Day: February 17, 2026

Prayer for Government Leader: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, February 18, 2026 – #Prayer – God of power and might, wisdom and justice, through you authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed. Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude the President and other government leaders of these United States. May they always seek the ways of righteousness, justice and mercy. Grant that they may be enabled by your powerful protection to lead our country with honesty and integrity. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

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God of power and might, wisdom and justice,
through you authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed.
Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude
the President and other government leaders of these United States.
May they always seek
the ways of righteousness, justice and mercy.
Grant that they may be enabled by your powerful protection
to lead our country with honesty and integrity.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 18 February 2026 – A reading from the Book of Joel 2:12-18 Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’" Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.   A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2 Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.From the Gospel according to Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."“When you pray”, says Jesus, “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt 6:6). First of all, the Lord calls us to enter this hidden place of the heart, patiently delving into it; he invites us to make an inner immersion that demands a journey of emptying and divesting ourselves. Once we have entered, he asks us to close the door to bad thoughts in order to safeguard a pure, humble and meek heart, through vigilance and spiritual combat. Only then can we abandon ourselves with confidence to intimate dialogue with the Father, who dwells and sees in secret, and in secret fills us with his gifts. This vocation to worship and inner prayer, proper to every believer, (…) is not an escape from the world, but a regeneration of the heart, so that it may be capable of listening, a source of the creative and fruitful action of the charity that God inspires in us. This call to interiority and silence, to live in contact with oneself, with one’s neighbour, with creation and with God, is needed today more than ever, in a world increasingly alienated by the media and technology. From intimate friendship with the Lord, in fact, the joy of living, the wonder of faith and the taste for ecclesial communion are reborn. (Address of Pope Leone XIV to Italian Heremits partecipating in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life, 11 October 2025)

unitedyam

A reading from the Book of Joel
2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’"

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.

 

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

“When you pray”, says Jesus, “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mt 6:6). First of all, the Lord calls us to enter this hidden place of the heart, patiently delving into it; he invites us to make an inner immersion that demands a journey of emptying and divesting ourselves. Once we have entered, he asks us to close the door to bad thoughts in order to safeguard a pure, humble and meek heart, through vigilance and spiritual combat. Only then can we abandon ourselves with confidence to intimate dialogue with the Father, who dwells and sees in secret, and in secret fills us with his gifts.

This vocation to worship and inner prayer, proper to every believer, (…) is not an escape from the world, but a regeneration of the heart, so that it may be capable of listening, a source of the creative and fruitful action of the charity that God inspires in us. This call to interiority and silence, to live in contact with oneself, with one’s neighbour, with creation and with God, is needed today more than ever, in a world increasingly alienated by the media and technology. From intimate friendship with the Lord, in fact, the joy of living, the wonder of faith and the taste for ecclesial communion are reborn. (Address of Pope Leone XIV to Italian Heremits partecipating in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life, 11 October 2025)

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Filipino bishops urge faithful to begin ‘digital media fasting’ – #Catholic – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has issued guidance for Catholics to go beyond fasting from food this Lent by committing to a fast from social media.“In our present time, fasting must also address the new realities shaping human life. One of the greatest influences today is digital media,” said the Feb. 13 pastoral message from Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera of Lipa, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. “Thus, we invite the faithful to undertake a digital media fasting as a contemporary expression of conversion and renewal.”The pastoral message delivered on behalf of the conference came before Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18, which will mark the start of Lent.The message noted fasting has historically meant abstinence from food, “an act of repentance and spiritual focus.” However, the bishops pointed out that engagement with social media, and other forms of online entertainment, serves as a significant source of distraction in today’s context that “weakens our interior life.”“True fasting, as Jesus teaches, is not an external performance but an interior conversion,” the bishops said. “Digital media fasting, therefore, invites a rediscovery of silence, prayer, contemplation, and authentic relationships. It is not meant to punish the body but to free the heart.”The bishops offered practical ways to carry out a social media fast this Lent, such as avoiding phone use before waking up and going to sleep, limiting screen time, observing 24-hour and weekend fasts, and replacing screen time with prayer, service, reading, or conversation.“Digital media fasting is not anti-technology,” the letter said. “Rather, it asks: How can Christ guide our use of media”The bishops stressed the need to approach Lent joyfully, and “not with gloomy faces,” noting the fruit of fasting from screen time is a closer relationship with God, greater mental clarity and focus, and renewed appreciation for creation at large.“In stepping back from digital excess, we reclaim interior silence, deepen relationships, and rediscover God’s presence in daily life,” the letter concluded. “Entrusting this pastoral invitation to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, we encourage all dioceses, parishes, families, and communities to promote media fasting during Lent and beyond.”
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Filipino bishops urge faithful to begin ‘digital media fasting’ – #Catholic – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has issued guidance for Catholics to go beyond fasting from food this Lent by committing to a fast from social media.“In our present time, fasting must also address the new realities shaping human life. One of the greatest influences today is digital media,” said the Feb. 13 pastoral message from Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera of Lipa, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. “Thus, we invite the faithful to undertake a digital media fasting as a contemporary expression of conversion and renewal.”The pastoral message delivered on behalf of the conference came before Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18, which will mark the start of Lent.The message noted fasting has historically meant abstinence from food, “an act of repentance and spiritual focus.” However, the bishops pointed out that engagement with social media, and other forms of online entertainment, serves as a significant source of distraction in today’s context that “weakens our interior life.”“True fasting, as Jesus teaches, is not an external performance but an interior conversion,” the bishops said. “Digital media fasting, therefore, invites a rediscovery of silence, prayer, contemplation, and authentic relationships. It is not meant to punish the body but to free the heart.”The bishops offered practical ways to carry out a social media fast this Lent, such as avoiding phone use before waking up and going to sleep, limiting screen time, observing 24-hour and weekend fasts, and replacing screen time with prayer, service, reading, or conversation.“Digital media fasting is not anti-technology,” the letter said. “Rather, it asks: How can Christ guide our use of media”The bishops stressed the need to approach Lent joyfully, and “not with gloomy faces,” noting the fruit of fasting from screen time is a closer relationship with God, greater mental clarity and focus, and renewed appreciation for creation at large.“In stepping back from digital excess, we reclaim interior silence, deepen relationships, and rediscover God’s presence in daily life,” the letter concluded. “Entrusting this pastoral invitation to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, we encourage all dioceses, parishes, families, and communities to promote media fasting during Lent and beyond.”

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“In stepping back from digital excess, we reclaim interior silence, deepen relationships, and rediscover God’s presence in daily life,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said.

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Cardinal Parolin: The Vatican ‘will not participate in Trump’s Board of Peace’ – #Catholic – Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, announced on Feb. 17 that the Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace,” an initiative promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump to address various conflicts around the world, such as the one in Gaza.The Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace due to its particular nature, which is clearly not that of other states,” the cardinal told reporters after a meeting in Rome with the Italian government at Palazzo Borromeo on the occasion of the anniversary of the Lateran Pacts, which in 1929 recognized the sovereignty of Vatican City State.When asked about Italy’s participation as an observer on the Board of Peace, Parolin stated: “There are some points that leave one somewhat perplexed. There are critical points that need to be explained.”“The important thing is that an attempt is being made to provide an answer. However, for us, there are some critical issues that need to be resolved,” the cardinal said, according to Vatican News, adding that “one concern is that, at the international level, it is primarily the U.N. [United Nations] that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have emphasized.”On Jan. 21, Parolin had told reporters that the Vatican was evaluating whether or not to participate in Trump’s Board of Peace, a question that has now been decided.Trump’s Peace Board seeks to address global conflicts, with a particular focus on the Gaza Strip, as an independent body separate from the United Nations. More than 25 countries have announced their participation, including Argentina, El Salvador, Paraguay, Belarus, Bulgaria, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Egypt, and Morocco.Parolin also spoke on Feb. 17 about the war in Ukraine, saying that “there is great pessimism,” since “neither side seems to have made any real progress toward peace, and it is tragic that after four years we are still at this point.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Cardinal Parolin: The Vatican ‘will not participate in Trump’s Board of Peace’ – #Catholic – Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, announced on Feb. 17 that the Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace,” an initiative promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump to address various conflicts around the world, such as the one in Gaza.The Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace due to its particular nature, which is clearly not that of other states,” the cardinal told reporters after a meeting in Rome with the Italian government at Palazzo Borromeo on the occasion of the anniversary of the Lateran Pacts, which in 1929 recognized the sovereignty of Vatican City State.When asked about Italy’s participation as an observer on the Board of Peace, Parolin stated: “There are some points that leave one somewhat perplexed. There are critical points that need to be explained.”“The important thing is that an attempt is being made to provide an answer. However, for us, there are some critical issues that need to be resolved,” the cardinal said, according to Vatican News, adding that “one concern is that, at the international level, it is primarily the U.N. [United Nations] that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have emphasized.”On Jan. 21, Parolin had told reporters that the Vatican was evaluating whether or not to participate in Trump’s Board of Peace, a question that has now been decided.Trump’s Peace Board seeks to address global conflicts, with a particular focus on the Gaza Strip, as an independent body separate from the United Nations. More than 25 countries have announced their participation, including Argentina, El Salvador, Paraguay, Belarus, Bulgaria, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Egypt, and Morocco.Parolin also spoke on Feb. 17 about the war in Ukraine, saying that “there is great pessimism,” since “neither side seems to have made any real progress toward peace, and it is tragic that after four years we are still at this point.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, announced that the Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace,” promoted by the U.S. president to address Gaza and other conflicts.

