Keep
your eyes open!...
September 29, 2025
(Rev
12:7-8) And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels. And they
prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven.
VATICAN NEWS: Pope Leo urges Catholics to pray daily Rosary for Peace in October
“I invite everyone, each day of the coming month, to pray the Rosary for peace—personally, in the family, and in community.”
CRISIS MAGAZINE: America Needs Michaelmas
BISHOP BARRON:
Do you remember how, a few years ago, there was an enormous interest in
the culture in angels? One of my favorite stories had to do with
a man who was flying a single-engine plane during a severe storm.
At one point, his communication system failed, and he found himself
without a means to make it to the airport. Just as he was about
to give up hope, a strong voice came through the radio. It gave
directions to an airport the pilot knew nothing about. The voice
guided him to the runway of a small airport. When he landed, he
realized that the airport was abandoned. No personnel were on the
ground or in the tower. An accident? Or a sign that “there
are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
your philosophy”?
CATHOLIC DAILY REFLECTIONS: The Celestial Hosts of Heaven
In the fifth or sixth century, an important Church theologian, given
the name Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, used the many references in
the Sacred Scriptures to clearly articulate what has become the
traditional understanding of the hierarchy of angels. In the
thirteenth century, Saint Thomas Aquinas built upon that
teaching. Both taught that there are nine choirs in the
hierarchy. The nine choirs are further divided into three
triads. The three highest, comprising the first triad (Seraphim,
Cherubim, and Thrones), is devoted exclusively to the service of God,
worshiping Him continuously. The second triad (Dominions,
Virtues, and Powers) is tasked with the governance of the created world
and the entire Universe. The third triad (Principalities,
Archangels, and Angels) is closest to humanity, acting as mediators
between God and man. It is the Archangels whom we honor today.
Throughout the Old and New
Testaments, there are numerous mentions of the heavenly spirits.
In the Old Testament, they stood at the entrance to the Garden of Eden,
directed Abraham, stayed his hand at the sacrifice of Isaac, destroyed
Sodom and protected Lot, spoke to and wrestled with Jacob, went before
Moses and the Israelites, and interacted with Israel’s kings and
prophets. In the New Testament, the Archangel Gabriel announced
the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Jesus often spoke of
the workings of angels in His preaching. They ministered to Him
during His agony in the garden, were present at His Resurrection, and
helped set Peter free from prison. Saint Paul spoke about the
hierarchy of angels several times.
Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that
every human being is assigned a guardian angel. The archangels
are next in the hierarchy of angelic spirits and serve humanity
directly, performing the most important tasks. The three
Archangels we honor today are the only three mentioned in the
Bible. However, earlier Jewish traditions name seven archangels,
and some speculate that there might be a whole host of archangels whom
God uses to assist with the most important aspects of our lives.
Raphael describes himself as one of the seven who stand before God.
Michael, whose name means “Who is like God?”, is mentioned several
times in the Bible. The Book of Daniel speaks of him as the
prince who stands up for the people of Israel in a protective way
(Daniel 10:13, 10:21, and 12:1). The Letter of Jude speaks of
Michael fighting against Satan in a dispute over the body of Moses,
“Yet the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil in a dispute
over the body of Moses, did not venture to pronounce a reviling
judgment upon him but said, ‘May the Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude
1:9). The Book of Revelation also reveals Michael’s battle with
Satan, casting him from Heaven, “Then war broke out in heaven; Michael
and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its
angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer
any place for them in heaven” (Revelation 12:7–8). Based on these
passages, Michael is seen as the great defender against Satan and his
demons, the protector of the Church, and the Prince of the
Angels. Though Saint Thomas assigns him to the second lowest
level of the hierarchy of the choirs of angels, others (Saints Basil,
Robert Bellarmine, and Bonaventure) have speculated that he directs the
entire host of angels, taking the former place of Lucifer, the
light-bearer, who was a Seraphim of the highest realm. The prayer
to Saint Michael, who defends us in battle, was written by Pope Leo
XIII and was prayed thereafter at the end of every Mass until the
reforms after Vatican II. Today, it is still prayed in many
churches and widely in private devotion.
Gabriel, whose name means “God is my strength” or “Strong man of God,”
appears several times in the Bible. In the Book of Daniel,
Gabriel appears to interpret Daniel’s vision (Daniel 8:15–27;
9:20–27). In the New Testament, Gabriel appears to Zechariah in
the Temple to reveal the birth of his son, John the Baptist (Luke
1:5–20), and to the Blessed Virgin Mary to announce the birth of the
Messiah (Luke 1:26–38). It might have also been Gabriel who spoke
to Saint Joseph in a dream, dispelling his fear about taking Mary as
his wife (Matthew 1:18–25). For these reasons, Gabriel often
appears in sacred art blowing a trumpet for his role in conveying
divine messages, guiding prophets, and participating in significant
events that shape human history.
Raphael, whose name means “God has healed,” is mentioned by name only
in the Book of Tobit. Tobit was a wealthy and devout Israelite
who had been deported from his home to Nineveh by the Assyrian
king. While in exile, he suffered from blindness and sent his
son, Tobias, to his homeland to gather his money. On the way,
Raphael appeared to Tobias in human form, using the name Azariah.
Raphael protected him on the journey and led him to a woman named Sarah
who lost seven husbands on the night of their weddings, due to a
demon’s attack. The archangel united them in marriage, expelled
the demon, and accompanied them back to Tobit, whom he healed. He
then revealed to them, “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand
and serve before the Glory of the Lord” (Tobit 12:15). It is
speculated that Raphael is also one of the seven angels in the Book of
Revelation who each receives one of the seven trumpets, “And I saw that
the seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets”
(Revelation 8:2).
Though great mystery surrounds the full nature and function of these
glorious angelic spirits, what is abundantly clear is that God has used
them throughout the course of salvation history. Today, we can
confidently assert that God continues to pour forth His grace upon us
through the mediation of the angels, especially Michael, Gabriel, and
Raphael. For some reason, God specifically revealed the names of
these spirits to us, and that invites us to call upon their
mediation. As mediators, they do more than pray for us.
They are entrusted with the duty of implementing God’s will.
As we honor these three archangels today, call upon their intercession,
seek their mediation, and trust that they will accomplish the duties
they are given. Through Michael, seek God’s protection.
Through Gabriel, seek God’s revelation. And through Raphael, seek
God’s healing. They will not let you down.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
11 (cont.). Run from Egypt without looking back;
because the hearts which look back upon it with affection shall not see
Jerusalem, the land of dispassion. Those who left their own people in childlike
simplicity at the beginning, and have since been completely purified,
may profitably return to their former land, perhaps even with the intention,
after saving themselves, of saving others too. Yet Moses, who was allowed
to see God Himself and was sent by God for the salvation of his own people,
met many dangers in Egypt, that is to say, dark, periods in the world.
September 26, 2025
(1Pe
3:15-16) But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready
always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which
is in you. But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that
whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse
your good conversation in Christ.
