Keep
your eyes open!...
Lent, 2026
(Isa 58:6-9) Is
not this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands of
wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go
free, and break asunder every burden. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and
bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see
one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh. Then shall thy
light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall speedily arise,
and thy justice shall go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord
shall gather thee up. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall hear:
thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou wilt take away the
chain out of the midst of thee, and cease to stretch out the finger,
and to speak that which profiteth not.
THE HOLY SEE: MESSAGE OF POPE LEO XIV FOR LENT 2026 Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion
“Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash
judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are
not present and cannot defend themselves,” he said. “Instead, let
us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in
our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political
debates, in the media and in Christian communities.” If we do so, we
will let words of hatred “give way to words of hope and peace.”
CBCPNEWS: “Fasting beyond food: Inviting Christ into digital media use”
PIERBATTISTA CARD. PIZZABALLA, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Lenten Letter to the Diocese of Jerusalem
YOUTUBE: Dr. Taylor Marshall: How to you 10X Your Catholic Lent? 5 Secrets to Increase Your Love for Christ in Lent
CAPUCHIN FRANCISCANS: Padre Pio’s Words to Prepare Us for Lent
Lent is almost here. Every year, we hear the same call: to pray
more, fast, and give. But how do we truly enter these 40 days
with the right mindset?
Saint Padre Pio, a Capuchin friar devoted to prayer, sacrifice, and
suffering, teaches us how to embrace Lent with a heart open to
repentance and renewal. His life was a witness to the power of
offering suffering to Christ, and his words continue to guide us in our
Lenten journey.
As we prepare for this sacred season, here are five powerful quotes from Padre Pio to help us focus on what really matters:
1. “The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle
against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its
perfection except at the price of pain.” Lent is a time to deny
ourselves, not just for the sake of discipline, but to turn our hearts
back to God. The struggle against sin, comfort, and self-will
leads us to true spiritual growth.
2. “Love Jesus, love Him very much, but to do this, be ready to
love sacrifice more.” To love Christ, we must make room for Him.
That means letting go of comfort, routine, and distractions that take
priority over our faith. Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are not
just actions; they are ways of loving Jesus more deeply.
3. “If you suffer with Jesus, you will reign with Jesus.” Lent is
about embracing suffering, not avoiding it. Every sacrifice, act
of penance, or moment of discomfort is an opportunity to walk with
Christ. Padre Pio reminds us that suffering has meaning when it
is united to Jesus’ passion.
4. “The cross will not crush you; if its weight makes you
stagger, its power will also sustain you.” Following Jesus is not going
to be easy. We might struggle with fasting, fail in our
resolutions, or wrestle with temptation. But God’s grace
strengthens us.
5. “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless.
God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” At its heart, Lent is about
returning to God’s mercy. No matter how many times we fall, He is
always waiting for us with forgiveness and love. Prayer and trust
are the foundation of our Lenten journey.
Padre Pio, Capuchin and saint, pray for us as we enter these 40 days.
EASTER 2026 DATES
February 18 - Ash Wednesday
March 29 - Palm Sunday
April 2 - Maundy (Holy) Thursday
April 3 - Good Friday
April 5- Easter Sunday (Western Christianity - Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion, Protestant Churches, also Orthodox Christianity - Eastern Orthodox Churches)
April 12- Divine Mercy Sunday
(Ecc
3:1-7) All things have their season, and in their times all things pass
under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and
a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to
heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a
time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter
stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far
from embraces. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a
time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep
silence, and a time to speak.
UPDATES: Non-subscribers can access items emailed during Lent at Tribulaton Times - Google Groups.
LENTEN SABBATICAL
The TRIB
TIMES will not
be updated again this year
during the Lenten season, extending to the first week after
Easter. My computer time will be limited to 30
minutes
each morning and evening during Lent. I will read all emails I receive,
and will answer all that I can, time permitting. I may also
occasionally
email non-reformatted news articles to Trib Times subscribers that I
find
to be of particular interest. But barring a major event (admittedly not unlikely these days), the Trib
Times
web page itself will not be updated.
I
apologize to all who have recently subscribed but
will keep your email information for use after my return. God
willing,
the next issue of the Trib Times should be shortly after Divine Mercy
Sunday, April 12, 2026. Please keep me in your
prayers, and be
assured that
I will do the same.
