Do you know the unique history behind Saint Joseph the Worker’s feast day?

This feast is celebrated by the Catholic Church each year on May 1. It is set apart as a celebration of the life and work of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ.

The origins of this feast day can be traced back to the early 20th century.

Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955 to coincide with International Workers’ Day, a day dedicated to the secular celebration of labor and workers’ rights.

However, the Holy Father recognized the misplaced role of work in society at the time. He believed there was a growing threat of communist and socialist ideals against the dignity of workers and family life.

The devotion to Saint Joseph as a worker dates back to the Middle Ages when Catholic theologians and writers began to emphasize his role as a model of humility, hard work, and dedication.

Saint Joseph was not only Jesus's foster father but also a carpenter by trade.

He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and taught Jesus the skills he needed to become a carpenter. He was a faithful and hardworking man, who lived a life of service to God and his family.

In the 19th century, the Catholic Church began to promote devotion to Saint Joseph the Worker, with Pope Leo XIII issuing an encyclical on the subject in 1889.

You can read the full encyclical on devotion to Saint Joseph here.

He emphasized the importance of Saint Joseph as a model of Christian living, stating that “Joseph became the guardian, the administrator, and the defender of the divine house whose chief he was.”

The feast day of Saint Joseph the Worker has become an important day for Catholics around the world.

This day celebrates the dignity of work and the contributions workers make to society. It is also a day to reflect on the example of Saint Joseph, who worked tirelessly to provide for his family and to serve God.

In addition to the feast day, numerous prayers are dedicated to Saint Joseph the Worker. The faithful often turn to his intercession in work-related matters, employment, and financial stability!

Here is a great prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker:

God our Father, Creator, and Ruler of the universe, in every age you call us to use and develop our gifts for the good of others.

With Saint Joseph as our guide, help us to do the work you have asked and come to the rewards you have promised. Please grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

“Let us love Jesus above all, let us love Mary as our mother; but then, how could we keep from loving Joseph, who was so intimately united to both Jesus and Mary? And how can we honor him better than by imitating his virtues? Now, what else did he do in all his life but contemplate, study, and adore Jesus, even in the midst of his daily labors? Behold, therefore, our model.”  -Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat

Saint Catherine of Siena is a 14th-century Italian mystic and theologian.

Here are 10 things to know and share about her life of profound holiness!

Caroline Perkins, ChurchPOP

1) Born in Siena, Italy, in 1347.

She was born on the solemnity of the Annunciation of Jesus (March 25))

2) Said to have had her first visions of Jesus when she was just a child.

Her experiences as a mystic continued throughout her life.

3) Had the nickname “Euphrosyne.”

She was such a joy as a child that she was called “Euphrosyne”, which is Greek for JOY.

Caroline Perkins, ChurchPOP

4) She was NOT a nun.

Motivated by a vision of Saint Dominic, she entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic at age 16.

5) Spent several years of solitude in her cell within her family’s home

…before living a life of service to the poor and sick in Siena.

Caroline Perkins, ChurchPOP

6) Played a role in ending the Avignon Papacy.

She convinced Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from France!

7) She received the stigmata

…but her wounds were visible to her alone!

8) She had the Gift of Tears.

Pope Benedict XVI explained that this was part of her spirituality – to express an exquisite, profound sensitivity and tenderness.

Caroline Perkins, ChurchPOP

9) She is the only lay Doctor of the Church.

The others are all clergy or religious! Pope Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Her spiritual testament and teachings are found in "The Dialogue of Divine Providence."

10) She died on April 29, 1380, at the age of 33.

Here is a prayer written by Saint Catherine of Siena:

Eternal God, eternal Trinity, you have made the blood of Christ so precious through his sharing in your divine nature. You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find, and the more I find the more I search for you. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. When you fill my soul I have an even greater hunger, and I grow more famished for your light. I desire above all to see you, the true light, as you really are.

Amen.

And here is a prayer for her saintly intercession:

O Saint Catherine of Siena, God our Father enkindled the flame of holy love in your heart as you meditated on the Passion of Jesus His Son. Moved by His grace, you devoted your life to the poor and the sick, as well as to the peace and unity of the Church.

Through your intercession, may we also come to know the love of Jesus, bring His compassion to all, and work for the unity of His Church. We ask this in Jesus’ Name and for His sake.

God, You caused Saint Catherine to shine with Divine love in the contemplation of the Lord’s Passion and in the service of Your Church. By her help, grant that Your people, associated in the mystery of Christ, may ever exult in the revelation of His glory.

Amen.

A few months ago, my wife and I got to know a beautiful couple who were raised Protestant but recently decided to convert to Catholicism. They are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation.

As part of their OCIA program, they were tasked with writing down why they believe it is good to be a Catholic.

Upon reviewing the husband's reflection, I requested permission to share it anonymously with a wider audience, which he generously agreed to. 

He begins his reflection by noting that before he decided to convert, he had long considered himself a "fan of Catholicism" due to its history and traditions, which he writes "have no parallel in any of the Protestant denominations of which I had been a member."

His "point of no return," he states, came after visiting the famous Italian Catholic sites of Venice, Florence, and Rome, where he was faced with "such unimaginable beauty" dedicated to Jesus that he could no longer remain merely a "fan" of Catholicism.

Here are three reasons it is good to be a Catholic, as penned by a fresh convert to the Church.

1) Clarity On Sin

“The first reason it is good to be a Catholic is that the Church is exceptionally clear on sin. This clarity is a natural extension of the Church’s Magisterium– the teaching authority that has no true equal in any other Church.

"The Church comes under fire from all sides, often from professing Catholics, for its moral teachings. These teachings on topics from abortion to marriage are often the subject of controversies from outside and within the Church. Despite the backlash, the Church stands firm on difficult issues. 

"A church that would cower from the fight against sin would be a church that would find itself emptied within a couple of generations.

"We do not go to church because it wines and dines us and tells us how good we are; rather, we go to church because it is set apart from the rest of the world.

