July 26, 2026 – United Yam

Gospel and Word of the Day – 27 July 2026 – A reading from the Book of Jeremiah 13:1-11 The LORD said to me: Go buy yourself a linen loincloth; wear it on your loins, but do not put it in water. I bought the loincloth, as the LORD commanded, and put it on. A second time the word of the LORD came to me thus: Take the loincloth which you bought and are wearing, and go now to the Parath; there hide it in a cleft of the rock. Obedient to the LORD’s command, I went to the Parath and buried the loincloth. After a long interval, the LORD said to me: Go now to the Parath and fetch the loincloth which I told you to hide there. Again I went to the Parath, sought out and took the loincloth from the place where I had hid it. But it was rotted, good for nothing! Then the message came to me from the LORD: Thus says the LORD: So also I will allow the pride of Judah to rot, the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people who refuse to obey my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts, and follow strange gods to serve and adore them, shall be like this loincloth which is good for nothing. For, as close as the loincloth clings to a man’s loins, so had I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD; to be my people, my renown, my praise, my beauty. But they did not listen.From the Gospel according to Matthew 13:31-35 Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.Talking about God means first of all expressing clearly what God we must bring to the men and women of our time: not an abstract God, a hypothesis, but a real God, a God who exists, who has entered history and is present in history; the God of Jesus Christ as an answer to the fundamental question of the meaning of life and of how we should live. Consequently speaking of God demands familiarity with Jesus and his Gospel, it implies that we have a real, personal knowledge of God and a strong passion for his plan of salvation without succumbing to the temptation of success, but following God’s own method. God’s method is that of humility — God makes himself one of us — his method is brought about through the Incarnation in the simple house of Nazareth; through the Grotto of Bethlehem; through the Parable of the Mustard Seed. We must not fear the humility of taking little steps, but trust in the leaven that penetrates the dough and slowly causes it to rise (cf. Mt 13:33). In talking about God, in the work of evangelization, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must recover simplicity, we must return to the essence of the proclamation: the Good News of a God who is real and effective, a God who is concerned about us, a God-Love who makes himself close to us in Jesus Christ, until the Cross, and who in the Resurrection gives us hope and opens us to a life that has no end, eternal life, true life. (Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 28 November 2012)

15 of the Most Naturally Beautiful Countries in the World to Inspire Your Wanderlust #Travel These nations boast breathtaking scenery, diverse landscapes, and abundant wildlife.

unitedyam July 26, 2026July 26, 2026

Bishop blesses 2 new greenhouses, generator at Morristown monastery #Catholic –

On July 16, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney paid a pastoral visit to the Discalced Carmelite nuns at the Monastery of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Morristown, N.J. There the bishop celebrated a Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the chapel. He also went outside on the monastery grounds to bless two new greenhouses and a concrete pad that will soon accommodate a new generator.

Through its “We Care, We Share” outreach ministry, the Church of Christ the King in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., donated funds for the greenhouses. With them, the nuns hope to grow spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and cabbage, as well as flowers to decorate the monastery chapel, said Mother Therese Katulski, prioress of the monastery.

The Knights of Columbus of Assumption Parish in Morristown donated funds for the generator — this after a major power outage at the monastery. A contractor will donate the labor to install the generator.

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Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, chancellor and delegate for religious of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., assisted Bishop Sweeney with the blessing.

The Discalced Carmelites are a cloistered order with a daily schedule of eight hours of prayer, manual labor, some recreation, and contemplation. They are always striving to make themselves more pleasing to God. The nuns adhere to strict silence so their prayers may be more continuous.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– On July 16, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney paid a pastoral visit to the Discalced Carmelite nuns at the Monastery of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Morristown, N.J. There the bishop celebrated a Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the chapel. He also went outside on the monastery grounds to bless two new greenhouses and a concrete pad that will soon accommodate a new generator. Through its “We Care, We Share” outreach ministry, the Church of Christ the King in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., donated funds for the

July 26, 2000: Comet LINEAR disintegrates

Picture of the day Westrup Heide in the early morning during the heather blossom season, Haltern am See, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany #ImageOfTheDay