CRISIS MAGAZINE: America at the Edge of Awakening: Faith, Disorder, and the Forgiveness That Could Save a Republic
MARK MALLET BLOG: This is the Moment
CATHOLIC STAND: Thoughts After the Murder of a Good and Faithful Servant
X VIDEO: U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Catholic, beautifully shared the
gospel of Jesus’ Incarnation in 90 seconds at Charlie’s memorial
TRANSCRIPT OF MARCO RUBIO'S REMARKS:
“One of the things he wants us to take away from this, from all of
this, is the following. His deep belief that we were all created,
every single one of us, before the beginning of time, by the hands of
the God of the universe, an all-powerful God who loved us and created
us for the purpose of living with him in eternity,” he stated.
“But then sin entered the world and separated us from our
creator. And so God took on the form of a man and came down and
lived among us.”
“And He suffered like men, and He died like a man. But on the
third day, He rose unlike any mortal man. And then, and to prove
any doubters wrong, He ate with his disciples so they could see, and
they touched his wounds,” Rubio continued, explaining that Christ
“didn’t rise as a ghost or as a spirit, but as flesh. Then He
rose to the heaven, but He promised he would return, and He will.
And when He returns, because He took on that death, because He carried
that cross, we were freed from the sin that separated us from him.”
“When He returns, there will be a new heaven and a new Earth, and we
will all be together, and we are going to have a great reunion there
again with Charlie and all the people we love.”
CATHOLIC ANSWERS: What Does Scripture Say About the Gospel?
The death of Jesus on the cross is
the supreme demonstration of God’s love for humanity. John 3:16
famously states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have
eternal life.” Jesus’s willing acceptance of suffering and death
reveals the depth of God’s mercy and his desire to reconcile humanity
to himself. On the cross, Jesus took upon himself the weight of
human sin, offering himself as a perfect sacrifice to bridge the gap
between God and humanity that was created by sin. This act of
redemptive love is the central mystery of the Christian faith and the
source of our salvation.
The resurrection of Jesus is the
definitive confirmation of the Gospel. Without the resurrection,
Jesus’s death would have been seen as the failure of his mission.
However, his rising from the dead proves that he is who he claimed to
be: the Son of God with power over sin and death. The
resurrection is not merely a resuscitation of a corpse but a
transformation into a new, glorified state of life. It is the
promise of our own resurrection and the hope of eternal life with
God. The empty tomb and the appearances of the risen Christ to
his disciples became the driving force behind the apostolic preaching
and the rapid spread of the Christian faith.
The Catholic Church teaches that
the Paschal Mystery, which encompasses Jesus’s passion, death,
resurrection, and ascension, is the heart of the Gospel. The
Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that this mystery is the
culmination of God’s plan of salvation and the source of our new life
in Christ (CCC 571, 654). Every aspect of the Church’s life,
especially the celebration of the sacraments, is a participation in the
Paschal Mystery. The Eucharist, in particular, makes present the
sacrifice of Christ on the cross and allows the faithful to receive the
spiritual fruits of his redemptive work. Through the sacraments,
we are united with Christ’s death and resurrection and are filled with
his grace.
The message of Christ’s death and
resurrection has profound implications for daily life. It means
that suffering and death do not have the final word. In Christ,
we can find meaning in our struggles and hope in the face of our
mortality. The cross teaches us the value of sacrificial love and
self-giving, while the resurrection empowers us to live a new life of
holiness and joy. The Gospel calls us to die to sin and to rise
with Christ to a life of freedom and virtue. This transformation
is not something we achieve on our own but is the work of the Holy
Spirit, who dwells within us and conforms us to the image of Christ.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
11. When we have lived a year or two away from
our family, and have acquired some piety or contrition or continence, then
vain thoughts begin to rise up in us and urge us to go again to our homeland,
'for the edification of many', they say, 'and as an example, and for the
profit of those who saw our former lax life'. And if we possess the gift
of eloquence and some shreds of knowledge, the thought occurs to us that
we could be saviours of souls and teachers in the world, that we may waste
in the sea what we have gathered so well in the harbour. Let us try to
imitate not Lot's wife, but Lot himself. For when a soul turns back to
what it has left, like salt, it loses its savour and becomes henceforth
useless.
September 24, 2025
(Dan
12:4) But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the
time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall
increase.
THE CATHOLIC THING: AI: Nearness to the Beast
FUTURISM: AI Now Claiming to Be God
EXCERPT SUBSTACK: A Generation Unfit for God: Why Millions Can No Longer Pray
We are living through the most successful assault on the human soul in history, and most people don’t even know it’s happening.
The attack isn’t coming through persecution. It’s not bombs or
bullets. It’s far more insidious—a systematic rewiring of human
consciousness itself. We’ve been neurologically hijacked, and the
consequences reach straight into our capacity to encounter God.
The average adult now maintains focus for barely forty seconds before
the mind fractures and darts elsewhere. We’ve shattered the
fundamental human ability for sustained attention. And with it,
we’re destroying the conditions required for a spiritual life.
Dr. Kwasniewski has spoken compellingly
about our societal addiction to smartphones, and he’s right to identify
the spiritual stakes involved. Sadly, the problem runs deeper
than device dependency. We’re not just attached to our screens;
we are, in fact, addicted
to them. We’re being trained by them. We’re witnessing a
corruption of human consciousness that hinders our ability for
lingering, for deep thought, for wonder and contemplation—the natural
prerequisites of attentiveness and conversion. The constant drip
of notifications and dopamine loops of digital life prevents pause and
reflection. And now, with artificial intelligence accelerating
this transformation, the danger multiplies.
Algorithms don’t merely reflect human desire; they shape it, pulling
attention away from depth toward distraction, from meaning toward
trivia. What once required discipline—study, meditation,
introspective intention—is now displaced by endless scrolling and
endless noise. This is no minor cultural shift but an
unprecedented threat to our ability to think, to wonder, to be present,
to be truly human.
Christian faith requires abilities that modern life steadily
erodes. Let us consider what those abilities are, and how they
are threatened like never before.
EXCERPT CWR OPINION: Why Catholics can and should resist AI
For Catholics, criticism of technology and rejection of anything
“artificial” should be part of the character of what Pope Benedict XVI
called “creative minorities.” Before his treaty-brokering days, Pope
Francis described this lifestyle and this movement—again, in Laudato
Si–in no uncertain terms. He wrote, “it has become
countercultural to choose a lifestyle whose goals are even partly
independent of technology.”
In this way, Catholics have a built-in capacity to lead the culture
against a post-human future. Amid all the tired discussions of
the “use” of technology in evangelism, the most important thing we can
say is that being Catholic is simply impossible in any kind of virtual
or artificial sense, or even with much reliance on technology at
all. Until the God-man returns, his men will have to stand at his
altars and sit in his confessionals. His people will have to
present themselves, bodies and souls, to partake of his body, blood,
soul, and divinity in person every seven days. They must bring
their babies to the water of the font and the oil of chrism. They
must open their mouths and use their tongues, first to utter their sins
and then receive the Sacrament upon them.