"The Catholic Church is the Church established by Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, and like Christ, the Church is not meant to be like the world, but something greater.”

2) The Catholic Church is the True Church

“The second reason it is good to be a Catholic is that the Catholic Church is the true Church. My favorite justification of this comes from a quote from Hilaire Belloc:

“The Catholic Church is an institution I am bound to hold divine — but for unbelievers, a proof of its divinity might be found in the fact that no merely human institution conducted with such knavish imbecility would have lasted a fortnight.”

"This 'knavish imbecility' demonstrates the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the Church, preserving her through the ages despite humanity’s general ability to mess things up. 

"I am hard-pressed to find another example of an institution that has lasted for 2,000 years. The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ, given to the stewardship of Saint Peter, and passed down through a line of apostolic successors to our current pope, Pope Francis. If you must pick a church, it is wise to pick the true Church.”

3) The Sacraments

“The third reason it is good to be a Catholic is the belief in the sacraments given through the Church.

"Many of the sacraments identified by the Church are imitated (often rather poorly) in other churches because they are present in the Gospels as commands from Christ, and Christians rightfully attempt to obey the Lord when He gives commands.

"The Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist, is reduced by many Protestants to a mere symbol. While their version of the Eucharist might symbolize the real Body and Blood of Our Lord, it is the real thing in the Catholic Church.

Quite simply, when Jesus said 'This is My Body,' He meant it.

"The Church also facilitates the other sacraments– baptism, confirmation, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, marriage, and ordination. Each of the sacraments are crucial forms through which God dispenses His divine grace to us.

"Our Protestant brothers and sisters, if recognizing any sacraments, might recognize baptism and communion as sacraments. More often than not, they have no proper vessel to facilitate reconciliation, ignoring the scriptural command to confess our sins to one another.

"Our Orthodox brothers and sisters have largely adopted the same seven sacraments as the Catholic Church, but the Catholic Church was the first to clearly define them. Why settle for second place?”

Tell us why you think it is good to be a Catholic!

A few months ago, my wife and I got to know a beautiful couple who were raised Protestant but recently decided to convert to Catholicism. They are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation.

As part of their OCIA program, they were tasked with writing down why they believe it is good to be a Catholic.

Upon reviewing the husband's reflection, I requested permission to share it anonymously with a wider audience, which he generously agreed to. 

He begins his reflection by noting that before he decided to convert, he had long considered himself a "fan of Catholicism" due to its history and traditions, which he writes "have no parallel in any of the Protestant denominations of which I had been a member."

His "point of no return," he states, came after visiting the famous Italian Catholic sites of Venice, Florence, and Rome, where he was faced with "such unimaginable beauty" dedicated to Jesus that he could no longer remain merely a "fan" of Catholicism.

Here are three reasons it is good to be a Catholic, as penned by a fresh convert to the Church.

1) Clarity On Sin

“The first reason it is good to be a Catholic is that the Church is exceptionally clear on sin. This clarity is a natural extension of the Church’s Magisterium– the teaching authority that has no true equal in any other Church.

"The Church comes under fire from all sides, often from professing Catholics, for its moral teachings. These teachings on topics from abortion to marriage are often the subject of controversies from outside and within the Church. Despite the backlash, the Church stands firm on difficult issues. 

"A church that would cower from the fight against sin would be a church that would find itself emptied within a couple of generations.

"We do not go to church because it wines and dines us and tells us how good we are; rather, we go to church because it is set apart from the rest of the world.

"The Catholic Church is the Church established by Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, and like Christ, the Church is not meant to be like the world, but something greater.”

2) The Catholic Church is the True Church

“The second reason it is good to be a Catholic is that the Catholic Church is the true Church. My favorite justification of this comes from a quote from Hilaire Belloc:

“The Catholic Church is an institution I am bound to hold divine — but for unbelievers, a proof of its divinity might be found in the fact that no merely human institution conducted with such knavish imbecility would have lasted a fortnight.”

"This 'knavish imbecility' demonstrates the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the Church, preserving her through the ages despite humanity’s general ability to mess things up. 

"I am hard-pressed to find another example of an institution that has lasted for 2,000 years. The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ, given to the stewardship of Saint Peter, and passed down through a line of apostolic successors to our current pope, Pope Francis. If you must pick a church, it is wise to pick the true Church.”

3) The Sacraments

“The third reason it is good to be a Catholic is the belief in the sacraments given through the Church.

"Many of the sacraments identified by the Church are imitated (often rather poorly) in other churches because they are present in the Gospels as commands from Christ, and Christians rightfully attempt to obey the Lord when He gives commands.

"The Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist, is reduced by many Protestants to a mere symbol. While their version of the Eucharist might symbolize the real Body and Blood of Our Lord, it is the real thing in the Catholic Church.

Quite simply, when Jesus said 'This is My Body,' He meant it.

"The Church also facilitates the other sacraments– baptism, confirmation, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, marriage, and ordination. Each of the sacraments are crucial forms through which God dispenses His divine grace to us.

"Our Protestant brothers and sisters, if recognizing any sacraments, might recognize baptism and communion as sacraments. More often than not, they have no proper vessel to facilitate reconciliation, ignoring the scriptural command to confess our sins to one another.

"Our Orthodox brothers and sisters have largely adopted the same seven sacraments as the Catholic Church, but the Catholic Church was the first to clearly define them. Why settle for second place?”

Tell us why you think it is good to be a Catholic!

Gary Sinise, a father, actor, producer, and the founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation joined "The World Over With Raymond Arroyo" to discuss his late son, Mac Sinise’s battle with cancer and love of music.

According to his father Gary, Mac began drumming at the age of nine and often performed with his father’s Lt. Dan Band as a substitute drummer. He graduated from the USC Thornton School of Music where he studied composition and songwriting.

Gary tells Arroyo that after Mac graduated and continued with his music, he was not as happy as he thought. Mac came home to regroup and Gary introduced him to a Catholic counselor. 