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Are you ready for Lent, for a Season of Grace, and the opportunity to be ‘Welcomed Home to Healing?’ #Catholic – “Lent is a time in which the Church, guided by a sense of maternal care, invites us to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life … the Lenten journey is a welcome opportunity to heed the voice of the Lord and renew our commitment to following Christ, accompanying him on the road to Jerusalem, where the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection will be fulfilled…” Pope Leo’s Message for Lent 2026 BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY “Ready or not …” Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent are at our doorstep or, depending on when you are reading this, may have already arrived. As much as one may try to look ahead, things can still “sneak up” on us. I hope this article will be posted on “Mardi Gras,” the day before Ash Wednesday, and may help some readers make some “last-minute” preparations and/or Lenten resolutions, aka “What I am (are you) going to give up for Lent?” I also hope that some who may read this on Ash Wednesday or in the following days or weeks, might be assisted in getting their Lent started, restarted, or energized. On Sunday, Feb. 15, I saw that the Vatican had published (on Feb. 13) Pope Leo XIV’s “Message for Lent 2026: ‘Listening and Fasting.’” The link to the full text of the brief message that invites us to consider: “Listening” – especially to God’s Word; “Fasting” – especially offering an invitation, “to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor…”; and that we are “Together” – “…Lent emphasizes the communal aspect of listening to the word and fasting.” Before I was aware of Pope Leo’s message, I was preparing to share some thoughts and suggestions for a spiritually fruitful Lent, and I was happy to see on the Hallow app that Father Mike Schmitz was offering his “Top 10 Lent Tips.” I think you need to have a subscription to the Hallow app to see and hear Father Mike’s presentation and commentary. One of the recommendations that I was planning to make was to consider subscribing to the Hallow app because, for the past two years, I have found Hallow’s “Lent Pray 40 Challenge” to have been a very helpful resource in my own, personal Lenten journey. For those who don’t have Hallow and may not be interested in subscribing, I would like to share with you Father Mike’s “Top 10 Lent Tips,” as the list is available online. I will also offer some of my reactions and comments to Father Mike’s “Top 10.” In a “LinkedIn” post, Alex at Hallow shares Father Mike’s list: Top 10 tips from Father Mike Schmitz this Lent: Silence every day — just take 5 or 10 minutes to really be with the Lord Pray every day — listen to Him Spend time in God’s Word -— bring it more and more into your daily life Go to Confession — at least once, but really twice Daily Mass — try to find one that works with your schedule Spiritual reading every day — pick a book Fast — doesn’t have to be food, and it doesn’t have to be something bad, just something you might be a little too attached to Almsgiving — go serve the poor Invite someone to Mass — Lent is not something we are meant to do alone Go home and love your family Father Mike does not say that these 10 “tips” are listed in “order of importance.” He also does not say that he suggests or expects that someone should try to do “all 10” or “pick three” of the 10. Most readers and, I believe, most practicing Catholics are aware of the Church’s “Top 3” Spiritual practices during Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. In some ways, Father Mike’s “Top 10” are all “connected,” in some way to prayer, fasting, or almsgiving. I believe that this will be my “sixth time” in six years (six Lents) as bishop to say that my “Number One” Recommendation for Lent is Daily Mass. As I review Father Mike’s list, his numbers one through four are all very good suggestions and spiritual practices that can produce great fruit. If you are not already attending Daily Mass and you can find a way to attend Daily Mass every day during Lent, I am convinced that you will have a fuller and deeper experience of Holy Week, of the Sacred Triduum, and of Easter Joy. My No. 2 is Father Mike’s No. 4, “Go to Confession” – I am not sure if I have heard it suggested before, as Father Mike suggests, that you go to Confession (at least) twice during Lent – don’t leave it until the end, during Holy Week, but go early and, then, if you need to, go again approaching or during Holy Week. Here in our Diocese of Paterson, we offer “Welcome Home to Healing” during Lent, which means that you can go to Confession, celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at ANY and EVERY of the 107 parishes in our diocese (in Passaic, Morris, or Sussex Counties) on EVERY Monday during Lent between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. I have said before that the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is making a comeback. In recent years, people are returning to this Sacrament of Healing and Forgiveness that is still too often misunderstood and underappreciated. I strongly encourage you and ask you to invite others to give this Sacrament “another chance” -if it’s been a while, a few years or many, many years; if you have had a bad experience in the past, please know that our loving and merciful God is “waiting for you” to approach this sacrament so that, after confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness, you can hear those beautiful words, “I absolve you from your sins. Go in Peace, your sins are forgiven.” There is a way to combine or unite Father Mike’s numbers one to three, by taking time each day in silent prayer and in prayerfully listening to God’s Word. There are many ways to do this, but praying with the daily Mass Readings (if you can’t get to daily Mass) is a powerful and very fruitful form of prayer. If you use the internet (Google), you can easily find the daily Mass Readings at “USCCB daily readings.”  I hope that these thoughts and suggestions might be helpful to you in some way. As Pope Leo reminds us, let’s be together and pray for one another during Lent. I will conclude with one beautiful form of prayer that I had almost forgotten to mention: The Stations of the Cross. As we pray for one another during Lent, let us remember those beautiful words that we pray during the “Stations”: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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Are you ready for Lent, for a Season of Grace, and the opportunity to be ‘Welcomed Home to Healing?’ #Catholic – “Lent is a time in which the Church, guided by a sense of maternal care, invites us to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life … the Lenten journey is a welcome opportunity to heed the voice of the Lord and renew our commitment to following Christ, accompanying him on the road to Jerusalem, where the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection will be fulfilled…” Pope Leo’s Message for Lent 2026 BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY “Ready or not …” Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent are at our doorstep or, depending on when you are reading this, may have already arrived. As much as one may try to look ahead, things can still “sneak up” on us. I hope this article will be posted on “Mardi Gras,” the day before Ash Wednesday, and may help some readers make some “last-minute” preparations and/or Lenten resolutions, aka “What I am (are you) going to give up for Lent?” I also hope that some who may read this on Ash Wednesday or in the following days or weeks, might be assisted in getting their Lent started, restarted, or energized. On Sunday, Feb. 15, I saw that the Vatican had published (on Feb. 13) Pope Leo XIV’s “Message for Lent 2026: ‘Listening and Fasting.’” The link to the full text of the brief message that invites us to consider: “Listening” – especially to God’s Word; “Fasting” – especially offering an invitation, “to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor…”; and that we are “Together” – “…Lent emphasizes the communal aspect of listening to the word and fasting.” Before I was aware of Pope Leo’s message, I was preparing to share some thoughts and suggestions for a spiritually fruitful Lent, and I was happy to see on the Hallow app that Father Mike Schmitz was offering his “Top 10 Lent Tips.” I think you need to have a subscription to the Hallow app to see and hear Father Mike’s presentation and commentary. One of the recommendations that I was planning to make was to consider subscribing to the Hallow app because, for the past two years, I have found Hallow’s “Lent Pray 40 Challenge” to have been a very helpful resource in my own, personal Lenten journey. For those who don’t have Hallow and may not be interested in subscribing, I would like to share with you Father Mike’s “Top 10 Lent Tips,” as the list is available online. I will also offer some of my reactions and comments to Father Mike’s “Top 10.” In a “LinkedIn” post, Alex at Hallow shares Father Mike’s list: Top 10 tips from Father Mike Schmitz this Lent: Silence every day — just take 5 or 10 minutes to really be with the Lord Pray every day — listen to Him Spend time in God’s Word -— bring it more and more into your daily life Go to Confession — at least once, but really twice Daily Mass — try to find one that works with your schedule Spiritual reading every day — pick a book Fast — doesn’t have to be food, and it doesn’t have to be something bad, just something you might be a little too attached to Almsgiving — go serve the poor Invite someone to Mass — Lent is not something we are meant to do alone Go home and love your family Father Mike does not say that these 10 “tips” are listed in “order of importance.” He also does not say that he suggests or expects that someone should try to do “all 10” or “pick three” of the 10. Most readers and, I believe, most practicing Catholics are aware of the Church’s “Top 3” Spiritual practices during Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. In some ways, Father Mike’s “Top 10” are all “connected,” in some way to prayer, fasting, or almsgiving. I believe that this will be my “sixth time” in six years (six Lents) as bishop to say that my “Number One” Recommendation for Lent is Daily Mass. As I review Father Mike’s list, his numbers one through four are all very good suggestions and spiritual practices that can produce great fruit. If you are not already attending Daily Mass and you can find a way to attend Daily Mass every day during Lent, I am convinced that you will have a fuller and deeper experience of Holy Week, of the Sacred Triduum, and of Easter Joy. My No. 2 is Father Mike’s No. 4, “Go to Confession” – I am not sure if I have heard it suggested before, as Father Mike suggests, that you go to Confession (at least) twice during Lent – don’t leave it until the end, during Holy Week, but go early and, then, if you need to, go again approaching or during Holy Week. Here in our Diocese of Paterson, we offer “Welcome Home to Healing” during Lent, which means that you can go to Confession, celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at ANY and EVERY of the 107 parishes in our diocese (in Passaic, Morris, or Sussex Counties) on EVERY Monday during Lent between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. I have said before that the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is making a comeback. In recent years, people are returning to this Sacrament of Healing and Forgiveness that is still too often misunderstood and underappreciated. I strongly encourage you and ask you to invite others to give this Sacrament “another chance” -if it’s been a while, a few years or many, many years; if you have had a bad experience in the past, please know that our loving and merciful God is “waiting for you” to approach this sacrament so that, after confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness, you can hear those beautiful words, “I absolve you from your sins. Go in Peace, your sins are forgiven.” There is a way to combine or unite Father Mike’s numbers one to three, by taking time each day in silent prayer and in prayerfully listening to God’s Word. There are many ways to do this, but praying with the daily Mass Readings (if you can’t get to daily Mass) is a powerful and very fruitful form of prayer. If you use the internet (Google), you can easily find the daily Mass Readings at “USCCB daily readings.”  I hope that these thoughts and suggestions might be helpful to you in some way. As Pope Leo reminds us, let’s be together and pray for one another during Lent. I will conclude with one beautiful form of prayer that I had almost forgotten to mention: The Stations of the Cross. As we pray for one another during Lent, let us remember those beautiful words that we pray during the “Stations”: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

unitedyam

Are you ready for Lent, for a Season of Grace, and the opportunity to be ‘Welcomed Home to Healing?’ #Catholic –

“Lent is a time in which the Church, guided by a sense of maternal care, invites us to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life … the Lenten journey is a welcome opportunity to heed the voice of the Lord and renew our commitment to following Christ, accompanying him on the road to Jerusalem, where the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection will be fulfilled…”

Pope Leo’s Message for Lent 2026

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

“Ready or not …” Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent are at our doorstep or, depending on when you are reading this, may have already arrived. As much as one may try to look ahead, things can still “sneak up” on us. I hope this article will be posted on “Mardi Gras,” the day before Ash Wednesday, and may help some readers make some “last-minute” preparations and/or Lenten resolutions, aka “What I am (are you) going to give up for Lent?” I also hope that some who may read this on Ash Wednesday or in the following days or weeks, might be assisted in getting their Lent started, restarted, or energized.

On Sunday, Feb. 15, I saw that the Vatican had published (on Feb. 13) Pope Leo XIV’s “Message for Lent 2026: ‘Listening and Fasting.’” The link to the full text of the brief message that invites us to consider: “Listening” – especially to God’s Word; “Fasting” – especially offering an invitation, “to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor…”; and that we are “Together” – “…Lent emphasizes the communal aspect of listening to the word and fasting.”

Before I was aware of Pope Leo’s message, I was preparing to share some thoughts and suggestions for a spiritually fruitful Lent, and I was happy to see on the Hallow app that Father Mike Schmitz was offering his “Top 10 Lent Tips.” I think you need to have a subscription to the Hallow app to see and hear Father Mike’s presentation and commentary. One of the recommendations that I was planning to make was to consider subscribing to the Hallow app because, for the past two years, I have found Hallow’s “Lent Pray 40 Challenge” to have been a very helpful resource in my own, personal Lenten journey.

For those who don’t have Hallow and may not be interested in subscribing, I would like to share with you Father Mike’s “Top 10 Lent Tips,” as the list is available online. I will also offer some of my reactions and comments to Father Mike’s “Top 10.” In a “LinkedIn” post, Alex at Hallow shares Father Mike’s list:

Top 10 tips from Father Mike Schmitz this Lent:

  1. Silence every day — just take 5 or 10 minutes to really be with the Lord
  2. Pray every day — listen to Him
  3. Spend time in God’s Word -— bring it more and more into your daily life
  4. Go to Confession — at least once, but really twice
  5. Daily Mass — try to find one that works with your schedule
  6. Spiritual reading every day — pick a book
  7. Fast — doesn’t have to be food, and it doesn’t have to be something bad, just something you might be a little too attached to
  8. Almsgiving — go serve the poor
  9. Invite someone to Mass — Lent is not something we are meant to do alone
  10. Go home and love your family

Father Mike does not say that these 10 “tips” are listed in “order of importance.” He also does not say that he suggests or expects that someone should try to do “all 10” or “pick three” of the 10. Most readers and, I believe, most practicing Catholics are aware of the Church’s “Top 3” Spiritual practices during Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. In some ways, Father Mike’s “Top 10” are all “connected,” in some way to prayer, fasting, or almsgiving.

I believe that this will be my “sixth time” in six years (six Lents) as bishop to say that my “Number One” Recommendation for Lent is Daily Mass. As I review Father Mike’s list, his numbers one through four are all very good suggestions and spiritual practices that can produce great fruit. If you are not already attending Daily Mass and you can find a way to attend Daily Mass every day during Lent, I am convinced that you will have a fuller and deeper experience of Holy Week, of the Sacred Triduum, and of Easter Joy.

My No. 2 is Father Mike’s No. 4, “Go to Confession” – I am not sure if I have heard it suggested before, as Father Mike suggests, that you go to Confession (at least) twice during Lent – don’t leave it until the end, during Holy Week, but go early and, then, if you need to, go again approaching or during Holy Week. Here in our Diocese of Paterson, we offer “Welcome Home to Healing” during Lent, which means that you can go to Confession, celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at ANY and EVERY of the 107 parishes in our diocese (in Passaic, Morris, or Sussex Counties) on EVERY Monday during Lent between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

I have said before that the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is making a comeback. In recent years, people are returning to this Sacrament of Healing and Forgiveness that is still too often misunderstood and underappreciated. I strongly encourage you and ask you to invite others to give this Sacrament “another chance” -if it’s been a while, a few years or many, many years; if you have had a bad experience in the past, please know that our loving and merciful God is “waiting for you” to approach this sacrament so that, after confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness, you can hear those beautiful words, “I absolve you from your sins. Go in Peace, your sins are forgiven.”

There is a way to combine or unite Father Mike’s numbers one to three, by taking time each day in silent prayer and in prayerfully listening to God’s Word. There are many ways to do this, but praying with the daily Mass Readings (if you can’t get to daily Mass) is a powerful and very fruitful form of prayer. If you use the internet (Google), you can easily find the daily Mass Readings at “USCCB daily readings.” 

I hope that these thoughts and suggestions might be helpful to you in some way. As Pope Leo reminds us, let’s be together and pray for one another during Lent. I will conclude with one beautiful form of prayer that I had almost forgotten to mention: The Stations of the Cross. As we pray for one another during Lent, let us remember those beautiful words that we pray during the “Stations”: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World.”

