Keep your eyes open!...
June 29, 2026
(Mat 25:44-45) Then
they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry
or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not
minister to thee? Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen: I say to
you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you
do it to me.
POPE LEO XIV:
“I wish to express my closeness to the Venezuelan sisters and brothers
affected by the recent earthquakes that have caused numerous victims
and injured, as well as great material damages,” he said. As we pray to
the Lord for the eternal repose of the deceased, I renew my spiritual
closeness to their families, the injured, and those struck by this
tragedy. At the same time, I express my gratitude and support to those
who are generously carrying out search and rescue efforts.”
CATHOLIC VIRGINIAN: Catholic Relief Services, U.S. government send aid to Venezuela after earthquakes
The Trump administration is deploying U.S. emergency response teams to
Venezuela in the wake of two high-magnitude earthquakes as local
Catholic leaders mobilizes the Church’s support network. “We’re
already deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County [in
Virginia] and Los Angeles,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told
reporters June 25. “There will be some others we’ll add,” Rubio
said. “That’s their most immediate need right now, search-and-rescue
efforts: They have [many] collapsed buildings. And so they’ll need a
lot of help in terms of digging through that.”
The earthquakes took place on June 24, with the first 7.2-magnitude
earthquake recorded at 6:04 p.m. local time, and the second
7.5-magnitude earthquake occurring just 39 seconds later, according to
the United States Geological Survey. “We’ve already stood up our
disaster response teams at the Department of State and our humanitarian
efforts,” Rubio said. “It’s something we did very well in Jamaica,
after that storm, and it’s something we’re really prepared to do
now.” The update came after Rubio issued a statement earlier in
the morning pledging to carry out U.S. President Donald Trump’s
directive for “all agencies of [the U.S.] government” to “get ready to
move quickly.” “The United States extends our deepest condolences
to the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes,”
Rubio said. “Our hearts are with all those who have lost loved ones,
those injured, and the courageous rescue workers working tirelessly in
the aftermath.”
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chair of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace
called on the international community to “mobilize in support of the
Venezuelan people, and to send the necessary humanitarian assistance to
alleviate their suffering.”
THE TABLET: Catholic Church in Venezuela responds to earthquakes
The global leader of the Jesuits said he was called to “renew his hope
in Jesus” after his native Venezuela was struck by deadly earthquakes
on Wednesday. “Beloved brothers and sisters, beloved people of
Venezuela, we have been shaken again,” said Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, the
Venezuelan-born superior general of the Society of Jesus, after two
violent quakes 40 seconds apart erupted in northern Venezuela shortly
after 6 p.m. local time on the evening of 24 June. The first quake,
registering 7.2 magnitude was followed by a second with a magnitude of
7.5, one of the strongest tremors to hit the South American country
since 1900. According to official figures, 1,430 people died in the
“doublet” earthquake, which left 3,360 people wounded.
“Earthquakes have shaken our land, leaving destruction and great pain
in their wake for the many victims, both for those who have disappeared
and in terms of the loss of houses and businesses, our daily life has
been deeply affected [and] transformed,” said Fr Sosa in a video
message. More than 55,000 people were reported missing and more
than 200 buildings collapsed after the earthquakes. The UN estimates
that nearly seven million people may be affected by the disaster,
including two million in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. “I feel
deeply moved and called to renew hope in the one who can turn this
shock into solidarity and fraternity,” said Fr Sosa. “The good news is
that … Jesus bore our infirmities and pain to heal them, to show us the
path towards fraternity which makes reconstruction and reconciliation
possible.”
THE PILLAR: Catholic leaders plead for aid after massive earthquakes hit Venezuela
TELESUR: Venezuela Earthquake Prayer Day: 1 Powerful Call for Hope After Devastating Quakes
X:
A statue of Mother Mary holding the Child Jesus was carried through the
streets of Caracas after the devastating earthquakes in
Venezuela. Surrounded by collapsed buildings and rubble, the wooden statue remained intact, giving many people a powerful sign of hope in the middle of so much suffering.
ACN: Only God and faith can alleviate suffering
Maria Lozano, head of press and media at ACN International, who knows
the affected dioceses well, said: “We have walked these streets, prayed
in these churches and spent time with the priests and families who are
now living this nightmare. That is why this tragedy seems so close to
us. In every major catastrophe there comes a time when statistics are
no longer enough to describe what people are living through.”
“Right now, our hope is that many more people will still be rescued
alive. But everyone fears that, as the hours pass and more buildings
are reached, the true scale of the tragedy will become painfully
apparent. Right now, there are parents waiting for news of their
children, children searching for their parents, and families who still
don’t know if their loved ones are alive under the rubble. Only God and
faith can alleviate that suffering.”
