Keep
your eyes open!...
June 30, 2025
(Joh
14:23-24)
Jesus answered and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my
word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make
our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And the
word which you have heard is not mine; but the Father's who sent me.
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OPINION: Martyrs don’t bend the knee — even to the state
In 1535, Saint
Thomas More went to his death, not in defiance of his king but in
ultimate service to both God and England. His final words — “I die the
king’s faithful servant, and God’s first” — captured the essence of
true religious liberty: the freedom to fulfill the duty to worship God
rightly. As the patron saint of religious liberty, More challenges
lawmakers and church leaders to renew their commitment to defending
that sacred duty.
To More, religious liberty wasn’t
just freedom from state interference. It meant the freedom to obey God,
even at the cost of his life. His last declaration made clear that duty
to God comes before any loyalty to civil authority. Pope Leo XIII put
it plainly in “Immortale Dei”: “We are bound absolutely to worship God
in that way which He has shown to be His will.”
More lived this principle, choosing martyrdom over surrender to the
world. His death makes clear that real freedom begins with obedience to
God — a truth rooted in the moral obligations of human nature. To
defend religious liberty is to affirm the duty to give God the worship
He deserves, a duty no earthly power — not even a king — can rightly
deny.
America’s founders understood this
well. They saw religious liberty not as license, but as the right to
fulfill one’s duty to God. James Madison wrote, “It is the duty of
every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he
believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent, both in order
of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society.”
America’s founders drafted the Constitution with the understanding that
citizens would practice their religious duties — not as optional acts,
but as essential to a free and moral society. As John Adams put it,
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is
wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
That understanding now faces growing threats. When laws hinder the duty
to worship God rightly, they chip away at the foundation of religious
liberty the founders meant to preserve. Consider the case of Colorado
baker Jack Phillips. For refusing to make cakes that violated his
faith, Phillips endured more than a decade of legal battles, fines,
protests, and business losses. He wasn’t seeking special treatment — he
simply wanted to live out his faith. Although the Supreme Court
eventually sided with him, the fight drained years of his life and
resources. Religious liberty delayed for a decade amounts to religious
liberty denied.
True religious freedom, as More and
the founders envisioned it, demands strong protections for people and
institutions to live out their beliefs in every area of life, not just
within a sanctuary or under the narrow shelter of exemptions.
To fulfill the vision of religious
liberty embodied by Thomas More and upheld by America’s founders,
Americans must renew their commitment to strengthening religious
institutions through laws that promote the common good. Elected leaders
cannot separate their faith from their public responsibilities.
Religious truth shapes just governance.
Having just celebrated Religious
Liberty Week, we would do well to recall More’s words: “God’s first.”
True religious liberty begins with the duty to worship God as He
commands. That duty forms the bedrock of a free and just society.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Visions
18. A brother asked Poemen about
the words, 'Do not render evil for evil' (1Thess. 5:15). He said to
him, 'The passions work in four stages: first in the heart, then in the
face, third in words, fourth in deeds- and it is in deeds that it is
essential not to render evil for evil. If you purify your heart,
passion will not show in your expression, but if it does, take care not
to speak about it; if you do speak, cut the conversation short in case
you render evil for evil.'
June 27, 2025
(Rom 5:9-10)
Christ
died for us. Much more therefore, being now justified by his blood,
shall we be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son: much more, being
reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
MSGR. ILARIO ANTONIAZZI, SACRED HEART OF JESUS CHURCH (BETHLEHEM):
“Everything begins with God. You ask, who is the Christian?
The Christian is the one who believes that God loves him. God’s
love for mankind is manifested in Jesus Christ and His love for all
people. Never forget, you who have faith, how precious you are in
God’s eyes. Jesus Christ died on the cross for you. Through
His resurrection, He gave us eternal joy. At the foundation of
everything is God’s love—He forgives our sins and helps us.”
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CHURCHPOP: Pope Leo XIV's Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lord, I come to your tender heart today, to you who have words that set
my heart ablaze, to you who pour out compassion on the little ones and
the poor, on those who suffer, and on all human miseries.
I desire to know you more, to contemplate you in the Gospel, to be with
you and learn from you and from the charity with which you allowed
yourself to be touched by all forms of poverty.
You showed us the Father’s love by loving us without measure with your divine and human heart.
Grant all your children the grace of encountering you. Change, shape,
and transform our plans, so that we seek only you in every
circumstance: in prayer, in work, in encounters, and in our daily
routine.
From this encounter, send us out on mission, a mission of compassion
for the world in which you are the source from which all consolation
flows.
Amen.
POPE LEO XIV:
As the month of June draws to a close, we ask the Sacred Heart of Jesus
to increase our faith as we turn to him in trust. God bless you
all!
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Visions
15. It was said that Silvanus wanted to go away to Syria but his
disciple Mark said to him, 'Abba, I don't want to leave this place, nor
will I let you leave. Stay here for three days.' On the third day Mark
died.
June 25, 2025
(Mat 5:11-12) Blessed
are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all
that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice for
your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the
prophets that were before you.
NEWS REPORT: Syria: Deadly blast hits church in Damascus
X VIDEO REPORT: Syrian Christians march through Damascus following terrorist attack at St. Elias Church
Despite being threatened by Islamists that if they don’t give up their
Christian faith they will be attacked again and again, they still
raised their crosses up high!
CNA: Solemn farewell for victims of Damascus church bombing amid anger at government silence
VATICAN NEWS: Damascus church bombing: ‘There is no justification’
STATEMENT ON THE ATTACK AT MAR ELIAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN DAMASCUS: The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem
On Sunday, June 22nd, as more than 150 clergy and faithful were
gathered for worship at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus,
three attackers first shot at the church door before storming inside,
with one finally blowing himself up as the other two fled. The
explosion killed at least twenty-two worshipers and wounded 63 others
while also causing extensive damage to the interior of the sacred
worship space in an act of desecration.