“It was Bishop Robert Baron who confirmed Mac into the [Catholic] Church in 2017. This was probably 14 months before he was diagnosed with cancer. The Church and his faith…became such a big part of his life."

Mac was diagnosed in 2018 with chordoma, a rare form of tissue cancer. After experiencing extreme pain and discomfort, Mac was sent to a spinal surgeon for CT scans. It was then that an orange-sized tumor was discovered on his tailbone. 

“Unfortunately, about eight months later, we found out that the cancer came back and it was starting to spread. Then, we found out right around Christmastime in 2019 that there was more tumor on his neck. So he's going to have to go in early 2020 and get another surgery on his neck to remove the tumor.” 

Gary notes that Mac had multiple procedures to remove tumors and spent several months in the hospital. However, after removing the tumor from his spine, he experienced damage to his right side. 

“By the time he got home, he was now in a wheelchair," Gary explains. "He's doing multiple different drugs that they're trying him on to fight the cancer but there are no drugs for chordoma.”

Mac’s friend, Oliver Schnee, whom he had lost touch with, began sending Mac text messages and voicemails. Schnee stated that Mac did not respond, but after sending him some old photos he came across from their younger days at Disneyland, he finally replied. The two planned to meet and catch up, however, Schnee hadn’t yet heard the news about Mac’s health. 

“I drove to his house, [and] my heart broke when I saw Mac. Nothing could have really prepared me for just how heavy it was, especially knowing that he was a drummer and now being paralyzed he couldn't even play his instrument as a form of catharsis. That really hit hard," Schnee tells Arroyo. "But what I did notice was that his attitude and his spirit was still incredibly upbeat. It was very admirable and inspiring to witness.”

Mac stated:

“I was trying to write music and stuff again and I had stopped quite a bit. Just been focusing on trying to get my health back in shape and just to fight this battle of cancer, and in the process, writing music has been a huge therapy for me.”

Mac found an old piece of music he left unfinished in college that he hoped to complete with a full orchestra. After sending the music to Schnee and taking note of Mac’s health, the two decided to finish the project. 

“It was this wild mixture of his body failing, but mentally, creatively, [and] spiritually he's still going, and there's still a lot of music inside him that wants to come out and that needs to come out," Schnee shares.

"Since he started working on this project, he is back to being Mac. He's smiling again, he's waking up looking forward to the day ahead of him, and he rediscovered his purpose.

"Then he called and he said, 'Hey man, I need to finish this.' And I went, 'What do you mean?’ He's like, ‘This project is keeping me going. It's keeping me alive. I'm rediscovering my purpose so can we do a whole album.’ I said, 'Let's do it.'” 

Schnee shares that Mac called him again, hoping to record with his dad one last time. 

“That was one of the most powerful and incredible moments through the whole last 12 months was being in Blackbird Studios. Something kicked into high gear, adrenaline or what, but he was able to play the song from top to bottom. When he couldn't play 15 seconds a few weeks ago, he was able to play the whole song top to bottom.” 

Gary states, “Mac wanted to keep living in spite of the damage that was being done to him by the disease and  every moment that he had that he was feeling good he was taking advantage of it.” 

“Those days in the studio you can see he was alive in the studio. When you see those videos and he was enjoying those moments, his faith really sustained him a lot," Gary continues.

"If you look in his Bible and you look in some of the books that he was reading, he was constantly underlining things that really jumped out to him and meant something to him. When I sit and read some of the things, it's like Mac just telling me stuff. It's like messages.” 

Mac Sinise died on Jan. 5, 2024, at the age of 33. 

Gary mentions that his experiences at the Gary Sinise Foundation, working with families and dealing with the loss of loved ones, helped him gain strength and courage for what was to come. 

“I prayed on it, and you know, we have a strong family…our  faith has been good to us and strong for us.”

Watch the full segment on EWTN:

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

Mac Sinise’s album, "Resurrection & Revival" can be purchased here.  

Aesthetic is one of the buzzwords we often hear these days. Social media sites, such as TikTok, X, Instagram, and Pinterest are flooded with publications with this hashtag, and many users - especially women - want to make aesthetics a lifestyle. 

What does it mean to be aesthetic? 

"Aesthetic" is an English word that comes from the Greek "aisthetikos", meaning “of sense perception.”

The meaning that perhaps best describes the popular trend would be “of or relating to the appreciation or perception of beauty.”     

Nowadays, the aesthetic trend is used to refer to what is especially beautiful and pleasing to the eye. The aesthetic applies to decoration, fashion, and even what we do daily. 

It ranges from how we comb our hair, the makeup we use, the clothes we wear, and the activities we do (like serving ourselves a coffee or retouching a matching photo with emojis).

The hashtag #aesthetic appears in over 30 million TikTok videos (no exaggeration). Minimalism, vintage, and flirty styles prevail in this trend.

People - especially girls - who consider themselves aesthetic, are attracted to the pretty, and the pleasant, and this style makes them feel happy.

We can perceive this taste because we are naturally captivated by what is simple, clean, calm, and photogenic, and what is “game” - the aesthetic. 

We want to see and organize or decorate our spaces like this because we want this to reflect and represent us. We seek to make our exterior aesthetic by bringing out our best style on social networks and allowing others to admire that beauty.

Since before Christ, the topic of beauty has already challenged great thinkers.

For Plato, beauty was identified with the good and was the “supreme idea,” while for Aristotle, beauty was pleasing to the eye and an essence valuable in itself.

So what is really aesthetic?

Even if we try, we will not always be “Instagrammable,” nor will we please everyone. The problem is that sometimes we overlook the fact that the most aesthetic thing we have is our inner beauty.

We are beautiful by nature (it doesn't matter if we are not aesthetic for social media) because true beauty does not depend on the taste of the subject, but on that beauty that is inscribed in the depths of our being. 

Things are beautiful because they are ordered, and similar because they have an internal link that gives rise to a whole, well-crafted, and harmonious unity (paraphrasing Saint Augustine).