ACN is in continuous contact with the Venezuelan Church and is
preparing to support both emergency assistance and the reconstruction
of damaged church infrastructure, so that local communities can
continue to receive spiritual, pastoral and humanitarian support in the
coming months.
LINK TO DONATE TO ACN FOR VENEZUELAN RELIEF: https://secure.churchinneed.org/page/VenezuelaEarthquakes
Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
29. When we see anger and pride in those who seem
to be mourning in a way pleasing to God, then their tears are to be regarded
as repugnant to God. For what communion hath light with darkness? (cf.
2 Cor 6:14).
June 25, 2026
(Mat 24:6-8) And
you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not
troubled. For these things must come to pass: but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And
there shall be pestilences and famines and earthquakes in places. Now
all these are the beginnings of sorrows.
X NEWS REPORT:
The Earth just experienced FOUR significant earthquakes in a single
day. First, it was a Magnitude 5.6 in California’s Redwood
Valley. Then, 7 hours later, a devastating “double” quake
inflicted massive destruction in northern Venezuela. The first one at
Magnitude 7.2, followed by an even larger Magnitude 7.5 only 39 SECONDS
later. Finally, a mere 25 minutes after the Venezuela twins, a
Magnitude 6.9 marine earthquake struck offshore of Kuji, Japan.
Very rare to see this much seismic activity across the globe in such a
short period of time.
VATICAN NEWS (translated from Spanish): Earthquake in Venezuela: the Pope has sent 100,000 euros for humanitarian aid
The news was announced early this afternoon, June 25. Leo XIV, through
the Apostolic Alms, has sent initial aid to Venezuela, which has been
affected during the night by strong seismic tremors. The amount
allocated by the Pope amounts to 100,000 euros, a figure agreed upon
after maintaining contacts with the nuncio in the country, Monsignor
Alberto Ortega Martín, titular archbishop of Midila, and with the
archbishop of Caracas, Monsignor Raúl Biord Castillo. However, constant
attention will be maintained on the needs of the Venezuelan people,
which, in the coming days, following the instructions of the local
Church, we will try to satisfy.
According to news about the earthquake, La Guaira is the most affected
area of the country. This was stated by the president in charge, Delcy
Rodríguez, when declaring a state of national emergency after the two
violent earthquakes, of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, that have affected the
northwest of the country. Early in the morning the death toll was
updated: at least 164 people died and 971 were injured, but authorities
warn that the number of victims could increase as rescue operations
progress. Aa Guaira is the area most affected by the 7.5 magnitude
earthquake that shook Venezuela during the afternoon of June 24. This
was stated by the president in charge, Delcy Rodríguez, when declaring
a state of national emergency after the two violent earthquakes, of
magnitude 7.2 and 7.5that have affected the northwest of the country.
The Church has mobilized since the first hours after the earthquake.
«We are doing what we have always done in times of crisis: opening our
doors, accompanying those who have lost everything and bringing hope
where fear has spread», declared Marco Mencaglia, project director of
Aid to the Church in Suffering (ACS) International, adding that the
foundation will continue to accompany affected communities «with our
help and our prayers». Caritas Internationalis has also announced an
allocation of 100,000 euros for emergency aid, in collaboration with
Cáritas Venezuela and its network of some 30,000 volunteers. On the
ground, the archbishop of Caracas, Monsignor Raúl Biord Castillo, upon
his return from a visit to the area, reported that «many» parishes
«present serious structural damage»,to which we must add the cathedral
and about twelve churches that have been damaged. «Many parishes have
welcomed people so that they could spend the night in their facilities.
We have already launched a solidarity network through parish Caritas»,
explained the prelate. The archbishop of Caracas also stressed that the
human balance could have been much more serious, but that «thank God it
was a holiday. If it had been a weekday, with schools, offices and
shops open, the number of victims would have been much higher».
However, the situation remains serious, especially in the diocese of La
Guaira, where the bishop, Monsignor Pablo Modesto González Pérez, has
declared: «We are without electricity and we have all been affected.
Many walls have collapsed in the seminary».Monsignor Pérez added that
several churches have suffered significant damage.
AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED: ACN calls for prayers after Venezuelan earthquakes
The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is
calling for prayers for the people of Venezuela, after two strong
earthquakes that have shaken the country, causing fatalities and
serious material damage, and leaving thousands of people afraid to
return to their homes.
The earthquakes occurred on the afternoon of June 24. The first , of
magnitude 7.2, was recorded at 6:04 P.M. (local time) and, just 39
seconds later, a second quake hit, with magnitude 7.5. The two powerful
tremors were felt in much of the country and caused significant damage
to homes, public buildings, and churches.