We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the
Churches in Jerusalem, categorically condemn this heinous assault
against our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and call upon the
interim Syrian government to not only capture the escaped attackers and
bring them to justice, but also to take extensive measures to protect
the lives and religious freedoms of all Christians and other religious
groups inside Syria.
Standing in unwavering solidarity
with His Beatitude Patriarch John X Yazigi and those clergy and people
under his pastoral care, we also extend our deepest condolences to the
families of the victims and offer our prayers for healing and a speedy
recovery to those who were wounded in this terrorist assault. May
the Lord “heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds” (Psalm147:3).
Lastly, we would like to gratefully
acknowledge the expressions of support from religious and secular
leaders, both locally and internationally, in the aftermath of this
tragic event. We strongly urge all such leaders and people of
goodwill to continue to denounce religious hatred, violence, and
degradation, while working to promote justice, peace, and
reconciliation among people of any and all creeds and beliefs.
ACN: Aid to the Church in Need expresses deep sorrow after deadly attack at church in Syria
SYRIA PHOTO GUIDE: Deir Mar Elias
Deir Mar Elias is a mountainside church built over a much more ancient
cave to the north of Damascus. The cave contains decently
preserved frescoes, dated on stylistic grounds to the 11th or 12th
century. The site offers beautiful views of the countryside,
overlooking the valley that connects Damascus to the north of the
country. It is associated by local tradition with the cave that
sheltered Old Testament prophet Elijah during his sojourn in the desert
of Damascus. Above the church a modern monastery complex was
recently constructed, and the site is not far from the more well known
monasteries in Seidnaya.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Visions
10. Macarius wanted to encourage the brothers so he said, 'A little
while ago a mother came here with her son who was vexed by a devil, and
he said to his mother, "Get up, let us go away from here." But she
said, "my feet are so bad that I can't walk away." So her son said to
her, "I will carry you." I am amazed at the cleverness of the devil,
how much he wanted them to flee from this place.'
June 22, 2025
(Mat 24:6) 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.
JUST THE NEWS: U.S. strikes 'completely and totally obliterated' Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump says
VATICAN NEWS: Pope Leo XIV: ‘Humanity cries out and pleads for peace’
“Alarming news continues to arrive from the Middle East, especially from Iran,” said Pope Leo on Sunday at the Angelus address.
The Holy Father’s words came just
hours after US bombers struck nuclear sites in Iran, as Israel and Iran
carry out strikes on each other’s territory.
“In this dramatic scenario, which
includes Israel and Palestine,” continued the Pope, “the daily
suffering of the population—especially in Gaza and other
territories—risks being forgotten, even as the need for adequate
humanitarian aid becomes ever more urgent.” “Today more than ever,
humanity cries out and pleads for peace,” he said.
The Pope said the cry for peace
“demands responsibility and reason and must not be drowned out by the
roar of weapons or by rhetorical words that incite conflict.” Pope Leo
urged every member of the international community to take up their
moral responsibility to “stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an
irreparable abyss.” When human dignity is at stake, he said, no
conflict is distant.
“War does not solve problems,”
noted the Pope. “On the contrary, it amplifies them and causes deep
wounds in the history of peoples—wounds that take generations to heal.
No military victory can ever compensate for a mother’s pain, a child’s
fear, or a stolen future.” In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV expressed his
hope for the din of arms to fall silent.
“Let diplomacy silence the
weapons!” he said. “Let nations shape their future with works of peace,
not through violence and bloody conflicts!”
NEWS REPORT: Iran vows to defend its rights amid US, Israel attacks
Iran preserves its right to defend itself, as the US understands only
the language of "threat and force," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi has said.
He warned that Iran would continue defending its sovereignty, security, and people, vowing that it “reserves all options."
Araghchi condemned recent US
strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as a “flagrant violation of
international law.” Speaking in Istanbul, Araqchi said Washington must
bear full responsibility for the consequences of “an act of
aggression.” The attack on nuclear sites is an "unforgivable violation
of international law and of the UN Charter,” he added.
Araqchi accused US President Donald Trump of betraying diplomacy and deceiving both Iran and his own nation.
While insisting that diplomacy should remain an option, Araqchi said, it is "not the time.”
X: Iran’s history of targeting Americans
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The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Visions
1. A brother went to the cell of
Arsenius in Scetis, and looked in through the window, and saw him like
fire from head to foot. (He was a brother worthy to see such sights.)
When he knocked, Arsenius came out, and saw the brother standing there
amazed, and said to him, 'Have you been knocking long? Did you see
anything?' He answered, 'No.' After talking with him, Arsenius sent him
on his way.
June 20, 2025
(Luk 1:46-49) And
Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his
handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me
blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and
holy is his name.
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LIFESITENEWS: Why do Catholics ask Mary or the saints to pray for them?
EXCERPT LUMEN GENTIUM (11-21-1964)
IV. The Cult of the Blessed Virgin in the Church
66. Placed by the grace of God, as God's Mother, next to her Son, and
exalted above all angels and men, Mary intervened in the mysteries of
Christ and is justly honored by a special cult in the Church. Clearly
from earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of
Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful took refuge in all
their dangers and necessities.(21*) Hence after the Synod of Ephesus
the cult of the people of God toward Mary wonderfully increased in
veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her own
prophetic words: "All generations shall call me blessed, because He
that is mighty hath done great things to me".(301) This cult, as it
always existed, although it is altogether singular, differs essentially
from the cult of adoration which is offered to the Incarnate Word, as
well to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it is most favorable to it.
