You govern your creation, O God,
and bring it to perfection by the work of our hands.
Hear the prayers of your people who ask for work
that will enhance their human dignity
and promote the upbuilding of your kingdom.
Enable them to provide for those confided to their care
either by family ties or by charity we owe to one another
for the betterment of human life.
We ask this blessing in the name of Jesus
who laboured with his own hands while he lived on earth.
Amen.
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A federal judge has delayed a lawsuit over the abortion pill mifepristone, disappointing pro-lifers who are asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect women and unborn children.
The Holy Father encouraged silent contemplation of the wonders and harmony of the created world, which can lead to authentic ecological conversion and awareness of our responsibility for creation.
![Vatican diplomat says Moscow mission focused on peace despite no concrete breakthrough – #Catholic – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks in Moscow produced no concrete breakthrough.Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during an Aug. 24–28 visit to Russia.“We went to Moscow to speak of peace, to encourage souls troubled by war, and to say ‘Have courage, embrace the path of peace, have the hope of believing in a better day,” Gallagher said in an interview with Vatican News published Sunday. “And I believe that essentially this was our message.”Gallagher met with Lavrov during the first day of his visit, although he was not received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than an hour of talks, the two appeared before reporters, with the Vatican diplomat reiterating Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.“The Holy See does not enter into the details of the negotiations, nor does it propose technical solutions, because this is the direct responsibility of the belligerent parties,” Gallagher said in the subsequent Vatican News interview.“The Holy See, instead, recalls this responsibility and invites them to show goodwill in order to seriously begin a dialogue,” he continued. “And it does so by addressing both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as other countries, asking that no effort be spared to create spaces for dialogue.”A ‘difficult’ dialogueGallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in “a difficult dialogue.”“The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to restore relations: There are many victims, many open wounds,” he said. “But we know very well that, historically, all conflicts, all wars end with a negotiation, with an agreement, and then one begins to restore relations between the former belligerents.”“In this sense, diplomacy offers and promises a possible solution,” Gallagher said. “This is also what we, as a Church, have the responsibility and the duty to proclaim.”Gallagher and Lavrov also discussed possible humanitarian initiatives and the situation of children affected by the war. The Holy See expressed its willingness to continue offering spiritual, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance.“This dimension is fundamental and, in this area, the Holy See is already offering its contribution, a commitment that so far has been greatly appreciated,” Gallagher said.“The Holy Father himself, before I left, told me: We must insist on the humanitarian dimension. And that is what we did,” he added.“We hope that Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi’s peace mission will continue and that he will be able to return promptly to Moscow, also in order to be a witness to what the local Church and the Catholic communities are doing.”Zuppi traveled to Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace. His mission included humanitarian efforts concerning Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.Outreach to the Russian Orthodox ChurchGallagher also visited Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the city’s most prominent Orthodox landmarks.There he was received by Igor Yakimchuk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Gallagher also met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the department.The talks covered issues of common concern and were intended to keep channels of communication open between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.Relations between the two churches have been severely strained since Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Meeting Russia’s Catholic minorityGallagher devoted the final day of his visit to Russia’s small Catholic community.Catholics make up a tiny minority in the country, with roughly 800,000 faithful among a population of more than 146 million — about 0.5%. The Church is organized into four dioceses centered on the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow.During his stay, Gallagher celebrated Mass at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and met with priests, religious men and women, and the country’s Catholic bishops.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.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/vatican-diplomat-says-moscow-mission-focused-on-peace-despite-no-concrete-breakthrough-catholic-archbishop-paul-richard-gallagher-said-diplomacy-remains-a-possible-path-toward-ending-the-war-in-u.jpg "Vatican diplomat says Moscow mission focused on peace despite no concrete breakthrough – #Catholic – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks in Moscow produced no concrete breakthrough.Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during an Aug. 24–28 visit to Russia.“We went to Moscow to speak of peace, to encourage souls troubled by war, and to say ‘Have courage, embrace the path of peace, have the hope of believing in a better day,” Gallagher said in an interview with Vatican News published Sunday. “And I believe that essentially this was our message.”Gallagher met with Lavrov during the first day of his visit, although he was not received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than an hour of talks, the two appeared before reporters, with the Vatican diplomat reiterating Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.“The Holy See does not enter into the details of the negotiations, nor does it propose technical solutions, because this is the direct responsibility of the belligerent parties,” Gallagher said in the subsequent Vatican News interview.