Among the affected buildings are numerous churches, parish houses, and
Church institutions, many of which have suffered serious structural
damage.
At the same time, many Church institutions have opened their doors to welcome families who cannot return to their homes.
The San Pedro Apóstol Diocesan Seminary in La Guaira, Venezuela after
the earthquake Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo of Caracas toured the
affected parishes for hours to personally assess the situation: “I have
just returned from a tour of several parishes. Many of them have
serious structural damage,” the archbishop told ACN.
According to Archbishop Biord, among the most affected are the
Cathedral of Caracas and about a dozen other churches, although the
communication difficulties caused by power and Internet cuts still make
it impossible to know the full extent of the damage. “In Ñauralí, the
roof of the right nave fell in. The church and the parish house of
Pagüita collapsed. The parish priest was miraculously saved,” he added.
LINK TO DONATE TO ACN FOR VENEZUELAN RELIEF: https://secure.churchinneed.org/page/VenezuelaEarthquakes
INFOVATICA: Venezuela, on its knees after a double earthquake: the Church calls for prayer
ACIPRENSA: Earthquakes in Venezuela: Solidarity and prayers of the bishops of the world
AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECTS VIA X: Prayer for Venezuela
Oh Virgin of Coromoto!
Patron Saint of Venezuela, we entrust all those impacted by the earthquake into your care.
Embrace those in pain, uplift those who have endured great loss, and safeguard those dedicated to the noble work of rescue.
Present our prayers to the Heart of Jesus, allowing your motherly love
and Queenly strength to shine through. mother of the Divine and our
Beloved mother!
Lift your prayers for Venezuela during this challenging time.
Lead us to the Heart of Jesus, shower us with your blessings, and envelop us in your sacred mantle.
May we, uplifted by your intercession, discover strength, hope, and tranquility.
Amen.
Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
28. Those who have obtained mourning in the depth
of their being hate their own life as something painful and wearisome,
and a cause of tears and sufferings; and they turn and flee from their
body as from an enemy.
June 23, 2026
(2Ti 3:12-14) And
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But
evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse: erring, and driving
into error, But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned
and which have been committed to thee. Knowing of whom thou hast
learned them:
BISHOP ROBERT BARRON:
“The suffering Church is not an abstraction — these are our brothers
and sisters, driven from their homes for the simple act of professing
Christ.”
EWTN NEWS: Religious Freedom Week kicks off in the U.S.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is inviting dioceses across the
U.S. to join in observing Religious Freedom Week through prayer,
reflection, and action.
“Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to
live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all,” the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website says. Religious Freedom
Week in the U.S. begins each year on June 22, the feast of St. Thomas
More and St. John Fisher.
This year, Catholics are invited to pray, reflect, and act on the
following intentions: political and anti-religious violence,
immigration enforcement, Africa, gender ideology, religious
discrimination, parental choice in education, federal grants, and
Nicaragua.
Each day, the U.S. bishops ask Catholics to pray for the day’s
intention in a specific way, offer a brief reflection on how Catholics
should think about the issue, and provide suggestions on concrete
actions Catholics can take to improve religious freedom in that
particular area.
So far, the dioceses of Arlington, Kalamazoo, Savannah, Toledo, and the
Archdiocese of Miami have posted information about the week on their
websites.
In a statement on the week’s patrons, the USCCB praised More and Fisher
for exemplifying “faithful citizenship,” and expressed hope that “their
example continue to illuminate the path for us, as we seek to
faithfully serve our Church and country.’
“It is good to love one’s country, but ultimate loyalty is due only to
Christ and his kingdom,” the USCCB said. “They never rose up to incite
rebellion or foment revolution. They were no traitors. But when the law
of the king came into conflict with the law of Christ, they submitted
to Christ. These men gave their lives for the freedom of the Church and
for freedom of conscience. They bear witness to the truth that no
government can make a claim on a person’s soul.”
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Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
27. Genuine compunction is undistracted pain of
soul, in which it gives itself no relief but hourly imagines only its dissolution;
and it awaits, like cool water, the comfort of God who comforts humble
monks.
June 19, 2026
(2Th 2:13-15)
But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved of
God, for that God hath chosen you firstfruits unto salvation, in
sanctification of the spirit and faith of the truth: (2:13) Whereunto
also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory
of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2:14) Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and
hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our
epistle.
EXCERPT THE CATHOLIC THING: Whatever Happened to Natural Law?
There are many crises in the Catholic Church today, but one of the most
serious is the dismal state of moral theology. That crisis has
its roots in the confusion and intellectual ferment that ensued in the
aftermath of Vatican II. Progressive moral theologians proposed
questionable moral theories like proportionalism and the “fundamental
option,” while prominent scholars like Bernard Häring dissented on
vital issues of received moral teaching such as the inadmissibility of
contraception and the indissolubility of marriage.