Beauty consists of the whole being present in the fragment through a precise correspondence between the parts that compose it.

If we are beautiful it is because we participate in the image and likeness of the beauty of God.

We are more than aesthetic, because we have an objective beauty that is real, although for some, we are not attractive to the eye. The beautiful emerges from the bottom and manifests itself, among other things, in what is aesthetic. 

God, human beings, and things are not beautiful because they please us, but they please us because they are beautiful. 

God is beautiful, totally aesthetic, Instagrammable, and pleasing to the eye. He and all his works have perfection and order that is beautiful.

Nature, the human being, the Universe, everything that comes from God, has perfect harmony. 

Being aesthetic and being Catholic:

March for the Martyrs, an organization dedicated to supporting persecuted Christians across the world, will hold a rally on Sat., April 27, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

What is March for the Martyrs?

Here's the organization's mission statement:

"Martyrs is For the Martyrs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to raise awareness about the crisis of Christian persecution, advocate for religious freedom, and provide aid to victims of persecution around the world."

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

The free rally will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Constitution Gardens on the National Mall.

The rally will "include testimonies from survivors of persecution, praise and worship songs, and prayerful preparation for the March for the Martyrs procession."

March for the Martyrs 2021 / Photo Courtesy of March of the Martyrs

Speakers will include Jim Caviezel, Ambassador Sam Brownback, March for the Martyrs founder Gia Chacón, Crescent Project founder Pastor Fouad Masri, Executive Director of Armenian National Assembly Washington D.C. Aram Hamparian, founder of TRAFFIK Anthony Trimino, and Executive Director of In Defense of Christians Richard Ghazal. 

March for the Martyrs will then lead a procession at 4:00 p.m.

"This procession is not just a march, but a bold statement of unity, faith, and support for persecuted Christians worldwide," the event's description explains. "It will depart from the National Mall and proceed through the streets of Washington, D.C., and end at the Museum of the Bible."

March for the Martyrs 2021 Procession/ Photo Courtesy of March of the Martyrs

Following the 4:00 p.m. procession, March for the Martyrs invites participants to the Museum of the Bible for an evening conference beginning at 5:00 p.m.

"The Night of Prayer for the Persecuted is a powerful experience," the event's description states. "It will include speakers who are experts on Christian persecution and testimonies from survivors. Participants will come together in prayer for our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith."

The event will focus on three countries of concern: Iran, Nigeria, and Armenia.

The Global Impact of March for the Martyrs

According to March of the Martyrs founder Gia Chacón, the rally, procession, and conference is not just an event, but "a movement of Christians across all ages and denominations coming together as one voice for persecuted Christians around the world." 

March for the Martyrs 2022 / Photo Courtesy of March for the Martyrs

Chacón travels the world offering support and humanitarian aid for persecuted Christians.

She explained that regardless of the aid, the Christians almost always have one request: "Please continue to pray for us."

"March for the Martyrs responds to that need through prayer and solidarity. Yet, it is not just us who have something to give by offering a platform to persecuted Christians," Chacón said.

"Participants of March for the Martyrs walk away feeling deeply impacted by the witness and testimonies from survivors of persecution that speak at the event or the stories from the ground that advocates share; almost always saying they leave feeling emboldened to stand strong and courageous in their faith." 

Chacón said that through the organization's advocacy and communication efforts via social media, along with collaborating with the International Religious Freedom space, March for the Martyrs is the "leading voice for persecuted Christians."

"Our movement through March for the Martyrs has opened the eyes of Christians in the West to the reality of persecution, and gives them a tangible way to make a difference in the lives of persecuted Christians."

Click here to register for March for the Martyrs 2024 rally.

I believe the most powerful tool the devil has at his disposal is fear.

When I say “fear,” I do not mean “fear of the Lord,” which is a spiritual gift that helps us respect God.

No, I mean the fear which tells us that God does not want what is good for us. I mean the fear that ultimately leads to rebellion. For if I do not trust a person in authority because I do not believe that they are interested in my good, I will rebel against them. It is human nature to rebel against that kind of abusive authority.

Indeed, the devil himself is driven by fear. He feared our creation as somehow diminishing his own. He didn’t trust God and His will. His fear led to rebellion and hate; not just of God, but of us as well. His main tool is what drives him.

In the garden, his temptation is based in fear, a fear the devil himself is motivated by: “God does not want what is good for you. Don’t trust Him.” It is why the first emotion Adam and Eve feel after the fall is fear (they notice they are naked) and that fear leads them to try and hide from God.

Fear is the biggest reason why Catholics do not evangelize. 

We are afraid of rejection, of having our lack of knowledge of the faith exposed, of persecution, of having to step out from society. Indeed, to evangelize is to say what the world offers is insufficient. That might as well expose us to ridicule, persecution, or rejection. It might as well expose our own lack of knowledge.

Fear is what destroys vocations.

A young man or woman will fear rejection, accusation, loss of independence, and various other things. They will be shown the absolute worst examples: unfaithful priests, unhappy married people, bitter religious, [or] criminal behavior. They will be told this is the norm and who they will become should they follow such a road. Fear will be cultivated until even the thought of seeking God’s will is yanked up by its roots.

Fear is what destroys our liturgies. 

Fear? Absolutely! Fear that I won’t get anything out of it, fear that people will leave, fear that I will be seen as irrelevant, fear that I will be seen as dated, etc.

Fear causes us to put the focus on ourselves. It insulates us. If my modus operandi is self-protection/self-pleasure/self-satisfaction, they all scream to God, “I do not trust you! I have to look out for my own good!”

Because proper worship is focused away from ourselves and towards God. If I do not trust God, then Mass either becomes placating an unfair God, or a completely disposable event. Why worship something that is not looking out for our good?

We are told 365 times in the Bible to not be afraid. 

God knows what fear does to us. Since He actually does love us and wants what is good for us, he tells us to trust Him – to have courage and strength. He knows fear will stall us and eventually and eternally destroy us.