There is no watching or multi-tasking or consuming or using.
There is only the much-maligned Vatican II phrase “active
participation,” which we must sublimate as our battle cry in the fight
for the only thing that matters.
The real.
PODCAST: Are We Scrolling Ourselves to Death?
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Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
10. Be on the look-out for this trick and wile
of the thieves. For they suggest to us that we need not separate ourselves
from people in the world, and maintain that we shall receive a great reward
if we can look upon women and still remain continent. We must not believe
these suggestions, but rather the opposite.
September 22, 2025
(Gal
2:19-20) For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to
God; with Christ I am nailed to the cross. And I live, now not I: but
Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself for me.
SAINT PADRE PIO FEAST DAY September 23 | The Most Powerful Prayer for Healing
REVIEW: The Most Unbelievable Miracles of St. Padre Pio
AUTHORITY ON SAINT PADRE PIO: Frank Rega Official Website LINKS TO FRANK REGA'S BOOKS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/951554.Frank_Rega
JERSEYCATHOLIC: 13 facts about St. Padre Pio to know and share
1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.
Born Francesco Forgione on May 25,
1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local
parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to
Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could
become a Capuchin friar.
2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice.
Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when
he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years
later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much
of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the
Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo
in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his
death on Sept. 23, 1968.
3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.
On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio
received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds
remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds
were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered
by Jesus during his crucifixion.
4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume.
Referred to as the “odor of sanctity,” the blood that came from Padre
Pio’s wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral
aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who
manifested stigmata markings.
5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.
While listening to confessions, the
saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents
waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessionial. Padre
Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins
that were forgotten or omitted.
The saint once said: “Confession is
the soul’s bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not
want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a
clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you
will see that it needs dusting again!”
6. Padre Pio suffered attacks
from the devil on a consistent basis. From a young age, Padre Pio
was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual
warfare, including attacks of the devil.
In a book written by Father
Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: “The
great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the
enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul.”
Amorth continued: “The devil appeared to him under many different
forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive
animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of
naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously
to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was
when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or
posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis.”
7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.
Multiple eyewitness accounts attest
to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once.
Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he
was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim
to have seen him on different continents all over the world. As
to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an
explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred “by an extension
of his personality.”
8. A sighting of a “flying friar” kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio’s town during World War II.
Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was
Padre Pio’s appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during
World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands,
American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San
Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and
prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before
their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed.
In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town
would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was
established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of this
incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he
had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.
9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.
A doctor examining the saint’s body
who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the
stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre
Pio’s body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to
allow pilgrims to visit and pray.
10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived.
All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with
vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the
early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with
relics and artifacts from his life.
11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio.
Several miracles have been attributed to the saint’s intercession,
including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited
Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she
miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly
miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see,
she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.
12. He established a hospital.
Living a life of suffering, made
difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a
hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della
Sofferenza, which means “Home for the Relief of the Suffering,” was
inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill
overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250
beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its
state-of-the-art facilities and services.
13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer.
Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002,
by the late pope St. John Paul II. He is known among
Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000
attended his canonization.
A MOMENT WITH MARY: "Let us strive to be always behind this blessed Mother"
Padre Pio's devotion to the Blessed Virgin, the same one that he
recommended to his penitents and directees, was very simple: in
addition to the liturgical feasts in her honor, which he celebrated
with fervor, it was chiefly centered on the Rosary. He prayed it
continually, evoking, meditating and praying with Mary - which is what
the Rosary is all about - each of the mysteries of Jesus' life.
His fellow friars would also see him in the sacristy, meditating and
praying at the foot of a picture of Our Lady of Sorrows.
In a letter from 1912, he wrote: "How many times have I confided to
this mother the tormented anguish of my restless heart! And how
often has she comforted me! In difficult moments, it seems to me
that I no longer have a mother on earth, but one, full of pity, in
Heaven... Poor little Mama, how she loves me! I felt it
again at the beginning of this month (of May). She accompanied me
to the altar this morning with such loving care! I wish that I
had a stronger voice, to invite sinners all over the world to go to Our
Lady."
He goes on to write: "I feel myself burning without a fire. I
feel clasped and bound to the Son by means of this Mother, without even
seeing the chains that bind me so tightly." Padre Pio saw in this
Mother the one who leads to Jesus and who, through her powerful
intercession, obtained countless graces from him.
And in a letter from 1915, he wrote: "Let us strive, like other chosen
souls, to always be behind this blessed Mother, and to always walk by
her side, for there is no other road that leads to life but the one
taken by our Mother: we who wish to reach the end must not refuse to
take this path".
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
9. Run from places of sin as from the plague. For
when fruit is not present, we have no frequent desire to eat it.
September 19, 2025
(Rev
6:9-11) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the
testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying:
How long, O Lord (Holy and True), dost thou not judge and revenge our
blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to
every one of them one; And it was said to them that they should rest
for a little time till their fellow servants and their brethren, who
are to be slain even as they, should be filled up.
POPE LEO XIV:
“I express my deepest sympathy to the Palestinian people in Gaza, who
continue to live in fear and survive in unacceptable conditions,
forced—once again—from their lands.”
FR. ALTIER HOMILY: Sword of Sorrow: Church's Crucifixion Awaits
ASIANEWS.IT: On Gaza, Pope pleads ‘Thou shalt not kill’, expresses closeness to the Palestinian people
The world needs "a dawn of peace
and justice,” said Pope Leo this morning, speaking to the thousands of
faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for the Wednesday general
audience. "I invite you all to join in my heartfelt prayer," he
added.
The pontiff turned his thoughts
first “to the Palestinian people in Gaza, who continue to live in fear
and to survive in unacceptable conditions, forcibly displaced – once
again – from their own lands.” In recent days, Israel has begun its
ground operation in Gaza City, taking control of over 40 per cent of
the area with thousands of Palestinians fleeing; meanwhile, the UN has
defined Israel's actions as “genocide”.
In light of the situation, the pope
reiterated his "profound closeness" to the Palestinians of Gaza who
cannot find peace. As soon as he mentioned the Palestinian
people, a spontaneous round of applause broke out in the square.
Looking on, his face dark and
sombre, Leo said, “Before God Almighty, who commanded “Thou shalt not
kill”, and in the sight of all of human history, every person always
has an inviolable dignity, to be respected and upheld.” In his renewed
plea today, uttered from the basilica's parvis, the pontiff called for
“a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a negotiated diplomatic
solution, fully respecting international humanitarian law.”