These dissident theologians had differing visions, but one common
theme: the Church had no authority to proclaim specific, exceptionless
moral norms based on natural law. The best it could do was to
teach formal moral principles. Specific moral precepts such as
“adultery is always wrong” are highly problematic, in their view,
because there may be valid exceptions. A corollary is the autonomy of
conscience along with “discernment” in making moral decisions. In
place of natural law, they recommended more flexible theories that
allow for moral compromise in some situations.
John Paul II sought to correct these errors in his encyclical Veritatis
splendor. The fundamental option, proportionalism, the
sovereignty of conscience, and moral subjectivism – all the heterodox
doctrines – were thoroughly refuted through principled reasoning.
He also reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to natural law and its
anthropological premise of a common and fixed human nature that is a
bridge to that law. Intrinsic goods such as life and health,
marriage and friendship, constitute our human flourishing. A set
of moral norms flows from the first precepts of the natural law and
prohibits intrinsic evils such as adultery or the taking of innocent
life.
The present discord in the Church means that we are faced with a stark
choice between the theology of Veritatis splendor or the theology of
Amoris Laetitia, the magisterium of Pope John Paul II or the
magisterium of Pope Francis. Theologians and prelates like Bishop
Paglia who carry the torch for the theology of Amoris Laetitia argue
that because human nature changes so too must the moral law.
But the notion that human nature changes essentially is a
progressive myth. Of course, there are many cultural
transformations along with consequential inflection points in history
that affect humanity for better or worse. But as John Finnis points
out, these theologians cannot provide any concrete examples that
illustrate the mutability of human nature because human nature,
properly understood in terms of basic human possibilities or forms of
fulfillment, has never changed.
We cannot find throughout the course of human history any persons who
were not bodily, rational beings, for whom those intrinsic goods like
life and health, marriage and knowledge, were not the source of their
fulfillment.
It is all well and good to compose encyclicals on social issues like
Artificial Intelligence. But Pope Leo faces more fundamental
questions: through which moral lens will the Church evaluate those
issues? It can be faithful to the natural law tradition or revert
to the deflated morality proposed by secular humanism, which favors
experience and social harmony. The answers to the most troubling
moral disputes can only be found deep in the soil of natural law
reasoning that acknowledges the eternal order of being and nature.
EWTN: The Synod’s Dangerous Departure: Why Study Group 9’s Report Undermines Catholic Moral Teaching
ARCHIVES ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT: “Tolerance Is Not a Christian Virtue”
CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT ARCHIVES: The undermining of John Paul II in the name of Veritatis Splendor continues
EWTN NEWS: Pope warns SSPX bishop ordinations risk deepening schism
Pope Leo XIV cautioned that the planned ordination of Society of St.
Pius X (SSPX) bishops could push the group toward schism, urging them
again to stop and remain in communion with the Church.
“We have invited them, and I am still considering making another
appeal, to say: ‘Do not do this. Let us try to live communion in the
Church.’ But it is their choice. They must understand what it means for
them and for the Church,” the pope said, responding to journalists’
questions outside Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo on June 16.
The Society of St. Pius X said it plans to consecrate four priests as
bishops on July 1 without the permission of Pope Leo XIV. The Vatican
warned on May 13 that doing so without a papal mandate would constitute
“a schismatic act” and carry the penalty of excommunication. The
consecrations are set to take place at its seminary in Écône,
Switzerland.
“Certainly, division among Christians is always a painful matter,” the
pope said. “But they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of
the Church, beginning with various points of the Second Vatican
Council. And if they make those choices, I am sorry. But we must move
forward.”
PILLAR EDITORIAL: Excommunication communication: What if the SSPX does a schism?
SUBSTACK EDITORIAL: Leo XIV Calls SSPX Rebels
Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
26. He who mourns when he wishes has not attained
the beauty of mourning, but rather he who mourns on the subjects of his
choice, and not even on these, but on what God wants. The ugly tears of
vainglory are often interwoven with mourning which is pleasing to God.
We shall know this with all proof and piety when we see ourselves mourning
and still doing evil.
June 17, 2026
(Mat 28:19-20) Going
therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you
all days, even to the consummation of the world.
POPE LEO XIV:
“It follows that each baptized person is an active agent of
evangelization, called to bear consistent witness to Christ in
accordance with the prophetic gift which the Lord bestows upon his
whole church.”