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– “Lent is a time in which the Church, guided by a sense of maternal care, invites us to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life … the Lenten journey is a welcome opportunity to heed the voice of the Lord and renew our commitment to following Christ, accompanying him on the road to Jerusalem, where the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection will be fulfilled…” Pope Leo’s Message for Lent 2026

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Ahead of U.S. premiere, EWTN Studios launches behind-the-scenes series of Bernadette musical – #Catholic – After making its way across Europe where over 400,000 people viewed it, “Bernadette, The Musical” is making its debut in the U.S. on Feb. 19 at Chicago’s Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture.Ahead of the musical’s U.S. premiere, EWTN Studios announced a partnership with Castletown Media to release an exclusive four-part series, “Bernadette, The Musical: Miracle in the Making,” telling the behind-the-scenes story of how the original French production was adapted for U.S. audiences.The musical tells the true story of St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes — the 14-year-old girl who, in 1858 in Lourdes, France, encountered a series of apparitions believed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary.The behind-the-scenes series takes viewers through performers’ auditions, rehearsals, and spiritual reflections that helped the cast portray the true story of Bernadette. The series also dives into how the production was adapted for an American audience — including the creative choices, artistic collaboration, and translation decisions.“Being part of a project like ‘Bernadette, The Musical’ allows us to bridge the profound beauty of live theatrical expression with the boundless reach of digital storytelling. It’s a reminder that art in all its forms — physical and digital — connects humanity through story, wonder, and shared experience,” said Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios, in a press release.Pierre Ferragu, lead producer of the musical, added: “Our collaboration with EWTN Studios brings this extraordinary story to life for a global audience, opening access for those who are unable to attend in Chicago while honoring the musical’s emotional and artistic integrity.”The first episode of “Bernadette, The Musical: Miracle in the Making” made its debut on EWTN’s streaming platform EWTN+ on Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and is now available on EWTN+, EWTN’s YouTube channel, and ewtn.com. The series broadcasts on the EWTN channel on cable and satellite March 3 through March 6 at 5:30 p.m. ET.In an interview with EWTN News, Ferragu shared that he hopes that by telling this story it’s “opening a door to anyone on a path of conversion — be it for very faithful, very devout and practicing Catholics, or people who are not religious at all.”“I hope everybody will take that story and explore that path of ‘Here is the story of Bernadette. What do I take from it? Did she lie? Did she tell the truth? What did she really see? What does that mean to me?’ And hopefully by bringing that story to the audience, we can plant a seed in every heart.”
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Ahead of U.S. premiere, EWTN Studios launches behind-the-scenes series of Bernadette musical – #Catholic – After making its way across Europe where over 400,000 people viewed it, “Bernadette, The Musical” is making its debut in the U.S. on Feb. 19 at Chicago’s Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture.Ahead of the musical’s U.S. premiere, EWTN Studios announced a partnership with Castletown Media to release an exclusive four-part series, “Bernadette, The Musical: Miracle in the Making,” telling the behind-the-scenes story of how the original French production was adapted for U.S. audiences.The musical tells the true story of St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes — the 14-year-old girl who, in 1858 in Lourdes, France, encountered a series of apparitions believed to be the Blessed Virgin Mary.The behind-the-scenes series takes viewers through performers’ auditions, rehearsals, and spiritual reflections that helped the cast portray the true story of Bernadette. The series also dives into how the production was adapted for an American audience — including the creative choices, artistic collaboration, and translation decisions.“Being part of a project like ‘Bernadette, The Musical’ allows us to bridge the profound beauty of live theatrical expression with the boundless reach of digital storytelling. It’s a reminder that art in all its forms — physical and digital — connects humanity through story, wonder, and shared experience,” said Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios, in a press release.Pierre Ferragu, lead producer of the musical, added: “Our collaboration with EWTN Studios brings this extraordinary story to life for a global audience, opening access for those who are unable to attend in Chicago while honoring the musical’s emotional and artistic integrity.”The first episode of “Bernadette, The Musical: Miracle in the Making” made its debut on EWTN’s streaming platform EWTN+ on Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and is now available on EWTN+, EWTN’s YouTube channel, and ewtn.com. The series broadcasts on the EWTN channel on cable and satellite March 3 through March 6 at 5:30 p.m. ET.In an interview with EWTN News, Ferragu shared that he hopes that by telling this story it’s “opening a door to anyone on a path of conversion — be it for very faithful, very devout and practicing Catholics, or people who are not religious at all.”“I hope everybody will take that story and explore that path of ‘Here is the story of Bernadette. What do I take from it? Did she lie? Did she tell the truth? What did she really see? What does that mean to me?’ And hopefully by bringing that story to the audience, we can plant a seed in every heart.”

unitedyam

The behind-the-scenes series can be seen on EWTN+, EWTN.com, EWTN’s YouTube Channel, and on EWTN’s broadcast channel.

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Historic Irish Confirmation Pledge updated to include vaping and smoking – #Catholic – To mark Temperance Sunday and the Lenten season, Armagh Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Michael Router welcomed the rewording of Ireland’s traditional Confirmation Pledge to explicitly include vaping and cigarette smoking. The renewal comes directly from feedback from school pupils to the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative.Router, who is liaison bishop with the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative, said in his Feb. 15 Temperance Sunday message: “I warmly welcome the rewording of the Confirmation Pledge to explicitly include vaping and cigarette smoking, alongside alcohol and illicit drugs. This development reflects a thoughtful and prayerful response to the lived realities of young people today.”In Ireland, the pledge has been a feature of confirmation since the 1930s. Every year, around 40,000 young people receive the sacrament of confirmation. The news of the pledge renewal has attracted mainstream media interest in Ireland.Router explained to EWTN News the specific concerns about vaping: “The main impetus would have come from the worsening situation in regards to drugs and alcohol abuse in Ireland over the past number of years. The Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative facilitator … goes around to schools and parishes delivering vital education on drugs, particularly. And in his rounds of schools, he was beginning to get questions from students themselves about vapes.”He added: “They were becoming aware of the addictive nature of them and the destructive side effects that were happening. Parents began contacting us as well, looking for information. We had a couple of heartbreaking stories about teenagers who have developed psychosis and depression and even suicidal ideation as a result of using some of these vapes.”As a result of these concerns, the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative was instrumental, along with other bodies, in having the vaping substance hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) banned in Ireland.Router explained to EWTN News that the pledge came into being in Ireland because of the widespread abuse of alcohol in the 19th century and the early 20th century. “It was formally linked with confirmation from the 1930s onwards, and it was very successful in countering alcohol abuse. We wanted to relaunch the pledge because it had fallen into abeyance a little bit across the country. We wanted to give it a new push and to add in things that are answering some of the challenges that young people have today.”The bishop said in his Temperance Sunday message: “The renewed Confirmation Pledge ensures that this long-standing tradition remains relevant and meaningful. It offers young people a moral framework and spiritual support as they navigate adolescence, while situating personal choice within the wider context of family, faith, and community. Addiction thrives in isolation. By involving families, schools, parishes, and the wider faith community, the pledge becomes a shared commitment to support and hope.”Router stressed to EWTN News the importance of education and understanding for young people to respond meaningfully to substance misuse. “Education is hugely important. Drug use is everywhere. It’s in every small village, in every rural area, in every city, and in every town in the country. And it’s so easy to access. We have a module for schools and parishes to educate young people at that age about the dangers involved.”He explained that this education program is open to all, whether they intend to take the pledge or indeed are being confirmed or not.Router highlighted in the wording of the pledge the importance of family support and positive peer pressure: “The new wording of the pledge says I will listen to you and respect my parents and guardians who care for me and want to keep me safe. I will support my friends and peers in making good and healthy choices too.”In his message, Router invited the faithful in Ireland to pray for those who struggle with addiction, to support families and communities affected by its consequences, and to renew their commitment to building a culture of care and moderation. “Addiction, in its many forms, continues to exact a devastating toll on individuals, families, and communities. The human cost, seen in suffering, broken relationships, mental and physical health problems, criminality, and social upheaval, is beyond calculation. Yet the Gospel calls us away from despair and condemnation to compassion and accompaniment."Router told EWTN News that with other countries experiencing similar drugs, substance and alcohol abuse, the pledge in Ireland could inspire other initiatives. “I think other countries definitely could learn from that, and it might be a moment to educate. This is a moment when young people take it seriously and are willing to listen to the issues and whatever information you have to offer. Couple that with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they receive, you have a real opportunity to make an impression that we pray will stay with them through their adolescent years.”Router pointed to the historic work of the Pioneer Total Abstinence organization in promoting temperance in Ireland. “Huge numbers of people became members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association from the ’30s into the ’70s and I think a lot of that was to do with the pledge. It’s been kind of neglected a little bit in recent decades. Hopefully, with a new focus on it and a wider reach, it may help to counter the problems we are facing at the moment.”Here is the new wording of the Confirmation Pledge:Dear God,Because I want to live a good and happy life with you,I promise not to drink alcohol until I am at least 18 years of age.Help me not to use drugs, vapes, cigarettes,or anything that could harm my body or mind.I will listen to and respect my parents and guardians,who care for me and want to keep me safe.I will support my friends and peers in making good and healthy choices too.O Holy Spirit, give me the strength, courage, and joy to keep this promise every day.Amen.
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Historic Irish Confirmation Pledge updated to include vaping and smoking – #Catholic – To mark Temperance Sunday and the Lenten season, Armagh Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Michael Router welcomed the rewording of Ireland’s traditional Confirmation Pledge to explicitly include vaping and cigarette smoking. The renewal comes directly from feedback from school pupils to the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative.Router, who is liaison bishop with the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative, said in his Feb. 15 Temperance Sunday message: “I warmly welcome the rewording of the Confirmation Pledge to explicitly include vaping and cigarette smoking, alongside alcohol and illicit drugs. This development reflects a thoughtful and prayerful response to the lived realities of young people today.”In Ireland, the pledge has been a feature of confirmation since the 1930s. Every year, around 40,000 young people receive the sacrament of confirmation. The news of the pledge renewal has attracted mainstream media interest in Ireland.Router explained to EWTN News the specific concerns about vaping: “The main impetus would have come from the worsening situation in regards to drugs and alcohol abuse in Ireland over the past number of years. The Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative facilitator … goes around to schools and parishes delivering vital education on drugs, particularly. And in his rounds of schools, he was beginning to get questions from students themselves about vapes.”He added: “They were becoming aware of the addictive nature of them and the destructive side effects that were happening. Parents began contacting us as well, looking for information. We had a couple of heartbreaking stories about teenagers who have developed psychosis and depression and even suicidal ideation as a result of using some of these vapes.”As a result of these concerns, the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative was instrumental, along with other bodies, in having the vaping substance hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) banned in Ireland.Router explained to EWTN News that the pledge came into being in Ireland because of the widespread abuse of alcohol in the 19th century and the early 20th century. “It was formally linked with confirmation from the 1930s onwards, and it was very successful in countering alcohol abuse. We wanted to relaunch the pledge because it had fallen into abeyance a little bit across the country. We wanted to give it a new push and to add in things that are answering some of the challenges that young people have today.”The bishop said in his Temperance Sunday message: “The renewed Confirmation Pledge ensures that this long-standing tradition remains relevant and meaningful. It offers young people a moral framework and spiritual support as they navigate adolescence, while situating personal choice within the wider context of family, faith, and community. Addiction thrives in isolation. By involving families, schools, parishes, and the wider faith community, the pledge becomes a shared commitment to support and hope.”Router stressed to EWTN News the importance of education and understanding for young people to respond meaningfully to substance misuse. “Education is hugely important. Drug use is everywhere. It’s in every small village, in every rural area, in every city, and in every town in the country. And it’s so easy to access. We have a module for schools and parishes to educate young people at that age about the dangers involved.”He explained that this education program is open to all, whether they intend to take the pledge or indeed are being confirmed or not.Router highlighted in the wording of the pledge the importance of family support and positive peer pressure: “The new wording of the pledge says I will listen to you and respect my parents and guardians who care for me and want to keep me safe. I will support my friends and peers in making good and healthy choices too.”In his message, Router invited the faithful in Ireland to pray for those who struggle with addiction, to support families and communities affected by its consequences, and to renew their commitment to building a culture of care and moderation. “Addiction, in its many forms, continues to exact a devastating toll on individuals, families, and communities. The human cost, seen in suffering, broken relationships, mental and physical health problems, criminality, and social upheaval, is beyond calculation. Yet the Gospel calls us away from despair and condemnation to compassion and accompaniment."Router told EWTN News that with other countries experiencing similar drugs, substance and alcohol abuse, the pledge in Ireland could inspire other initiatives. “I think other countries definitely could learn from that, and it might be a moment to educate. This is a moment when young people take it seriously and are willing to listen to the issues and whatever information you have to offer. Couple that with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they receive, you have a real opportunity to make an impression that we pray will stay with them through their adolescent years.”Router pointed to the historic work of the Pioneer Total Abstinence organization in promoting temperance in Ireland. “Huge numbers of people became members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association from the ’30s into the ’70s and I think a lot of that was to do with the pledge. It’s been kind of neglected a little bit in recent decades. Hopefully, with a new focus on it and a wider reach, it may help to counter the problems we are facing at the moment.”Here is the new wording of the Confirmation Pledge:Dear God,Because I want to live a good and happy life with you,I promise not to drink alcohol until I am at least 18 years of age.Help me not to use drugs, vapes, cigarettes,or anything that could harm my body or mind.I will listen to and respect my parents and guardians,who care for me and want to keep me safe.I will support my friends and peers in making good and healthy choices too.O Holy Spirit, give me the strength, courage, and joy to keep this promise every day.Amen.

unitedyam

To mark Temperance Sunday and the Lenten season, Armagh Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Michael Router welcomed the rewording of Ireland’s traditional Confirmation Pledge.

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Trump Replaces Pam Bondi With Broom In Blonde Wig #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a long-rumored shake-up at a high-level position in his administration, President Donald Trump announced that he had replaced Attorney General Pam Bondi with a broom in a blonde wig.
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Trump Replaces Pam Bondi With Broom In Blonde Wig #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a long-rumored shake-up at a high-level position in his administration, President Donald Trump announced that he had replaced Attorney General Pam Bondi with a broom in a blonde wig.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a long-rumored shake-up at a high-level position in his administration, President Donald Trump announced that he had replaced Attorney General Pam Bondi with a broom in a blonde wig.