EWTN: Hundreds of Italian priests condemn what they say is ‘genocide’ happening in Gaza
DAILY COMPASS EDITORIAL: Ukraine and Gaza: two crises in search of peacemakers
RTE: Catholic priest in Gaza City tells of danger and fear
Fr Carlos Ferrero of the Holy
Family Catholic Church in Gaza City said the danger there has made it
"very difficult" for anyone there to leave their compound, as the
situation has worsened in recent days. He told RTÉ's News at One
that 450 refugees are taking shelter inside the church and compound,
including disabled children. He said that approximately 250,000
people have left Gaza city under Israeli military orders but that that
means up to one million people remain. Fr Ferrero said many say
they do not want to go as nowhere is safe, and that everyone is
experiencing some level of fear and concern. He added that stray
bullets have been found nearby, including inside the school building.
"Danger is there and on top of that
the current situation, it adds a little more realism to the
danger. People are scared. Everybody is scared, we are all
scared. "The sisters' house has been bombed three times, the two
ladies were killed last time, December 2023, by the sniper. "The
church was bombed, three people died, there are still people wounded
because of that attack. "When there is a bomb very near here,
things are falling down in our
compound, so we have to be careful from everywhere," he said.
Fr Carlos Ferrero said Pope Leo has been in touch and "he is very much
concerned", and the papal nuncio in Israel and the patriarch are in
communication with the church directly. He said the patriarch
asked them what they would like to do, and Fr Ferrero said they intend
to remain in Gaza city. "There are disabled children, there are
elderly people who have no idea...they know they're suffering, but they
do not understand anything else. "Some of them have lost their
mind, and some due to their age, are bedridden and others are
sick. "There are also sick people who cannot move from the church
freely". Fr Ferrero said the remainder will have to decide for
themselves what they would like to do, and he himself chose to stay
"for those people". He added that the nuns and others have
decided to do the same.
When asked what keeps him and the other religious order members going,
Fr Carlos Ferrero replied "God of course, Jesus", and that through it
all, he has not questioned his faith. "He [God] is patiently
waiting for people to change their mind, to correct, there are millions
of people who are praying for peace. "That's kind of a moral
miracle all over the world.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
8. Eve was exiled from Paradise against her will,
but the monk is a willing exile from his home. She would have liked the
tree of disobedience again; and he would certainly expose himself daily
to frequent danger from relatives according to the flesh.
September 17, 2025
(Psa
46:10-12) Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, and I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of armies
is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.
FATHER ROMANO GUARDINI:
“For the greatest things are accomplished in silence – not in the
clamor and display of superficial eventfulness, but in the deep clarity
of inner vision; in the almost imperceptible start of decision, in
quiet overcoming and hidden sacrifice.”
SUBSTACK: Contemplative Prayer and Hope for America
CRISIS MAGAZINE: The Sound of Silence
CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN: The Remedy of Silence
Silence. This is the real remedy to modernity. I can think
of no better antidote to the cult of unlimited choice than this.
Silence teaches patience, and patience gives birth to prayer.
Silence quells our restlessness and puts us in touch with eternal
values.
This silence, however, is not something you stumble into or experience
accidentally. It is something you must intentionally
cultivate. Each day, we should strive to find moments to pause
and reflect; to remove ourselves from the steam of impressions and
advertisements which only stir within us restlessness and
discontent. We must seek times to be quiet before the Lord in
adoration and thanksgiving, for in these moments of quiet communion lie
true healing and purification.
Above all, we must remember that holiness cannot be bought.
Unlike so many things available to us, it requires real effort, real
sacrifice, and real desire. In other words, holiness demands the
cross. And there are no shortcuts.
ANTONIO CARDINAL BACCI MEDITATION: “To be Silent, to Adore, and to be Happy”
1. When Rosmini was seriously ill and in danger of death he was
visited by his admirer and friend, Manzoni, who found him in so serious
a condition that he could only breathe with difficulty. In his
shaking hands he clutched a crucifix. “Are you suffering much?”
Manzoni asked as he bent over him. The sick man gazed at his
friend and a wan smile passed over his face. Then the great
writer asked him to give him some advice by which he would remember
him. Rosmini looked at his crucifix and whispered: “Be silent,
adore, and be happy.” To be silent: It is very difficult for a man to
remain silent when he is suffering great physical pain or when he is
slandered, envied or misunderstood. On such occasions one’s blood
begins to boil and bitter remarks come easily to the tongue. But
what good does it do? It may be some relief to our feelings, but
usually it will only make matters worse by aggravating our
trouble. Let us be silent and offer our sufferings to Jesus, Who
suffered for us more than we could ever suffer. Let us atone for
our sins by silently offering our sorrows and disappointments to
God. Any other gift which we give to God is nothing more than
restitution for all He has given us; but when we offer our sufferings,
we give Him something which is truly our own, because it is we
ourselves who suffer. Suffering endured without complaint is a
most acceptable gift to God, Who grants us in return peace and
resignation.
2. To Adore: What are we in the sight of God but poor, weak
creatures? How can we rebel against those sufferings with which
the Lord in His infinite wisdom allows us to be afflicted? Since
it is God Who sends them, it can only mean that He wishes us to profit
spiritually from them in the same way as we benefit physically from
unpleasant medicine. We gladly recognize, therefore, the
mysterious designs of Divine Providence in all the circumstances of our
lives, happy and unhappy. Like the holy patriarch Job we should
say: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of
the Lord!” (Job 1:21) We should repeat, too, with Jesus in Gethsemane:
“Not my will but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) Like the Saints, we
should thank God for all His designs in our regard.
3. To be Happy: When the Apostles had been persecuted and
threatened with death we read that “they departed rejoicing that they
had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.”
(Acts 5:41) The Saints were also happy to suffer for Christ.
St. Teresa used to say “Either to suffer or to die,” while
St. Maria Maddalena de’ Pazzi wished “to suffer and not to die.”
There were others whose love for Jesus was so great that they prayed
for suffering because they considered it an affliction not to be
carrying a cross. It is difficult for human nature to desire and
to pray for suffering; but when a man really loves God more than
himself and more than created things, nothing is too difficult.
If we have not reached such a high level of generosity, however, let us
at least resolve to be fully resigned in our acceptance of any trials
which He may wish to send us.
ST. ISAAC THE SYRIAN:
Prayer offered up at night possesses a great power, more than the
prayer of the day-time. Therefore all the righteous prayed during
the night, while combatting the heaviness of the body and the sweetness
of sleep and repelling corporeal nature…There is nothing that even
Satan fears so much as prayer that is offered during the vigilance at
night…For this reason the devil smites them with violent warfare, in
order to hinder them, if possible, from this work…But those who have
resisted his wicked stratagems even a little, who have tasted the gifts
of God that are granted during vigil, and who have experienced in
themselves the magnitude of God’s help that is always nigh to them,
utterly disdain him and all his devices.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
7. Have you become an exile from the world? Do
not touch the world any more; because the passions desire nothing better
than to return.
September 15, 2025
(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.
SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II:
"Turn your eyes incessantly to the Blessed Virgin; she, who is the
Mother of Sorrows and also the Mother of Consolation, can understand
you completely and help you. Looking to her, praying to her, you
will obtain that your tedium will become serenity, your anguish change
into hope, and your grief into love."