FATHER CELSUS HOMILY- TGBTG: Baptized and Sent on Mission
VIDEO HOMILY: How to Convert Others
USCCB: How Evangelization Happens - Go and Make Disciples
How Evangelization Happens (¶34-44)34
The Holy Spirit is the fire of
Jesus. The Spirit, the first gift of the risen Christ to his people,31
gives us both the ability to receive the Gospel of Jesus and, in
response, the power to proclaim it. Without the Holy Spirit,
evangelization simply cannot occur.32 The Spirit brings about
evangelization in the life of the Church and in the Church's sharing of
the Gospel with others.
In the Life of the Church
35. We cannot really talk about the
"ordinary" life of the Church because all of it is the graced gift of
the Holy Spirit. Yet there are familiar ways by which evangelization
happens: by the way we live God's love in our daily life; by the love,
example, and support people give each other; by the ways parents pass
faith on to their children; in our life as Church, through the
proclamation of the Word and the wholehearted celebration of the saving
deeds of Jesus; in renewal efforts of local and national scope; in the
care we show to those most in need; and in the ways we go about our
work, share with our neighbors, and treat the stranger. In daily life,
family members evangelize each other; men and women, their future
spouses; and workers, their fellow employees, by the simple lives of
faith they lead. Through the ordinary patterns of our Catholic life,
the Holy Spirit brings about conversion and a new life in Christ.
36. Here, there are two elements at
work: witness, which is the simple living of the faith; and sharing,
which is spreading the Good News of Jesus in an explicit way.
37. Certainly, our families,
parishes, associations, schools, hospitals, charitable works, and
institutions give a powerful witness to the faith. But do they share
it? Does their living faith lead to the conversion of minds and hearts
to Jesus Christ? Does the fire of the Holy Spirit blaze in them? This
plan and strategy aims to make Catholics in the United States,
individually and as a Church, better sharers of God's Good News.
WORD ON FIRE ANALYSIS: The Art of Educating the Evangelist
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Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
25. Both in creation and in compunction, there
is that which moves itself and that which is moved by something else. When
the soul becomes tearful, moist and tender without effort or trouble, then
let us run, for the Lord has come uninvited, and is giving us the sponge
of God-loving sorrow and the cool water of devout tears to wipe out the
record of our sins. Guard these tears as the apple of your eye until they
withdraw. Great is the power of this compunction, greater than that which
comes as a result of our own effort and reflection.
June 11, 2026
(Joh 15:19-20) If
you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because
you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you. Remember my word that I said to you:
The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me,
they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep
yours also.
GLOBAL CHRISTIAN RELIEF: Christian Persecution by the Numbers: 2026 Global Trends
ACN: Cardinal Kurt Koch: There are more martyrs today than in the early Church
Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of Aid to the Church in Need
International (ACN), reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to
supporting persecuted and suffering Christians during the annual
pilgrimage for persecuted Christians held at Benedictine Einsiedeln
Abbey, organized by ACN Switzerland.
Reflecting on the reality of religious persecution in today’s world,
Cardinal Koch stressed that martyrdom is not merely a phenomenon of the
past but remains a lived reality for countless Christians around the
globe.
“Martyrdom truly belongs to the heart of Christianity. Today, there are
more martyrs than in the first centuries of Church history,” he said.
The President of ACN International also emphasized that persecuted Christians offer a powerful witness to Christian unity today.
“Dictators do not distinguish between Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans,
Anglicans, or Protestants,” he said, recalling Pope Francis‘s
expression, “the ecumenism of blood.” Said Cardinal Koch, “The blood
that has been shed unites Christians beyond their divisions.”
“Christians are not persecuted because they belong to a particular Church, but because of their faith in Christ,” he added.
OPINION: West’s mistake: turning a blind eye to the rise of a virtual caliphate
The West has made a fatal mistake in continuing to view Islamist
terrorism as strictly a military phenomenon, when in fact jihadism has
evolved into a cultural, digital and identity-based threat. Today, the
so-called Islamic State does not need to conquer territories; it is
enough for it to occupy our children’s screens. This dramatic warning
is contained in a recent study by the International Centre for
Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), which describes the emergence of a virtual
caliphate tailor-made for Gen Z.
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Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
24. Theology will not suit mourners, for it is
of a nature to dissolve their mourning. For the theologian is like one
who sits in a teacher's seat, whereas the mourner is like one who spends
his days on a dungheap and in rags. That is why David, so I think, although
he was a teacher and was wise, replied to those who questioned him when
he was mourning: 'How shall I sing the Lord's song in a strange land? (Ps
136:5)- that is to say, the land of passions.
June 9, 2026
(Pro 6:16-19) Six
things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul
detesteth: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent
blood, A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run
into mischief, A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that
soweth discord among brethren.