Picture of the day

Westrup Heide in the early morning during the heather blossom season, Haltern am See, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Pope Leo XIV urges halt to Mideast attacks, return to diplomacy #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged parties across the Middle East to suspend their attacks and reopen diplomatic negotiations, warning that escalating military operations were endangering civilians and worsening shortages of drinking water and electricity.“I continue to follow with deep concern the ongoing and escalating violence in the Holy Land, where, in recent days, many civilians, both in the West Bank and in Gaza, have once again fallen victim,” the pope said July 26 after leading the Angelus from the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo.His remarks followed one of the most tense days in the West Bank in recent months. A shooting in Tell, southwest of Nablus, reportedly killed at least four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers and was followed by attacks by Israeli settlers against several Palestinian communities.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz subsequently announced that military operations would be intensified in areas Israel considers centers of terrorism.“I make a heartfelt appeal for a return to negotiations to achieve a just political solution, founded on the equal dignity and equal rights of every human person,” Pope Leo said.“At the same time, I urge the rejection of further military actions and unilateral decisions, especially those that violate the respect for and the status quo of the holy places of every religion.”The pope also renewed his appeal concerning the wider Middle East, where he said intensified military operations had “again wreaked violence and destruction, endangering the lives of countless civilians and further aggravating the shortages of drinking water and electricity.”“From the depths of my heart, I exhort all parties involved to suspend the attacks and urgently reopen paths of dialogue and diplomacy, so that the longed-for peace for the entire region may be achieved without delay,” he said.Pope Leo invited the faithful to continue praying for people throughout the world who are suffering because of war.“May the Lord touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of those in power, so that reconciliation and peace may soon prevail,” he said.Prayers for wildfire victimsThe pope also expressed his closeness to people affected by devastating wildfires in France and Spain and called for prayers for both the victims and emergency workers involved in relief efforts.The fires have forced hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes, while forecasts of temperatures reaching approximately 108 degrees Fahrenheit were expected to increase the danger in the affected areas.Beatification of Elias HoayekPope Leo recalled the July 25 beatification in Lebanon of Elias Hoayek, who served as Maronite patriarch of Antioch from 1899 to 1931 and founded the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family.“For more than thirty years, he led the Maronite Church with great dedication and pastoral sensitivity,” the pope said.“A man of dialogue and hope, he was an outstanding ecclesial, social and political leader, so much so that he came to be known as the ‘Father of Greater Lebanon.’”The pope prayed that the new blessed’s intercession would accompany Maronite Catholics throughout the world and obtain peace for Lebanon, “a country dear to my heart.”World Day for Grandparents and the ElderlyPope Leo also marked the sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, whose theme was drawn from the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I will never forget you.”“Together, let us give thanks to the Lord for the gift that the elderly are to the Church and society,” he said.“Let us also commit ourselves to respecting and valuing the precious role they play, and to ensuring that they always receive the care, attention and assistance they deserve.”The kingdom of God enlarges lifeDuring his Angelus reflection, Pope Leo focused on the Gospel’s images of the kingdom of God as a hidden treasure and a pearl of great price.“The parables convey the surprise of those who find something far beyond what they could have hoped for, so much so that selling or leaving everything behind no longer seems a sacrifice, but a gain,” he said.The pope said the evangelists present Christ’s call to discipleship as irresistible.“It is a free choice, yet also urgent and capable of eliciting a ready and wholehearted response,” he said. “Encountering his Kingdom marks a turning point that does not limit life but enlarges it.”“If anything must change on our part, it is only so that our lives may be opened to greater possibilities, not fewer.”Pope Leo noted that the figures appearing in Christ’s parables include peasants, merchants, travelers, fishermen, scribes, shepherds, farmers and women carrying out ordinary household tasks.“In short, the Kingdom of God reveals its inestimable beauty in different ways, but calls everyone — men and women, young and old, rich and poor — to a profound renewal,” he said. “Everyone is capable of understanding it and is drawn to it.”The pope said that the Church likewise brings together people with different backgrounds, cultures, abilities and responsibilities.“Yet all are called to recognize themselves as ‘one’ in Jesus Christ: he is the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net that gathers those who are scattered,” he said.“From the beginning, Jesus called and gathered around himself people who would otherwise never have come to know one another. In this way, he demonstrated that God has no favorites, but instead offers his love freely, especially to the little ones or those cast aside.”Pope Leo concluded by urging Catholics to ask for the wisdom sought by the young King Solomon: the ability to recognize what is truly valuable.