Not to sound like Yoda, but fear leads to anger. It leads us to darkness. Fear leads us to rebellion and despair. It leads us to an emptiness and dissatisfaction with life. It leads us to strike out against those not bound by fear.

The devil knows this. He is the penultimate example of “misery loves company.”

Fear is overcome with faith - one decision at a time. 

Fortitude, a cardinal virtue, when driven by the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love spurs us to reject fear. It gives us the courage to endure with joy whatever those still in fear will throw at us.

Live in fortitude infused with faith, hope, and love and evangelization and vocation will not only be something no longer run from, they will be something desired.

Live in fortitude infused with faith, hope, and love, then the worship of God, and not the entertainment of man, will become the focus of our liturgies again. Prayer will not be seen as a burden to appease God, but as a longing for growth in our relationship with God and the Body of Christ.

The virtues, though, are disciplines by which we consciously decide what we want to be. We must decide to trust God choice by choice, surrendering our will to His providence. The coldness of fear gets replaced with the fire of love.

It is your choice. God has one plan for you. The devil also has a plan for you.

Which plan you follow will be taken step by step by whether you give into or rise above fear.

This article originally appeared on Facebook.

In an exclusive interview with ChurchPOP, actor and comedian Rob Schneider announced a project he's been working on for the past five years: a movie about the Shroud of Turin.

"Hopefully, this movie about the Shroud will happen because I think it's about faith," Schneider told ChurchPOP editor Jacqueline Burkepile in an interview published on April 16.

"I think we need that and to bring more people to it and not necessarily to preach to them, but to just show the actual sacrifice and to talk about what the core of Christianity is - loving others," he continues.

Schneider then explains that the premise of the movie, which he hopes to begin filming in 2024, is about shroud expert Joe Marino and his wife, "who basically proved scientists tested the cloth in the wrong place."

"They didn't put into their equation in the carbon dating that the French nuns had repaired this cloth with newer cloth and it is what the French called an 'invisible weave.'

"If you can imagine the dedication of these French nuns in preparing the actual burial cloth of their Lord, that they would dedicate absolute perfection in their work and they did. And that was where it was tested.

"And so they had new cloth and new strands of cloth that were weaved into this 2000-year-old Egyptian linen. And so that threw off the carbon dating. So each of the pieces that were cut, and the deeper that it went in, the further it went back in time.

Schneider then said "the best description" he's ever heard about the Shroud of Turin is that "it's the receipt" for Christians.

"It's such a great story," he said. "Hopefully, it will bring more people into the faith, or at least an openness to what this really is: the burial cloth of Jesus Christ...it's actual tangible proof."

The actor also explains that the process of making and researching for the film impacted his decision to become Catholic. He began working on the film "as an entertainment piece," but it turned into a "broadening" of his faith.

"It became the broadening of my faith and it became a powerful thing that kind of – I don't know how else to say it – but it was breathed into me, and then it from there, it was really the beginning."

Watch the video below:

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

In 1943, Rita Rizzo (later EWTN foundress Mother Mary Angelica) was 19 years old and had severe gastrointestinal problems.

She couldn’t eat anything but crackers, tea, and stale bread. She endured severe stomach spasms and pain.

“I couldn’t sleep or eat. My hands would shake and my left arm would get numb,” Mother Angelica wrote for Raymond Arroyo’s book, "Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles."

Her only alleviation from pain was a surgical corset that tore into her skin causing blisters.

One family friend suggested Rita meet Rhoda Wise, an alleged 20th-century stigmatist, mystic, and Catholic convert.

Wise also once endured severe health problems, including a ruptured bowel and wounded abdomen, as well as a severe leg wound. She suffered so much that she prayed for her own death.

Rhoda Wise’s Visions of Jesus and Saint Therese

In 1939, Wise said Jesus and Saint Therese appeared to her in her Ohio home. Saint Therese came to her bedside, opened her abdominal wound, and spoke to her.

“She then placed her hand on my abdomen and said: ‘I am the Little Flower. You have been tried in the fire and not found wanting. Faith cures all things.’”

Wise said following that moment, she “was astounded to find that the wound on my abdomen was entirely closed…The ruptured bowel, too, was entirely healed.”

Wise said Saint Therese appeared to her an additional time, also healing her severely wounded leg.

“The Little Flower stood by my bed and said, ‘That is a very little thing. Stand up and walk.’

“I placed my feet on the floor and stood up, and as I did so the cast, over a foot long, split open from top to bottom, and I easily stepped out of it.

“The Little Flower then said: ‘Go to church now,’ and immediately disappeared.”

(According to Arroyo’s book, “Msgr. George Habig, Wise’s reluctant spiritual director, told friends and church officials that he believed the healings to be authentic and supernatural.”)

Wise also received the stigmata, suffering Christ’s wounds on the First Friday of every month from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., from 1942-1945. She also suffered “invisible wounds” until she died in 1948.

Rhoda Wise Meets Rita Rizzo (Mother Angelica)

Rita’s mother, Mae Rizzo, wanted Rita to meet with Wise.

Rita had her speculations because her faith was not developed. However, Mother Angelica said she was “so happy that my mother wanted to go that I figured, what can I lose?”

When Rita and her mother arrived at Wise’s home, Wise suggested Rita sit in “Our Lord’s chair,” where she said she had conversations with Jesus.

During their visit, Wise gifted Rita with prayers to Saint Therese. She told her to pray this novena and make a sacrifice along with her prayers. She also requested that Rita spread devotion to the Little Flower if God cured her.

Rita prayed and sacrificed as Rhoda requested for the novena. Throughout the novena, however, Rita’s stomach pain and spasms continued.

After the novena ended, on Jan. 17, 1943, Rita experienced the most extreme pain and spasms she had ever known that morning.

“It seemed that something was pulling my stomach out,” Mother Angelica told Raymond Arroyo.

At the time, Rita’s surgical corset was removed due to skin blisters, and because of her severe pain, she thought about putting it back on before getting up.

