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NEWS LINK: 'Looking for hope:' In Havana’s darkness, Cubans turn to faith

CATHOLIC EXCHANGE: Finding and Fulfilling the Will of God

What is the most important thing in this life? What is that one thing that we should seek above all and embrace wholeheartedly no matter what it costs us? What is that thing that we should be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of that thing? What is that thing that brings meaning and purpose to our life here on earth?

St. John Henry Newman answers the above questions correctly by writing, “God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission.” The answer to this most important question does not lie in us but in God’s will for creating us and giving us all the gifts that we possess.

The most important thing in this life is to find the specific mission for which God created each of us and fulfill that mission out of love for Him. God has created and is preserving us now, giving us amazing gifts to fulfill His will in this life. In the words of Catholic bestselling author and speaker, Matthew Kelly: “When we are doing the will of God, that alone is enough to satisfy us. When we are not, all the pleasure and possession of the world are not.”

However, finding the will of God for us is not an easy thing, mainly because of many erroneous ideas about the will of God. While some people think that the will of God is something that they find pleasant or comfortable, others think that the most painful and demanding thing is the will of God for them. Some think that the will of God is something that should always lead to success or bring them fulfillment, satisfaction, and inner peace.

Indeed, God’s will may include some of these things. However, we fail to find the will of God when we begin the search for God’s will by focusing on ourselves, our likes, our talents, or even the needs of others.

Our search for the will of God must begin with Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. It is in Jesus Christ that we are called to belong to God, to be consecrated, and set apart and gifted for His purpose: “God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph. 1:4). It is in Jesus Christ that we are called for a specific mission. It is also in Him that we receive the grace to embrace and fulfill that mission.

1. Very often, when things are not going our way, we become restless and irritable. We want health, and instead we are sick. We long for success and high position, and instead we are forgotten and humiliated. We desire to be holy, and instead God humbles our pride and allows us to fall into sin again and again. We wish that affairs in our immediate surroundings would proceed according to our liking, but in fact everything happens in an entirely different way. What is the remedy for the tension and annoyance which we experience on these occasions? There is only one; we must see God in all the events and circumstances of life and do His will lovingly and generously. Faith, says St. Francis de Sales, is a ray of light from Heaven which makes us see God in all things and all things in God. It was his great disciple, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, who wrote: “To be nothing, to be much, to be small; to command, to obey one person or another; to be humiliated or forgotten; to be poor or rich; to be underworked or overworked; to be alone or to be in company; to receive spiritual consolations or to experience aridity and temptation; to be healthy, or to be sick and obliged to languish for year… to live a long time or to die soon, perhaps immediately; all must be accepted from God. If others have greater graces and gifts, we are happy in God. Our life must be like a great Amen which harmonises with that of the heavenly choirs…”

If we see the love of God in all things, in all happenings, and in all the troubles of life, nothing will upset us or cause us excessive anguish. We know that we are in good hands and that everything is arranged for our good.

2. Sometimes we fail to see God in all the events of life because we lack faith and absolute confidence in the Lord. We must try to increase this faith and live always in the presence of God, and we must regard the honour and glory of this world as worth absolutely nothing without God. “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul?” (Mt. 16:26)

We often attach too much importance to the things of this world, which viewed in the light of eternity are worth very little. When we find ourselves at the point of death and think back over the events of life, how small these things will seem to us! Then we shall marvel at our folly and regret that we worried so much about them, while we allowed ourselves to forget the only being really necessary to us, God Himself. St. Francis de Sales said that when we arrive at the end of life, the affairs with which we have been preoccupied will seem about as important as the sand-castles we built as children, castles which cost us a lot of trouble to build and a great deal of sorrow afterwards when they had been destroyed.

3. Are we in the habit of seeing all things in God and God in all things? Do we accept all things from His holy hands and do His will cheerfully and lovingly?

Do we try to control ourselves when God sends us sorrow as well as joy? If we find we are in need of reform in this matter, we should make good resolutions.

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 10- "On slander or calumny"

INFOVATICANA: New Vatican note on Nostra aetate: interreligious dialogue, religious freedom and fidelity to Christ

The Vatican has published this Wednesday, September 16, an extensive note on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate, the declaration of the Second Vatican Council on the Church’s relations with non-Christian religions. The document reviews six decades of interreligious dialogue and proposes guidelines for its development in the coming years.

The note, titled A Path of Hope. Sixty Years of Dialogue and Interreligious Fraternity in Light of the Conciliar Declaration Nostra aetate, has been jointly prepared by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Leo XIV approved the text during an audience granted to the prefects and secretaries of the three bodies on June 22 and ordered its publication.