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St. Peter’s marks 400 years with newly opened areas and digital access – #Catholic – As the Basilica of St. Peter approaches the 400th anniversary of its consecration, the Vatican has announced a slate of liturgical and cultural initiatives — including opening parts of the basilica complex that have never been accessible to the public and rolling out a new digital entry system designed to better manage crowds.St. Peter’s Basilica was consecrated on Nov. 18, 1626, by Pope Urban VIII. Vatican officials presented the anniversary program on Monday, highlighting plans intended to ease visitor pressure inside the basilica while improving security and preserving an atmosphere of prayer.“We want to lighten the weight of the crowds in the basilica and foster deeper spiritual recollection,” said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, “while at the same time offering new spaces to get to know St. Peter better through themed itineraries.”Among the most significant measures is the opening of the entire terrace of the basilica to visitors; currently, only about one-third is accessible. The newly opened terrace areas will feature a permanent exhibition on the history, construction, and ongoing maintenance of St. Peter’s.Gambetti also said the restoration area currently located on the terrace will be reconfigured and expanded. The space will double and continue to be managed by the Fabric of St. Peter, he said, totaling about 100 square meters (roughly 1,075 square feet) and moving to the opposite side from its current location.The Vatican also foresees the future opening of the large galleries of the Gregorian and Clementine domes, with educational proposals designed especially for children and young people.To improve crowd management, officials announced a new digital access system — SmartPass — integrated into the basilica’s official website, along with a network of sensors to monitor visitor presence in real time and enhance security.Gambetti described the initiative as a new “ecosystem” meant to safeguard the basilica’s sacred character while welcoming the millions of pilgrims and tourists who continue to come to the heart of Christianity.A look ‘beyond the visible’The cardinal stressed that the anniversary is not being treated merely as a historical commemoration but as an opportunity to renew the basilica’s spiritual meaning.Built over the remains of the original Constantinian basilica, the current church stands as “the living memory of our faith in Jesus Christ, supported by Peter’s profession of faith,” Gambetti said, calling it “at the same time a door open to all who seek God.” He also recalled the transition from the earlier basilica to the present one, promoted by Pope Julius II during the Renaissance.Gambetti pointed as well to the collaboration of the Italian energy company Eni, which is supporting conservation and “enhancement” projects tied to the anniversary.Program of eventsThe spiritual program begins Feb. 20 with the inauguration of a new permanent Stations of the Cross inside the basilica, created by Swiss artist Manuel Durr, winner of an international competition launched in 2023.On Saturday afternoons, the basilica will also host brief 30-minute “spiritual elevations” featuring prayer and polyphonic chant for those present.Three “solemn pastoral lectures” — historical-cultural, theological-liturgical, and pastoral-spiritual — are planned for March 24, May 26, and Oct. 13 on the meaning of the basilica’s dedication. A spiritual meditation on St. Peter in light of the Gospel will be given by the preacher of the Papal Household, Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap.Additional initiatives include the urban itinerary “Quo Vadis,” tracing the footsteps of Sts. Peter and Paul through Rome, and the theatrical production “Pietro e Paolo a Roma” by Michele Aginestra, planned around the June 29 feast of the apostles.The celebrations are set to culminate Nov. 18 with a solemn Mass to be celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on the exact 400th anniversary of the basilica’s consecration.Eni’s technical workDuring the presentation, Eni executive Claudio Granata said the company’s technical work for St. Peter’s has involved an 18-month process, much of it devoted to study and planning. He recalled Eni’s earlier restoration of the basilica façade beginning in 1999 — the first deep cleaning since architect Carlo Maderno completed it in 1612.This time, Granata said, the scale is larger: Measurements were carried out across approximately 80,000 square meters, covering the entire basilica, including outer areas. The analysis includes visible surfaces — such as the façade, columns, and roofs — as well as “invisible” elements like the foundations, resulting in a permanent monitoring system and a comprehensive digital model.Eni research and development director Annalisa Muccioli said the project was guided by respect for the basilica’s historical, artistic, and spiritual character. The effort included 4,500 work hours across day and night shifts, as well as extensive historical study and technical documentation. Using techniques intended to “see without altering,” she said the team employed methods such as geophysical investigations, laser scanning, and advanced photogrammetry.Muccioli described the result as a dynamic model integrating architectural geometry, subsurface geology, and real-time data — a tool meant to support the Fabric of St. Peter in future conservation and planning.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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St. Peter’s marks 400 years with newly opened areas and digital access – #Catholic – As the Basilica of St. Peter approaches the 400th anniversary of its consecration, the Vatican has announced a slate of liturgical and cultural initiatives — including opening parts of the basilica complex that have never been accessible to the public and rolling out a new digital entry system designed to better manage crowds.St. Peter’s Basilica was consecrated on Nov. 18, 1626, by Pope Urban VIII. Vatican officials presented the anniversary program on Monday, highlighting plans intended to ease visitor pressure inside the basilica while improving security and preserving an atmosphere of prayer.“We want to lighten the weight of the crowds in the basilica and foster deeper spiritual recollection,” said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, “while at the same time offering new spaces to get to know St. Peter better through themed itineraries.”Among the most significant measures is the opening of the entire terrace of the basilica to visitors; currently, only about one-third is accessible. The newly opened terrace areas will feature a permanent exhibition on the history, construction, and ongoing maintenance of St. Peter’s.Gambetti also said the restoration area currently located on the terrace will be reconfigured and expanded. The space will double and continue to be managed by the Fabric of St. Peter, he said, totaling about 100 square meters (roughly 1,075 square feet) and moving to the opposite side from its current location.The Vatican also foresees the future opening of the large galleries of the Gregorian and Clementine domes, with educational proposals designed especially for children and young people.To improve crowd management, officials announced a new digital access system — SmartPass — integrated into the basilica’s official website, along with a network of sensors to monitor visitor presence in real time and enhance security.Gambetti described the initiative as a new “ecosystem” meant to safeguard the basilica’s sacred character while welcoming the millions of pilgrims and tourists who continue to come to the heart of Christianity.A look ‘beyond the visible’The cardinal stressed that the anniversary is not being treated merely as a historical commemoration but as an opportunity to renew the basilica’s spiritual meaning.Built over the remains of the original Constantinian basilica, the current church stands as “the living memory of our faith in Jesus Christ, supported by Peter’s profession of faith,” Gambetti said, calling it “at the same time a door open to all who seek God.” He also recalled the transition from the earlier basilica to the present one, promoted by Pope Julius II during the Renaissance.Gambetti pointed as well to the collaboration of the Italian energy company Eni, which is supporting conservation and “enhancement” projects tied to the anniversary.Program of eventsThe spiritual program begins Feb. 20 with the inauguration of a new permanent Stations of the Cross inside the basilica, created by Swiss artist Manuel Durr, winner of an international competition launched in 2023.On Saturday afternoons, the basilica will also host brief 30-minute “spiritual elevations” featuring prayer and polyphonic chant for those present.Three “solemn pastoral lectures” — historical-cultural, theological-liturgical, and pastoral-spiritual — are planned for March 24, May 26, and Oct. 13 on the meaning of the basilica’s dedication. A spiritual meditation on St. Peter in light of the Gospel will be given by the preacher of the Papal Household, Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap.Additional initiatives include the urban itinerary “Quo Vadis,” tracing the footsteps of Sts. Peter and Paul through Rome, and the theatrical production “Pietro e Paolo a Roma” by Michele Aginestra, planned around the June 29 feast of the apostles.The celebrations are set to culminate Nov. 18 with a solemn Mass to be celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on the exact 400th anniversary of the basilica’s consecration.Eni’s technical workDuring the presentation, Eni executive Claudio Granata said the company’s technical work for St. Peter’s has involved an 18-month process, much of it devoted to study and planning. He recalled Eni’s earlier restoration of the basilica façade beginning in 1999 — the first deep cleaning since architect Carlo Maderno completed it in 1612.This time, Granata said, the scale is larger: Measurements were carried out across approximately 80,000 square meters, covering the entire basilica, including outer areas. The analysis includes visible surfaces — such as the façade, columns, and roofs — as well as “invisible” elements like the foundations, resulting in a permanent monitoring system and a comprehensive digital model.Eni research and development director Annalisa Muccioli said the project was guided by respect for the basilica’s historical, artistic, and spiritual character. The effort included 4,500 work hours across day and night shifts, as well as extensive historical study and technical documentation. Using techniques intended to “see without altering,” she said the team employed methods such as geophysical investigations, laser scanning, and advanced photogrammetry.Muccioli described the result as a dynamic model integrating architectural geometry, subsurface geology, and real-time data — a tool meant to support the Fabric of St. Peter in future conservation and planning.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The Vatican will open new parts of St. Peter’s — including the full terrace — and roll out a “SmartPass” digital entry system as it marks the basilica’s 400th anniversary.