CATHOLIC REVIEW: Pope Leo XIV calls defense of life the measure of a nation’s moral greatness in landmark parliament speech
EXCERPT MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE SPANISH PARLIAMENT ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER:
"On this basis, it falls to me today to speak a calm and firm word to
those who bear the grave responsibility of legally ordering social
coexistence. This coexistence can be threatened by the throwaway
culture, as Pope Francis so often warned (cf. Address to the Plenary
Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life, 27 September 2021). In
this sense, if life ceases to be recognized as a fundamental value,
what future can our societies have? Can a community that casts into the
shadows the unborn child, the elderly, the sick, those who suffer in
silence, or those who depend entirely on the care of others be called
fully just? The defense of human life is neither a partisan issue nor a
confessional interest: it is a goal of civilization. Every human life
must be recognized and safeguarded from conception to its natural end,
in every circumstance of its existence. When this certainty is
obscured, the most vulnerable are the first victims, and the law loses
its deepest meaning: to serve and protect every person. For this
reason, the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in
its capacity to accompany, protect and love those lives that are most
fragile.
The common good is, in a certain
sense, the “social expression of the dignity recognized in every
person” (Magnifica Humanitas, 59). It does not consist in the mere sum
of particular interests, but rather in “the sum of those conditions of
social life which allow social groups and their individual members
relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfillment” (Gaudium
et Spes, 26). When the common good ceases to be a shared horizon,
public action runs the risk of fragmenting into partial interests,
incapable of safeguarding what belongs to all.
In this context, the family — the
primary human reality and the natural foundation of the community —
takes on particular importance. In the home, generations intertwine and
a living memory is passed on, giving inner continuity to society. Where
the family is upheld, the spiritual and social stability of nations is
also strengthened. The family will always be the first school of
humanity, where one learns, before anywhere else, the basic grammar of
living together: welcoming life, caring for others, forgiving, serving
and belonging".
SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II: Reclaim every human being's right to life
USCCB FACTSHEET: Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church's Constant Teaching
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Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
23. In the case of tears, as in everything else,
our good and just Judge will certainly take into consideration the strength
of our nature. For I have seen small tear drops shed with difficulty like
drops of blood, and I have also seen fountains of tears poured out without
difficulty. And I judged those toilers more by their toil than by their
tears, and I think that God does also.
June 7, 2026
(1Co 10:16-17) The
chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the
blood of Christ? And the bread which we break, is it not the partaking
of the body of the Lord? For we, being many, are one bread, one body:
all that partake of one bread.
POPE LEO XIV:
Corpus Christi is more than just another celebration on the liturgical
calendar. It is a way of returning to the heart of the faith to renew
our love and fidelity to God. It is a profession of faith in the
presence of the Risen Lord, who is alive and continues to walk among
us, who becomes bread to satiate our hunger for life, and visits the
recesses of our hearts and history, even those shrouded in darkness.
VATICAN.VA HOLY MASS, PROCESSION AND EUCHARISTIC BLESSINGIN THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST: Homily of the Holy Father
VIDEO CATHOLIC VOTE: Corpus Christi in St. Peter's Square, 1950.
Leading the procession is Pope Pius XII. Among the relics carried is
the Corporal of Bolsena, the linen cloth stained with blood from the
Eucharistic miracle of 1263, which occurred when a priest doubted the
Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
YOUTUBE: Anima Christi (English) | Orchestrated Version (Official Lyric Music Video) - Francesca LaRosa
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH: Five facts about the Feast of Corpus Christi
1. The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus
Christi, celebrates the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy
Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
2. There were 2 separate miracles that lead to the institution of the
feast in the Catholic Church: A Vision to St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon
and The Miracle at Bolsena.
St. Juliana’s Vision: The saint had a vision of the Church under the
appearance of a full moon which had one dark spot. During the vision,
she heard a mysterious, heavenly voice explain that the moon
represented the Church at that time, and the dark spot symbolized the
fact that a great feast in honor of the Blessed Sacrament was missing
from the liturgical calendar.
The Miracle at Bolsena: In 1263 a priest had grown lukewarm for his
love of the Eucharist and began to doubt Jesus' true presence in the
Blessed Sacrament. In response to his doubt, when he recited the prayer
of consecration as he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, blood
started seeping from the consecrated host and onto the altar and
corporal.
3. The festival was instituted throughout the Church by Pope Urban IV
in 1264. Before that there had been no universal festival to mark the
sacrament of the Eucharist.
4. Inspired by the St. Juliana and The Miracle at Bolsena, Pope Urban
IV commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the Mass and Office for
the feast of Corpus Christi. Namely, Pange Lingua, Tantum Ergo, Panis
Angelicus, and O Salutaris Hostia.