Sixty Years of Nostra aetate

The document begins with the promulgation of Nostra aetate on October 28, 1965, and recalls that the declaration initially arose from reflection on the Church’s relationship with the Jewish people after the Holocaust, before expanding its scope to other religions.

The three dicasteries describe the conciliar document as a «profound change» in the way the Church understands and expresses its relationship with believers of other religions and recall the conciliar affirmation that the Church «rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions.»

The new note also links interreligious dialogue with the defense of religious freedom. In this context, it expressly states that this requirement leads to demanding «the same freedom for Christians in countries where they are a minority.»

The Relationship with Judaism and the Uniqueness of Christ

A significant part of the document is dedicated to relations between Christians and Jews. The note recalls the Jewish roots of Christianity and maintains that Jewish-Christian dialogue cannot be reduced to diplomatic relations or mutual knowledge.

The text reaffirms that «God’s covenant with the Jewish people is irrevocable,» but immediately clarifies that this does not mean that for Christians there are «two paths of salvation» nor that the covenant with the Jewish people constitutes a path of salvation parallel to the Christian one.

«The Church teaches that Christ is the only redeemer,» the document states.

The note also recalls the condemnation of antisemitism contained in Nostra aetate and acknowledges that conflicts in recent years in the Middle East have tested some of the bridges built over the last six decades between Jews and Christians.

Dialogue and Evangelization

The document dedicates another section to the relationship between interreligious dialogue and the Church’s evangelizing mission. Reviewing the magisterium of Saint John Paul II, it recalls that dialogue with other religious traditions «is part of the Church’s evangelizing mission.»

At the same time, it warns against an interpretation that would lead to relativizing Christian identity and recalls fidelity to Jesus Christ as «the way, the truth, and the life.»

For this reason, the note maintains that dialogue must avoid both «relativism» and «syncretism» and develop from a clear awareness of one’s own religious identity.

The document also affirms that dialogue does not imply «renouncing the truth,» but rather proclaiming it «in an evangelical way: with esteem, listening, and charity,» and places it as a dimension of the Church’s evangelizing mission.

EWTN NEWS: Cardinal Pizzaballa calls Christians in the Holy Land to make the cross a way of life

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said the cross is not a sign of defeat or death but an expression of God’s love and the victory of life, urging Christians in the Holy Land to make it a way of life rooted in love and self-giving.

Pizzaballa made the remarks while presiding over a Mass on the eve of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at Christ the Redeemer Church in Taybeh, a predominantly Christian town in the West Bank.

“The cross is our victory, and it is the victory of love,” Pizzaballa said.

He added that Christ “chose to enter into the suffering of the cross out of love for us.” The patriarch stressed that Christians are “people of the cross” and that the sign defining their identity should be reflected in the way they live and in their relationships within their families, parishes, and wider communities.

“We are called to live according to the logic of the cross,” he said.

Pizzaballa noted that Christians do not need to seek out suffering, because they are already surrounded by suffering in many forms. Yet, he said, such experiences can become an opening for God’s presence in their lives.

The celebration took place as Taybeh continues to face the repercussions of attacks by Israeli settlers, restrictions on movement and access to essential services (Palestinians living in the West Bank require Israeli permits to enter Jerusalem), declining employment opportunities, and continued emigration — all pressures that have placed additional strain on the town’s residents.

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Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 10- "On slander or calumny"

EXCERPT ALETEIA: Interview with a former AI researcher — the pope’s preacher!

Fr. Pasolini: I believe that artificial intelligence will give us an even better understanding of what makes us human, that little something that only we can do — and that we often don't do.
We often spend our days performing a series of tasks that a computer could just as easily do, and we may only put 1% of our true humanity into them — that is, our feelings, what we feel deeply.
I believe that if we’re all so tired, it’s because we already live a little like computers: We do too many things, one after the other, without ever really being present in what we’re doing. We act because we have to act. The fact that, soon, most things will be able to be done by a computer will force us to ask ourselves: Where do we choose to put our heart and love today?
Artificial intelligence could overwhelm us even more if we aren’t careful. But if, on the contrary, we show a little spiritual intelligence, we could give ourselves the freedom to delegate a whole series of things that a computer can do for us — and give ourselves the freedom to really put sensitivity, love, and a focus on others into what we do.
Let me give you an example: today, artificial intelligence can write an important text, and that's fine. The key thing is that if I have to read this text in front of people, then I can transform it into a human act. I can look people in the eye and decide where to place the emphasis.
So we always remain free: free to remain human or to become like machines. We must be “concerned” about what’s coming, but not “afraid”; because fear never leads us in a good direction.