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‘Aventine procession’: A centuries-old tradition Pope Leo XIV will lead for the first time – #Catholic – Each Ash Wednesday, dozens of people crowd the doors of the Church of Sant’Anselmo, perched on the Aventine — one of Rome’s seven hills — to witness the penitential procession that moves solemnly along the roughly 200 meters (656 feet) separating it from Santa Sabina.This year, the tradition of the Station Churches, rooted in the first centuries of Christianity, takes on special significance: It will be the first time Pope Leo XIV presides over it.It lasts less than five minutes, but it is not a mere ceremonial transfer. The short route liturgically marks the beginning of Lent and underscores the Aventine’s strong monastic presence: the Benedictines at Sant’Anselmo and the Dominicans at Santa Sabina.“The penitential character of Lent allows us to explore the spiritual dimension of these centuries-old stational liturgies. Lent is marked by themes of baptism and conversion: reorienting our lives toward Christ, making his life fruitful in ours, and striving to imitate him,” Father Stefan Geiger, president of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, told EWTN News.Martyrs as models of lifeAlong that path, martyrs occupy a privileged place because, Geiger said, they “serve as exceptional models of this way of life.”“The method of the early Church was not based on theoretical instruction but on the concrete example of a life lived for Christ, offering an invitation to realign one’s life completely with him,” he added.Santa Sabina’s role as the destination is no accident. It is a “Station Church,” a key concept in the Roman Church’s tradition.“It is the church the pope goes to on a specific occasion to celebrate the liturgy with the faithful,” the Benedictine priest explained.The practice goes back to the early Church, when Christianity began organizing public worship in Rome. After the Edict of Milan in 313, when the emperor Constantine granted freedom of worship, Christian communities grew quickly, leading to a multiplication of places for Sunday celebrations known as “tituli” — early parish-like churches.“These ‘titular churches’ represented their respective parishes, dividing the growing number of faithful into smaller units,” Geiger said.But this expansion in urban contexts posed a theological and pastoral challenge, he said: “From very early on, there was concern about how to maintain and visibly express the unity of the local Church. At that time, the ideal of the local Church was still the community gathered around its bishop. However, this became increasingly difficult to sustain, especially in urban settings, and it threatened to obscure visible unity.”Stational liturgies arose in the fourth centuryIn that context, stational liturgies emerged in the fourth century as a tangible sign of ecclesial communion. The pope, as bishop of Rome, would regularly “station” at a specific titular church, preside over the liturgy there, and in doing so confer upon it a “precedence over other liturgies,” Geiger explained.A century later, the Roman tradition added a decisive element: the penitential procession.“In the fifth century, a uniquely Roman custom developed: a penitential procession toward the stational church, which began at a gathering church — the ‘collecta’ — where penitential antiphons and the Litany of the Saints were sung,” he said.The route culminated in a triple invocation of the “Kyrie eleison” (“Lord, have mercy”) — one of Christianity’s oldest and most fundamental liturgical prayers — and an intense silent prayer before the altar, during which clergy prostrated themselves.“It is a gesture we still see today in the liturgy of Good Friday. The procession concluded with a silent prayer and a prostration of the clergy before the final prayer, since the Kyrie had been sung during the litanies,” he added.From medieval solemnity to modern eclipseDuring the early Middle Ages, this pattern was adopted and enriched with an ever more solemn ceremonial.“The pope traveled on horseback from St. John Lateran — then the papal residence — and was received ceremonially at the Station Church, vested in liturgical garments. Then he entered the church accompanied by acolytes carrying seven torches, and only then did the celebration begin,” Geiger recalled.At the end of the liturgy, the deacon solemnly announced the next Station Church and, if applicable, the church of the collecta, to which the faithful responded with “Deo gratias.”Over time, however, the tradition weakened. During the period when seven popes resided in Avignon, France (1309–1377), it virtually disappeared from Rome.After the capture of Rome in 1870 — the final milestone of the Italian Risorgimento, when troops of the Kingdom of Italy breached the Aurelian Walls near Porta Pia — stational liturgies were officially prohibited in 1870 as part of a general decree banning all processions.Contemporary recoveryThe revival of the tradition came after the Lateran Pacts, the 1929 concordat defining civil and religious relations between the government and the Church in Italy.The Pontifical Academy of Martyrs — which seeks to keep alive the legacy of the early witnesses of the Christian faith — promoted the restoration of stational liturgies, especially through its first director, Carlo Respighi.“Even today, the academy is responsible for overseeing these celebrations, and its website lists the Station Churches of Lent,” Geiger said.In any case, the president of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute noted that today the pope generally presides over only two stational liturgies: Ash Wednesday at Santa Sabina and Holy Thursday at St. John Lateran.“Before the liturgical reform, the Missal listed about 89 stational liturgies in 42 Station Churches. The origins of each of the ‘titular churches’ are no longer known, but they are closely linked to the martyrs, who have a special significance in the memory of the city of Rome,” he said.As every year, the Benedictine community of Sant’Anselmo is preparing carefully for the event. The occasion takes on added meaning as it will be the pontiff’s second visit there during his first year in office: The monks previously welcomed Leo XIV on Nov. 11, 2025, on the feast of their church’s dedication.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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‘Aventine procession’: A centuries-old tradition Pope Leo XIV will lead for the first time – #Catholic – Each Ash Wednesday, dozens of people crowd the doors of the Church of Sant’Anselmo, perched on the Aventine — one of Rome’s seven hills — to witness the penitential procession that moves solemnly along the roughly 200 meters (656 feet) separating it from Santa Sabina.This year, the tradition of the Station Churches, rooted in the first centuries of Christianity, takes on special significance: It will be the first time Pope Leo XIV presides over it.It lasts less than five minutes, but it is not a mere ceremonial transfer. The short route liturgically marks the beginning of Lent and underscores the Aventine’s strong monastic presence: the Benedictines at Sant’Anselmo and the Dominicans at Santa Sabina.“The penitential character of Lent allows us to explore the spiritual dimension of these centuries-old stational liturgies. Lent is marked by themes of baptism and conversion: reorienting our lives toward Christ, making his life fruitful in ours, and striving to imitate him,” Father Stefan Geiger, president of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, told EWTN News.Martyrs as models of lifeAlong that path, martyrs occupy a privileged place because, Geiger said, they “serve as exceptional models of this way of life.”“The method of the early Church was not based on theoretical instruction but on the concrete example of a life lived for Christ, offering an invitation to realign one’s life completely with him,” he added.Santa Sabina’s role as the destination is no accident. It is a “Station Church,” a key concept in the Roman Church’s tradition.“It is the church the pope goes to on a specific occasion to celebrate the liturgy with the faithful,” the Benedictine priest explained.The practice goes back to the early Church, when Christianity began organizing public worship in Rome. After the Edict of Milan in 313, when the emperor Constantine granted freedom of worship, Christian communities grew quickly, leading to a multiplication of places for Sunday celebrations known as “tituli” — early parish-like churches.“These ‘titular churches’ represented their respective parishes, dividing the growing number of faithful into smaller units,” Geiger said.But this expansion in urban contexts posed a theological and pastoral challenge, he said: “From very early on, there was concern about how to maintain and visibly express the unity of the local Church. At that time, the ideal of the local Church was still the community gathered around its bishop. However, this became increasingly difficult to sustain, especially in urban settings, and it threatened to obscure visible unity.”Stational liturgies arose in the fourth centuryIn that context, stational liturgies emerged in the fourth century as a tangible sign of ecclesial communion. The pope, as bishop of Rome, would regularly “station” at a specific titular church, preside over the liturgy there, and in doing so confer upon it a “precedence over other liturgies,” Geiger explained.A century later, the Roman tradition added a decisive element: the penitential procession.“In the fifth century, a uniquely Roman custom developed: a penitential procession toward the stational church, which began at a gathering church — the ‘collecta’ — where penitential antiphons and the Litany of the Saints were sung,” he said.The route culminated in a triple invocation of the “Kyrie eleison” (“Lord, have mercy”) — one of Christianity’s oldest and most fundamental liturgical prayers — and an intense silent prayer before the altar, during which clergy prostrated themselves.“It is a gesture we still see today in the liturgy of Good Friday. The procession concluded with a silent prayer and a prostration of the clergy before the final prayer, since the Kyrie had been sung during the litanies,” he added.From medieval solemnity to modern eclipseDuring the early Middle Ages, this pattern was adopted and enriched with an ever more solemn ceremonial.“The pope traveled on horseback from St. John Lateran — then the papal residence — and was received ceremonially at the Station Church, vested in liturgical garments. Then he entered the church accompanied by acolytes carrying seven torches, and only then did the celebration begin,” Geiger recalled.At the end of the liturgy, the deacon solemnly announced the next Station Church and, if applicable, the church of the collecta, to which the faithful responded with “Deo gratias.”Over time, however, the tradition weakened. During the period when seven popes resided in Avignon, France (1309–1377), it virtually disappeared from Rome.After the capture of Rome in 1870 — the final milestone of the Italian Risorgimento, when troops of the Kingdom of Italy breached the Aurelian Walls near Porta Pia — stational liturgies were officially prohibited in 1870 as part of a general decree banning all processions.Contemporary recoveryThe revival of the tradition came after the Lateran Pacts, the 1929 concordat defining civil and religious relations between the government and the Church in Italy.The Pontifical Academy of Martyrs — which seeks to keep alive the legacy of the early witnesses of the Christian faith — promoted the restoration of stational liturgies, especially through its first director, Carlo Respighi.“Even today, the academy is responsible for overseeing these celebrations, and its website lists the Station Churches of Lent,” Geiger said.In any case, the president of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute noted that today the pope generally presides over only two stational liturgies: Ash Wednesday at Santa Sabina and Holy Thursday at St. John Lateran.“Before the liturgical reform, the Missal listed about 89 stational liturgies in 42 Station Churches. The origins of each of the ‘titular churches’ are no longer known, but they are closely linked to the martyrs, who have a special significance in the memory of the city of Rome,” he said.As every year, the Benedictine community of Sant’Anselmo is preparing carefully for the event. The occasion takes on added meaning as it will be the pontiff’s second visit there during his first year in office: The monks previously welcomed Leo XIV on Nov. 11, 2025, on the feast of their church’s dedication.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The brief Ash Wednesday walk between two hilltop basilicas marks the start of Lent in Rome.

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Stormy, Snowy Winter for Hokkaido – Northern Japan, especially the island of Hokkaido, is home to some of the snowiest cities in the world. Sapporo, the island’s largest city and host of an annual snow festival, typically sees more than 140 days of snowfall, with nearly 6 meters (20 feet) accumulating on average each year.
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Stormy, Snowy Winter for Hokkaido – Northern Japan, especially the island of Hokkaido, is home to some of the snowiest cities in the world. Sapporo, the island’s largest city and host of an annual snow festival, typically sees more than 140 days of snowfall, with nearly 6 meters (20 feet) accumulating on average each year.

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Northern Japan, especially the island of Hokkaido, is home to some of the snowiest cities in the world. Sapporo, the island’s largest city and host of an annual snow festival, typically sees more than 140 days of snowfall, with nearly 6 meters (20 feet) accumulating on average each year.

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Did Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance represent Latinos and their cultural values? – #Catholic – Bad Bunny’s halftime show at Super Bowl LX drew mixed reactions. For some, it was a Hispanic or Latin American triumph with nothing objectionable, while for others, it was a spectacle with obscene lyrics and dances that did not represent the best of Latin America.In an interview with EWTN News, Father Mario Arroyo, who holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, observed that the event was the setting for a “political message” in which Bad Bunny asserted “that the United States is a multicultural nation” with some 70 million Latinos.According to various sources, the Puerto Rican artist chose his stage name based on a photo of himself when he was a boy in a bunny outfit with an angry look on his face. “That is also a political message that confronts the political agenda of current President Donald Trump,” Arroyo added.The priest considered the show an expression of “the Latino community in the United States that has felt harassed by the measures taken by the U.S. administration,” sparking protests against violent raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In separate incidents last month, ICE agents killed two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. ICE raids led to the arrest of some 400,000 people in 2025, of whom less than 14% had violent criminal records, according to CBS News.When Bad Bunny received the Grammy Award for Best Urban Music Album on Feb. 2 for “Debí tirar más fotos” (“I should have taken more photos”), he began his acceptance speech by saying “ICE out.”It’s not Latin America’s ‘best act’After clarifying that he is not a fan of Bad Bunny or reggaeton, because it is “a style of music that sexualizes women a lot” and degrades “human behavior,” Arroyo lamented that the artist’s show was not Latin America’s “best act” but rather a “vulgar spectacle wIth nothing uplifting about it.” The priest noted that “there is a moral principle that says the end does not justify the means; it’s a basic principle,” even though Bad Bunny’s intention was “to send a positive message,” highlighting various images of Puerto Rico and Latin America.Super Bowl LX, in which the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Feb. 8, was the second most-watched in history, surpassed only by the 2025 game, according to data by the Nielsen audience ratings company.As for the halftime show, according to Nielsen, the average viewership was 128.2 million, more than seven million fewer than last year’s Kendrick Lamar show, which averaged 133.5 million viewers.In addition to Bad Bunny, the show featured Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, along with other celebrities who appeared during the performance, such as actors Jessica Alba and Pedro Pascal, and singer Karol G.“I think the goal of the NFL is more economic than political: to broaden the spectrum of people who enjoy and are interested in American football,” Arroyo told EWTN News.President of the Puerto Rican Bishops’ Conference weighs inBishop Eusebio Ramos of Caguas, president of the Puerto Rican Bishops’ Conference, also spoke out about the show.“Certainly, one can have something to say about the musical genre, and I clearly state that I am not expressing my support for it but hearing the voice of a young man who prioritizes a language of love fills us with joy,” Ramos told the Italian news agency SIR.“There is no doubt that the words of Benito, of this singer, have touched hearts, have reminded us of Christian values, such as fraternity and the primacy of love,” the prelate added, referring to Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.Ramos said that “it gives us hope to hear the message of someone who, at this moment when the world order has broken down in so many ways, calls for tearing down walls, challenging the collective conscience.”After commenting that Bad Bunny “has his own political vision,” the Puerto Rican bishop emphasized that “he is undoubtedly a voice that reminds us of the value of the dignity of every human being, who must be respected. The current wave of deportations, on the contrary, disregards that dignity.”Regarding the political situation of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States whose people are American citizens but lack voting representation in the U.S. government, the bishop commented that “for 125 years we have suffered, in practice, colonialism. The United States is the superior interlocutor; we, the Puerto Ricans, are at an inferior level. An unjust relationship, tainted by sin. But Puerto Rico has survived, has kept its identity and culture alive.”Regarding President Donald Trump’s critical reaction to Bad Bunny’s performance, the bishop said: ”I wasn’t surprised; it’s his style.” The U.S. president called the halftime show ”absolutely terrible, one of the worst ever!” and also said on Truth Social that ”nobody understands a word this guy is saying and the dancing is disgusting.”‘Not all success has value,’ Puerto Rican senator saysPuerto Rican independent and pro-life senator Joanne Rodríguez-Veve, a mother of two, also commented on her compatriot’s performance.“I believe Bad Bunny is not a musical phenomenon but a political phenomenon within the culture,” she told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. “His message, with its clear woke undertones, made him an icon of the cultural left,” she added.After commenting that “there is no doubt that Bad Bunny is not alone” and that there are many economic interests surrounding him, Rodríguez said that, “ironically, Bad Bunny, the favorite son of capitalism — an economic platform without which he would not have achieved his much-venerated personal success — is the new idol of the political left. It turns out that, when it suits them, capitalist success is good.”After acknowledging that “Bad Bunny’s achievements are undeniable,” such as his Grammy Awards and his Super Bowl halftime performance, the senator clarified that “we would fall short in our capacity for reflection if the value of something or someone were measured solely by success. Success in saying what? Success in promoting what? Success in exhibiting what? No, not all success has value. That’s the point.”“As a Puerto Rican woman, I do not feel represented by anyone who objectifies women and portrays us to the world as animals at a bacchanal,” the senator emphasized.“He can wave the single-starred [Puerto Rican] flag” and “sing about what happened to Hawaii in Hawaii (loss of native cultural identity and heritage), and it won’t be enough. Because,” she pointed out, “Puerto Rican identity is simplicity and bravery, but it is also the elegance of the jíbaro [traditional peasant], the mother who gives birth to the homeland, the hardworking family, the children who await the Three Kings, and knees bent before God,” she maintained.Junk food isn’t the best for the soulArroyo also drew attention to the stark contrast between Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance and the recent opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini sang: “It was a show of great human and cultural quality … and of course, an artistic level infinitely superior to Bad Bunny’s music, which, in my opinion, is garbage.”“That Olympics show was watched by only 21 million people. That is to say, more than six times as many people watched the Super Bowl,” he lamented, adding that it seems people prefer to feed their soul with “junk food.”The priest encouraged teaching children “to be discerning” about what they see and to “critically evaluate what they are communicating to us and try to understand what they want communicated and what the underlying intentions are.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Did Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance represent Latinos and their cultural values? – #Catholic – Bad Bunny’s halftime show at Super Bowl LX drew mixed reactions. For some, it was a Hispanic or Latin American triumph with nothing objectionable, while for others, it was a spectacle with obscene lyrics and dances that did not represent the best of Latin America.In an interview with EWTN News, Father Mario Arroyo, who holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, observed that the event was the setting for a “political message” in which Bad Bunny asserted “that the United States is a multicultural nation” with some 70 million Latinos.According to various sources, the Puerto Rican artist chose his stage name based on a photo of himself when he was a boy in a bunny outfit with an angry look on his face. “That is also a political message that confronts the political agenda of current President Donald Trump,” Arroyo added.The priest considered the show an expression of “the Latino community in the United States that has felt harassed by the measures taken by the U.S. administration,” sparking protests against violent raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In separate incidents last month, ICE agents killed two people in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. ICE raids led to the arrest of some 400,000 people in 2025, of whom less than 14% had violent criminal records, according to CBS News.When Bad Bunny received the Grammy Award for Best Urban Music Album on Feb. 2 for “Debí tirar más fotos” (“I should have taken more photos”), he began his acceptance speech by saying “ICE out.”It’s not Latin America’s ‘best act’After clarifying that he is not a fan of Bad Bunny or reggaeton, because it is “a style of music that sexualizes women a lot” and degrades “human behavior,” Arroyo lamented that the artist’s show was not Latin America’s “best act” but rather a “vulgar spectacle wIth nothing uplifting about it.” The priest noted that “there is a moral principle that says the end does not justify the means; it’s a basic principle,” even though Bad Bunny’s intention was “to send a positive message,” highlighting various images of Puerto Rico and Latin America.Super Bowl LX, in which the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Feb. 8, was the second most-watched in history, surpassed only by the 2025 game, according to data by the Nielsen audience ratings company.As for the halftime show, according to Nielsen, the average viewership was 128.2 million, more than seven million fewer than last year’s Kendrick Lamar show, which averaged 133.5 million viewers.In addition to Bad Bunny, the show featured Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, along with other celebrities who appeared during the performance, such as actors Jessica Alba and Pedro Pascal, and singer Karol G.“I think the goal of the NFL is more economic than political: to broaden the spectrum of people who enjoy and are interested in American football,” Arroyo told EWTN News.President of the Puerto Rican Bishops’ Conference weighs inBishop Eusebio Ramos of Caguas, president of the Puerto Rican Bishops’ Conference, also spoke out about the show.“Certainly, one can have something to say about the musical genre, and I clearly state that I am not expressing my support for it but hearing the voice of a young man who prioritizes a language of love fills us with joy,” Ramos told the Italian news agency SIR.“There is no doubt that the words of Benito, of this singer, have touched hearts, have reminded us of Christian values, such as fraternity and the primacy of love,” the prelate added, referring to Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.Ramos said that “it gives us hope to hear the message of someone who, at this moment when the world order has broken down in so many ways, calls for tearing down walls, challenging the collective conscience.”After commenting that Bad Bunny “has his own political vision,” the Puerto Rican bishop emphasized that “he is undoubtedly a voice that reminds us of the value of the dignity of every human being, who must be respected. The current wave of deportations, on the contrary, disregards that dignity.”Regarding the political situation of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States whose people are American citizens but lack voting representation in the U.S. government, the bishop commented that “for 125 years we have suffered, in practice, colonialism. The United States is the superior interlocutor; we, the Puerto Ricans, are at an inferior level. An unjust relationship, tainted by sin. But Puerto Rico has survived, has kept its identity and culture alive.”Regarding President Donald Trump’s critical reaction to Bad Bunny’s performance, the bishop said: ”I wasn’t surprised; it’s his style.” The U.S. president called the halftime show ”absolutely terrible, one of the worst ever!” and also said on Truth Social that ”nobody understands a word this guy is saying and the dancing is disgusting.”‘Not all success has value,’ Puerto Rican senator saysPuerto Rican independent and pro-life senator Joanne Rodríguez-Veve, a mother of two, also commented on her compatriot’s performance.“I believe Bad Bunny is not a musical phenomenon but a political phenomenon within the culture,” she told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. “His message, with its clear woke undertones, made him an icon of the cultural left,” she added.After commenting that “there is no doubt that Bad Bunny is not alone” and that there are many economic interests surrounding him, Rodríguez said that, “ironically, Bad Bunny, the favorite son of capitalism — an economic platform without which he would not have achieved his much-venerated personal success — is the new idol of the political left. It turns out that, when it suits them, capitalist success is good.”After acknowledging that “Bad Bunny’s achievements are undeniable,” such as his Grammy Awards and his Super Bowl halftime performance, the senator clarified that “we would fall short in our capacity for reflection if the value of something or someone were measured solely by success. Success in saying what? Success in promoting what? Success in exhibiting what? No, not all success has value. That’s the point.”“As a Puerto Rican woman, I do not feel represented by anyone who objectifies women and portrays us to the world as animals at a bacchanal,” the senator emphasized.“He can wave the single-starred [Puerto Rican] flag” and “sing about what happened to Hawaii in Hawaii (loss of native cultural identity and heritage), and it won’t be enough. Because,” she pointed out, “Puerto Rican identity is simplicity and bravery, but it is also the elegance of the jíbaro [traditional peasant], the mother who gives birth to the homeland, the hardworking family, the children who await the Three Kings, and knees bent before God,” she maintained.Junk food isn’t the best for the soulArroyo also drew attention to the stark contrast between Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance and the recent opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini sang: “It was a show of great human and cultural quality … and of course, an artistic level infinitely superior to Bad Bunny’s music, which, in my opinion, is garbage.”“That Olympics show was watched by only 21 million people. That is to say, more than six times as many people watched the Super Bowl,” he lamented, adding that it seems people prefer to feed their soul with “junk food.”The priest encouraged teaching children “to be discerning” about what they see and to “critically evaluate what they are communicating to us and try to understand what they want communicated and what the underlying intentions are.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Bad Bunny’s halftime show at Super Bowl LX drew mixed reactions. For some, it was a Latino triumph while for others it contained obscene lyrics that did not represent the best of Latin America.