The various forms of piety toward the Mother of God, which the Church
within the limits of sound and orthodox doctrine, according to the
conditions of time and place, and the nature and ingenuity of the
faithful has approved, bring it about that while the Mother is honored,
the Son, through whom all things have their being (302) and in whom it
has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell,(303) is rightly
known, loved and glorified and that all His commands are observed.
67. This most Holy Synod deliberately teaches this Catholic doctrine
and at the same time admonishes all the sons of the Church that the
cult, especially the liturgical cult, of the Blessed Virgin, be
generously fostered, and the practices and exercises of piety,
recommended by the magisterium of the Church toward her in the course
of centuries be made of great moment, and those decrees, which have
been given in the early days regarding the cult of images of Christ,
the Blessed Virgin and the saints, be religiously observed.(22*) But it
exhorts theologians and preachers of the divine word to abstain
zealously both from all gross exaggerations as well as from petty
narrow-mindedness in considering the singular dignity of the Mother of
God.(23*) Following the study of Sacred Scripture, the Holy Fathers,
the doctors and liturgy of the Church, and under the guidance of the
Church's magisterium, let them rightly illustrate the duties and
privileges of the Blessed Virgin which always look to Christ, the
source of all truth, sanctity and piety. Let them assiduously keep away
from whatever, either by word or deed, could lead separated brethren or
any other into error regarding the true doctrine of the Church. Let the
faithful remember moreover that true devotion consists neither in
sterile or transitory affection, nor in a certain vain credulity, but
proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to know the excellence of
the Mother of God, and we are moved to a filial love toward our mother
and to the imitation of her virtues.
V. Mary the sign of created hope and solace to the wandering people of God
68. In the interim just as the Mother of Jesus, glorified in body and
soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be
perfected is the world to come, so too does she shine forth on earth,
until the day of the Lord shall come,(304) as a sign of sure hope and
solace to the people of God during its sojourn on earth.
69. It gives great joy and comfort to this holy and general Synod that
even among the separated brethren there are some who give due honor to
the Mother of our Lord and Saviour, especially among the Orientals, who
with devout mind and fervent impulse give honor to the Mother of God,
ever virgin.(24*) The entire body of the faithful pours forth instant
supplications to the Mother of God and Mother of men that she, who
aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers, may now, exalted as
she is above all the angels and saints, intercede before her Son in the
fellowship of all the saints, until all families of people, whether
they are honored with the title of Christian or whether they still do
not know the Saviour, may be happily gathered together in peace and
harmony into one people of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and
Undivided Trinity.
Each and all these items which are set forth in this dogmatic
Constitution have met with the approval of the Council Fathers. And We
by the apostolic power given Us by Christ together with the Venerable
Fathers in the Holy Spirit, approve, decree and establish it and
command that what has thus been decided in the Council be promulgated
for the glory of God.
A MOMENT WITH MARY: Padre Pio: “Mary is the reason for all my hope”
Padre Pio (1887-1968), the Capuchin saint canonized in 2002, appealed
to the Virgin Mary throughout his life. He is known to have had
apparitions of Jesus and his guardian angel from his early childhood.
It's quite likely that he was also close to the Virgin Mary in the same
way, although he never said so explicitly.
Above the door of Padre Pio's cell in San Giovanni Rotondo was the inscription: “Mary is the reason for all my hope”.
Padre Pio confided that the Blessed Virgin was always with him. She was
his support in his recurrent, relentless battles against the demons.
When he was exhausted from these violent attacks, Padre Pio would
always say, gratefully, “Hail Mary”. During Holy Mass, the Blessed
Virgin never failed to support her devoted son. Padre Pio experienced
Jesus' passion at every Eucharist, and Our Lady remained at his side.
The saint was particularly attached to his Mother the Blessed Virgin
during the persecutions he suffered at the hands of the clergy. His
greatest sorrow was to no longer be permitted to administer the
sacraments to the faithful.
PADRE PIO:
“I wish I had a voice strong enough to tell all the sinners in the
world to love Mary. She is the ocean we must cross to reach
Jesus”.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
24. A hermit said, 'I never wanted work to be useful to me while
causing loss to my brother, for I have this hope that what helps my
brother will bring fruit to me.'
June 18, 2025
(Mat 5:43-45) You
have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thy enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them
that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who
maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the
just and the unjust.
POPE LEO XIV:
'On the night of June 13-14, a terrible massacre took place in the town
of Yelwata, Gouma Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria, in which
about two hundred people were killed with extreme cruelty, most of whom
were internally displaced persons hosted by the local Catholic
mission. I pray that security, justice and peace will prevail in
Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of
violence. And I pray in a special way for the rural Christian
communities of Benue State, who have been incessantly victims of
violence'
ACN: Nigeria: Up to 200 dead in worst killing spree
Militants massacred up to 200 Christians in Nigeria’s Benue State on
the evening of Friday, June 13. They targeted displaced families,
set fire to their buildings as people slept, and attacked with machetes
anyone who tried to flee. The IDP families were in buildings
repurposed as temporary accommodation in the market square in Yelewata,
in Guma Local Government Area, near Makurdi, when militants stormed in,
shouting “Allahu Akhbar” (“God is great”), before killing people at
will.
In a first-hand report given to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in
Need (ACN), local clergy said that earlier the same evening, police had
repelled the attackers as they tried to storm Yelewata’s St.
Joseph’s Church, where up to 700 IDPs lay sleeping. But then, the
militants made for the town’s market square, where they reportedly used
fuel to set fire to the doors of the displaced people’s accommodation,
before opening fire in an area where more than 500 people were asleep.
Speaking to ACN from Yelewata less than 12 hours after the atrocity,
the town’s parish priest, Father Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee, described
how he and other IDPs narrowly escaped death, dropping to the floor of
the church’s presbytery at the sound of gunfire. He said, “When
we heard the shots and saw the militants, we committed our lives to
God. This morning, I thank God I am alive.”