Catholic leaders discussed rising benefits and concerns of technology and how faith and ethics apply when using artificial intelligence.

Bringing together leading technological officers from around the globe, Montse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, spoke with industry professionals about the growing use of AI in a Sept. 9 special, “Beyond Fear: A Catholic Vision for Artificial Intelligence.”

Pope Leo XIV framed the intensifying debate over AI with the May 25 launch of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. Tech leaders said AI is rapidly reshaping society and the Church, offering powerful tools for ministry while also requiring firm ethical boundaries, human‑centered leadership, and faith‑guided discernment to ensure the technology strengthens human dignity.

“There’s a good side to that exponential innovation because it helps us get to the most vulnerable people faster,” said Joel Chakra, president of Tim Tebow Foundation and venture capitalist in AI technology companies.

“It can it can really rob us of our true humanity, or it can enhance our lives. And the choice is ours,” said Arthur C. Brooks, American author and academic who wrote the foreword to Magnifica Humanitas.

Brooks said the technology can either diminish or deepen human dignity, depending on how it is used. He added that despite real concerns about job loss and disruption, he remains optimistic because humans are “unbelievably ingenious” and made to solve problems.

“Iʼm not a pessimist. Iʼm an optimist. I do realize that thereʼs displacement. I do realize that thereʼs a lot to be concerned about. But I also know that humans are unbelievably ingenious that the Lord made us to solve problems,” Brooks said.

NEWSLETTER: Three AI Rivals Just Agreed the Race Needs a Governor

On Saturday, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei published an essay called "We Must Pace the Frontier."

He asked the leading AI labs to slow the pace at which their models gain new skills.

Elon Musk answered with three words: "Dario is right."

Then Sam Altman went further: OpenAI's chief executive promised the same kind of outside review that Amodei proposed. That changed the story from one safety-minded founder warning his rivals into something much larger. Three men fighting for the same talent, chips, clients, and capital agreed that the race needs a governor.

A governor is not an emergency brake. It stops an engine from running so fast that it tears itself apart.

Four months earlier, Anthropic had signed a huge deal with Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN). The company committed more than $100 billion over ten years for up to five gigawatts of compute. A gigawatt is one billion watts of power.

So Amodei is not asking anyone to shut off the engine. He is asking who should control its speed.

• AI is the new COVID
• AI, Politics And The Strange Timing Of The Slowdown Push
• Do Not Fall For The “AI Is Dangerous” Nonsense
• Fear as a Governing Strategy

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 10- "On slander or calumny"

MARK MALLET BLOG: Confusion! Confusion! Confusion!

SUBSTACK: Major Rome Marian Conference Seeks to Restore ‘Theological Clarity’ on Mary

A major Marian conference in Rome next month aims to reaffirm the Blessed Virgin Mary’s unique role in salvation history and to help the faithful grow in their devotion to the Mother of God.

The conference, entitled De Maria numquam satis(“Of Mary, one can never say enough”), will take place Oct. 7-8 and will reflect on the mystery of the Blessed Virgin Mary in doctrine, worship and history.

Speakers will include Cardinal Raymond Burke, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, papal theologian Dominican Father Wojciech Giertych, and the German Mariologist professor Manfred Hauke.

The conference is intended to “shed new light by connecting doctrine with lived piety,” showing how Our Lady opens, in the words of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, “vast horizons onto the wisdom and mercy of God,” says one of the organizers, Virginia Coda Nunziante.

In this Sept. 3 interview with the Register, Coda Nunziante, president of the Italian pro-life group Associazione Famiglia Domani and founder of the Italian March for Life, shares more details of the conference and why it is not intended to fuel controversy following the Vatican’s much-contested diminution of two ancient Marian titles last year.

Rather, she says, the seminar aims to restore “theological clarity” around Mary, stressing that Marian devotion “is not an optional ornament of Catholic life, but an intrinsic dimension of it.” Coda Nunziante hopes that, at a time of much spiritual emptiness, each participant will leave knowing “how God willed to involve Mary in salvation, how the Church has always honored her, and how turning to her helps me follow Christ more closely today.”

Virginia, why is De Maria numquam satis a necessary conference now, and how did it come about?