I recommend the
following links to keep up
with unfolding events:
Catholic
News
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/
https://www.ewtnnews.com/
https://www.ncregister.com/
Signs of the Times
http://www.spiritdaily.com/
https://www.lifesitenews.com/
http://www.lifenews.com/
Readings & Meditations for Lent &
Holy
Week
https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/prayer-spirituality-resources/praying-lent
https://mycatholic.life/lent-prayers-reflections/
http://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever/
Catholic Commentary
The Catholic Thing
Crisis Magazine
Aleteia
Newer
subscribers may also be interested in a meditation
that first appeared in the Trib Times in 2004, The
Pain of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
LINK TO DONATE TO AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED: https://aidtochurch.org/ways-to-give/make-a-donation
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
11. Anyone who wishes to
retain within him continually
the remembrance of death and God's judgment, and at the same time
yields
to material cares and distractions, is like a man who is swimming and
wants
to clap his hands.
February 17, 2026
(Joe 2:12-13) Now,
therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your heart, in
fasting, and in weeping, and mourning. And rend your hearts, and not
your garments and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and
merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.
BISHOP VARDEN:
Fasting has its object outside myself. I deprive myself of food or
some kind of enjoyment, whatever it is. But fasting is an ecstatic
practice in the strict sense of that word: it helps me to step outside
myself and toward the other, and to grow in attentiveness.
CHURCHPOP: Your Catholic Guide for Fasting & Abstinence During Lent, According to Church Teaching
ANTONIO CARDINAL BACCI: Fasting and Abstinence
EWTN VATICAN: Ash Wednesday: Pope Leo XIV Begins Lent with Rome’s Station Church
ARCHDIOCESE OF SINGAPORE: Season of Grace
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Joel 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6,12-14,17; 2 Cor 5:20 – 6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18]
Are you feeling empty? Is there something missing in your life
even when you are successful and doing well? Do you feel that
there is a vacuum in your life that you cannot explain? Are you
feeling disoriented and edgy? Why do you get so irritated and
angry with small matters? Is the source of annoyance coming from
within or without? Perhaps, you have no focus in life. You
are just drifting along, not knowing where you should expend your
energy and time. You are doing many things but nothing seems
fulfilling. The real reason is perhaps because you are not happy
with yourself. You are living a double life. You are living
a sinful life, a life of infidelity, cheating, fighting and negative
towards people. You are addicted to anger, envy, sloth and greed,
besides lust. You want to break free from the sins that hold on
to you but you do not have the strength to come clean and start all
over again.
Indeed, deep in our hearts, many of us want to return to the
Lord. We want to recover our sense of direction in life. We
want to take control of our lives. We are sick of living a life
of slavery to sin and our bad habits which are destroying not just our
health but taking away our peace, joy and freedom. If you are
feeling this way, then the Church is providing you a time of grace for
you to return to the Lord and to find your peace again. St Paul
wrote, “Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of
salvation.” Indeed, this is the best time to return to God and find joy
again.
How can we find our peace if not to be reconciled first with God?
There can be no peace in our hearts or with our fellowmen unless we are
first at peace with God. Reconciliation with God is the first
step towards being reconciled with our fellowmen and within
ourself. St Paul urges us, “We are ambassadors for Christ; it is
as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in
Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God.” Why should we be reconciled
with God? St Paul says, “For our sake God made the sinless one
into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God.” It is
God’s desire for us to become like Him in grace and love. All of
us as His children are called to be the goodness of God. That is
why God emptied Himself in Christ Jesus to lead us in the way. By
assuming our humanity, He comes to assure us that He understands our
struggles, our pains, our frustrations, our anxieties and fears.
By overcoming all the temptations of life, Jesus is telling us that
with God’s grace, we can live the life of God and defeat Satan and his
snares.
God desires us to know that we are forgiven. He knows that unless
we believe that we are forgiven, we will not have the capacity to
forgive others, much less ourselves. We will be living in guilt
and fear. There is no peace in us. If we cannot forgive and
accept our own limitations and weaknesses, what makes us so sure that
we can accept and tolerate the mistakes of others? For
Christians, the beginning of peace must come from God. So, the
invitation is to turn to God for forgiveness. “Turn to the Lord
your God again, for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger,
rich in graciousness, and ready to relent.” Indeed, we can be sure of
God’s forgiveness. He will not abandon us or take into account
our past. He readily forgives us because He knows who we are,
weak and frail sinners.
Receiving full forgiveness presupposes that we confess our sins
explicitly and acknowledge that we are sinners. This is the first
step to finding peace. We must admit that we are at fault and not
blame others for our failures. We are equally guilty as
sinners. Together with the Israelites, we must confess our
sins. With the psalmist, we say, “My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I
sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.” There should be no
rationalization of whatever sort. There should be no
justification. Humbly admit our ignorance and selfishness when we
confess our sins.