Father Jonathan also described visiting the market square: “What I saw
was truly gruesome. People were slaughtered. Corpses were
scattered everywhere.” An initial report from the FJDP, whose staff had
just visited the scene of the massacre, said, “It was an eyesore, not a
sight for anyone to behold.” The FJDP added, “Some [bodies were] burned
beyond recognition: infants, children, mothers, and fathers just wiped
out.”
Father Jonathan said that some were so badly burned, it was difficult
to identify them, and that Yelewata had absorbed thousands of IDPs from
neighboring villages – as it was considered relatively safe, lying on
the main road to Abuja – but now was largely deserted, with many taking
refuge in nearby Daudu and Abagena. Father Jonathan said that he
and others identified the attackers as Fulanis and that the attack was
carefully coordinated, with the militants accessing the town from
multiple angles and using the cover of heavy rains to mount their
assault. He said, “There is no question about who carried out the
attack. They were definitely Fulanis. They were shouting
‘Alahu Akhbar.’”
BISHOP J. STRCKLAND:
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, With a heart weighed down by
sorrow and righteous anger, I join the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, in
mourning the brutal massacre that took place in Benue State,
Nigeria. Nearly 200 souls—many of them our own brothers and
sisters in Christ, internally displaced and seeking refuge in the arms
of the Church—were savagely slaughtered in Yelwata, Guma, during the
night of June 13th.
They were not soldiers. They
were not armed. They were poor. They were vulnerable.
And they were targeted.
Let us be absolutely clear: this
was not merely a tragedy. It was a targeted massacre of innocent
Christians, many of whom had already lost everything. And they
were murdered while under the shelter of the Church.
How long, O Lord? How long will the world remain silent as the blood of martyrs cries out from the soil of Africa?
We cannot look away. We cannot remain silent.
To the faithful of Benue—especially
the survivors: we see you. We grieve with you. And we stand
with you. The Body of Christ is one. When one member
suffers, all suffer. Your blood is the seed of faith; your
perseverance is a rebuke to the comfortable; your tears are mingled
with the tears of Our Lady, who stood at the foot of the Cross.
I call on the Nigerian government
to fulfill its sacred duty: to protect the innocent and punish the
wicked. Justice delayed is justice denied. And when
Christians are slaughtered in their hundreds with impunity, it is not
only a failure of governance—it is a scandal before Heaven.
I call on governments around the
world, especially in the West, to open their eyes to this ongoing
persecution. Christian blood is being spilled in Nigeria with
alarming regularity—and yet, the world’s conscience remains dormant.
Let us not be numbered among those
who looked away. Let us not be the priest or the Levite who
passed by on the other side. No. Let us be the
Samaritan. Let us kneel in prayer. Let us fast in
reparation. Let us raise our voices and demand truth, justice,
and peace.
To my fellow shepherds in the episcopate: if we do not cry out now, we are complicit in the silence.
May the souls of the faithful
departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. May the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, pierced and bleeding still, hold the martyrs of Benue
close. And may the Immaculate Heart of Mary wrap the survivors in
her mantle of consolation.
Let us pray:
“Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.” — Psalm 30:16
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
In Christ our King, Bishop Joseph E. Strickland
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
23. A brother said to a hermit, 'If I see a monk about whom I have
heard that he is guilty of a sin, I cannot make myself invite him into
my cell. But if I see a good monk, I bring him in gladly.' The
hermit said, 'If you do good to a good brother it is nothing to him,
but to the other give double charity, for he is sick.'
June 16, 2025
(Rev 6:3-4) And
when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying: Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red.
And to him that sat thereon, it was given that he should take peace
from the earth: and that they should kill one another. And a great
sword was given to him.
POPE LEO XIV:
Sisters and brothers, I encourage you to oppose every form of violence
and oppression. The world needs this so much! There are many armed
conflicts today. Let us continue to pray for peace throughout the
entire world.
UCANEWS: Iran fires back at Israel escalating fears of wider conflict
VATICAN NEWS: Pope appeals for 'responsibility and reason' in Iran-Israel escalation
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appealed to Iranian and Israeli leaders to
step back from war and engage in dialogue for the common good.
Speaking during an Audience for the Jubilee of Sport in St. Peter’s
Basilica, he said “No one should ever threaten another’s existence.”
"In these days, news continues to arrive that causes great concern. The
situation in Iran and Israel has seriously deteriorated, and at such a
delicate moment, I wish to strongly renew an appeal to responsibility
and reason,” he said.
The Pope also upheld the need for the “commitment to building a safer
world, free from the nuclear threat,” that he added, “must be pursued
through respectful encounters and sincere dialogue, in order to build a
lasting peace founded on justice, fraternity, and the common good.
“It is the duty of all countries to support the cause of peace by
initiating paths of reconciliation and promoting solutions that
guarantee security and dignity for all," he concluded.
The Pope’s appeal comes as Israel and Iran continue to exchange fire
and missile strikes after Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and
military bases on Friday. Iran immediately retaliated with waves of
missiles. Three people were reportedly killed in Israel and dozens
injured, while 78 people were killed and at least 320 injured in Iran.
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ACN: Lebanese Cardinal: Christians bring moderation to Middle East
The Patriarch of the Maronite
Church, Cardinal Bechara Raļ, is calling for measures so that
Christians will not abandon the Middle East, because they are a
decisive moderating factor among the region’s Muslim-majority
countries.
“Many have had to abandon Syria, because nobody can live in a war,
under bombardment,” the cardinal told pontifical foundation Aid to the
Church in Need (ACN). “This migration is reducing the number of
Christians, who, in the Middle East, have contributed to the formation
of a moderate Islam. If the Middle East is emptied of Christians,
Muslims will lose their moderation,” said the cardinal, during an
interview in Bkerke, the Episcopal See of the Maronite Catholic
Patriarchate of Antioch in Lebanon.