However, she heard a voice say, “Get up and walk” without the corset.

Although she continued experiencing pain in her stomach, she said “It was different from the other pain.”

“I knew I didn’t need that brace and I knew I was healed.”

“When the Lord came in and healed me through the Little Flower, I had a whole different attitude,” Mother Angelica added.

“I knew there was a God; I knew that God knew me and loved me and was interested in me. I didn’t know that before. All I wanted to do after my healing was give my life to Jesus.”

Rita did not know how to give her life to Jesus, so she leaned on Wise, who “became her model of sanctity and a seminal spiritual influence.”

Mother Angelica then went on to spread devotion to Saint Therese, as she initially promised.

Rita (Mother Angelica) wrote the following about her conversion in a 1943 letter:

“…before I was cured, I was a lukewarm Catholic…now I love [our Lord] so that there are times when I think I will die. When I think of all that He has done for me and how little I have done for Him, I could cry.”

Let us remember the lives of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Servant of God Rhoda Wise, and Mother Angelica. They are all incredible models of sanctity and holiness!

Have you ever wondered how many times Jesus appeared after his Resurrection?

On this episode of "The Catholic Talk Show," Ryan Scheel, Ryan DellaCrosse, and Father Rich Pagano discuss Jesus’ appearances throughout his 40 days on earth after the resurrection.

How many times did Jesus appear after the Resurrection?

Although we don’t know the exact number of times he appeared, we do have an idea. Scripture documents 10 appearances to Jesus’ disciples. However, according to tradition, he appeared 12 times.

John 20:30 says:

“Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book.”

These appearances affirmed His physical resurrection, Father Pagano says.

"The whole idea of what we're bringing to the altar, Jesus' resurrected body is right there for us to receive each and every single day.”

Who did Jesus appear to first?

Tradition tells us that his very first appearance was to his mother, Mary.

Although not explicitly recorded in the Gospels, Scheel says “the Church Doctors and Church Fathers all maintain this like it was a known fact.”

Why did people not recognize Jesus after the resurrection?

The mysterious nature of His resurrected body often rendered Him unrecognizable to even His closest followers initially. Mary Magdalene “thought He was the gardener” and only recognized Him after He called her by name, Dellacrosse says.

What are the deeper meanings of each appearance?

In each appearance, Jesus taught specific lessons and spiritual truths.

On the road to Emmaus, He revealed Himself as the fulfiller of the Scriptures and demonstrated that He could be recognized in the breaking of bread.

When He appeared to the Apostles behind locked doors, it affirmed His resurrection promises and established the Church’s mission.

His reinstatement of Peter showed His forgiveness and the Church's duty to shepherd His flock.

"Jesus, disguised in our midst today… is still speaking to the hearts of men and women throughout every nation, inspiring this greater vocation to holiness," Father Rich says.

Listen to this episode of "The Catholic Talk Show" to learn more about Jesus’ life after the Resurrection:

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

Happy Easter! Christ is Risen!

The crucifix is an incredible reminder of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, which are all central aspects of the Catholic faith.

But have you noticed that the crucifix is not the universal symbol of Christianity? A simple cross is.

Among the many differences between Catholics and Protestants is the use of a crucifix or cross.

The crucifix includes the crucified Christ, whereas a plain cross is empty.

The presence of a crucifix remains a notable distinction between a Catholic parish and a Christian worship space or chapel.

Msgr. Charles Pope provided some background in his answer on Our Sunday Visitor:

“What likely began among Protestants as a simple preference for simplicity developed into a certain theological stance by some who used the plain cross to emphasize that Jesus had risen and was ‘no longer nailed to a cross.’ To many of them, the cross was now empty and our renditions of it should look that way. Some went so far as to say that Catholics thought Jesus was still on the cross. This, of course, is not true. We are fully aware and solemnly confess every Sunday in the Creed that Jesus is risen from the dead and sits in glory at the Father’s right hand. The crucifix is a depiction of the event of the Passion of our Savior, Jesus, a once, for all and perfect sacrifice (cf. Heb 10:14) that reaches across time but is accomplished.“The use of a crucifix (not a simple cross) is mandated in the Catholic liturgy and of both the processional and altar crucifixes. This is because holy Mass makes present the crucifixion of Jesus.”

Some Protestants see this difference as deeply troubling– a sign that Catholics dismiss the resurrection or want to “keep Jesus on the cross.”

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Instead, as Catholics, we focus on the complete story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We proclaim Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23).

Mary Beth Kremski from Catholic Answers offered her perspective on the matter:

“Does the Catholic Church cling to the crucifix because it would rather avoid the resurrection? Consider this: My Protestant church celebrated Easter for one day. The Catholic Church celebrates Easter for 50 days—not including each Sunday of the year, which are seen as 'little' Easters. The Mass never fails to proclaim the resurrection of Christ. And the Church’s daily prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, is filled with Scripture and prayers rejoicing in the resurrection.The idea that the Catholic Church downplays the resurrection is so obviously erroneous that anyone can unmask this misconception with only minor effort. But my fellow Protestants and I hadn’t made that effort. Instead, we professed to know the answers before we asked the questions.”

Here is a brief history of the crucifix from Catholic News Agency:

“In difficult moments, I will fix my gaze upon the silent Heart of Jesus stretched on the Cross, and from the exploding flames of His merciful Heart, will flow down upon me power and strength to keep fighting.” – St. Faustina

On March 14, 2024, Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree on the heroic nature of the virtues of Angelina Pirini (Sala di Cesenatico, Italy, 1922 – 1940).

Pope Francis gave this 18-year-old Servant of God the "Venerable" title!

Angelina grew up in the simplicity and religiosity of a modest family, whose reference point was the parish. She was enrolled in Catholic Action when she was a child. After receiving her First Communion in 1930, she attended Mass every day.

In 1934, Don Giuseppe Marchi, who had recently become the new parish priest of Sala, entrusted Angelina with the role of favorite delegate, then aspirant delegate, and finally president of the parish women's section.