The consequence of contrition of heart and repentance is the reward of
joy and peace. Whenever we confess our sins, we find great
liberation. This is the experience of every penitent. That
is provided we confess our sins sincerely and with contrition.
The prophet said, “Come back to me with all your heart, fasting,
weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken not your garments
torn, turn to the Lord your God again.” The greater the contrition and
the greater the sincerity in confessing our sins as they are, without
justifying, rationalizing or mitigating them, the greater is the
healing effect and lasting the conversion. The joy and freedom
from fear and guilt in those who confess their sins is manifested in
their recovery of prayer life and the joy of worshipping God.
Before confession, they cannot praise God. But after confession,
their lips open and they begin to praise God easily. This was the
experience of the psalmist. He said, “O Lord, open my lips and my
mouth shall declare your praise.”
The great thing about the season of Lent is that we do not walk
alone. The whole community of Christians walk with us in the
journey back to God. Walking alone is frightening and often when
we walk alone, the devil will tempt us back to sin because we are
weak. This is what happened to those who are newly baptized or
just returned to the Church. Without a community to support them,
they fall back easily to their old way of life. They forget that
baptism is not just being baptized in Christ but to be baptized into
the body of Christ, the Church. Baptism is to belong to the
community of faith. We need our brothers and sisters to accompany
us in our journey of faith. Alone, we will eventually drop out
because we are not living within the ambience of grace. But with
our fellow brothers and sisters encouraging us along the way, we will
be able to overcome all trials and temptations.
For this reason, the call to repentance is not just addressed to
individuals but to the whole community. “Order a fast, proclaim a
solemn assembly, call the people together, summon the community,
assemble the elders, gather the children, even the infants at the
breast.” The whole Church is on retreat and on this faith
journey. Every one of us, from the Pope to the ordinary Catholic,
is called to conversion of heart. We are called to make this
pilgrimage together as the People of God, from the land of slavery to
the Promised Land.
How can we make our journey if not to use the channels of grace made
available to us? In the gospel, Jesus provides us the ways to
come back to Him. The three pillars of the Lenten program consist
of prayer, almsgiving and penance.
If we want to regain our relationship with the Lord, we need to make
time for prayer, especially our personal time with the Lord in quiet
reflection and contemplation. “But when you pray go to your
private room and, when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who
is in that secret place.” There can be no conversion or renewal of
relationship with the Lord if we do not make time for prayer.
Meditation on the Word of God and on the Passion of Christ as in the
devotion of the Stations of the Cross will help the person to encounter
God’s love and mercy for Him. This will help us find the grace
and courage to repent and come back to God.
Secondly, there is a need for penance and mortification. This is
to help us exercise discipline over our body since we lose control of
ourselves. Sin is often our master. We must exercise
self-control, beginning with the sensual needs before we can master our
mind and spirit. Fasting is always part of this program. We
are invited to do penance so that we can feel with Christ and our
fellowmen in their sufferings. In this way, we learn to curb our
tongue and our senses. Jesus said, “But when you fast, put oil on
your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting
except your Father.” Thirdly, we are called to the practice of
almsgiving. “But when you give alms, your left hand must not know
what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret.” Through
almsgiving, we learn to open our hearts to the sufferings of others and
in the process, encounter the joy of mercy that God wants to give
us. The poor often reveal to us the face of God and give us the
joy that money cannot buy. Charity is the fruit of peace in our
hearts and the love of God in our lives.
Indeed, the season of Lent is a season of grace. Let us not waste
the grace of God given to us at this time. St Paul urges us, “We
beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have
received.” Let us not delay and postpone further. Let us not lose
this opportunity of grace that the Church has given to us but make full
use of it. Let us also encourage each other to live a virtuous
life and not tempt each other to sin. Let us walk this journey of
40 days together to the Promised Land.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
10. Never, when mourning for your sins, accept
that cure which suggests to you that God is tender-hearted (this thought
is useful only when you see yourself being dragged down to deep despair).
For the aim of the enemy is to thrust from you your mourning and fearless
fear.
February 12, 2026
(Rev 13:15-17) And
it was given him to give life to the image of the beast: and that the
image of the beast should speak: and should cause that whosoever will
not adore the image of the beast should be slain. And he shall make
all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have
a character in their right hand or on their foreheads: And that no man
might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name.