“While the consumer culture influences our tastes, constantly creating new needs only to sell us solutions that never satisfy, and that sometimes even poison the heart, we must learn to grasp what truly matters,” he said.That treasure, the pope continued, is “a relationship with God that opens us to joy and helps us to live our relationships with one another more fully.”The July 26 Angelus was Pope Leo’s final Sunday appearance during his summer stay at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo. He was scheduled to return to the Vatican on Monday, July 27.The pope was expected to return to Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, July 29, to meet young choristers participating in the Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s Voices of Global Gathering at the Borgo Laudato Si’. Bocelli was scheduled to perform a musical work titled “Cantico di Pace.”This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Hidden for 200 years, vast Baroque murals rediscovered in Vilnius’ St. John’s Church – #Catholic – Hidden beneath layers of paint for more than 200 years, one of the largest surviving Baroque Christian painting programs in the Baltic region has emerged inside St. John’s Church at Vilnius University in Lithuania.The church, formally named the Church of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, has yielded a discovery that is both archaeological and religious.It reveals an almost untouched vision of Catholic worship from the 18th century and offers new evidence that Lithuania was an important center of Europe’s shared Christian artistic tradition. A fragment of an 18th-century mural depicting a woman holding a child, painted in cool tones, emerges from beneath later overpainting in St. John’s Church in Vilnius, Lithuania. | Credit: Ugnius Bagdonavičius/Vilnius University Researchers have confirmed that more than 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet) of original Baroque murals remain preserved beneath later paint layers, making it one of the most authentic surviving Baroque church interiors in the Baltic region.Baroque architecture was heavily promoted by the Catholic Church in the early 1600s to counter the austere architectural style present in Lutheran churches following the Reformation.Starting in Rome, the style spread across Italy, Spain, and Portugal before gaining popularity in Austria, Poland, and Lithuania. Vilnius is today known as the “Rome of the North” because it boasts the largest collection of Baroque architecture in Eastern and Central Europe.A rare moment of discoveryFor lead conservator Indrė Valkiūnienė, the first glimpse of the hidden paintings immediately signaled that the team had uncovered something extraordinary.“Uncovering the first painted figures brought a wonderful sense of discovery,” she told EWTN News. “It immediately became clear that they had been executed with great skill.” The paintings’ refined technique and vivid colors, she said, point to “highly accomplished painters active in 18th-century Vilnius.”“An even greater sense of satisfaction came when we realized that the paintings had escaped later alterations and overpainting until the third decade of the 19th century,” Valkiūnienė said. “They were not overpainted because they could no longer be conserved, but because there was an intention to fundamentally change the decoration of the church interior.” A fragment of a painted emblem featuring a pink ochre scroll with the Latin inscription “ELEVOR” and the silhouette of a flying black bird appears on a vault of St. John’s Church in Vilnius, Lithuania. | Credit: Ugnius Bagdonavičius/Vilnius University For Valkiūnienė, the paintings are important as works of art but also as expressions of Christian faith and culture in Vilnius and broader Lithuania.“The character of Vilnius Baroque is expressed not only through architecture but also through the artistic conception of church interiors,” she explained. Churches were designed as unified sacred spaces where marble, stucco sculpture, gilding, and monumental paintings together proclaimed the Christian message.The newly investigated vault paintings formed part of that unified program.Historically across Europe, many Baroque church interiors have been repeatedly restored or repainted, leaving scholars to distinguish original artwork from later interventions. At St. John’s Church, the paintings were simply concealed.Researchers have now identified the arrangement of scenes depicting the lives of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist while also establishing the original color scheme and assessing the condition of the concealed paintings. This information will guide any future restoration.For visitors today, Valkiūnienė believes the discovery places Lithuania firmly within Europe’s Christian artistic heritage.A Jesuit church at the heart of LithuaniaThe discovery carries added significance because St. John’s Church stands at the heart of Vilnius University, one of Eastern Europe’s oldest universities.Founded by the Jesuits in 1579, it was one of just 23 Jesuit universities in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries and, for nearly 200 years, the easternmost university on the continent. From there, it served as a leading center of Catholic learning during the Counter-Reformation, shaping the intellectual and spiritual life of the region.The university also has close ties to one of the Church’s best-known modern devotions. Among its professors was Blessed Michał Sopoćko, the confessor and spiritual director of St. Faustina Kowalska, who encouraged the Polish nun to record her mystical experiences and helped spread the message of divine mercy throughout the Church.For centuries, St. John’s Church also hosted royal ceremonies and gatherings of nobles, reflecting its central place in the religious and civic life of Lithuania.More than restoring artFor Jesuit Father Aldonas Gudaitis, the chaplain of Vilnius University, the discovery is about far more than recovering historical paintings.“The beauty of Baroque inspires young people to admire art,” he said. That fascination, he explained, often encourages them not only to explore Christian artistic traditions more deeply but also awakens an interest in the Christian faith itself. He believes the restoration also carries a powerful message for Lithuania, whose churches suffered greatly during decades of Soviet occupation. Baroque buildings fill the skyline of Vilnius Old Town in Lithuania, a city known as the “Rome of the North.” | Credit: Augustas Didzgalvis Under the USSR, St. John’s Church was closed to worshippers, damaged while being stripped of its religious functions, and later repurposed as a warehouse.Across the country, Gudaitis explained, restoring what was damaged or hidden has become a source of hope for many people. Comparing the process to the Catholic sacrament of reconciliation, Gudaitis said that just as forgiveness frees a person to live without the burden of guilt, restoring sacred art brings a similar spiritual renewal to communities.“The restoration of art in churches enriches people spiritually,” he said. “It strengthens the hope that even a violent occupation cannot destroy what is beautiful and cherished.”That message may ultimately become the discovery’s greatest legacy.Beyond revealing one of the Baltic region’s largest surviving Baroque painting programs, the hidden murals of St. John’s Church remind Catholics that beauty created for the glory of God can endure through wars, occupations, and changing fashions, all while waiting patiently to inspire a new generation.

Aurora Australis – The aurora australis arcs over Earth during an active solar event in this photograph taken at approximately 11:32 p.m. local time from the International Space Station as it orbited 271 miles above the Indian Ocean southwest of Perth, Australia on June 5.