The conference arose from the initiative of several Catholic associations and individuals eager to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We live in a time when the figure of Our Lady risks being pushed to the margins of theological reflection and spiritual life, while her unique role in the history of salvation is sometimes downplayed or obscured. It therefore seemed necessary to reaffirm, with clarity and serenity, the singular cooperation of the Mother of God in the work of redemption and the place that belongs to her in the life of the Church.

The conference, which will take place in Rome on Oct. 7-8 at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum, is not intended as the culmination of a reflection, but rather as a starting point. Our hope is that it will help give rise to a genuine Marian movement, capable of involving priests, religious and laypeople in the shared commitment to know, love and promote devotion to Mary.

NCR: Leading Mariologists Publish Scathing Critique of Vatican Note on Mary’s Title

CHURCHPOP: Breathtaking! The Caribbean Turned Into a Marian Procession

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 9- "On remembrance of wrongs"

IGNATIUS PRESS: Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah

THE PRODIGAL CATHOLIC BLOG: Summary and Review of Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah by Brant Pitre

Brant Pitre’s Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary is a masterful blend of biblical scholarship, theological insight, and pastoral clarity. With deep reverence for both Scripture and tradition, Pitre sheds new light on Marian doctrines by rooting them in the rich soil of ancient Judaism. His extensive engagement with Jewish sources—both biblical and extra-biblical—gives the reader a new appreciation for how the first Christians, steeped in Jewish expectation and imagery, would have understood Mary.

One of the book’s most striking achievements is Pitre’s ability to take complex academic research and present it in a way that is both accessible and inspiring. His clear explanations, rooted in typology, reveal the profound harmony between Catholic Marian beliefs and the Jewish biblical worldview. Mary does not diminish Christ—rather, as Pitre shows, seeing Mary through Jewish eyes magnifies Jesus all the more. From the New Eve to the Queen Mother, the New Ark to the New Rachel, every insight Pitre offers about Mary ultimately reveals something deeper about Christ Himself.

Brant Pitre demonstrates convincingly that the Catholic understanding of Mary as the new Eve, the new Ark, the Queen Mother, the perpetual virgin, the mother of God, the new Rachel, and the mother of each of us in the Church—all these are completely consistent with the expectations of the Old Testament, and therefore with an understanding the earliest Christians were well-prepared to receive and explain. It is only later prejudice and Scriptural ignorance which has led so many to denounce Catholic beliefs about and devotion to Mary as somehow contrary to the Bible.

The author found himself in an excellent position to write this book, not only for professional reasons, but because he can recall the days in which his interest in Mary had waned because he suspected that the Protestants were right in thinking that Catholic beliefs about Mary were “unbiblical”. Now that he is one of the leading experts in how Jews at the time of Christ understood their Scripture, he realizes better than almost anyone else how profoundly consistent Catholic doctrine is with the Jewish reading of the Old Testament books, and so with what knowledgeable people should expect both Our Lord and Our Lady to be, and how they are to be honored.

One of the most intriguing themes Pitre discusses is the “birth pangs of the Messiah”, a Scriptural image which has a strong connection not with Mary’s miraculous (and painless) delivery of the Christ child, but with her suffering at the foot of the Cross as she cooperated in sorrow with the Passion of her Son in giving birth to the New Covenant—and to all those who receive new life through His Church. I would argue that another important thing to remember is the manner in which these birth pangs—these sufferings—somehow persist in us as the Kingdom of God continually comes into being through the shared suffering of Christ, His mother, and each of its members.

ALETEIA:  This papyrus contains the oldest Marian prayer known to date

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 9- "On remembrance of wrongs"

• Context of the Feast: Traditionally celebrated on September 8, exactly nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
• Historical Origins: The feast originated in Palestine around the 5th century, linked to the consecration of a church in Jerusalem identified as the Basilica of St. Ann.
• Theological Significance:  Mary is one of only three figures (with Jesus and John the Baptist) whose earthly birth is celebrated liturgically. Her birth marks the end of the Old Testament expectation and the dawn of the New Covenant.
• Liturgical Character: The day is defined by themes of joy and light, symbolizing the arrival of the "dawn" that precedes the "Sun of Justice" Christ the Lord.

EXCERPT CATHOLIC DAILY REFLECTIONS: The Dawn of Salvation

Though the Immaculate Conception, the Birth of Mary, and the Incarnation of the Son of God took place in a singularly unique way some 2,000 years ago, these glorious events in salvation history continue in our lives. Like each person in Jesus’ bloodline, we are called to contribute to His ongoing presence in this world by being members of His family, sons and daughters of the Mother of God, and members of His new bloodline of grace.