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Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist who urged Vatican to address humanitarian crises, dies at 84 #Catholic Jesse Jackson, whose decades of activism included work in the Civil Rights Movement, two runs for the White House, and multiple meetings with Pope John Paul II, died on Feb. 17. He was 84 years old.His family announced his passing in a statement on social media. They described him as a “servant leader” with an “unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love.” Jackson had suffered health issues for several years, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2017.Born Jesse Burns in Greenville, South Carolina, on Oct. 8, 1941, Jackson was adopted by his mother Helen’s subsequent husband Charles Jackson, though he maintained a close relationship with his birth father, Noah Robinson.Taunts from local children about his out-of-wedlock birth reportedly instilled in Jackson a motive to succeed; he further cited his biological father’s example of a “strong healthy ego” and “sense of dignity” that led him to push for civil rights in what was then the heavily segregated Southern U.S.He was a member of the “Greenville Eight” who protested the city’s segregated library system in 1960. A protege of Martin Luther King Jr., he participated in the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and played early roles in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Jackson was present at King’s assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968.He founded the social justice organization Operation PUSH — now Rainbow/PUSH — in 1971. He would eventually mount two campaigns for U.S. president, one in 1984 and one in 1988, both of which he lost.Earlier in his career Jackson had been an outspoken pro-life advocate, at one point even endorsing amending the U.S. Constitution to ban abortion, though in later decades he would pivot to aggressive support of abortion.He met with Pope John Paul II on three separate occasions in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1982 he urged the pontiff to advocate on behalf of Haitian refugees in the U.S., describing John Paul II as “the dominant force and moral authority in the world” at the time.He met with the pope again in 1985 and reportedly asked him to visit South Africa to protest apartheid, and again a third time in 1999 to urge the pontiff to advocate on behalf of three imprisoned CARE humanitarian workers in a Belgrade prison.Jackson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, and their five children. He is also survived by a daughter, Ashley, born to one of his former staffers in 1999.In a famed speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, Jackson reflected on his political career and acknowledged that he was “not a perfect servant” but “a public servant doing my best against the odds.” He told the crowd: “As I develop and serve, be patient: God is not finished with me yet.”“For leaders, the pain is often intense,” he said at the time. “But you must smile through your tears and keep moving with the faith that there is a brighter side somewhere.”
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Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist who urged Vatican to address humanitarian crises, dies at 84 #Catholic Jesse Jackson, whose decades of activism included work in the Civil Rights Movement, two runs for the White House, and multiple meetings with Pope John Paul II, died on Feb. 17. He was 84 years old.His family announced his passing in a statement on social media. They described him as a “servant leader” with an “unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love.” Jackson had suffered health issues for several years, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2017.Born Jesse Burns in Greenville, South Carolina, on Oct. 8, 1941, Jackson was adopted by his mother Helen’s subsequent husband Charles Jackson, though he maintained a close relationship with his birth father, Noah Robinson.Taunts from local children about his out-of-wedlock birth reportedly instilled in Jackson a motive to succeed; he further cited his biological father’s example of a “strong healthy ego” and “sense of dignity” that led him to push for civil rights in what was then the heavily segregated Southern U.S.He was a member of the “Greenville Eight” who protested the city’s segregated library system in 1960. A protege of Martin Luther King Jr., he participated in the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and played early roles in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Jackson was present at King’s assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968.He founded the social justice organization Operation PUSH — now Rainbow/PUSH — in 1971. He would eventually mount two campaigns for U.S. president, one in 1984 and one in 1988, both of which he lost.Earlier in his career Jackson had been an outspoken pro-life advocate, at one point even endorsing amending the U.S. Constitution to ban abortion, though in later decades he would pivot to aggressive support of abortion.He met with Pope John Paul II on three separate occasions in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1982 he urged the pontiff to advocate on behalf of Haitian refugees in the U.S., describing John Paul II as “the dominant force and moral authority in the world” at the time.He met with the pope again in 1985 and reportedly asked him to visit South Africa to protest apartheid, and again a third time in 1999 to urge the pontiff to advocate on behalf of three imprisoned CARE humanitarian workers in a Belgrade prison.Jackson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, and their five children. He is also survived by a daughter, Ashley, born to one of his former staffers in 1999.In a famed speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, Jackson reflected on his political career and acknowledged that he was “not a perfect servant” but “a public servant doing my best against the odds.” He told the crowd: “As I develop and serve, be patient: God is not finished with me yet.”“For leaders, the pain is often intense,” he said at the time. “But you must smile through your tears and keep moving with the faith that there is a brighter side somewhere.”

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The longtime activist was a fixture in U.S. politics for decades, including two presidential runs.

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Vatican official says Notre Dame controversy shows need for dialogue on abortion – #Catholic – The president of the Pontifical Academy for Life said Tuesday the Church needs to maintain a dialogue with universities on the issue of abortion.Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro was responding to a question about controversy over the leadership appointment of a pro-abortion professor at the University of Notre Dame — and whether Catholic universities have a responsibility to uphold Church teaching on unborn life.Abortion “is not acceptable as a practice,” Pegoraro said during a Vatican press conference on Feb. 17.He added that it is the responsibility of not only individuals but also of society to help women and couples “avoid the idea that abortion could be a solution to a difficult pregnancy or a problem.”Pegoraro addressed journalists during a presentation about the academy’s international workshop “Health Care for All: Sustainability and Equity,” held in Rome Feb. 16–17.Pegoraro, who was named president of the Pontifical Academy for Life on May 27, 2025, said convincing people that abortion is not the only solution to a problem “is a big challenge.”“We try to see how to maintain a debate about that, and we try to stress more the ethical and some social aspects, not immediately only the legal aspect of the problem,” he added.
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Vatican official says Notre Dame controversy shows need for dialogue on abortion – #Catholic – The president of the Pontifical Academy for Life said Tuesday the Church needs to maintain a dialogue with universities on the issue of abortion.Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro was responding to a question about controversy over the leadership appointment of a pro-abortion professor at the University of Notre Dame — and whether Catholic universities have a responsibility to uphold Church teaching on unborn life.Abortion “is not acceptable as a practice,” Pegoraro said during a Vatican press conference on Feb. 17.He added that it is the responsibility of not only individuals but also of society to help women and couples “avoid the idea that abortion could be a solution to a difficult pregnancy or a problem.”Pegoraro addressed journalists during a presentation about the academy’s international workshop “Health Care for All: Sustainability and Equity,” held in Rome Feb. 16–17.Pegoraro, who was named president of the Pontifical Academy for Life on May 27, 2025, said convincing people that abortion is not the only solution to a problem “is a big challenge.”“We try to see how to maintain a debate about that, and we try to stress more the ethical and some social aspects, not immediately only the legal aspect of the problem,” he added.

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The Church should engage with universities about how to take “an ethical approach” to the dignity of unborn life, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life said.