X via Matt Shumer: Something Big Is Happening
GROK ANALYSIS: https://x.com/i/grok/share/8af9a359a9c043bab79090b9dbda18a7
Excerpt: Is Matt Shumer a reliable source?
Yes, he's credible within the AI builder/insider community. As
CEO of OthersideAI (focused on advanced AI autocomplete/agent tools)
and an active user/investor in the ecosystem (Groq, Etched, OpenRouter,
etc.), he has deep hands-on experience with cutting-edge models since
roughly 2020. His takes tend to be technically literate,
forward-looking, and less filtered than mainstream media
coverage. The article exploded because it articulated what many
developers and founders were already experiencing privately but hadn't
yet seen framed so bluntly for a general audience.
He isn't an academic economist or neutral forecaster — he's an
optimistic builder who benefits from AI acceleration — so his tone
carries urgency and some promotional energy for tools/skills. But
the factual backbone (model releases, benchmark leaps, lab leader
quotes, self-improvement loops) holds up under scrutiny. His
warnings aren't fringe; they're echoed by Amodei, Altman, and others
running the labs.
TECHSPOT: AI could wipe out most white-collar jobs within 12 months, Microsoft AI chief warns
EWTN NEWS: Catholic thinkers, tech experts reflect on promise and perils of AI at New York Encounter
X via Arcivescovo Carlo Maria Vigaṇ:
The scenario that looms ahead—indeed, that is already unfolding before
our eyes—is profoundly unsettling, but from an eschatological
perspective it finds its own rationale in the apostasy foretold by the
Prophet Daniel and the Book of Revelation, reiterated presumably in the
third part of the Virgin Mary’s message at Fatima and in her words at
La Salette: “Rome will lose the Faith and become the seat of the
Antichrist.” The apostasy of the Catholic Church’s Hierarchy forms part
of that crisis of earthly authority as a necessary consequence of the
rejection of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Kingship. This authority
demands obedience in the name of the Head of the Mystical Body, while
separating itself from Him through heresy and corruption. The
Hierarchy will not be able to heal the wound for which it is
responsible until it converts. Until that moment, it can only be
a tyrannical and self-referential authority, devoid of any legitimacy,
because it abuses its power for the very purpose opposite to that for
which Our Lord established it.
MORE: Satanism and Globalization
MARK MALLET BLOG: 10 Reasons the Fuse is Short
Summary:
The central message of the post is that we are living in a special,
prolonged "time of mercy" — a period of extraordinary grace extended by
God (as revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska in 1937) — but this
time has an expiry date. It will soon give way to the "Day of
Justice" (also called the "Day of the Lord"), a purifying event where
God will judge wickedness and fulfill promises to the faithful.
The author argues that the "fuse" of this merciful period is growing
very short, supported by 10 converging reasons drawn from Scripture,
Church teaching, private revelations, and current world events.
Here are the 10 reasons outlined in the article, with brief explanations:
- Joel Prophesied This Hour- The massive explosion of prophecies,
Marian apparitions, locutions, and visions in recent generations
matches the biblical prophecy of Joel (quoted in Acts 2:17–21) about
the last days, when God pours out His Spirit, leading to widespread
prophesying, dreams, visions, and signs before the great Day of the
Lord.
- The Magisterium’s Warning- Successive popes (from Leo XIII to
John Paul II) have used strikingly prophetic language to describe our
era — speaking of widespread apostasy, the "Son of Perdition," spirits
of error, and the need for "watchmen" to announce Christ's coming —
aligning closely with end-times prophecies.
- The “sense of the faithful”- The baptized share in Christ's
prophetic office (Catechism n. 897) and many faithful (laity and
clergy alike) report a powerful, growing interior sense of urgency to
convert and prepare as global signs intensify.
- The General Signs — Man-Made?- The "birth pains" Jesus
described (wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues — Matthew 24) are
increasingly man-made or human-amplified (e.g., record conflicts,
engineered disasters, weaponized diseases), suggesting humanity itself
is forging the instruments of its own potential destruction.
- Idolatry- Modern society has created a new "golden calf" through
worship of technology and AI, which increasingly replaces human
relationships, work, and even spiritual guidance — echoing the original
temptation to "be like gods" through forbidden knowledge.
- Playing God- Humanity's unchecked pursuit of cloning, genetic
engineering, designer babies, and weather manipulation crosses moral
boundaries and attempts to usurp God's role, as warned by Pope Benedict
XVI.
- Existential Threats- Rapidly advancing dangers — AI approaching
singularity (potentially by 2026), nuclear World War III risks, and
lab-created lethal pathogens — place humanity on the brink of
self-annihilation.