CATHOLIC VOTE: ‘And your heart shall be pierced by a sword’: Why Catholics celebrate Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
ARCHDIOCES OF SAN FRANCISCO: In times of sorrow, turn to Our Lady
FREEREPUBLIC: Charlie Kirk's widow waves with cross in hand as motorcade escorts his body
OPINION: Sorrow vs. sadness
We need to see
to it that we manage to be with joy, the joy of Christ, especially when
we encounter the unavoidable suffering in this life. Joy is
actually what is proper to us. This is where the distinction
between sadness and sorrow can be made.
St. Thomas Aquinas once said
that “sadness is a vice caused by a disordered self-love, and this
self-love is not a special vice, but the general root of the vices.” We
need to distinguish it from sorrow which is a kind of low feeling over
the loss of someone or something or over some negative and difficult
conditions that we can have. But it’s a low feeling that does not
take away the joy of being with Christ.
That is why there can still be joy
in suffering, in the cross, if we only know how to be with Christ in
those situations. This is when we can be in sorrow but not in
sadness. The former still has joy while the latter has lost
it. With Christ, and with Our Lady who fully identified herself
with her son, we can manage to find meaning and the assurance of
redemption, in suffering and all the way to death. We can still
manage to have joy.
The challenge for us is how to be
with Christ and with Our Lady whenever we encounter difficulties and
other negative conditions in our life. Yes, we can find joy in
suffering only if we identify ourselves with Christ. With him,
suffering becomes an act of selfless love that can take on
anything. With him, suffering loses its purely negative and
painful character, and assumes the happy salvific character.
We need to process this truth of
our faith thoroughly, always asking for God’s grace and training all
our powers and faculties to adapt to this reality. That’s why
Christ told us clearly that if we want to follow him, we simply have to
deny ourselves, carry the cross, and follow him. There’s no other
formula, given our wounded human condition.
MY CATHOLIC LIFE: Our Lady of Sorrows
Traditionally, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows commemorates the seven sorrows in the Heart of Mary as recorded in Scripture:
- The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:33–35)
- The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15)
- Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41–50)
- Mary meets Jesus on His way to Calvary (Luke 23:27–31; John 19:17)
- Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25–30)
- The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Luke 23:50–54; John 19:31–37)
- The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8–9; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42; Mark 15:40–47)
The Blessed Virgin Mary first
learned about the sword that would pierce her heart while presenting
the Child Jesus in the Temple with Saint Joseph on the eighth day for
His naming and circumcision. “Simeon blessed them and said to
Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise
of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you
yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may
be revealed’” (Luke 2:34–35). Simeon’s prophecy was the first
piercing of her heart because it is the first scriptural record of Mary
knowing that her Son would suffer. The next six traditional
sorrows paint the developing picture of the fulfillment of that
prophecy.
As we honor the Blessed Mother’s Sorrowful Heart, it’s important to
understand that a “sorrowful” heart is not the same as a “sad”
heart. Theologically speaking, sadness results from a form of
self-pity, or an unhealthy attachment to something that was lost.
Sorrow, on the other hand, is one of the Beatitudes, and therefore one
of the holiest qualities we can possess. “Blessed are they who
mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). To “mourn” is
to have a sorrowful heart. In this context of the Beatitudes, a
heart that mourns is a heart that loves. Mourning, or holy
sorrow, results from a heart that witnesses sin and grieves over
it. In the Blessed Mother’s case, she witnessed the brutal
treatment of her Son, His rejection, suffering, and death. She
did not despair as she witnessed this. She did not become
angry. She did not succumb to confusion and frustration.
She did not withdraw into herself in self-pity. Instead, she
reacted with the empathetic love that flows from the holiest of
hearts. She felt holy sorrow—not so much because she felt bad for
her Son, but because she grieved over the sins that inflicted that
suffering, and longed to see those sins redeemed.
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
6. Detachment is excellent; but her mother is exile.
Having become an exile for the Lord's sake, we should have no ties at all
lest we seem to be roving in order to gratify our passions.
September 12, 2025
(Luk 1:26-28) And
in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of
Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the
angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is
with thee: blessed art thou among women.
YOUTUBE: The Holy Name of Mary
CHURCHPOP: Charlie Kirk Said ‘Mary is the Solution’ to Toxic Feminism in America: ‘We Don’t Talk About Mary Enough’
ESSAY: Celebrating the Most Holy Name of Mary
MY CATHOLIC LIFE: The Holy Name of Mary
Names bring with them much significance and meaning. When
addressing someone formally and directly, it is common to first state
their name. A name uniquely identifies and dignifies the
person. For this reason, in praying to our Lord it is common
practice to call on His name, “Jesus!” So also with Mary. Calling
on her by name is a way of seeking her prayers in a personal and
intimate way. Hence, the names of Jesus and Mary should be seen
and understood as being powerful, compelling us to call upon them
personally, with trust in Who they are.
As we honor the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary today, reflect
upon the depth of trust you have in her motherly intercession.
Kings and armies called upon her for protection and victory.
Sinners have sought her motherly help to overcome their
weaknesses. Saints have entrusted themselves to her, knowing that
she would elevate them and present them to her divine Son. Popes
have sung her praises. Church councils have taught definitively
about her role in salvation history. All who call upon her should
have certainty that their prayers will be heard. Turn to her
today, entrust yourself to her intercession, and have confidence that
her prayers will win for you an abundance of grace and mercy from her
Son.
Prayer: Dearest Mother Mary, Mother of God and my mother, I love you
and call upon you to receive me into your motherly heart so that you
will present me to your Son, Jesus. Your Son entrusted me to your
motherly care as He hung upon the Cross, and I now imitate that
entrustment by giving myself to you as my mother. Please gain for
me every grace I need to be faithful to God’s will, so that I will
imitate the fidelity that you manifested in your own life. Mother
Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
THE CATHOLIC COMPANY: Seven Quotes from the Saints on the Holy Name of Mary
- "Let me say something concerning this name also, which is
interpreted to mean Star of the sea, and admirably suits the Virgin
Mother." –St. Bernard
- "Mary means enlightener, because she brought forth the Light of
the world. In the Syriac tongue, Mary signifies Lady." –St.
Isidore of Seville
- "Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port
by the ocean star, so Christians attain to glory through Mary's
maternal intercession." –St. Thomas Aquinas
- "Therefore a certain Star has risen for us today: Our Lady, Saint
Mary. Her name means Star of the sea; no doubt the Star of this
sea which is the world. Therefore, we ought to lift up our eyes
to this Star that has appeared on earth today in order that she may
lead us, in order that she may enlighten us, in order that she may show
us these steps so that we shall know them, in order that she may help
us so that we may be able to ascend. And therefore it is a
beautiful thing that Mary is placed in this stairway of which we are
speaking, there where we must begin to climb. As the Evangelist
says, Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, so immediately at the
very moment of our conversion she appears to us and receives us into
her care and enlightens us in her light and accompanies us along this
laborious path." –St. Aelred
- "God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them
the seas or maria [Latin, seas]. He gathered all His grace
together and called it Mary or Maria . . . This
immense treasury is none other than Mary whom the saints call the
'treasury of the Lord.' From her fullness all men are made rich."