Patriarch Raļ regrets that in Lebanon, “many Christians and Muslims
have also had to emigrate, because [of] the lack of peace and security,
and the economic and financial situation affects everyone. The positive
side of this is that they can restart their lives, carrying their faith
with them around the world. But the negative is that Lebanon is being
emptied of Christians.”
“States have to change their perspective. It’s not about focusing on
the number of Christians, but on the value that the presence of the
Christians adds,” he explains to ACN.
Whereas in countries such as “Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, which are Muslim
states, Christians are ‘tolerated’ and considered merely ‘second class
citizens,’ in Lebanon, there is separation of Church and State, but
there is respect for God, and no laws are passed that contradict
Christian or Muslim doctrine. This is why the Christians of the Middle
East look to Lebanon as a source of hope.”
ASIANEWS: Leo XIV receives Aoun: promoting peace in the Middle East is ‘a necessary and imperative need
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
18. A brother asked a hermit, 'Suppose there are two monks: one stays
quietly in his cell, fasting for six days at a time, laying many
hardships on himself: and the other ministers to the sick. Which
of them is more pleasing to God?' He replied, 'Even if the
brother who fasts six days hung himself up by his nose, he wouldn't be the equal of him who ministers to the sick.'
June 13, 2025
(Mar 10:46-48) And
they came to Jericho. And as he went out of Jericho with his disciples
and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus,
sat by the way side begging. Who when he had heard that it was Jesus of
Nazareth, began to cry out and to say: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy
on me. And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried
a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me.
POPE LEO XIV:
"This fruitfulness of Mary and of the Church is inseparably linked to
her holiness, that is, her conformity to Christ. The Holy See is holy
as the Church is holy, in her original core, in the fabric from which
she is woven.”
THE CATHOLIC THING: A Time to Heal
ON POPE LEO XIV
BLOG: Cardinal Eijk: Pope Leo will restore unity to the Church -- Something is happening with the Young People in Europe
CATHOLIC CONCLAVE: Lifelong
episcopal friend of Pope gives extensive interview. “The great
challenge is for people to accept that he is Leo XIV and not Francis II
CNA: A priest friend of Pope Leo XIV shares memories of him in Peru
VATICAN NEWS: Pope at Audience: There is no cry God does not hear
Pope Leo XIV used his catechesis at Wednesday’s General Audience to
highlight “another essential aspect of the life of Jesus, namely, His
healings.”
The Holy Father reflected on the Gospel account of the healing of a
blind man, Bartimaeus, who cried out to Jesus as He passed through the
city of Jericho on the way to Jerusalem.
Their meeting place, the Pope said, was significant, as Jesus was
beginning His journey below sea level and ascending to the Holy
City. Jesus’ journey prefigures His passage to the underworld,
where He went after His death “to bring back that Adam who fell to the
bottom and represents each of us.”
The name of the blind man, Bartimaeus, is likewise significant as
representing one who has failed to live up to his calling. The
Pope noted that the name can be interpreted as “son of honour or
admiration,” whereas the blind man has been reduced to begging by the
side of the street.
Pope Leo emphasized that Bartimaeus knows how to cry out for help, even
when reproached by the crowd; and, although he is blind, “he sees
better than others because he recognizes who Jesus is.”
Jesus responds to his cry because, as the Pope reminded us, “There is
no cry that God fails to hear, even when we are not aware we are
addressing Him.”
However, the Pope noted, Jesus does not go to Bartimaeus but calls him
to Himself. Bartimaeus, for his part, must “cast off his cloak,”
giving up his security in order to allow himself to be healed.
“Many times, it is precisely our securities that stand in our way” Pope
Leo said. Like the blind man, we must appear before Christ with
all our vulnerabilities exposed; “this is a fundamental step in any
journey of healing.”
Finally, the Holy Father draws attention to Jesus’ question, “What do
you want Me to do for you”; and Bartimaeus’ response: “Let me recover
my sight.” His answer, which can also mean “to look up,” shows that the
blind man desires not only to see again, but to “regain his dignity.”
“At times,” Pope Leo said, “people are stuck because life has humiliated them, and they just want to find their worth again.”
He recalled that, like Bartimaeus, we are all saved by faith.
“Jesus heals us so that we can become free. And though the Lord
does not call Bartimaeus to follow Him, he freely choses to do so, “to
follow Him Who is the Way!”
Pope Leo concluded his catechesis by inviting the faithful to
confidently place before Jesus our own infirmities, those of our loved
ones, and the pain “of those who feel lost and without a way out.”
“Let us cry out for them, too,” he said, in the certitude “that the Lord will hear us and stop.”
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
15. One of the fathers said, 'If anyone asks you for something, and you
give it to him, even if you are forced to give it, let your heart go
with the gift, as it is written, "If a man forces you to go with him
one mile, go with him two" (Matt. 5:41). This means that if you are
asked for anything, give it with a willing heart.'
June 11, 2025
(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.
CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT: Bishops to Congress: AI must support dignity of person, common good
CATHOLIC STANDARD: Text of Maryland bishops’ pastoral letter on artificial intelligence
CNA: Pope Leo XIV shares vision for papacy in age of artificial intelligence
CRISIS MAGAZINE EDITORIAL: America at a Crossroads: Balancing Faith, Reason, and Artificial Intelligence
Left unchecked, AI could accelerate job loss, social isolation, and the
erosion of small businesses—especially in rural and working-class
communities. But when properly guided, AI has the potential to
augment human labor, support innovation at the local level, and free up
time for more meaningful work and family life. These are outcomes
worth striving for.