- The Culture of Death- Abortion, euthanasia, endless wars, and
widespread starvation constitute sins that "cry out to heaven,"
spilling innocent blood in a way that echoes Cain's crime and invites
divine justice (as emphasized by St. John Paul II in Evangelium
Vitae).
- The Emerging Global- Slavery The push toward cashless societies,
digital IDs, and centralized control by governments/financial elites is
creating a system of total surveillance and restricted freedom —
described as a form of "global Communism" achieved through orchestrated
chaos.
- The Great Scattering of the Church- The Church faces a final,
severe trial that will shake the faith of many, scatter the flock, and
involve apostasy even "from the top" — fulfilling prophecies about
doctrinal confusion, indifferentism, and the Church's purification
before the end.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
9. Some inquire and wonder: 'Why, when the remembrance
of death is so beneficial for us, has God hidden from us the knowledge
of the hour of death?' - not knowing that in this way God wonderfully accomplishes
our salvation. For no one who foreknew his death would at once proceed
to baptism or the monastic life; but everyone would spend all his days
in iniquities, and only on the day of his death would he approach baptism
and repentance. From long habit, he would become confirmed in vice, and
would remain utterly incorrigible.
February 10, 2026
(Heb 12:1-2) And
therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head,
laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by
patience to the fight proposed to us: Looking on Jesus, the author and
finisher of faith, who, having joy set before him, endured the cross,
despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of
God.
EWTN NEWS: Venerable Fulton Sheen to be beatified
The Holy See has officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese
of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification, according to
an announcement from the diocese.
“The next step in the process is the celebration of the beatification,
in which Fulton Sheen would be declared Blessed,” Tylka said.
“Archbishop Fulton Sheen was one of the greatest voices of
evangelization in the Church and the world in the 20th century. I have
long admired his lifelong commitment to serve the Church as a priest,
rooted in his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist.”
“As he journeyed through the different stages of his life, his ability
to share the Gospel and truly relate to people drew countless souls
into an encounter with Jesus — one that transformed not only his life,
but more importantly, the lives of those he touched.”
“In his later years, particularly through his work for the Missions,
Archbishop Sheen helped us recognize that the Church is meant for all
people. He reminded us that as members of the Church, we are called to
serve everyone, especially those most in need and those longing to hear
and experience the Gospel, wherever they may be in the world,” he said.
LIST: Top 250 Fulton J. Sheen Quotes
BLOG: The Life and Sanctity of Fulton J. Sheen
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA: Biography of Fulton J. Sheen
FULTON SHEEN ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE
NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER: Venerable Fulton Sheen Explains Why the Rosary Changes Everything
VENERABLE FULTON SHEEN: "The trouble with the world today is that there are not enough rosaries being prayed!"
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
8. Not every desire for death is good. Some, constantly
sinning from force of habit, pray for death with humility. And some, who
do not want to repent, invoke death out of despair. And some out of self-esteem
consider themselves dispassionate, and for a while have no fear of death.
And some (if such can now be found), through the action of the Holy Spirit,
ask for their departure.
February 8, 2026
(Pro 31:8-9) Open
thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that
pass. Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the
needy and poor.
POPE LEO XIV:
“Ultimately, the violence of human trafficking can be overcome only
through a renewed vision that beholds every individual as a beloved
child of God.”
SALESIANS REPORT: World Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking 2026
On 8 February 2025, the liturgical
memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita – a woman and nun from Sudan who as
a child was a victim of human trafficking and who, canonized in 2000,
has become a universal symbol of the Church’s commitment against
slavery – the 12th World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human
Trafficking will be celebrated.
The Day, established by Pope
Francis in 2015, is promoted by the International Union of Superiors
General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG) and is
coordinated by the international anti-trafficking network Talitha Kum –
which includes more than 6,000 nuns, friends and partners worldwide,
including the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians,
which has been a part of it since its inception in 2009 – in
collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human
Development, the Dicastery for Communication, the Dicastery for
Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and
numerous other organizations at the global level.
“Peace begins with dignity: a
global appeal to end human trafficking” is the theme of the 2026
edition, inspired by the powerful message of Pope Leo XIV, who stated
that true peace is gentle and humble, born of love and sustained
wherever human dignity is upheld. The exploitation and
objectification of people through trafficking undermine the foundations
of peace and justice, making its elimination essential for building a
just world. Human trafficking is a global wound that denies human
dignity and shatters peace in communities everywhere.