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Meet the priest serving ‘even nonbelievers’ at the Milan Winter Olympics – #Catholic – The role of chaplains at the Olympic Games is not just for Catholics and other believers, according to a priest currently serving at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.“My service is much more individual and open to everyone, even nonbelievers,” Father Oldřich Chocholáč, chaplain of the Czech Olympic team, told EWTN News. “It is a service of presence, prayer, and blessing.”The Czech priest, who serves as parish priest in Telnice in the Diocese of Brno, has accompanied his country’s athletes to every Games since Rio de Janeiro in 2016. This year, the Czech Republic sent 114 athletes — the largest delegation in the country’s Olympic history.Chocholáč told EWTN News his program is quite simple. He comes daily to the Olympic village in Milan to the space reserved for Czech team accommodation and meetings, and can travel to some of the sports venues using athlete transport. It is up to the team members whether they make use of his presence, he said.A chaplaincy spread across the AlpsBut the multisite format of these Winter Games presents challenges. Part of the Czech team is scattered across smaller Olympic villages in the Alps northeast of Milan, meaning Chocholáč relies on electronic communication to stay in touch with athletes at distant venues.“They know they can contact me at any time,” he said.The pastoral work was easier during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, he observed. With the Games now spread across multiple locations, chaplains of individual national teams do not meet as they did in France.Spiritual service among Czech athletes differs from that of more religious countries, where team members come in large numbers to church services, Chocholáč noted.“I am glad that I remain in friendly contact with some of them even long after the Olympics,” he said.Prayer at the GamesBesides national team chaplaincies — a practice established at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 — the Olympic Village in Milan offers a modest prayer room and various religious services for participants. The Basilica of San Babila in central Milan has been nicknamed the “church of athletes” for the Games.The Olympics press office did not respond to an EWTN News inquiry about how many national teams have chaplains this year.
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Meet the priest serving ‘even nonbelievers’ at the Milan Winter Olympics – #Catholic – The role of chaplains at the Olympic Games is not just for Catholics and other believers, according to a priest currently serving at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.“My service is much more individual and open to everyone, even nonbelievers,” Father Oldřich Chocholáč, chaplain of the Czech Olympic team, told EWTN News. “It is a service of presence, prayer, and blessing.”The Czech priest, who serves as parish priest in Telnice in the Diocese of Brno, has accompanied his country’s athletes to every Games since Rio de Janeiro in 2016. This year, the Czech Republic sent 114 athletes — the largest delegation in the country’s Olympic history.Chocholáč told EWTN News his program is quite simple. He comes daily to the Olympic village in Milan to the space reserved for Czech team accommodation and meetings, and can travel to some of the sports venues using athlete transport. It is up to the team members whether they make use of his presence, he said.A chaplaincy spread across the AlpsBut the multisite format of these Winter Games presents challenges. Part of the Czech team is scattered across smaller Olympic villages in the Alps northeast of Milan, meaning Chocholáč relies on electronic communication to stay in touch with athletes at distant venues.“They know they can contact me at any time,” he said.The pastoral work was easier during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, he observed. With the Games now spread across multiple locations, chaplains of individual national teams do not meet as they did in France.Spiritual service among Czech athletes differs from that of more religious countries, where team members come in large numbers to church services, Chocholáč noted.“I am glad that I remain in friendly contact with some of them even long after the Olympics,” he said.Prayer at the GamesBesides national team chaplaincies — a practice established at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 — the Olympic Village in Milan offers a modest prayer room and various religious services for participants. The Basilica of San Babila in central Milan has been nicknamed the “church of athletes” for the Games.The Olympics press office did not respond to an EWTN News inquiry about how many national teams have chaplains this year.

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“My service is much more individual and open to everyone, even nonbelievers,” Father Oldřich Chocholáč, chaplain of the Czech Olympic team, told EWTN News.

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2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases

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The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading “2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases”

The post 2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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What impact has the Cristero War had on religious freedom in Mexico today? - #Catholic - The story of the Cristero War in Mexico reached theaters a little over a decade ago with “For Greater Glory,” a film titled “Cristiada” in Spanish. Alongside the film, an official book was published to delve deeper into the history of the war, a spontaneous uprising by Catholics in response to religious persecution in the first part of the 20th century.Available in Spanish and English, the book is authored by Rubén Quezada, a Catholic of Mexican origin living in California, and features a foreword by the archbishop of Los Angeles, José Gomez. Actor and producer Eduardo Verástegui wrote the introduction, and the book also contains an essay by Carl Anderson, who at the time of publication was the supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus.Although “For Greater Glory” tells the story of a historical event that marks its centenary this year, the anti-Catholic sentiment it portrays “still persists, in a certain way,” in present-day Mexico, Quezada shared in a telephone interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.Quezada, 59, now a renowned international speaker, recalled that during his childhood in Mexico, the Cristero War was not included in the history curriculum in elementary school. Rubén Quezada, author of the official book that accompanied the release of the film “For Greater Glory.” | Credit: Photo courtesy of Rubén Quezada The author explained that this widespread ignorance was a consequence of a state policy that lasted for decades. Following the 1929 “arrangements” between the Church and the federal government, which formally ended the Cristero War, he recounted, there was “a government order that nothing could be published, nothing could be disseminated,” effectively making the Cristero War a taboo subject, while many Catholics avoided speaking about it for fear of being arrested.Thus many generations were unable to access information about the religious persecution of the early 20th century, he explained.It was not until later in life, when he immersed himself in the writing of the Franco-Mexican historian Jean Meyer — compiled in his three-volume work “La Cristiada” — that Quezada “began to study the Cristero War in greater depth.”The situation of enforced silence lasted until 1992, when relations between the Catholic Church and the Mexican state were officially restored. “We’re talking about [a diplomatic break that lasted] 60 years,” he emphasized.That same spirit of silence surrounding the history of the Cristero War was even present during the production of the film starring Andy García, he pointed out. Quezada noted that during the making of “For Greater Glory,” “many governors or mayors wouldn’t allow the movie to be filmed” in their locale and that once it was in theaters, it faced subtle boycotts: “We received reports from all over that they didn’t want to show the film in certain theaters.”“They would close the theater,” he added, and claim that tickets had sold out “when there weren’t many people” inside.Currently, he indicated, although “it cannot be said to be at that same level,” the sustained persecution of the Church in Mexico has put down “roots that remain within government platforms.”At the same time, he lamented, there is a “profound silence” in contemporary Mexican society regarding the Cristero War. In his travels throughout Mexico to participate in various events and conferences, the author said he has encountered many people who “prefer not to talk about that subject, or are unaware of it, or simply don’t care.”Given this situation, Quezada argued that the Catholic response must be active and informed participation in public life. “We have a responsibility to vote with a Catholic conscience,” he emphasized, noting that leaders should not be elected “simply based on personal preference or family tradition.”For the author, religious freedom hinges on the ability of the laity to place in positions of authority those who respect faith and human dignity. “We must carefully examine each candidate ... knowing that we are choosing what is best for humanity, for society, for the world,” he added, emphasizing that, ultimately, “we are the ones who put those elected officials in that position.”Finally, Quezada posed a challenge that draws the connection between the sacrifice of the Cristeros with contemporary Christian adherence to the faith. After years of studying figures like Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro — whose impact changed Quezada’s life when he was just a young man in California — the author posed a key question 100 years after the Cristero War: “Would we be willing today to rise up with that faith, with that heart that burned for the passion of Christ? Would we be willing today to act in such a way if we were ever confronted with something?”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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What impact has the Cristero War had on religious freedom in Mexico today? – #Catholic – The story of the Cristero War in Mexico reached theaters a little over a decade ago with “For Greater Glory,” a film titled “Cristiada” in Spanish. Alongside the film, an official book was published to delve deeper into the history of the war, a spontaneous uprising by Catholics in response to religious persecution in the first part of the 20th century.Available in Spanish and English, the book is authored by Rubén Quezada, a Catholic of Mexican origin living in California, and features a foreword by the archbishop of Los Angeles, José Gomez. Actor and producer Eduardo Verástegui wrote the introduction, and the book also contains an essay by Carl Anderson, who at the time of publication was the supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus.Although “For Greater Glory” tells the story of a historical event that marks its centenary this year, the anti-Catholic sentiment it portrays “still persists, in a certain way,” in present-day Mexico, Quezada shared in a telephone interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.Quezada, 59, now a renowned international speaker, recalled that during his childhood in Mexico, the Cristero War was not included in the history curriculum in elementary school. Rubén Quezada, author of the official book that accompanied the release of the film “For Greater Glory.” | Credit: Photo courtesy of Rubén Quezada The author explained that this widespread ignorance was a consequence of a state policy that lasted for decades. Following the 1929 “arrangements” between the Church and the federal government, which formally ended the Cristero War, he recounted, there was “a government order that nothing could be published, nothing could be disseminated,” effectively making the Cristero War a taboo subject, while many Catholics avoided speaking about it for fear of being arrested.Thus many generations were unable to access information about the religious persecution of the early 20th century, he explained.It was not until later in life, when he immersed himself in the writing of the Franco-Mexican historian Jean Meyer — compiled in his three-volume work “La Cristiada” — that Quezada “began to study the Cristero War in greater depth.”The situation of enforced silence lasted until 1992, when relations between the Catholic Church and the Mexican state were officially restored. “We’re talking about [a diplomatic break that lasted] 60 years,” he emphasized.That same spirit of silence surrounding the history of the Cristero War was even present during the production of the film starring Andy García, he pointed out. Quezada noted that during the making of “For Greater Glory,” “many governors or mayors wouldn’t allow the movie to be filmed” in their locale and that once it was in theaters, it faced subtle boycotts: “We received reports from all over that they didn’t want to show the film in certain theaters.”“They would close the theater,” he added, and claim that tickets had sold out “when there weren’t many people” inside.Currently, he indicated, although “it cannot be said to be at that same level,” the sustained persecution of the Church in Mexico has put down “roots that remain within government platforms.”At the same time, he lamented, there is a “profound silence” in contemporary Mexican society regarding the Cristero War. In his travels throughout Mexico to participate in various events and conferences, the author said he has encountered many people who “prefer not to talk about that subject, or are unaware of it, or simply don’t care.”Given this situation, Quezada argued that the Catholic response must be active and informed participation in public life. “We have a responsibility to vote with a Catholic conscience,” he emphasized, noting that leaders should not be elected “simply based on personal preference or family tradition.”For the author, religious freedom hinges on the ability of the laity to place in positions of authority those who respect faith and human dignity. “We must carefully examine each candidate … knowing that we are choosing what is best for humanity, for society, for the world,” he added, emphasizing that, ultimately, “we are the ones who put those elected officials in that position.”Finally, Quezada posed a challenge that draws the connection between the sacrifice of the Cristeros with contemporary Christian adherence to the faith. After years of studying figures like Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro — whose impact changed Quezada’s life when he was just a young man in California — the author posed a key question 100 years after the Cristero War: “Would we be willing today to rise up with that faith, with that heart that burned for the passion of Christ? Would we be willing today to act in such a way if we were ever confronted with something?”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Rubén Quezada, author of the book “For Greater Glory,” released along with the film of the same name in 2012, assesses the impact of the Cristero War on religious freedom in Mexico today.

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Bodybuilder previously totally hostile to the faith has radical conversion – #Catholic – Former bodybuilder Bruno Toral recently shared his personal conversion story and how he went from being totally hostile to the faith (from literally having a “burn down the churches” mentality) and denying the existence of God to becoming a dedicated disciple of Christ.The Spaniard, who now owns a gym, was featured in the “Rebeldes” (”Rebels”) podcast, a show dedicated to sharing the Catholic faith and demonstrating that “living according to the Gospel is the greatest act of rebellion in today’s society.”During the interview with Father Ignacio Amorós, Toral recounted the details of his conversion journey at the end of which he found the Catholic Church, the missing piece that gave meaning to a seemingly perfect life.The emptiness of having ‘everything’Toral grew up in a deeply atheist environment, where success was measured by academic and professional achievements. Over time, he managed to achieve a successful career, thriving businesses, have an extraordinary wife, and two healthy children.However, despite seemingly having it all, Toral confessed that he wasn’t happy. He realized this especially when he noticed the vast difference between his level of happiness and that of his wife, Paloma.While he lived a life of stoic but empty effort, she radiated a joy and peace that he couldn’t attain. This “healthy envy” was the catalyst: Toral understood that his wife’s faith was what he lacked, and he felt a vital impulse to ensure his children grew up near that same source of happiness.For years, Toral defined himself as having a “burn down the churches” mentality and even went so far as to forbid any mention of God in his home. But the change came unexpectedly.On a road trip with friends, he suddenly announced his decision to have his children baptized. “If we baptize the children, we have to live like Catholic parents; I don’t do things halfway,” he stated.His definitive encounter with God occurred during a time of praise and worship. Before the Blessed Sacrament, the bodybuilder, who based his life on stoic effort and the rigors of the gym, was moved to tears by the real happiness of the Christian community.Toral shared that faith has softened his character, giving him a patience he previously lacked with his family and employees, and going from relying solely on his own strength to resting in God’s providence.“The person I admire most, by far, is Jesus Christ,” Toral said, emphasizing that his biggest challenge now is not to lift more weight but to be the person God wants him to be.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Bodybuilder previously totally hostile to the faith has radical conversion – #Catholic – Former bodybuilder Bruno Toral recently shared his personal conversion story and how he went from being totally hostile to the faith (from literally having a “burn down the churches” mentality) and denying the existence of God to becoming a dedicated disciple of Christ.The Spaniard, who now owns a gym, was featured in the “Rebeldes” (”Rebels”) podcast, a show dedicated to sharing the Catholic faith and demonstrating that “living according to the Gospel is the greatest act of rebellion in today’s society.”During the interview with Father Ignacio Amorós, Toral recounted the details of his conversion journey at the end of which he found the Catholic Church, the missing piece that gave meaning to a seemingly perfect life.The emptiness of having ‘everything’Toral grew up in a deeply atheist environment, where success was measured by academic and professional achievements. Over time, he managed to achieve a successful career, thriving businesses, have an extraordinary wife, and two healthy children.However, despite seemingly having it all, Toral confessed that he wasn’t happy. He realized this especially when he noticed the vast difference between his level of happiness and that of his wife, Paloma.While he lived a life of stoic but empty effort, she radiated a joy and peace that he couldn’t attain. This “healthy envy” was the catalyst: Toral understood that his wife’s faith was what he lacked, and he felt a vital impulse to ensure his children grew up near that same source of happiness.For years, Toral defined himself as having a “burn down the churches” mentality and even went so far as to forbid any mention of God in his home. But the change came unexpectedly.On a road trip with friends, he suddenly announced his decision to have his children baptized. “If we baptize the children, we have to live like Catholic parents; I don’t do things halfway,” he stated.His definitive encounter with God occurred during a time of praise and worship. Before the Blessed Sacrament, the bodybuilder, who based his life on stoic effort and the rigors of the gym, was moved to tears by the real happiness of the Christian community.Toral shared that faith has softened his character, giving him a patience he previously lacked with his family and employees, and going from relying solely on his own strength to resting in God’s providence.“The person I admire most, by far, is Jesus Christ,” Toral said, emphasizing that his biggest challenge now is not to lift more weight but to be the person God wants him to be.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Former bodybuilder Bruno Toral shared his personal conversion story from being totally hostile to the faith to becoming a dedicated disciple of Christ.