The Church’s role in this moment is not to offer technical blueprints
but, instead, to remind us of what technology is for. We must put
technology at the service of humanity—not the other way around.
It is very encouraging to see that Pope Leo XIV’s vision affirms this.
Ultimately, the question is not whether AI will shape our future—it
will. The question is: Whose values will guide it? Will it
reflect the transcendent dignity of the human person created in the
image of God? Or will it become a tool of power weaponized by
elites against the common good?
As Catholics, we must insist that technology be evaluated not by
profitability or efficiency alone but by how well it serves families,
communities, and the moral order. The voices of the common
man—workers, parents, and all mankind—and not just the powerful CEOs of
Silicon Valley, must be part of this conversation.
If we fail to act, we risk surrendering this historic moment to forces
indifferent—and often hostile—to our Catholic Faith. But if we
rise to the challenge, we can help build an AI-powered future that is
not only efficient and innovative but also respects human dignity and
advances the common good.
The mission must be to build an economy
that works for the common man and not just the high-tech elites.
AI development must prioritize principles of human dignity, meaningful
work, and community sustainability. Anything less risks building
a future in which people are mere cogs in the soulless machine they
created rather than wise and faithful stewards of the knowledge and
wisdom God has entrusted to us.
In this effort, we must pray for wisdom and courage—from our political
leaders, our clergy, and each of us as faithful citizens. May
Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate mark a new chapter in the Church’s mission
to clearly illuminate the issues of modern life with the light of
eternal truths. And may America, guided by faith and reason,
seize this moment to virtuously lead the AI revolution to serve
humanity and advance the common good.
POPULAR MECHANICS: Humanity May Achieve the Singularity Within the Next 6 Months, Scientists Suggest
EXCERPT ARK MALLET BLOG: Satan's Golden Hour
In one of his first speeches, Pope
Leo XIV zoned in on “developments in the field of artificial
intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity,
justice and labor.”[1] It didn’t take long for the pontiff himself to
become “Exhibit A” as social media was flooded with “deep-fake” videos
that mimicked the pope’s voice and even mouth. I recently heard a
video of my own which, using my actual voice, had me speaking in
perfect Spanish. Indeed, the rubicon between reality and fiction
has been definitively crossed.
The dangers of this being used to
imitate real persons are beyond imagining and will no doubt be used,
and already have been, in the most nefarious ways. Not only what
we are seeing and hearing now but what we are reading is the
cold-calculation of algorithms and taught behavior built into AI
programming. It’s not simply a random world of information but
rather a carefully crafted narrative intended to manipulate you.
It’s called “5th generation warfare” unlike the warfare of conventional
weapons.
But there is a spiritual
element. Transhumanist, Elon Musk, referred to artificial
intelligence as an attempt to build a “digital god”[2] and even
“summoning the demon.”[3] He’s not far off, according to the Vatican’s
recent document Antiqua et Nova (“Ancient and New”):
…the presumption of substituting
God for an artifact of human making is idolatry, a practice Scripture
explicitly warns against (e.g., Ex. 20:4; 32:1-5; 34:17).
Moreover, AI may prove even more seductive than traditional idols for,
unlike idols that “have mouths but do not speak; eyes, but do not see;
ears, but do not hear” (Ps. 115:5-6), AI can “speak,” or at least
gives the illusion of doing so (cf. Rev. 13:15).
—nos. 104-105
The scriptural reference to Rev
13:15 included in the Vatican document is not insignificant; it speaks
of the coming Antichrist and a false prophet who…
…was then permitted to breathe life
into the beast’s image, so that the beast’s image could speak and could
have anyone who did not worship it put to death. (Revelation
13:15)
ROLLING STONE: People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
9. Poemen said, 'Try, so far as you can, to wrong no man, and keep your heart pure towards everyone.'
June 8, 2025
(Act 2:1-4) And
when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all
together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as
of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were
sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire:
and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as
the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.
POPE LEO XIV:
"Today, too, what took place in the Upper Room takes place anew in our
midst. Like a mighty wind that overtakes us, like a crash that
startles us, like a fire that illuminates us, the gift of the Holy
Spirit descends upon us."
EXCERPT VIGIL OF PENTECOST: Homily of the Holy Father Leo XIV
The Creator Spirit, whom we invoked in the hymn – Veni Creator Spiritus
– is the Spirit who descended upon Jesus as the quiet driving force of
his mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Lk 4:18). When we ask
the Spirit to enlighten our minds, to multiply our languages, to awaken
our senses, to instill love, to strengthen our bodies and to grant us
peace, we become open to God’s Kingdom. This is, according to the
Gospel, the meaning of conversion. It is a “turning toward” the Kingdom
already close at hand.
In Jesus we see, and from Jesus we hear, how everything changes because
God is king, God is close to us. On this vigil of Pentecost, we are
deeply aware of this closeness of God, of his Spirit who joins our
lives to that of Jesus. We are caught up in the new things that God
brings about, so that his desire for the fullness of life will prevail
over the power of death.
“He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable
year of the Lord” (Lk 4:18-19). Here tonight, we sense the fragrance of
the chrism with which our foreheads have been anointed. Dear brothers
and sisters, Baptism and Confirmation united us to Jesus’ mission of
making all things new, to the Kingdom of God. Just as love enables us
to sense the presence of a loved one, so tonight we sense in one
another the fragrance of Christ. This is a mystery; it amazes us and it
leads us to reflect.
At Pentecost, Mary, the Apostles, and the disciples with them received
a Spirit of unity, which forever grounded in the one Lord Jesus Christ
all their diversity. Theirs were not multiple missions, but a single
mission. They were no longer introverted and quarrelling with one
another, but outgoing and radiant with joy.