According to United Nations data,
there are approximately 27 million victims of human trafficking
worldwide, predominantly women, children, migrants, and displaced
persons, who suffer exploitation in many forms, from forced labor to
sexual exploitation, from servitude to forced marriage. The
United Nations Office the organization dealing with this issue
indicates that women and girls constitute 65% of the identified
victims, while almost a third are children. The vulnerability of
these groups increases in situations of war, poverty, and
displacement. Migrants and displaced persons are even more at
risk.
EWTN NEWS: ‘From despair to serenity’: The Italian nun saving women from human trafficking
Sister Carla Venditti of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
lives in Avezzano, Italy, and is known as the “anti-trafficking nun.”
ALETEIA: Philippines bishops call for stronger efforts to stop human trafficking
CARITAS: From victim to advocate: Father Jean De Dieu’s fight against modern slavery
FATHER V via X: St. Josephine Bakhita, pray for us!
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
7. He who with undoubting trust daily expects death
is virtuous; but he who hourly yields himself to it is a saint.
February 6, 2026
(Rev 21:4) And
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no
more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the
former things are passed away.
UNIVERSALIS: From an account of the martyrdom of Saint Paul Miki and his companions
“As I come to this supreme moment of
my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive
you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved
except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my
enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the
Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek
baptism and be Christians themselves.”
SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY: What is the Catholic Church’s position on suicide and Physician-Assisted Suicide?
THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE
Human life is the basis of all goods, and is the necessary
source and condition of every human activity and of all society.
Most people regard life as something sacred and hold that no one may
dispose of it at will, but believers see in life something greater,
namely, a gift of God’s love, which they are called upon to preserve
and make fruitful. And it is this latter consideration that gives
rise to the following consequences:
- No one can make an attempt on the life of an innocent
person without opposing God’s love for that person, without violating a
fundamental right, and therefore without committing a crime of the
utmost gravity.
- Everyone has the duty to lead his or her life in
accordance with God’s plan. That life is entrusted to the
individual as a good that must bear fruit already here on earth, but
that finds its full perfection only in eternal life.
- Intentionally causing one’s own death, or suicide, is
therefore equally as wrong as murder; such an action on the part of a
person is to be considered as a rejection of God’s sovereignty and
loving plan. Furthermore, suicide is also often a refusal of love
for self, the denial of a natural instinct to live, a flight from the
duties of justice and charity owed to one’s neighbor, to various
communities or to the whole of society – although, as is generally
recognized, at times there are psychological factors present that can
diminish responsibility or even completely remove it. However,
one must clearly distinguish suicide from that sacrifice of one’s life
whereby for a higher cause, such as God’s glory, the salvation of souls
or the service of one’s brethren, a person offers his or her own life
or puts it in danger (cf. Jn. 15:14).
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH- Euthanasia
2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special
respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead
lives as normal as possible.
2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in
putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying
persons. It is morally unacceptable.
Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death
in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary
to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living
God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall
in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which
must always be forbidden and excluded.
2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous,
extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be
legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here
one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is
merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if
he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act
for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must
always be respected.
2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a
sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of
painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk
of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human
dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only
foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form
of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.
CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT: ‘The answer to suffering is not to offer death,’ cardinal says of assisted suicide bill in Italy
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of
the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI, by its Italian acronym),
reaffirmed this week the Italian bishops’ opposition to any legislation
that would legitimize assisted suicide or euthanasia while also calling
for greater investment in palliative care and support for the sick.
“The answer to suffering is not to
offer death but to guarantee forms of social support, health care and
continuous home-based health care, and social services so that the sick
person doesn’t feel alone and families can be supported and
accompanied,” the cardinal stated during the opening session of the
CEI’s Permanent Council, which met through Jan. 28.
“Human dignity is not measured by efficiency or usefulness,” Zuppi emphasized, as reported by the Catholic newspaper Avvenire.
According to Zuppi, laws that
legitimize assisted suicide or euthanasia “risk weakening the public
commitment to the most fragile and vulnerable, who are often
invisible.” The cardinal also warned that decisions about the end of
life cannot be considered a purely private matter. “We strongly
feel the duty to remind everyone that choosing an early death, even
because one believes there are no alternatives, is not an individual
act but deeply affects the fabric of relationships that constitutes the
community, undermining the cohesion and solidarity on which civil
coexistence is based,” he declared on behalf of the Italian episcopate.
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Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
5. As tin is distinct from silver, although it
resembles it in appearance, so for the discerning there is a clear and
obvious difference between the natural and contranatural fear of death.