“The Holy See, instead, recalls this responsibility and invites them to show goodwill in order to seriously begin a dialogue,” he continued. “And it does so by addressing both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as other countries, asking that no effort be spared to create spaces for dialogue.”A ‘difficult’ dialogueGallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in “a difficult dialogue.”“The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to restore relations: There are many victims, many open wounds,” he said. “But we know very well that, historically, all conflicts, all wars end with a negotiation, with an agreement, and then one begins to restore relations between the former belligerents.”“In this sense, diplomacy offers and promises a possible solution,” Gallagher said. “This is also what we, as a Church, have the responsibility and the duty to proclaim.”Gallagher and Lavrov also discussed possible humanitarian initiatives and the situation of children affected by the war. The Holy See expressed its willingness to continue offering spiritual, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance.“This dimension is fundamental and, in this area, the Holy See is already offering its contribution, a commitment that so far has been greatly appreciated,” Gallagher said.“The Holy Father himself, before I left, told me: We must insist on the humanitarian dimension. And that is what we did,” he added.“We hope that Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi’s peace mission will continue and that he will be able to return promptly to Moscow, also in order to be a witness to what the local Church and the Catholic communities are doing.”Zuppi traveled to Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace. His mission included humanitarian efforts concerning Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.Outreach to the Russian Orthodox ChurchGallagher also visited Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the city’s most prominent Orthodox landmarks.There he was received by Igor Yakimchuk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Gallagher also met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the department.The talks covered issues of common concern and were intended to keep channels of communication open between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.Relations between the two churches have been severely strained since Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Meeting Russia’s Catholic minorityGallagher devoted the final day of his visit to Russia’s small Catholic community.Catholics make up a tiny minority in the country, with roughly 800,000 faithful among a population of more than 146 million — about 0.5%. The Church is organized into four dioceses centered on the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow.During his stay, Gallagher celebrated Mass at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and met with priests, religious men and women, and the country’s Catholic bishops.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.")
The Vatican’s equivalent of a foreign minister said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after talks with Russian officials and Church leaders in Moscow.
Before the trial of Lindsay Clancy, everyone thought postpartum depression was a myth. But now society as a whole understands that the sudden drop in hormones after a woman has a baby really can cause intense sadness, anxiety, and disastrous historical events.
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HELL — The Prince of Darkness admitted he may have made a big mistake, as Satan reportedly wondered if he had gone too far when he orchestrated the modern feminist movement.
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Is this a ‘good time’ to offer a peaceful, prayerful and public witness on behalf of human life? #Catholic – 
“TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…”
Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation
The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026.
The signing of “S2260” and the coverage that it has received in the media have caused some concern for those who advocate on behalf of the recognition of the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception and who offer support for women contemplating abortion.
I was very grateful for an article written by Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton and Mr. James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC), published in the Trenton Monitor on Aug. 25, 2026. The article states:
“… Since the Governor signed S2260, several reports and media accounts have circulated claiming that the new law makes it illegal to hold protests or prayer vigils outside abortion facilities. That characterization is too broad. The law does not prohibit peaceful pro-life advocacy simply because it occurs outside a reproductive health care facility. Rather, it prohibits particular forms of conduct — such as physical obstruction, intimidation, threats, coercion, or property damage — when the statutory requirements are met.
This distinction is important. Peaceful prayer, peaceful protest, and respectful sidewalk counseling are not, by themselves, prohibited by S2260. At the same time, pro-life individuals and organizations must ensure that their activities do not cross the lines established by the new law or by other applicable federal, state, and local laws …”
I encourage you to read the full article, “S2260 and pro-life activities in New Jersey.”
Most readers of this column are aware that, for the past three years, on the First Saturday of each month, I celebrate a “Respect Life” Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown and, after Mass, lead a peaceful, prayerful procession to a “Planned Parenthood” facility (office building), located a few blocks from the Church. Once we reach the facility, we pray the Rosary, making sure that we are on public property, standing on the sidewalk, and making sure that there is room on the sidewalk for pedestrians to pass. We do not engage in any way with anyone entering or exiting the facility.
For the priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons and seminarians, and anywhere from 60 to 80 parishioners of St. Margaret’s and other women and men of good will and of all ages, who participate in the procession and prayer, we hope that our public witness will communicate to all who pass by that we believe that every human life is a precious gift from God, that life begins at conception and that, without judgement, we are prepared to assist and support any Mom (and Dad) who may be struggling to say “yes” to the gift of life that they have received.