Angelina was very committed to the apostolate with the young people, using all the energy that her spirituality gave her.

She was a truly attentive educator: she tried to understand the psychology of girls so she could talk to them about the love of God!

On Dec. 8, 1936, the young woman, after having obtained the permission of her spiritual father (Don Giuseppe), took a vow of virginity.

"Friends of Angelina" Association, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Stricken with Illness

On July 9, 1937, she was struck by severe abdominal pain. She underwent initial surgery for perforated appendicitis, but only later was she diagnosed with advanced intestinal tuberculosis.

However, Angelina was never discouraged, finding in her illness a reason to offer her suffering to God. She desired to offer herself as a victim of reparation for the whole world.

In 1938, she bound herself to Jesus in the Eucharist with the vow of perpetual virginity and united her suffering with Christ's Passion. Finally, she took a vow of obedience to her spiritual director in 1939.

"Experiencing the Eucharist, experiencing it in the hours of abandonment and incomprehension, in the hour in which due to this kind of suffering the soul resembles the living Host of our Altars...!; I offer myself for the Priests so that they may be saints, for the missionaries so that, O Jesus, You give them strength and courage..., so that You protect the Pope, our sweet Christ on earth... Jesus, I want to participate in Your pains, I have the right, being Your little bride ... I want to die a martyr for You and for Your Glory."

From 1939 to 1940, the servant of God had the consolation and privilege of receiving several visits from Bishop Beniamino Socche of Cesena, Italy.

During her last year of life, she experienced a period of spiritual dryness, which severely tested her faith.

Close to her death, when she was breathing hard and was voiceless, Angelina asked Jesus to allow her to sing with the girls, who with the parish priest, brought her the Eucharist. The young girl received this grace, to everyone's amazement.

Death and Funeral

Angelina died on Oct. 2, 1940, at just 18 years old. The funeral saw a huge participation of the population and many young people from Catholic Action. Her remains were then buried in the Sala cemetery. Since March 25, 2001, her body has rested in a marble sarcophagus, commissioned by Bishop Socche, near the altar of Saint Maria Goretti, inside the church.

Angelina's Diary

To better follow her spiritually, Angelina had been invited by Don Marchi to keep a spiritual diary. Here are some thoughts from her:

"...I need pure love, O Jesus, to reciprocate Your infinite love: give it to me. I thirst for silence, for hiding, for mortification to be able to resemble You, to be able to identify with You, O Jesus, Host of love I am thirsty..., I am thirsty for You..., I burn: Jesus, give me a drink, You who are the source of life so that I do not die, but live and live only on You, O Jesus, and live only for You. I want to be Yours until consummation and consume myself for You... My Father who art in heaven, I believe in You and I love You. Yes, my Father, I love You. Hallowed be Your Name, May Your Kingdom come Your will, O Father, as it is done in heaven. Father, I am a poor nothingness and in the depths of my nothingness and in the knowledge of my infirmity, I cry out to You, pure love. To You who see everything as beautiful, holy and infinitely merciful: I cry out to You my love, Father, for the honor and glory of the Son, Your and my Jesus, who, being me and Yourself, made me participate in You, blessed Father".

The "Friends of Angelina" Association

To keep her memory alive, the "Friends of Angelina" association is active at the parish house in Sala. Furthermore, the parish now owns the house where she lived until her death. They host association meetings, as well as meetings for Catholic Action, education for young people, and prayer groups.

Angelina's room, 76andywow, Associazione "Amici di Angelina", Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Late last year, actor and comedian Rob Schneider announced his conversion to the Catholic Church.

In an exclusive ChurchPOP interview, Schneider sat down with editor Jacqueline Burkepile to discuss his conversion journey, along with his three family entertainment projects: the animated series, "Chip Chilla," the film, "Daddy Daughter Trip," and another film about the Shroud of Turin.

Schneider is known for his roles in movies alongside Adam Sandler, including "The Waterboy," and "Fifty First Dates." However, he said his wife never allowed his children to watch them due to the content. This prompted his decision to create more family-friendly entertainment.

"I wanted to make films that little kids can see," he explained.

Schneider also provided an in-depth story about his Catholic conversion process. While the announcement came in October of 2023, he says he converted during the pandemic.

"I was the one drifting away and Jesus was always there," he said. "When it became more obvious, and I when I saw Father [Chad] Ripperger, and I spent time with [a priest] in Phoenix...it became more reassuring to hear the words of a priest telling me that God–Jesus– already won. This is just a mop-up mission."

Schneider also explains that "the Catholic Church works for me because it's the closest to the actual words of Jesus Christ."

"If you go to the Aramaic, to the Greek, to the Latin, it's right there and that's why Kevin James did a with did a prayer with me in Latin and understanding The Words the few words and getting to understand more words. I wanted to open that up so that it gets closer and so you can be as close as you can to Jesus Christ," Schneider says.

"That proximity is something that has become very important to me as you see the world spin out. And as a foundation for my children--spiritual foundation. You can build a house, but if you build a house without faith, it's like you say, it's a house on sand. But if you build a house on faith, then you have something that no storm could blow away."

Schneider says he is working on a film about the Shroud of Turin. While producing it, he says his faith was "breathed into him."

"I was working on that as an entertainment piece and as a really interesting story. Then it became the broadening of my faith," he says." It was breathed into me and then it from there, it was really the beginning."

He adds that "a confluence of things" brought him "back to Jesus Christ."

"It was children. It was the pandemic. It was working on this piece and...I think you know how Jesus works," he said. "I've come to a place of peace with it and I still have a long way to go."

Here's the full Rob Schneider interview below:

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

Late last year, actor and comedian Rob Schneider announced his conversion to the Catholic Church.

In an exclusive ChurchPOP interview, Schneider sat down with editor Jacqueline Burkepile to discuss his conversion journey, along with his three family entertainment projects: the animated series, "Chip Chilla," the film, "Daddy Daughter Trip," and another film about the Shroud of Turin.