–St. Louis de Montfort
- "This most holy, sweet and worthy name was 'eminently fitted to
so holy, sweet and worthy a virgin. For Mary means a bitter
sea,[2] star of the sea, the illuminated or illuminatrix. Mary is
interpreted Lady. Mary is a bitter sea to the demons; to men she
is the Star of the sea; to the Angels she is illuminatrix, and to all
creatures she is Lady." – St. Bonaventure
- “Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in
distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name
never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow
her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if
you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds
you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she
is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will
surely reach your destination.” –St. Bernard
CATHOLICTRADITION.ORG: Litany of the Holy Name of Mary
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
5. In going into exile, beware of the demon of
drifting and of sensual desire; because exile gives him his opportunity.
September 10, 2025
(1Pe
4:12-14) Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which
is to try you: as if some new thing happened to you. But if you partake
of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be
revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you be reproached
for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the
honour, glory and power of God, and that which is his Spirit resteth
upon you.
AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED: Persecution Outlook
ASIANEWS.IT: The names of 1,600 new martyrs of the 21st century
An ecumenical
celebration will be held this Sunday, the feast of the Exaltation of
the Holy Cross, in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome,
to commemorate the martyrs and witnesses to the faith of the 21st
century. Led by Pope Leo XIV, it will include representatives
from various Churches and Christian Communions.
In 2023 Pope Francis set up the
Commission for New Martyrs – Witnesses to the Faith at the Dicastery
for the Causes of Saints to continue the previous work by looking back
over the first quarter of this century. For Archbishop Fabio
Fabene, who chairs the Commission, the aim was “to record for our time
all Christians who shed their blood for the love of Christ and to bear
witness to his Gospel,” as well as update the list of martyrs prepared
under Pope John Paul II ahead of this year’s Jubilee. Paying
particular attention to the martyrs offers "a sign of hope" for "all
Christian confessions,” in the spirit of the "ecumenism of blood," as
John Paul II described it, which is realised in "Christians who have
given their lives."
The total number of martyrs killed
worldwide between 2000 and 2025 stands at 1,624, but this represents
the "tip of the iceberg" of the problem. Riccardi noted the
difficulties that the Commission for New Martyrs - Witnesses to the
Faith faced in its research, which is slated to continue beyond
2025. This was primarily due to the impossibility of collecting
reliable data in "remote areas" of Africa, and elsewhere. Yet,
despite the obstacles, it is sadly clear that "Christians continue to
die," he lamented. Indeed, many martyrs remain unrecognised, but
their stories are nonetheless "touching" and "emblematic of [.
. .] tormented areas in today’s world," he said. "One is
about the young Chaldean priest, Fr Ragheed Ganni, killed in Mosul
(Iraq) in 2007 with three deacons.” “Speaking at a Eucharistic
conference in Bari, the clergyman said: ‘I am full of fear, but when I
hold the Eucharist in my hand [. . .] I feel its strength
within me. This makes us resist and hope.’”
ZENIT.ORG: A Global Surge in Anti-Christian Hostility Raises Alarms Across Churches
From the quiet suburbs of the United States to the contested streets of
Jerusalem and the cathedrals of Europe, a troubling pattern is
emerging: attacks against Christian communities and their sacred spaces
are not only rising, but in some places multiplying at an alarming
pace. A recent report by the Family Research Council, released on
August 11, documented 1,384 hostile incidents against Christian
churches in the United States between 2018 and 2024. What began
with fewer than 100 incidents annually ballooned after the 2022 leak of
the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v.
Wade. That year alone, 198 attacks were reported. By 2023,
the number had nearly doubled again, reaching 485 cases before settling
slightly lower at 415 in 2024. Most cases were acts of vandalism,
but the list also included arson, gunfire, bomb threats, and deliberate
interruptions of worship. CatholicVote, a U.S. advocacy
group, has independently tracked at least 521 assaults on Catholic
churches since 2020, ranging from smashed statues and satanic graffiti
to fires that destroyed historic sanctuaries. The group notes
that many attacks carried explicit pro-abortion slogans, suggesting a
direct link between political anger and acts of sacrilege.
Observers warn that these are not isolated acts of theft or vandalism
but signs of a broader cultural hostility toward Christianity.
While some perpetrators may be motivated by ideology, others seem
emboldened by what faith leaders describe as an increasingly permissive
climate toward anti-Christian sentiment.
Taken together, these reports draw a sobering picture. Attacks on
Christian churches are becoming not just more frequent, but more
organized, ideologically charged, and international in scope. For
believers, the numbers represent not mere statistics but wounds to
communities, sacred spaces, and a sense of security in the public
square. For pastors and bishops, the challenge now lies in
addressing not only the physical repair of damaged sanctuaries but also
the deeper spiritual and cultural fractures that fuel such
hostilities. The trend may differ in its local
expressions—graffiti in New York, harassment in Jerusalem, or church
burnings in rural France—but the trajectory is unmistakable.
Across continents, Christian communities are facing a rising tide of
aggression, one that touches the heart of their worship and the fabric
of their public witness.
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Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
4. In hastening to solitude and exile, do not wait
for world-loving souls, because the thief comes unexpectedly. In trying
to save the careless and indolent along with themselves, many perish with
them, because in course of time the soul's fire goes out. As soon as the
flame is burning within you, run; for you do not know when it will go out
and leave you in darkness. Not all of us are required to save others. The
divine Apostle says: 'Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.'
And again he says: 'Thou therefore that teachest another, dost thou not
teach thyself?' This is like saying: I do not know whether we must all
teach others; but we must most certainly teach ourselves.
September 8, 2025
(Rom 8:16-17) For
the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are the sons
of God. And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God and joint heirs
with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified with him.
VATICAN NEWS:
“They encourage us with their words: “Not I, but God,” as Carlo used to
say. And Pier Giorgio: “If you have God at the center of all your
actions, then you will reach the end.” This is the simple but winning
formula of their holiness. It is also the type of witness we are
called to follow, in order to enjoy life to the full and meet the Lord
in the feast of heaven.”
SIMPLY CATHOLIC: What Is A Victim Soul?
FR. ALTIER HOMILY: Our Lady's Triumph and The Coming Purification
EXCERPT: "The
first reading today, we hear the words, "Behold, a great priest who in
his days pleased God and was found just in the time of wrath. He
was made a reconciliation." Well, I don't think it's going to take a
genius to recognize that we're living in a time of wrath. Things
continue to ratchet up. The anger level is just through the
roof. The violence keeps getting worse. And it's going to
keep getting worse.