February 4, 2026
(1Co 16:13) Watch ye: stand fast in the faith: do manfully and be strengthened.
PODCAST: Father Dom's Homs: Your Baptism Is a Weapon: Why Most Catholic Men Are Living Below Their Power
CATHOLIC EXCHANGE: Spiritual Warfare: The Masculine Biblical Theology of Prayer
EXCERPT SUBSTACK: The Making of the Christian Man By Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Men are meant to lead in a uniquely masculine way. The great
saint of the early Eastern Church, John Chrysostom, described every
human father as the bishop of his family. All fathers are, in
that sense, bishops. And every father shapes the soul of the next
generation with his love, his self-mastery, and his courage—or the lack
of them.
So what does that mean for today? It means that the world needs
faithful Catholic men with a hunger to be saints. The role of a
Catholic husband and father—a man who sacrifices his own desires, out
of love, to serve the needs of his wife and children—is the living
cornerstone of a Christian home. Barring a miraculous change in
our culture, the Church in this country will face a hard road in the
next 20 years. So men need the friendship of real brothers in the
Lord—other men who are living examples of justice, courage, and
self-mastery—to be the disciples and leaders God intends them to be.
“The new knighthood” St. Bernard once praised has never really
disappeared. It’s new and renewed in every generation of faithful
Catholic men. And the rules of a genuinely new knighthood—all 22
of them—were written down 500 years ago by the great Catholic humanist,
Erasmus of Rotterdam, in his book, The Manual of a Christian
Knight. It’s a dense text for the modern reader, but here’s the
substance of what he says:
Rule 1: Deepen and increase your faith.
Rule 2: Act on your faith; make it a living witness to others.
Rule 3: Analyze and understand your fears; don’t be ruled by them.
Rule 4: Make Jesus Christ the only guide and the only goal of your life.
Rule 5: Turn away from material things; don’t be owned by them.
Rule 6: Train your mind to distinguish the true nature of good and evil.
Rule 7: Never let any failure or setback turn you away from God.
Rule 8: Face temptation guided by God, not by worry or excuses.
Rule 9: Always be ready for attacks from those who fear the Gospel and resent the good.
Rule 10: Always be prepared for temptation. And do what you can to avoid it.
Rule 11: Be alert to two special dangers: moral cowardice and personal pride.
Rule 12: Face your weaknesses and turn them into strengths.
Rule 13: Treat each battle as if it were your last.
Rule 14: A life of virtue has no room for vice; the little vices we tolerate become the most deadly.
Rule 15: Every important decision has alternatives; think them through clearly and honestly in the light of what’s right.
Rule 16: Never, ever give up or give in on any matter of moral substance.
Rule 17: Always have a plan of action. Battles are often won or lost before they begin.
Rule 18: Always think through, in advance, the consequences of your choices and actions.
Rule 19: Do nothing—in public or private—that the people you love would not hold in esteem.
Rule 20: Virtue is its own reward; it needs no applause.
Rule 21: Life is demanding and brief; make it count.
Rule 22: Admit and repent your wrongs, never lose hope, encourage your brothers, and then begin again.
Maleness is a matter of biology. It just happens. Manhood
must be learned and earned and taught. So our prayer today and
every day should be that God will plant the seed of that new knighthood
in the hearts of every Christian man—and make them the kind of “new
men” our families, our Church, our nation, and our world need.
CATHOLIC LINK
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
4. As of all foods, bread is the most essential,
so the thought of death is the most necessary of all works. The remembrace
of death amongst those in the midst of society gives birth to distress
and meditation, and even more, to despondency. But amongst those who are
free from noise, it produces the putting aside of cares and constant prayer
and guarding of the mind. But these same virtues both produce the remembrance
of death, and are also produced by it.
February 2, 2026
(Luk 2:34-35)
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child
is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for
a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall
pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.
ST
POPE JOHN PAUL II: Simeon's words cast new light on the announcement
which Mary had heard from the angel: Jesus is the Savior, he is "a
light for revelation" to mankind. Is not this what was manifested
in a way on Christmas night, when the shepherds come to the stable
(cf. Lk. 2:8-20)? Is not this what was to be
manifested even more clearly in the coming of the Magi from the East
(cf. Mt. 2:1-12)? But at the same time, at the very
beginning of his life, the Son of Mary, and his Mother with him, will
experience in themselves the truth of those other words of Simeon: "a
sign that is spoken against" (Lk. 2:34). Simeon's words
seem like a second Annunciation to Mary, for they tell her of the
actual historical situation in which the Son is to accomplish his
mission, namely, in misunderstanding and sorrow. While this
announcement on the one hand confirms her faith in the accomplishment
of the divine promises of salvation, on the other hand it also reveals
to her that she will have to live her obedience of faith in suffering,
at the side of the suffering Savior, and that her motherhood will be
mysterious and sorrowful. Thus, after the visit of the Magi who
came from the East, after their homage ("they fell down and worshipped
him") and after they had offered gifts (cf. Mt. 2:11), Mary
together with the child has to flee into Egypt in the protective care
of Joseph, for "Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him"
(cf. Mt. 2:13). And until the death of Herod they
will have to remain in Egypt (cf. Mt. 2:15).