One way we do this is by imitating Saint Joseph. As today’s Gospel continues, we hear the angel’s words to Joseph, assuring him of the divine origin of Mary’s Child. Joseph’s holy obedience allows the mystery of the Incarnation to proceed within the sanctity of a human family. Mary’s maternity, safeguarded by Joseph’s silent strength, reveals that God’s greatest works unfold in humility and hiddenness.

Today, in imitation of Mary and Joseph, God also says to us, “Do not be afraid…” Do not be afraid to be the dawn of salvation today, for yourself and as instruments of God’s living presence to others. Do not be afraid to say “Yes” to God’s will, even when it is hidden in mystery. Do not be afraid to carry Christ within you, to bring Him to birth in the lives of others, to stand in silent trust when the world does not understand the ways of grace. God’s light dawns again today in your own life. Rejoice in that light.

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 9- "On remembrance of wrongs"

GREGORIAN MASS REQUEST LINK: A series of 30 consecutive Masses will be offered for the deceased.

Unfortunately, many things in today’s culture pull us in the opposite direction—to things smaller than ourselves. So much is reduced to the entertaining, the pleasurable, the useful. Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the mundane and small. Such things make up the bulk of daily life and God designed it that way. But we run into problems when that is all we experience, and the only things our lives are focused on.

In contrast, the Catholic Faith is centered on the liturgy, which takes us out of the mundane and into the courts of heaven, into the splendor of the eternal! Every Mass is an encounter through God’s invitation into heavenly worship, through communion with Christ, and through our being sent forth into the world as missionary disciples to help others encounter God as we have.

In the Mass, God Invites Us into Divine Worship (Invitation)

That invitation begins the moment the liturgy starts, because the entire Mass is an encounter with Christ, who “is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations.” We rightly tend to focus on Jesus, present in Holy Communion, but He is also present in the priest, in the Scripture proclaimed, in song, and in the assembled church. The entire liturgy is an encounter with Christ, that only later reaches its summit in Communion.

In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we encounter Jesus, who then invites us into His own worship of the Father. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, through Jesus, the Church “offers worship to the eternal Father… in which God is perfectly glorified and men are sanctified” (CCC 1089). But what is this worship that’s being offered?

Scripture tells us that St. John the Apostle had a vision of worship in Heaven, and it included the angels, saints, incense, song, and “a Lamb that seemed to have been slain” (Revelation 5:6). Jesus appears in Heaven as a victim because, as the eternal high priest, He offers His once-for-all sacrifice on the Cross to God the Father, perpetually interceding for us (see Romans 8:34).

It is in this very sacrifice of the Mass that the liturgy makes present “sacramentally” on the church’s altar, the crucified and risen Lord, thereby allowing us to participate in the heavenly offering of Christ to the Father! It’s no wonder that more and more young people are being drawn to the liturgy’s otherworldliness—it’s in the Mass that Heaven touches earth, and that the transcendent God becomes immanent. It’s there that the angels and saints join the earthly congregation as Christ draws us into His saving work and Heaven’s liturgy.

So, how do we participate practically? It’s not enough to attend Mass as passive spectators; rather we are invited to offer the Mass in union with the priest. After the readings, as the altar is being prepared, we can (and should) place ourselves on the altar, as well as our particular offerings—our works, joys, sufferings, failures, successes, families—anything and everything can be placed on the altar. Then, when Christ’s perfect sacrifice on Calvary is made present on that same altar, our imperfect offerings are taken up into His sacrifice, and presented to the Father in Jesus’ one perfect act of love.

Think about it this way. If you had been alive at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, and had been granted the immense privilege of standing underneath the Cross with Mother Mary, what would you do there? Just like Our Lady, you would surely unite your heart to Jesus’ Sacred Heart, joining your love to His perfect offering of love to the Father. The astonishing privilege of the Mass is that Christ gives us sacramentally this very opportunity, which none but a handful of disciples received historically.

And while all this talk about Calvary and sacrifice can seem a bit daunting, it is in truth a great joy for Jesus to receive our offerings of love and to have us partake in His perfect worship of the Father, just as it’s a delight for the Father to receive it. No mere creature could ever offer worship worthy of God’s infinite majesty, so Christ graciously includes us in His own perfect worship of the Father—precisely because He knows this is where our true joy and best means of sanctification lie.