But we have to be able to look at what God is calling us to because the
day is going to come when God is finally going to have enough of this
nonsense and he'll take care of it himself because it's the only way
it's going to work. But in the meantime for those who are called,
for instance especially the pope the bishops but any priest, is
supposed to be that reconciliation.
However, it's interesting that Our Lady has made it very clear that
her triumph of her Immaculate Heart is going to happen through a small
army of victim souls. Not generally priests and bishops because
most of them aren't willing to do it but chosen souls whom God is
allowing to suffer to be that reconciliation to be the ones offering
sacrifice to the Lord. Obviously we have the sacrifice of Christ
which is infinite and beyond all others. But it is the charity of
the hearts of these people who are willing to suffer in union with
Jesus to offer their sufferings in union with the sacrifice of the Holy
Mass. That's where the power that is going to convert souls comes
from. That's where the power that's going to purify the church
comes from."
FR. MIKE SCHMITZ YOUTUBE: How to Offer It Up
NCR: The Bible Says Your Suffering Can Help Save Others
SUBSTACK: One article
from the revelations of Jesus to Sister Josefa Menendez in the book The
Way of Divine Love explained what it means to be a victim soul in such
a profound way that it took my understanding of this mystery to a whole
new level. It helped me understand that the more He allows us to
suffer, the more He loves us because it’s that suffering that brings us
closer to Him on the cross and removes the impurities in our souls that
act as barriers between Him and us. I came away from this article
with the understanding that I’m not suffering alone, and that my
suffering, in a unique way, is playing a part in carrying out God’s
plan of salvation for myself and the world.
PRAYERS FOR OFFERING UP SUFFERING:
We start first with this well-known prayer Our Lady taught the three
Fatima visionaries, the children Lucia Dos Santos, and her cousins
Francisco and Jacinta Marto, in 1917, to be said when offering up
sufferings, sacrifices, or penances:
Oh my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of
sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the
Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In a similar vein, we offer this prayer:
Dear Lord, Help me to remember in these troubled times
The cross you carried for my sake,
So that I may better carry mine
And to help others do the same,
As I offer up (whatever your concern or problem here)
to you
For the conversion of sinners
For the forgiveness of sins
In reparation for sins
And for the salvation of souls. Amen
Here’s a shorter version that expresses the same sentiment:
Dear Lord, I offer you (whatever your concern or problem here)
For the conversion of sinners
For the forgiveness of sins
In reparation for sins and
For the salvation of souls. Amen.
As the well-known Catholic author Peter Kreeft once wrote in this article,
our suffering can help both ourselves and others we may not even
know. As he put it "If we are 'in Christ', we, like him, can
offer up our sufferings to the Father—and he uses them. They
become seeds, or rainwater, and something beautiful springs up that we
seldom see in this life." This concept of redemptive suffering is
one of those wonderful divine mysteries, much like our Lord’s
Incarnation and His Resurrection that we as human beings will never
fully be able to explain but that can give our lives so much
meaning. Our sufferings can have a purpose!
LOVE CRUCIFIED: The History of Victim Souls for This Century
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
3. If every prophet goes unhonoured in his own
country, as the Lord says, then us beware lest our exile should be for
us an occasion of vainglory. For exile is separation from everything in
order to keep the mind inseparable from God. Exile loves and produces continual
weeping. An exile is a fugitive from every relationship with his own people
and with strangers.
September 5, 2025
(Rev 2:10-11) Fear
none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil will
cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried: and you shall have
tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death: and I will give thee
the crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith to the churches: He that shall overcome shall not be hurt by the
second death.
DENVER CATHOLIC: Praying for Peace in the Holy Land: A Call to Prayer and Trust in God
ZENIT.ORG: Despite the Israeli army’s full incursion into Gaza, priests and nuns will remain in the city as witnesses of charity
YOUTUBE: Israel’s War on Christianity: The Holy Land under Siege
UCANEWS: Catholic leaders head to Jerusalem and Gaza
As the Israel-Hamas war nears the
two-year mark, Catholic leaders have headed to Jerusalem, the
Palestinian West Bank and Israel on a pastoral visit.
The delegation is headed by
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, who serves as vice
president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops; Msgr. Peter
I. Vaccari, president of the Catholic Near East Welfare
Association-Pontifical Mission; and members of the Knights of Columbus,
including Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly and Supreme Secretary
John A. Marrella.
In a Sept. 2 press release issued
by CNEWA-Pontifical Missions, Msgr. Vaccari said the visit was
meant to provide accompaniment and solidarity with those suffering from
the war, sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel.
To date, more than 63,000
Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to the
Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Some 1,200 Israelis have been
slain and more than 5,400 injured. Of the 251 Israeli hostages
taken by Hamas that Oct. 7, 50 remain in captivity, with only 20
of them believed to still be alive, with 83 of the hostages confirmed
killed to date.
More than 100 were released later in 2023; eight were rescued by Israeli forces.
On Aug. 22, the International
Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC -- a global food security
metric used by a consortium of hunger relief agencies -- formally
declared a famine in Gaza, stating the situation -- fomented by aid
blockades as well as controversial, often deadly food distribution
efforts -- was "entirely man-made" and could be "halted and reversed."
The IPC called for "an immediate,
at-scale response," noting that "any further delay -- even by days --
will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of famine-related
mortality."
On Aug. 20, Israel's military disclosed plans to call up 60,000 reservists ahead of a new offensive in Gaza City.
"The Gospel compels us to witness,
to stand in solidarity with all those who suffer at the hands of
terror, war and famine, to answer the question put to Jesus in the
Gospel of St. Luke, 'And who is my neighbor,'" said Msgr.
Vaccari. "By visiting the church of Jerusalem, from which our
faith has spread throughout the world, we hope to communicate to our
suffering sisters and brothers of our unity in resolve and purpose in
assisting them in their time of Golgotha, as we work together to seek
justice and advance the cause of lasting peace."
According to a Sept. 2 press
release from CNEWA-Pontifical Missions, the pastoral visit "will
include liturgies in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher,
Bethlehem's Basilica of the Nativity and Nazareth's Church of the
Annunciation, and meetings with leaders of the region's beleaguered
Christian community, which despite its near destruction in Gaza remains
a force of good, rushing food, water and medicines to starving families
and providing medical attention through its network of maternity
clinics and hospital."
FRANCISCAN PRIEST IBRAHIM FALTAS:
“I live in the Holy Land, in Jerusalem,” he said. 'And I speak to
you not as an observer, but as a direct witness to what has been
happening every day for too long. This is a land that I love
deeply, but since 7 October it has once again become the scene of a
tragedy that seems to have no end. Everything has changed, the
rhythm of our days has changed. People's outlook has
changed. Hope has changed. I speak to you from within an
open wound. A wound that throbs in Jerusalem, in Gaza, in
Bethlehem, in the West Bank...
