
France
The National Assembly approved a bill in May that would allow certain terminally ill adults to receive lethal medication. The bill passed with 305 votes in favor and 199 against.
In a statement released after the vote, the French Bishops’ Conference expressed its “deep concern” over the so-called “right to assistance in dying.”
United Kingdom
British lawmakers in the House of Commons passed a bill in June to legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients in England and Wales.
In order to become law, the bill must pass the second chamber of Parliament, the unelected House of Lords. The Lords can amend legislation, but because the bill has the support of the Commons, it is likely to pass.
Uruguay
Legislators in Uruguay passed a bill in August to legalize euthanasia in the country. In October, Uruguay’s Parliament approved the “Dignified Death Bill,” making the bill law and allowing adults in the terminal stage of a disease to request euthanasia.
Canada
A Cardus Health report released in September found the legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada led to disproportionately high rates of premature deaths among vulnerable groups.
MAID passed in 2012 with safeguards and provisions that the report said Canada has not upheld. It said: “Those who died from MAID were more likely to have been living with a disability than those who did not die from MAID, even though both groups had similar medical conditions and experienced diminished capability.”
People suffering from mental illness are also dying by assisted suicide at disproportionate rates, the report said.
Read MoreLooking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. December 27: Io and its shadow cross Jupiter Already high in the east a few hours after sunset, the large, circular figure of Auriga lies above Gemini the Twins, the latter of which currently hosts bright Jupiter. Auriga’s brightest star is magnitudeContinue reading “The Sky Today on Sunday, December 28: The stars are smiling”
The post The Sky Today on Sunday, December 28: The stars are smiling appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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