ASCENSION PRESS PODCAST: The Real Meaning of the Presentation of the Lord
ICON: Presentation of the Lord Icon
Saint Joseph and the prophetess Anna stand by watching, while the aged
Simeon receives the Child in his arms, proclaiming Jesus as "a light to
the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."
ST PAUL CENTER: The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple
MY CATHOLIC LIFE: The Presentation of the Lord
Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews who obeyed the Law of Moses.
Jewish Law prescribed that two ritual acts needed to take place for a
firstborn son. First, the mother of a newborn son was ritually
unclean for seven days, and then she was to “spend thirty-three more
days in a state of blood purity” (Leviticus 12:2–8). During these
forty days she was not to “touch anything sacred nor enter the
sanctuary till the days of her purification are fulfilled.” For this
reason, today’s feast has at times been called the “Purification of
Mary.” Second, the father of the firstborn son was to “redeem” the
child by making an offering to the priest of five shekels so that the
priest would then present the child to the Lord (see Numbers
18:16). Recall that the firstborn male of all the Egyptians,
animals and children, was killed during the tenth plague, but the
firstborn males of the Israelites were spared. Thus, this
offering made for the firstborn son in the Temple was a way of ritually
redeeming him in commemoration of protection during that plague.
Since Jesus was presented in the Temple for this redemption, today’s
feast is now referred to as the “Presentation in the Temple.”
“Candlemass” is also a traditional name given to today’s feast because
as early as the fifth century, the custom of celebrating this feast
with lighted candles had developed. The lit candles symbolized
Simeon’s prophecy that Jesus would be “a light for revelation to the
Gentiles.” Lastly, this Feast has been referred to as the “Feast of the
Holy Encounter” because God, in the Person of Jesus, encountered Simeon
and Anna in the Temple.
Today’s feast is celebrated in our Church forty days after Christmas,
marking the day that Mary and Joseph would have brought Jesus into the
Temple. Though Mary was pure and free from sin from the moment of
her conception, and though the Son of God did not need to be redeemed,
Mary and Joseph fulfilled these ritual obligations.
UNIVERSALIS: From a sermon by Saint Sophronius, bishop Let us receive the light whose brilliance is eternal
In honour of the divine mystery that we celebrate today, let us all
hasten to meet Christ. Everyone should be eager to join the
procession and to carry a light.
Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendour of the one who
comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe
radiant with the brilliance of his eternal light. Our candles
also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ.
The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her
arms and brought him to those who lay in darkness. We too should
carry a light for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light
as we hasten to meet him.
The light has come and has shone upon a world enveloped in shadows; the
Dayspring from on high has visited us and given light to those who
lived in darkness. This, then, is our feast, and we join in
procession with lighted candles to reveal the light that has shone upon
us and the glory that is yet to come to us through him. So let us
hasten all together to meet our God.
The true light has come, the light that enlightens every man who is
born into this world. Let all of us, my brethren, be enlightened
and made radiant by this light. Let all of us share in its
splendour, and be so filled with it that no one remains in the
darkness. Let us be shining ourselves as we go together to meet
and to receive with the aged Simeon the light whose brilliance is
eternal. Rejoicing with Simeon, let us sing a hymn of
thanksgiving to God, the Father of the light, who sent the true light
to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his splendour.
Through Simeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he
prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new
Israel, which is ourselves. As Simeon was released from the bonds
of this life when he had seen Christ, so we too were at once freed from
our old state of sinfulness.
By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as he
came to us from Bethlehem. Gentiles before, we have now become
the people of God. Our eyes have seen God incarnate, and because
we have seen him present among us and have mentally received him into
our arms, we are called the new Israel. Never shall we forget
this presence; every year we keep a feast in his honour.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 6- "On remembrance of death"
2. The remembrance of death is a daily death; and
the remembrance of our departure is an hourly sighing or groaning.
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