A wound that affects everyone,
without distinction. For almost two years, life has changed
radically. And not only in Gaza. Even in our cities, in our
villages, the heartbeat of the Holy Land has changed. We are all
suffering. The Jews are suffering. The Muslims are
suffering. We Christians are suffering. Because pain,
hatred and revenge know no religion. They enter everyone's
homes. They bring silence, fear, mourning. But if there is
one voice that cries out louder than the rest, it is that of the
children of Gaza. They are the ones who pay the highest
price. I have seen with my own eyes children who are wounded,
amputees, mutilated, with deep wounds in their bodies and souls, with
very serious illnesses. Many do not speak. Many cannot
smile. An entire generation has been scarred. A generation
of children who know nothing but war, flight and hunger. Many
have lost a leg, an arm or both. Many have lost their parents,
many have lost their voices.
Today, for thousands of families, a
tent is a home. Under the scorching August sun, with temperatures
above 40 degrees, without electricity, without clean water, without
sanitation. The sewers are destroyed, and diseases are spreading:
infections, viruses, dehydration, especially among the youngest.
Human dignity has been crushed. Gaza today is a wound carved into
the living flesh of humanity. A wound that questions us,
challenges us, condemns us if we choose to ignore it. In addition
to the humanitarian catastrophe, monuments, works of art, and
millennia-old testimonies to the history of Gaza have also been
destroyed. It is as if someone wanted to erase the past, the
memory, the very identity of a people. A common cultural heritage
has been wiped out.
In the midst of all this are the
Christians of Gaza. I often hear from them when they manage to
answer the phone. I hear their voices trembling, the sound of
bombs nearby. Even in recent days, some bombs have fallen near
the parish, sowing new fear. Yet they remain there. They
resist. For almost two years, more than six hundred people have
been living in the parish premises. The parish priest, Don
Gabriel, and Father Joseph live with them: the parish has become a
living testimony to a gospel that is embodied in pain and solidarity.
Meanwhile, the West Bank is also
bleeding. In the last two years, 180 Christian families have
emigrated. Bethlehem is emptying. What will become of the
future of Christians in the Holy Land? Who will remain to guard
those places if there are no longer families, schools, young
people? And so I feel the need to cry out for truth and
peace. We are not facing a conflict between religions. It
is not a war of faiths. It is a human tragedy, a massacre.
And as human beings, we cannot remain indifferent."
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
2. Those who have come to love the Lord are at
first unceasingly and greatly disturbed by this thought, as if burning
with divine fire. I speak of separation from their own, undertaken by the
lovers of perfection so that they may live a life of hardship and simplicity.
But great and praiseworthy as this is, yet it requires great discretion;
for not every kind of exile, carried to extremes, is good.
September 3, 2025
(Eph
6:11-13) Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand
against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against
flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the
rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness
in the high places. Therefore, take unto you the armour of God, that
you may be able to resist in the evil day and to stand in all things
perfect.
MARK MALLET: The Timothy Prophecy
YOUTUBE: "We’re living in the fulfilment of the Book of Revelation..." Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi explains.
Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi: "Some go far as to say, we don't need any more prophetic revelations or private revelations.
We have the Bible, we have the Catechism, we have tradition. That
is all we need. And guess what? That is not the proper
ecclesiology that the Church teaches.
The Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus Christ to do what in John chapter
16:12? To not only remind us of what Christ taught us, but Jesus
says it Himself: to lead you to all the truth.
Therefore, those individuals who do not want and some even condemn post
biblical revelations are condemning Christ's words. They're
basically saying, no, Jesus, we don't need the Holy Spirit to lead us
to all the truth.
We already have the Bible that you gave us, tradition that the Church
fathers gave us and the, the apostles, and we have, you know, the
catechism or the sacraments or whatever. The point is the Holy
Spirit will never cease to reveal God's truth to us until the final
coming of Christ on earth.
The reason for the Holy Spirit's ongoing explication of that which
Christ revealed in seminal or implicit form is to perfect the body of
Christ through two things. The outpouring of gifts which He
actualizes and the explication of truth that He unfolds, reveals.
And this is found in the second paragraph of Article 66 of the
Catechism that states that even though we have everything in the one
public revelation of Christ to which nothing may be added, nonetheless
that one public revelation of Christ continues through throughout the
centuries to be explicated.
And that's the purpose of prophetic revelation that the Church has endorsed."
SIGNS & WONDERS: Satan’s Plan for Your Children By Rev. Joseph M. Esper
The devil hates humanity, and wants to drag each of us down to hell,
where he and his evil spirits (and countless damned souls) can accuse
and torment us even as we share their agony and misery for all
eternity. The evil one takes special delight in corrupting the
innocence of children and young people, for Jesus’ words, “Let the children come to Me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mk. 10:14), served as a painful reminder of the beauty and glory he once possessed, but lost forever.
Satan hates everything that God loves—and because little ones can be so
guileless and innocent, and thus so precious to the Father (Mt.
18:1-5), the devil makes every effort to turn them away from the Lord
and prevent them from discovering and following Heaven’s plan for their
lives. Our highly prosperous, technological age offers more
opportunities, distractions, and potential temptations than any other
era in history; music, leisure activities, social media, societal
trends, and numerous forms of entertainment unimaginable to previous
generations, all serve as potential snares in the devil’s ongoing and
intensifying campaign against our young people. Furthermore,
growing numbers of teenagers and young adults suffer today from
anxiety, insecurity, and uncertainty about their place in the world—and
hell is quick to exploit these vulnerabilities. This danger is
compounded by the unfortunate fact that a majority of parents,
teachers, and other significant adults (perhaps even some religious
catechists and priests) seem to be unprepared for battle in the
spiritual war now raging.
Adolph Hitler—for many people, the foremost historical personification of evil—once boasted, “When an opponent declares, ‘I will not come over to your side,’ I calmly say, ‘Your child belongs to us already.’”
The evil one desires to taunt good and loving parents and grandparents,
teachers and pastors, with these same words—and so it’s our duty to
inform ourselves of the dangers surrounding our young people, and then
help prepare them to use God’s grace in facing and overcoming the
devil’s attacks.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches,
The power of Satan is . . . not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from
the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the
building up of God’s reign. Although Satan may act in the world out
of hatred for God and His kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action
may cause grave injuries—of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a
physical nature—to each man and to society, the action is permitted by
divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and
cosmic history (n. 395).
The
Catechism also insists that parents must evangelize their children,
teaching them “to pray and to discover their vocation as children of
God” (n. 2226). This education in the faith certainly
includes warning them of the reality of spiritual warfare, teaching
them to recognize and resist the devil’s temptations and snares, and
assuring them that, with the help of God’s grace, they can “resist the
devil, and he will flee” (Jas. 4:7).
Ladder
of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
1. Exile means that we leave forever everything
in our own country that prevents us from reaching the goal of piety. Exile
means modest manners, wisdom which remains unknown, prudence not recognized
as such by most, a hidden life, an invisible intention, unseen meditation,
desire for humiliation, longing for hardship, constant determination to
love God, abundance of love, renunciation of vainglory, depth of silence.
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