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Cardinal Newman Society to accredit Catholic schools – #Catholic – The Cardinal Newman Society — known for its list of authentically Catholic colleges — is now accrediting faithfully Catholic K–12 schools, a move that organizers hope will expand education access for families.“This is a key step in Catholic education reform and helps ensure that families at faithful schools have access to school choice funds in states that require accreditation,” Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, told EWTN News.The organization acquired a Catholic accreditation group, the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS), which will accredit Catholic schools that are in line with the society’s standards for Catholic education. EWTN News spoke with Dan Guernsey, who serves as the executive director of NAPCIS, about how the new relationship will affect families and education reform going forward.EWTN News: How do you hope accrediting independent and parochial schools will help Catholic families going forward, particularly in regard to school choice funding in various states?Guernsey: Catholic teaching holds that the states have a responsibility to ensure families have access to schools in line with their values, including their religious values. More than half of Americans now have access to funding to assist in the attendance at Catholic schools, and the trend is continued growth. There is a danger that state governments may attempt to tie private school funding to state control, but some states avoid this by relying on accreditation to ensure a school’s eligibility for school choice dollars.It will be increasingly important that schools have an accreditor that is cost-effective, efficient, not overly intrusive, and fully credible with faithful Catholic families — with the bonus of achieving Newman Guide recognition. Daniel Guernsey is the executive director of the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS), a Catholic accreditation group recently acquired by the Cardinal Newman Society. | Credit: NAPCIS What role does accreditation play in the bigger picture of Catholic education reform?In alignment with the Newman Guide, NAPCIS only accredits schools that are serious about Catholic formation, so we can focus on the priorities of faithful Catholic families: Is Catholic teaching and culture bold and completely faithful to the magisterium? Are the academics solid and part of an integral formation in the light of our faith? Is the school safe? Does it have the personnel and resources needed to fulfill its mission?Accreditation, done rightly, assures families of a school’s success in fulfilling its mission. Sadly, most accreditation today places onerous and unhelpful burdens on schools regarding personnel and resources, while not holding schools to their mission — especially the unique mission of Catholic education. This ultimately detracts from a school’s mission and misaligns its resources. NAPCIS flips this around, accrediting schools that put their Catholic mission first and then aligning accreditation to that mission.Accreditors play an outsized role in too many schools today, including many Catholic schools. There is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.” Many accreditors, focused on their own excellence and status, “push” schools and claim to be arbiters of school “improvement” rather than simply certifying a school’s academics, operations, and mission integrity. In the worst cases, accreditors demand that schools initiate policies and practices that run counter to a school’s mission or values. They may, for example, press for excessive technology, secular/Marxist social justice, or sexual philosophies at odds with Catholic morality, justice, and chastity. NAPCIS provides space for faithful Catholic schools to exercise their autonomy under the principle of subsidiarity, or local control.What inspired the NAPCIS and Cardinal Newman Society partnership? How will this partnership affect students and families?I like to think of the new partnership not so much as a marriage made in heaven but as a marriage made for heaven. Both organizations have worked for more than three decades to assist the Church in ensuring her youth are fully activated for this life and the next.By aligning NAPCIS accreditation with Newman Guide standards, we’re helping schools attend to Catholic identity while also reviewing school operations. The Newman Guide focuses exclusively on mission, and it upholds high standards that would be unacceptable to another accreditor striving to recruit large numbers of lukewarm Catholic schools.Partnered with the Cardinal Newman Society, we’ll help schools strengthen their Catholic identity and ensure their religious freedom in a social and educational environment dominated by secularism, relativism, and materialism.This interview has been edited for brevity.
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Cardinal Newman Society to accredit Catholic schools – #Catholic – The Cardinal Newman Society — known for its list of authentically Catholic colleges — is now accrediting faithfully Catholic K–12 schools, a move that organizers hope will expand education access for families.“This is a key step in Catholic education reform and helps ensure that families at faithful schools have access to school choice funds in states that require accreditation,” Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, told EWTN News.The organization acquired a Catholic accreditation group, the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS), which will accredit Catholic schools that are in line with the society’s standards for Catholic education. EWTN News spoke with Dan Guernsey, who serves as the executive director of NAPCIS, about how the new relationship will affect families and education reform going forward.EWTN News: How do you hope accrediting independent and parochial schools will help Catholic families going forward, particularly in regard to school choice funding in various states?Guernsey: Catholic teaching holds that the states have a responsibility to ensure families have access to schools in line with their values, including their religious values. More than half of Americans now have access to funding to assist in the attendance at Catholic schools, and the trend is continued growth. There is a danger that state governments may attempt to tie private school funding to state control, but some states avoid this by relying on accreditation to ensure a school’s eligibility for school choice dollars.It will be increasingly important that schools have an accreditor that is cost-effective, efficient, not overly intrusive, and fully credible with faithful Catholic families — with the bonus of achieving Newman Guide recognition. Daniel Guernsey is the executive director of the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS), a Catholic accreditation group recently acquired by the Cardinal Newman Society. | Credit: NAPCIS What role does accreditation play in the bigger picture of Catholic education reform?In alignment with the Newman Guide, NAPCIS only accredits schools that are serious about Catholic formation, so we can focus on the priorities of faithful Catholic families: Is Catholic teaching and culture bold and completely faithful to the magisterium? Are the academics solid and part of an integral formation in the light of our faith? Is the school safe? Does it have the personnel and resources needed to fulfill its mission?Accreditation, done rightly, assures families of a school’s success in fulfilling its mission. Sadly, most accreditation today places onerous and unhelpful burdens on schools regarding personnel and resources, while not holding schools to their mission — especially the unique mission of Catholic education. This ultimately detracts from a school’s mission and misaligns its resources. NAPCIS flips this around, accrediting schools that put their Catholic mission first and then aligning accreditation to that mission.Accreditors play an outsized role in too many schools today, including many Catholic schools. There is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.” Many accreditors, focused on their own excellence and status, “push” schools and claim to be arbiters of school “improvement” rather than simply certifying a school’s academics, operations, and mission integrity. In the worst cases, accreditors demand that schools initiate policies and practices that run counter to a school’s mission or values. They may, for example, press for excessive technology, secular/Marxist social justice, or sexual philosophies at odds with Catholic morality, justice, and chastity. NAPCIS provides space for faithful Catholic schools to exercise their autonomy under the principle of subsidiarity, or local control.What inspired the NAPCIS and Cardinal Newman Society partnership? How will this partnership affect students and families?I like to think of the new partnership not so much as a marriage made in heaven but as a marriage made for heaven. Both organizations have worked for more than three decades to assist the Church in ensuring her youth are fully activated for this life and the next.By aligning NAPCIS accreditation with Newman Guide standards, we’re helping schools attend to Catholic identity while also reviewing school operations. The Newman Guide focuses exclusively on mission, and it upholds high standards that would be unacceptable to another accreditor striving to recruit large numbers of lukewarm Catholic schools.Partnered with the Cardinal Newman Society, we’ll help schools strengthen their Catholic identity and ensure their religious freedom in a social and educational environment dominated by secularism, relativism, and materialism.This interview has been edited for brevity.

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A leading voice from the Cardinal Newman Society shares how the new accreditation program will accelerate Catholic education reform and help support Catholic families to pass on the faith.

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Lent 2026: 5 programs to help you grow in your faith #Catholic This year Lent begins on Feb. 18 with Ash Wednesday. As we quickly approach this time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, here are five programs to help you grow in your faith this Lenten season.‘Pray 40: The Return’ (Hallow)This year, Hallow’s Lent Pray40 prayer challenge is titled “Pray40: The Return.” The theme for this year’s challenge focuses on returning to God, just like we read in the parable of the prodigal son. To help go further into this idea, listeners will dive into “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.Actor Jonathan Roumie will guide listeners through “The Brothers Karamazov”; Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt will provide fasting challenges; Mother Olga will meditate on Scripture; Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, will help listeners take part in imaginative prayer sessions; and Father Mike Schmitz will provide Sunday homilies.‘Crux’ (Ascension)Father Columba Jordan, CFR, will be hosting a daily Lenten program on the Ascension app titled “Crux.” Crux invites the faithful to see Lent as a transformative season through a four-part daily system rooted in both physical and spiritual discipline. The four daily challenges include daily reading of Scripture, a nightly examen, one form of physical exercise, and one dietary fast.“Crux” can be done individually, in parishes, or in small groups. Additionally, for those seeking a screen-free way to take part in the challenge, the “Crux: A Lenten Journey of Surrender” journal is also available.‘Seeking the Inner Room’ (Word on Fire)Word on Fire Institute will be hosting a virtual retreat this Lent led by Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, titled “Seeking the Inner Room.” The seven-week series will help participants dive deeper into Scripture and prayer in order to let the Holy Spirit into each of our inner rooms — our hearts. The retreat will also include reflections on “Gate of Heaven: Reflections on the Mother of God.”Lenten Phone Fast Challenge (Real Life Catholic)Real Life Catholic is inviting people of all ages to put down their phones this Lent to offer prayers and sacrifice to support the renewal of young Catholics. The Lenten Phone Fast Challenge offers participants the opportunity to specifically pray for the spiritual protection of Catholic teens. Participants will also receive weekly messages of support and spiritual guidance from evangelist Chris Stefanick.Programs offered through the EWTN Religious CatalogueIf you’re looking for Lenten devotionals or books you can read during this time, the EWTN Religious Catalogue has a variety of options including “Praying with Jesus and Faustina During Lent,” “Lent and Easter: Wisdom From Fulton Sheen,” and “Lenten Journey with Mother Mary,” among others.
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Lent 2026: 5 programs to help you grow in your faith #Catholic This year Lent begins on Feb. 18 with Ash Wednesday. As we quickly approach this time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, here are five programs to help you grow in your faith this Lenten season.‘Pray 40: The Return’ (Hallow)This year, Hallow’s Lent Pray40 prayer challenge is titled “Pray40: The Return.” The theme for this year’s challenge focuses on returning to God, just like we read in the parable of the prodigal son. To help go further into this idea, listeners will dive into “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.Actor Jonathan Roumie will guide listeners through “The Brothers Karamazov”; Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt will provide fasting challenges; Mother Olga will meditate on Scripture; Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, will help listeners take part in imaginative prayer sessions; and Father Mike Schmitz will provide Sunday homilies.‘Crux’ (Ascension)Father Columba Jordan, CFR, will be hosting a daily Lenten program on the Ascension app titled “Crux.” Crux invites the faithful to see Lent as a transformative season through a four-part daily system rooted in both physical and spiritual discipline. The four daily challenges include daily reading of Scripture, a nightly examen, one form of physical exercise, and one dietary fast.“Crux” can be done individually, in parishes, or in small groups. Additionally, for those seeking a screen-free way to take part in the challenge, the “Crux: A Lenten Journey of Surrender” journal is also available.‘Seeking the Inner Room’ (Word on Fire)Word on Fire Institute will be hosting a virtual retreat this Lent led by Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, titled “Seeking the Inner Room.” The seven-week series will help participants dive deeper into Scripture and prayer in order to let the Holy Spirit into each of our inner rooms — our hearts. The retreat will also include reflections on “Gate of Heaven: Reflections on the Mother of God.”Lenten Phone Fast Challenge (Real Life Catholic)Real Life Catholic is inviting people of all ages to put down their phones this Lent to offer prayers and sacrifice to support the renewal of young Catholics. The Lenten Phone Fast Challenge offers participants the opportunity to specifically pray for the spiritual protection of Catholic teens. Participants will also receive weekly messages of support and spiritual guidance from evangelist Chris Stefanick.Programs offered through the EWTN Religious CatalogueIf you’re looking for Lenten devotionals or books you can read during this time, the EWTN Religious Catalogue has a variety of options including “Praying with Jesus and Faustina During Lent,” “Lent and Easter: Wisdom From Fulton Sheen,” and “Lenten Journey with Mother Mary,” among others.

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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, beginning a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in the Catholic Church.

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