5. One of the key liturgical facets of Corpus Christi is its
procession. They enable Christians to give public witness to their
faith, give glory to God, and they symbolize our earthly pilgrimage to
the heavenly Jerusalem. Eucharistic processions began shortly after the
institution of the Feast of Corpus Christi.
CATHOLIC ANSWERS TRACT: Feast of Corpus Christi | What It Is and Why It Matters
Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
22. Let your very
dress urge you to the work of
mourning, because all who lament the dead are dressed in black. If you
do not mourn, mourn for this cause. And if you mourn, lament still more
that, by your sins, you have brought yourself down from a state free of
labours to one of labours.
June
5, 2026
(2Pe 3:9-11) The
Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but dealeth patiently
for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
return to penance, But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in
which the heavens shall pass away with great violence and the elements
shall be melted with heat and the earth and the works which are in it
shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things are to be
dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation
and godliness?
THE CATHOLIC THING: Numbering Our Days Aright
MARK MALLET BLOG: Is Your Head Spinning?
CRISIS MAGAZINE: Waiting for a State of Emergency
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events, moral decline, and the spiritual battle against demonic
influences, asserting that recent turmoil is linked to a prophesied
period of demonic release. The speaker emphasizes the importance of
faith and endurance in light of these revelations, urging viewers to
focus on the eventual triumph of good over evil through the Immaculate
Heart of Mary.
He is compelled to Discuss the Sixth Seal: The Warning. Are We Nearing It's Life-Altering Arrival?
In a discussion on 'Breakfast with Bacon', Mark Mallett
urges listeners to consider the significance of the sixth seal from the
Book of Revelation, emphasizing the impending judgment and the urgency
of repentance. He reflects on the current societal turmoil as a prelude
to the 'Illumination of Conscience', wherein people will witness their
true selves before God. The conversation stresses the importance of
spiritual readiness and the need to discern truth amidst increasing
deceptions and distractions in modern life.
The Woman and the Dragon
In this discussion, Mark Mallet and Daniel from 'The Now Word' analyze
Revelation 12, focusing on the symbolic confrontation between a woman
and a dragon, representing good versus evil. They highlight the
apparition of the woman in the sky and the misleading phenomena such as
UFO sightings, suggesting that these may be part of a greater deception
orchestrated by the devil. The hosts connect current cultural
narratives, including Spielberg's upcoming film 'Disclosure', to
historical misconceptions about extraterrestrial life, emphasizing that
these ideas detract from the true Christian faith. They conclude that
believers should remain grounded in scripture and tradition, resisting
false claims.
ETERNAL CHRISTENDOM REVIEW: End Times: Antichrist, Katechōn, Jerusalem, the Conversion of the Jews, and the Temple
CATHOLIC STAND: Prophecy of Last Days by Saint Louis de Montfort
Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
21. Let the
remembrance of the eternal fire lie
down with you every evening, and let it rise up with you too. Then
sloth
will never overwhelm you at the time of psalmody.
June
3, 2026
(Joh
19:34-35) But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and
immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath
given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he
saith true: that you also may believe.
VATICAN NEWS: US Bishops to consecrate America to Sacred Heart of Jesus for 250th anniversary
OSV NEWS: Sacred Heart film’s US showings coincide with bishops’ national consecration
NCR REVIEW: Where Did Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Come From?
EXCERPT CATHOLIC STAND: Devote June to the Sacred Heart, NOT Disordered Sexuality (Part 2)
When I educated children about Jesus’s Sacred Heart, I showed them an
image and pointed out the various symbolisms. This is something
parents can do with their own kids this month.
- The red color used in the Sacred Heart image recalls
the blood Jesus poured out for us. Red also signifies the impassioned
love of Jesus which is why he laid down his life for us.
- The heart typically is encircled with the crown of
thorns that Jesus’s executioners placed on his head. The piercings
represent the cuts caused by our sins and reminds us of how Jesus
suffered on our account.
- A proper Sacred Heart image will show a gash on the
lower portion of the heart. This gash is a remembrance of when the
soldier thrust his lance into Jesus’ side to prove He was dead.
- Some images depict blood droplets flowing from the
wound, reminding us that he underwent a painful, horrific death. The
droplets also recall that Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant
which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.”
- The Sacred Heart of Jesus will have flames emitting
above the upper, center of the heart. These flames symbolize the
intense warmth of Jesus’ love.
- There is also a cross displayed in the midst of these
flames. It is on the cross where Jesus most definitively proved the
love in His heart for us.
- Finally, many depictions of the Sacred Heart will
have rays of light beams radiating from the heart. The rays remind us
that Jesus is the light of the world and His love enlightens the world.