CATHOLIC ANSWERS GUIDE: Pentecost 2025
CATHOLIC TIMES: Pentecost is a unifying new creation in the Church
HUNGARIAN CONSERVATIVE: Pentecost: The Descent of the Holy Spirit and the Birth of the Church
DIVINE OFFICE: From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop The sending of the Holy Spirit
When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and
baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God.
He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would
pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would
prophesy. So when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also
descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way to dwelling with
the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God’s creation. The
Spirit accomplished the Father’s will in men who had grown old in sin,
and gave them new life in Christ. Luke says that the Spirit came down
on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord’s ascension, with power
to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the
new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing
one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by
the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the first-fruits of all the
nations.
This was why the Lord had promised to send the Advocate: he was to
prepare us as an offering to God. Like dry flour, which cannot become
one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many
could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down
from heaven. And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it
receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never
have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above.
Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay we have
become one in body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and
strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon
the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending
the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to
his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightning.
If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of
God. Since we have our accuser, we need an advocate as well. And so the
Lord in his pity for man, who had fallen into the hands of brigands,
having himself bound up his wounds and left for his care two coins
bearing the royal image, entrusted him to the Holy Spirit. Now, through
the Spirit, the image and inscription of the Father and the Son have
been given to us, and it is our duty to use the coin committed to our
charge and make it yield a rich profit for the Lord.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
6. Agatho said, "I tried never to go
to sleep while I kept a grievance against anyone. Nor did I let anyone
go to sleep while he had a grievance against me.'
June 5, 2025
(Mat
5:22-25) But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother,
shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall
say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. If therefore thou
offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother
hath anything against thee; Leave there thy offering before the altar,
and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming thou
shalt offer thy gift. Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes,
whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver
thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou
be cast into prison.
REPORT: Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Pope Leo XIV
Vladimir Putin once again congratulated the pontiff on his election and
wished him every success in accomplishing his noble mission.
Both sides acknowledged Pope Francis' immense personal contribution to
strengthening the ties between Russia and the Holy See. They agreed to
pursue efforts to develop these ties further on the basis of common
spiritual and moral values with a view to establishing a more just
world order. They expressed mutual commitment to deepening cooperation
in the cultural and humanitarian affairs and in the name of protecting
Christians and holy sites of Christianity all over the world and,
notably, in the Middle East.
At the request and on behalf of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All
Russia, Vladimir Putin conveyed to Pope Leo XIV best wishes for success
in his pastoral duties. In turn, the pontiff expressed support for
continuing the important dialogue between the two sister churches.
While exchanging views with the pope on the situation in Ukraine,
Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his willingness to achieve peace through
political and diplomatic means, pointing out that in order to reach an
ultimate, fair, and thorough resolution, it was necessary to eliminate
the root causes of the crisis.
Concerning the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in
Istanbul, the President of Russia detailed the specific agreements
during the second round of negotiations involving the exchange of
prisoners of war and bodies of dead soldiers. It was emphasised that
the Russian side was taking all possible measures to reunite children
with their families.
Appreciation was expressed to the pontiff for his willingness to
contribute to resolving the crisis, notably, for Vatican's
depolitisised participation in solving pressing humanitarian issues.
Vladimir Putin drew special attention to the fact that Kiev regime was
banking on escalating the conflict and carried out sabotage against
civilian infrastructure in Russia's territory. It was emphasised that
the deliberate and targeted strike on civilians made by the Ukrainian
side recently was unequivocally defined as terrorism by international
law.
Due to the Kiev regime's well-known commitment to dismantling the
canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the hope was expressed that the
Holy See would be more active in speaking out in support of freedom of
religion in Ukraine.
The conversation was constructive. Both sides expressed their intention to maintain contact.
VATICAN NEWS: Cardinal Parolin: ‘No war is inevitable, no peace is impossible’
UKRANIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH: Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on peace talks: “We are not a territory, we are human beings”
ST. MICHAEL'S: Twelve Heartfelt Prayers for Ukraine’s Peace
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
5. Mark said to Arsenius, 'Why do you go away from us?' He replied,
'God knows I love you. But I cannot be with God and with men. The
countless hosts of angels have only a single will, while men have many
wills. So I cannot leave God, and be with men.'
June 3, 2025
(Joh 20:5-7) And
when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying: but yet he went
not in. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the
sepulchre: and saw the linen cloths lying, And the napkin that had been
about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up
into one place.
CHURCHPOP: ‘The Face of Jesus’: The Forgotten Devotion Christ Gave a Humble Nun to Fight Evil
REVIEW: Leonine Spirituality Points to "The Face of Jesus" Film Hitting U.S. Theaters June 3
The election of Pope Leo XIV ushers in a new Leonine era! Will Pope Leo
XIV continue the powerful legacy of devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus
established by his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII?
Fathom Entertainment, Sonovision and Candelaria Productions Inc.
recently announced the upcoming nationwide release of the new
documentary feature The Face of Jesus
in U.S. theatres for one-day only on June 3 and with the new
Pontificate underway and so much speculation about the path forward
under Pope Leo XIV, this new film arrives at a moment in history when
the world wonders if this new Leonine era and a resurgence of the
spirituality of Leo XIII.
“It’s a fascinating time in the Church and in the world because under
our new Pope, we are considering the reasons why Leo XIV took the name
he did, the spirituality of ‘Leo’ and what we may come to see and
experience in the coming days, months and years,” said Oscar Delgado,
co-founder of Candelaria Productions Inc. and lead producer for The
Face of Jesus added value feature. “Our movie and the timing that it is
hitting is truly divine because everything about this film and the
added value commentary points to the ancient devotion to the Holy Face.
Is this a coincidence that Leo XIII was the Pope who founded the
Archconfraternity of the Holy Face? We know there are no coincidences
with God and we are in an era where God is calling people to Himself,
to gaze upon His Holy Face and His beauty. Our movie will bring
audiences face-to-face with God.”