Incredibly, God is not satisfied with this. He desires even more of an encounter, and so He comes to us in Holy Communion. Here God’s invitation reaches its climax, as He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

1. When the Eucharist is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar. ~ St. John Chrysostom
2. The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass. ~ St. Augustine
3. The best time to ask and obtain favors from God is the time of the Elevation." ~ St.John Bosco
4. The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross. ~ St Thomas Aquinas
5. St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God’s Goodness and asked Our Lord “How can I thank you?” Our Lord replied, “ATTEND ONE MASS.”
6. “My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary He would die for them as many times as they’ve heard Masses.” ~ Our Lady to Blessed Alan.
7. When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary – a joy, a fragrance, a well-being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt ~ St Jean Vianney
8. There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us. ~ Saint Jean Vianney
9. Be eager to go to Mass on weekdays also, even if it costs a sacrifice. Our Lord will reward you with His Blessings and make you succeed in your undertakings ~ Don Bosco
10. When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee. ~ St Jean Vianney
11. It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass. ~ St. Pio of Pietrelcina
12. If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy. ~ Saint Jean Vianney

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 9- "On remembrance of wrongs"

Five days after Nepal’s worst glacial flood, Caritas continued a full-scale relief operation for thousands of families in the affected area. The work has also taken on the grim task of corpse management, helping deal with the many dead bodies resulting from the catastrophe.

The official death toll of the deluge, provided by authorities, has climbed to 919, and 4,793 people are still missing. More than 930 hydropower workers remain unaccounted for, LiCAS News reported. Many are feared to be trapped in hydro tunnels along the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system.

In a situation report shared with EWTN News on Aug. 30, the president of Caritas Nepal, Father Silas Krishna Bogati, confirmed that the Catholic Church’s response is fully operational. Emergency shelters and hygiene kits have reached over 1,000 households. A cash assistance payment of 15,000 Nepali rupees (roughly $110) is being distributed to 750 of the worst-affected families.

The priest, who also serves as apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, added that more than 50 community kitchens run daily to feed 300 families.

The full scale of destruction is yet to be accounted for. Reuters reported that the flood destroyed 19 bridges, roadways, and other crucial infrastructure, hampering emergency aid and the search for survivors.

As rescue operations, supported by China and India, continue amid the risk of landslides and more flooding, aid workers are already flagging a second looming emergency: winter. Displaced families sheltering in high-altitude areas will require thermal gear and winter-proof shelter within weeks, Bogati shared with EWTN News.

Nepal Red Cross has formally asked Caritas Nepal to source more than 1,000 body bags, with decomposition already becoming a public health concern, the president of Caritas Nepal wrote.

To avoid future catastrophes, Nepal and China are expected to improve communication on real-time glacier data, avalanche risks, and water levels.

International pledges for help and support exceed $200 million, with commitments from the United States, Europe, Canada, and the World Bank.

VIA X U.S. Embassy Nepal: The United States is delivering a range of supplies requested by the Government of Nepal and is working with Nepal to ensure that assistance reaches the people who need it.

Today, Chargé d’Affaires Scott Urbom sent the first shipment of emergency supplies from the United States to Nepalis affected by the flooding. Catholic Relief Services, working through implementing partner Caritas Nepal, will deliver more than 2.5 metric tons of food supplies, 500 blankets, 500 mosquito nets, and 500 insulating foam sheets for temporary shelter flooring to two school locations in Rasuwa.  U.S. Embassy Nepal is closely coordinating with the Government of Nepal, Catholic Relief Services, and Caritas Nepal to prepare and deliver subsequent shipments of supplies that match Nepal’s needs.

VATICAN NEWS: In wake of devastating floods, Pope sends aid to Nepal

After expressing, in a telegram, his deep sorrow over the devastating flooding in Nepal on Wednesday, August 26, Pope Leo XIV has sent concrete financial support, in coordination with the Apostolic Nunciature of Nepal, to meet the most urgent needs of the population affected by the disaster.

The contribution will help Caritas Nepal, which operates under the direction of the Apostolic Vicariate, with the activities already underway since the first hours after the flood, namely providing immediate assistance with food, basic necessities, and shelter for those who have lost everything.

"This is the initial assistance that the Holy Father, as on other occasions, wanted to send to meet the immediate needs of the population,” explained the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín.

The Prefect called it "a rapid and concrete sign to convey, especially to the most vulnerable, the closeness and tenderness of the Holy Father, like a caress from the Church that accompanies and supports them."

MORE: US Bishop calls on international community to assist victims of Nepal flooding

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 9- "On remembrance of wrongs"

5. He who has obtained love has banished revenge; but he who nurses enmities stores up for himself untimely labours.

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