CHURCHPOP: Five Powerful Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Every Catholic Should Know
EWTN NEWS EXCERPT: These are the promises the Sacred Heart of Jesus made to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque:
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will give peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their troubles.
- I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
- I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in my heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
- I will bless those places wherein the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
- I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
- Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my heart.
- In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my
all-powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on
the first Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final
repentance: They will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving
the sacraments; and my heart will be their secure refuge in that last
hour.
USCCB: Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
20. The seas wastes
with time, as Job says (Job
14:11). And with time and patience, the things of which we have spoken
are gradually acquired and perfected in us.
June
1, 2026
(Jas
1:12) Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the
test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those
who love him.
SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II:
"Religious freedom, an essential requirement of the dignity of every
person, is a cornerstone of the structure of human rights". It is
thus the most profound expression of freedom of conscience".
....."Religious faith is so important for individuals and peoples that
in many cases a person is ready to make any sacrifice in order to
preserve it. In the end, every attempt to ban or crush what a person
holds most dear risks fuelling open or latent rebellion".
2026 ANNUAL REPORT: UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM
NICARAGUA
The Ortega-Murillo regime continues
a severe, targeted crackdown on the Catholic Church, including:
- Surveillance of Masses and worship.
- Heavy restrictions on public processions (over 16,500 banned
since 2018).
- Harassment, arbitrary detention, and exile of priests and lay
leaders.
- Property seizures and dissolution of Catholic-affiliated
organizations (e.g., Dominican Nuns Foundation).
NEWS REPORTS AND
COMMENTARY
UNIVERSALIS: From the Acts of the martyrdom of Saint Justin and his companion saints I have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians
The saints were seized and brought
before the prefect of Rome, whose name was Rusticus. As they stood
before the judgement seat, Rusticus the prefect said to Justin: “Above
all, have faith in the gods and obey the emperors.” Justin said: “We
cannot be accused or condemned for obeying the commands of our Saviour,
Jesus Christ.”
Rusticus said: “What system of teaching do you
profess?” Justin said: “I have tried to learn about every system, but I
have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians, though these are
not approved by those who are held fast by error.”
The prefect
Rusticus said: “Are those doctrines approved by you, wretch that you
are?” Justin said: “Yes, for I follow them with their correct teaching.”
The prefect Rusticus said: “What sort of teaching is that?” Justin
said: “Worship the God of the Christians. We hold him to be from the
beginning the one creator and maker of the whole creation, of things
seen and things unseen. We worship also the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. He was foretold by the prophets as the future herald of
salvation for the human race and the teacher of distinguished
disciples. For myself, since I am a human being, I consider that what I
say is insignificant in comparison with his infinite godhead. I
acknowledge the existence of a prophetic power, for the one I have just
spoken of as the Son of God was the subject of prophecy. I know that
the prophets were inspired from above when they spoke of his coming
among men.”
Rusticus said: “You are a Christian, then?” Justin said: “Yes, I am a Christian.”
The prefect said to Justin: “You are called a learned man and think
that you know what is true teaching. Listen: if you were scourged and
beheaded, are you convinced that you would go up to heaven?” Justin
said: “I hope that I shall enter God’s house if I suffer that way. For
I know that God’s favour is stored up until the end of the whole world
for all who have lived good lives.”
The prefect Rusticus said: “Do
you have an idea that you will go up to heaven to receive some suitable
rewards?” Justin said: “It is not an idea that I have; it is something
I know well and hold to be most certain.”
The prefect Rusticus
said: “Now let us come to the point at issue, which is necessary and
urgent. Gather round then and with one accord offer sacrifice to the
gods.” Justin said: “No one who is right thinking stoops from true
worship to false worship.”
The prefect Rusticus said: “If you do
not do as you are commanded you will be tortured without mercy.” Justin
said: “We hope to suffer torment for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and so be saved. For this will bring us salvation and confidence as we
stand before the more terrible and universal judgement-seat of our Lord
and Saviour.”
In the same way the other martyrs also said: “Do what you will. We are Christians; we do not offer sacrifice to idols.”
The prefect Rusticus pronounced sentence, saying: “Let those who have
refused to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the command of the emperor
be scourged and led away to suffer capital punishment according to the
ruling of the laws.” Glorifying God, the holy martyrs went out to the
accustomed place. They were beheaded, and so fulfilled their witness of
martyrdom in confessing their faith in their Saviour.
Ladder of Divine
Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"
19. When we suffer
from the superior honourable
dishonour, scolding or punishment, let us remember the fearful sentence
of the Judge, and we shall kill with meekness and patience, as with a
two-edged
sword, the irrational sorrow and bitterness which will certainly be
sown
in us.
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