The Face of Jesus explores two acheiropoietic images—sacred cloths not
made by human hands—the Shroud of Turin and the Veil of Manoppello, as
well as the most extraordinary depiction of Jesus painted by human
hands: the Vilnius image of the Merciful Jesus. Filmmakers take the
audience on a global journey to the tomb in Jerusalem from 2,000 years
ago, to Rome, Manoppello, and San Giovanni Rotondo, to discover what
our Savior looked like.
Throughout the film, several prominent experts from around the world
bring forward the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin and the Veil of
Manoppello as well as the story behind the painting of the stunning
Vilnius image of the Divine Mercy that has become a central image
within the popular contemporary Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy.
“There is endless fascination with who God is, what he looked like and
if it’s possible that he has left us an image of himself,” said
Jaroslaw Redziak, producer and director of The Face of Jesus.
X: What
happens when you overlay the Shroud of Turin and the original Divine
Mercy Image (painted by direction from St Faustina Kowalska)?
OFFICIAL TRAILER: The Face of Jesus
SHOWTIMES: "The Face of Jesus" movie times
RELATED
INSIDE THE VATICAN: The Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI: The Holy Face
CATHOLIC EXCHANGE: The Mysterious Holy Veil of Manoppello
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: History of Holy Veil of Manoppello
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
3. Amoun of Nitria came to Antony, and said to him, 'I see that I have
more to suffer than you; how is it that your reputation among men is
greater than mine?' Antony said, 'It is because I love God more than
you do.'
June 1, 2025
(Act 1:10-11) And
while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood
by them in white garments. Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand
you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come as you have seen him going into heaven.
POPE LEO XIV:
The solemnity of the #AscensionOfTheLord turns our gaze heavenward. It
also reminds us of the mission Jesus Christ entrusted to us here on
earth. May the Holy Spirit help us fulfill it faithfully!
CATHOLIC EXCHANGE: Leo the Great: Pope of the Ascension
SERMON SAINT LEO THE GREAT: The days between the resurrection and ascension of our Lord
THE CATHOLIC THING: What the Ascension Means
VATICAN NEWS: Lord's Day Reflection: The Ascension of the Lord
The Mass prayers of the Ascension remind us of a central fact: “the
Ascension of Christ … is our exaltation” (Collect); “we pray … that we
too may rise up to the heavenly realms” (Prayer over the Offerings);
“that Christian hope may draw us onward to … you” (Prayer after
Communion). This is our hope, our desire, our destiny. Meanwhile,
however, we are left behind to shoulder our responsibility, but not
before we have received the power of the Holy Spirit. The Ascension may
be seen as the celebration of our coming of age, when, no longer
accompanied by Jesus in the same way, we must dedicate ourselves with
maturity and courage to the spreading of the Gospel.
People are sometimes discouraged by
the fact that God does not magically intervene to put right the
problems of the world. But has he not left us with the challenge to
grow up and exercise the gifts he has given us, and supremely, that of
the Holy Spirit whom we shall celebrate next Sunday at the culmination
of the Easter season? For those who do not observe the Ascension this
Sunday, the gospel of the seventh Sunday of Easter is taken from the
priestly prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper. He implores the Father for
those who believe in me through their (the apostles’) word. He
expresses the profound and constant union between the Father, the Son
and those who believe. He prays for the unity of believers among
themselves, so that his message may touch the world. It is a message
pertinent to every level of human life. As we await the Spirit of
truth, we can remember the words of Pope Leo addressed to the
diplomatic corps on May 16 this year: “truly peaceful relationships
cannot be built, also within the international community, apart from
truth”.
CNA: How Christ’s ascension takes the training wheels off our faith
Jesus could have stayed on earth until the end of time as the Good
Shepherd, crisscrossing the globe after every lost sheep, saving them
one by one. As he ascended, however, he placed his own mission in our
hands, commanding us to “go into the whole world and proclaim the
Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15).
He took the training wheels off our discipleship and removed any
excuses we might have to pass the buck of sharing and spreading the
faith. “You will be my witnesses,” he told us, “in Jerusalem, in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
His confidence and trust in us, despite all our weaknesses, is
astonishing. He wanted to incorporate us into — actually entrust to us
— his mission of the redemption of the world.
But he didn’t leave us orphans (cf. Jn 14:18).
St. Luke gives us a beautiful image and detail, that Jesus “led them
out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he was
blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up to heaven” (Lk
24:50-51).
Jesus departed in the very act of blessing us. Pope Benedict XVI in his
trilogy “Jesus of Nazareth” commented on how the risen Jesus in heaven
is perpetually blessing us.“Jesus departs in the act of blessing,” he
states. “He goes while blessing, and he remains in that gesture of
blessing. His hands remain, stretched out over this world … [which]
expresses Jesus’ continuing relationship to his disciples, to the
world. … That is why the disciples could return home from Bethany
rejoicing. In faith we know that Jesus holds his hands stretched out in
blessing over us. That is the lasting motive of Christian joy.”
Jesus is continuously blessing us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavens (cf. Eph 1:3). He’s seeking to transform us into his incarnate
benediction of the world.
The great manifestation of that blessing is the descent of the Holy
Spirit, for whose renewed coming we pray in the annual decenarium from
the 40th to 50th days of Easter. St. Luke recalls Jesus’ words: “You
will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be
my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). That’s the power, the blessing, that came
down upon the Church on Pentecost.
CONCLUDING PRAYER DIVINE OFFICE: Gladden
us with holy joys, almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout
thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation,
and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to
follow in hope. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for
ever and ever. — Amen.
The
Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
2. He also said, 'Our life and our death are with our neighbour. If we
do good to our neighbour, we do good to God; if we cause our neighbour
to stumble, we sin against Christ.'
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