Since Gov. Sherrill signed S2260 into law and possibly impacted by some of the way the law has been interpreted by some of the media reports and coverage, we have received inquiries asking if the new law will impact the monthly prayerful procession and witness. I have been encouraged by the guidance I have received from Jim King and the NJCC, from legal counsel and, perhaps especially from Mr. King and Bishop O’Connell’s article, which concludes with these words:
“The Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage from conception to natural death remains unchanged, and we continue to oppose policies, legislation and laws, including S2260, that expands access to abortion or otherwise conflicts with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person. That said, our Catholic pro-life witness should always be carried out peacefully, respectfully and in a charitable manner, ensuring our advocacy remains both faithful and effective.”
The NJCC, with legal counsel, has produced a “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) document to help our understanding of this new law, S2260, and to clarify the activities that it prohibits, as well as the activities that it allows or does not prohibit.
So, I believe that, yes, this is (still) a “good time” to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of human life. I believe it is a very good time to continue to offer our witness and also to consider the ways in which we engage in “public discourse” and with those who disagree with us. Unfortunately, although they often had good intentions, there have been times (in past decades) when those who have advocated on behalf of life, especially in front of abortion clinics, have not always acted in a “peaceful, respectful, and charitable manner.”
For anyone who has concerns about the manner in which we witness on behalf of life at our monthly prayerful procession and witness in Morristown, I would encourage you to come by and “see for yourself” (See above flyer for details). I am confident that we are not only well within our “legal rights,” but that we are doing everything we can to offer our witness in a gentle, prayerful, and loving way.
I also take this opportunity to remind readers (or let you know) that for the third consecutive year, we will have a New Jersey State Mass and March for Life on Thursday, Oct. 8. The state Mass and March for Life is another way for us to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of life to our governor and elected leaders and to all people, respectfully inviting them to consider what we believe, such as the beliefs expressed 250 years ago by our nation’s founders: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” – The Declaration of Independence.
The good that is accomplished by prayerful witness on behalf of life is a result of the power of God’s grace. St. Paul encourages us, “Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). United in the power of the Holy Spirit, we remain constant in prayer. We pray that the gift of the Lord’s grace will speak to every human heart so that all people may rejoice in the fullness of life he promises.
– “TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…” Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026. The signing of “S2260”
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Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) in flight in Mato Grosso, Brazil
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![Wendell Berry, agrarian writer who envisioned a world ‘redeemed only by love,’ dies at 92 – #Catholic – Wendell Berry, the prolific American author whose work spanned decades and who spent his career urging Americans to pursue a simpler, more virtuous life, died on Aug. 31, his family said. His daughter Mary confirmed his passing via the New York Times. His cause of death was not immediately known; the Kentucky-born writer was 92 years old. A writer of fiction, poetry, and essays, Berry was known for his advocacy of rural life, for urging readers to develop a close connection to farming and food, and for calling for the care of the environment. His work united a broad cross-section of the American public from liberal environmentalists to Christian homesteaders to local food advocates to conservative conservationists. Born in Louisville on Aug. 5, 1934, Berry studied English at the University of Kentucky and writing at Stanford University. He taught English at the University of Kentucky for several years and also taught at New York University. From 1965 until his death he lived and worked at his farm, Lane’s Landing, in Henry County, Kentucky. His politics were broad and diverse. He was famously critical of big business and corporations and was a fierce detractor of coal companies. He was opposed to the death penalty, at one point urging his home state to abolish it entirely. Amid the racial and cultural disputes of 2020, he sued the University of Kentucky in order to prevent the removal of a purportedly racially offensive mural there — though he said he was pained by the knowledge that his ancestors “established themselves here by killing or driving out the original possessors” and that “people were once bought and sold here by my people.” Berry was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2012. Throughout his career he remained devoted to both the natural world and to the small farm — a philosophy, he said in 2002, that meant he had “spent [his] life on two losing sides.” He urged advocates to reconcile both the need to preserve the natural world and the need to support the human beings that are an indelible part of the world. “The question we must deal with is not whether the domestic and the wild are separate or can be separated; it is how, in the human economy, their indissoluble and necessary connection can be properly maintained,” he wrote.Baptized a Baptist, Berry remained distant from organized religion, calling himself at one point a “forest Christian.” Yet his work and his advocacy attracted large numbers of Christians, including Catholics. Writing in America Magazine in 2017, the Catholic writer Anna Keating said that his unique philosophy “can prove helpful to Catholics, serving as an antidote to the many ills of our time.”He also briefly partnered with the Catholic St. Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky, to launch the Berry Farming Program, though the college closed in 2016. He wrote that he “[took] literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world.” “I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love,” he said. Though well traveled and revered as a national American sage, Berry was a strong proponent of localism. He consistently called on Americans to turn to community and mutual help to address societal problems and conflicts. He lamented the destruction of much of the rural way of life that he had seen take place over his lifetime, though he expressed optimism for its revitalization. Reflecting in 1988 on the potential “renewal of the rural communities” around the country, he wrote that such a renewal “would have to be a revival accomplished mainly by the community itself.”“It would have to be done not from the outside by the instruction of visiting experts,” he wrote, “but from the inside by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious things, and by the wish to be at home.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/wendell-berry-agrarian-writer-who-envisioned-a-world-redeemed-only-by-love-dies-at-92-catholic-wendell-berry-the-prolific-american-author-whose-work-spanned-decades-and-who-s-scaled.jpg "Wendell Berry, agrarian writer who envisioned a world ‘redeemed only by love,’ dies at 92 – #Catholic – Wendell Berry, the prolific American author whose work spanned decades and who spent his career urging Americans to pursue a simpler, more virtuous life, died on Aug. 31, his family said. His daughter Mary confirmed his passing via the New York Times. His cause of death was not immediately known; the Kentucky-born writer was 92 years old. A writer of fiction, poetry, and essays, Berry was known for his advocacy of rural life, for urging readers to develop a close connection to farming and food, and for calling for the care of the environment. His work united a broad cross-section of the American public from liberal environmentalists to Christian homesteaders to local food advocates to conservative conservationists. Born in Louisville on Aug. 5, 1934, Berry studied English at the University of Kentucky and writing at Stanford University. He taught English at the University of Kentucky for several years and also taught at New York University. From 1965 until his death he lived and worked at his farm, Lane’s Landing, in Henry County, Kentucky. His politics were broad and diverse. He was famously critical of big business and corporations and was a fierce detractor of coal companies. He was opposed to the death penalty, at one point urging his home state to abolish it entirely. Amid the racial and cultural disputes of 2020, he sued the University of Kentucky in order to prevent the removal of a purportedly racially offensive mural there — though he said he was pained by the knowledge that his ancestors “established themselves here by killing or driving out the original possessors” and that “people were once bought and sold here by my people.” Berry was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2012. Throughout his career he remained devoted to both the natural world and to the small farm — a philosophy, he said in 2002, that meant he had “spent [his] life on two losing sides.” He urged advocates to reconcile both the need to preserve the natural world and the need to support the human beings that are an indelible part of the world. “The question we must deal with is not whether the domestic and the wild are separate or can be separated; it is how, in the human economy, their indissoluble and necessary connection can be properly maintained,” he wrote.Baptized a Baptist, Berry remained distant from organized religion, calling himself at one point a “forest Christian.” Yet his work and his advocacy attracted large numbers of Christians, including Catholics. Writing in America Magazine in 2017, the Catholic writer Anna Keating said that his unique philosophy “can prove helpful to Catholics, serving as an antidote to the many ills of our time.”He also briefly partnered with the Catholic St. Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky, to launch the Berry Farming Program, though the college closed in 2016. He wrote that he “[took] literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world.” “I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love,” he said. Though well traveled and revered as a national American sage, Berry was a strong proponent of localism. He consistently called on Americans to turn to community and mutual help to address societal problems and conflicts. He lamented the destruction of much of the rural way of life that he had seen take place over his lifetime, though he expressed optimism for its revitalization. Reflecting in 1988 on the potential “renewal of the rural communities” around the country, he wrote that such a renewal “would have to be a revival accomplished mainly by the community itself.”“It would have to be done not from the outside by the instruction of visiting experts,” he wrote, “but from the inside by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious things, and by the wish to be at home.”")
The Kentucky-born author extolled the virtues of simple living and urged Americans to reject modern consumerism and destructive agriculture.
Why does the daily moonrise time change by as much as 60 minutes from the previous day, and as little as 30 minutes during the same month? Jim WakefieldBend, Oregon It depends on how far the Moon dips below the horizon from one day to the next. Our satellite moves, on average, 13.2° per dayContinue reading “Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day?”
The post Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope on board is seen transiting the sun during launch from Launch Complex 39A, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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