Schneider is known for his roles in movies alongside Adam Sandler, including "The Waterboy," and "Fifty First Dates." However, he said his wife never allowed his children to watch them due to the content. This prompted his decision to create more family-friendly entertainment.

"I wanted to make films that little kids can see," he explained.

Schneider also provided an in-depth story about his Catholic conversion process. While the announcement came in October of 2023, he says he converted during the pandemic.

"I was the one drifting away and Jesus was always there," he said. "When it became more obvious, and I when I saw Father [Chad] Ripperger, and I spent time with [a priest] in Phoenix...it became more reassuring to hear the words of a priest telling me that God–Jesus– already won. This is just a mop-up mission."

Schneider also explains that "the Catholic Church works for me because it's the closest to the actual words of Jesus Christ."

"If you go to the Aramaic, to the Greek, to the Latin, it's right there and that's why Kevin James did a with did a prayer with me in Latin and understanding The Words the few words and getting to understand more words. I wanted to open that up so that it gets closer and so you can be as close as you can to Jesus Christ," Schneider says.

"That proximity is something that has become very important to me as you see the world spin out. And as a foundation for my children--spiritual foundation. You can build a house, but if you build a house without faith, it's like you say, it's a house on sand. But if you build a house on faith, then you have something that no storm could blow away."

Schneider says he is working on a film about the Shroud of Turin. While producing it, he says his faith was "breathed into him."

"I was working on that as an entertainment piece and as a really interesting story. Then it became the broadening of my faith," he says." It was breathed into me and then it from there, it was really the beginning."

He adds that "a confluence of things" brought him "back to Jesus Christ."

"It was children. It was the pandemic. It was working on this piece and...I think you know how Jesus works," he said. "I've come to a place of peace with it and I still have a long way to go."

Here's the full Rob Schneider interview below:

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

Let our hearts burn within us. 

When I was in sixth grade, my siblings and I attended a Catholic school in Milwaukee, Wis. It was a very traditional school. We attended daily Mass in Latin, and attended daily classes in both religion and Latin. In our short time there, we learned so much about our faith. 

The school, (Our Lady of the Rosary was its name) was very small and had only 20-25 students ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade.

One particular afternoon, my teacher, Father Joseph, sat the entire school down in one room and rolled in a TV on a stand. Under it, there was a small VCR. He then told us that for our religious lesson that day, the entire school would watch a movie together.

Initially, I was thrilled because I loved a good movie and getting out of school work. This changed when he pushed play on the VCR and credits for a black-and-white film came up.

All the students, myself included, moaned and sighed at our anticipated boredom with this old black-and-white film. Seeing our disgust, Father Joseph reminded us that patience is a virtue and that we shouldn’t underestimate things - including old black-and-white movies.

So, we all relented and watched the film.

The movie was the 1943 drama, "The Song of Bernadette," about a young girl from France named Bernadette. It took only a few minutes of watching it for all of us to become completely enthralled.

When the movie ended, I found myself crying my eyes out. I then looked to find all of my siblings--my three sisters, including Kathleen, who was in kindergarten, and my brother, who was in first grade–crying their eyes out too.

Although very young, we all saw the beauty of innocence and holiness in Bernadette. It moved us in such a profound way– so much so that my sisters and I took Bernadette as a confirmation patron!

If you haven’t seen the film, I encourage you to see it. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Here's a trailer for "The Song of Bernadette" below:

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

The most beautiful and endearing thing about Bernadette was her innocence, her willingness to suffer, and her utter lack of malice. She’s beautiful. So beautiful that a bunch of little kids saw it and were moved by it.

I want to share a few things that little Bernadette said in her life. I admit, when I read these words, I’m reminded of the story of the walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus in Saint Luke’s Gospel. In this particular passage, after the breaking of the bread, (the Mass) the two disciples realized that Jesus was walking with them.

They said their hearts burned within them when He spoke (Luke 24:13-35). This "burning of the heart" is an undeserved grace that God has given me. It happens at Mass, while I pray the Divine Office, or while I read about saints or their writings. I am so edified by the holiness of God, Our Lady, and the saints. What a grace!

Here are a few quotes from Saint Bernadette that I pray will cause all of our hearts to burn:

1) “I must die to myself continually and accept trials without complaining. I work, I suffer and I love with no other witness than his heart. Anyone who is not prepared to suffer all for the Beloved and to do his will in all things is not worthy of the sweet name of Friend, for here below, Love without suffering does not exist.” 2) “The Blessed Virgin used me like a broom. What do you do with a broom when you have finished sweeping? You put it back in its place, behind the door!”3) When asked if Our Lady was beautiful, she said, “Oh! Oh! Yes indeed! And even more than that! So lovely that, when you have seen her once, you would willingly die to see her again!”4) “I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home.”5) “From this moment on, anything concerning me is no longer of any interest to me. I must belong entirely to God and God alone. Never to myself.” 

As Saint Bernadette said above, heaven is our true home. I can’t wait to get there. May we all be given the grace for our hearts to burn for it– to burn for Jesus.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us!

Let our hearts burn within us. 

When I was in sixth grade, my siblings and I attended a Catholic school in Milwaukee, Wis. It was a very traditional school. We attended daily Mass in Latin, and attended daily classes in both religion and Latin. In our short time there, we learned so much about our faith. 

The school, (Our Lady of the Rosary was its name) was very small and had only 20-25 students ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade.

One particular afternoon, my teacher, Father Joseph, sat the entire school down in one room and rolled in a TV on a stand. Under it, there was a small VCR. He then told us that for our religious lesson that day, the entire school would watch a movie together.

Initially, I was thrilled because I loved a good movie and getting out of school work. This changed when he pushed play on the VCR and credits for a black-and-white film came up.

All the students, myself included, moaned and sighed at our anticipated boredom with this old black-and-white film. Seeing our disgust, Father Joseph reminded us that patience is a virtue and that we shouldn’t underestimate things - including old black-and-white movies.

So, we all relented and watched the film.

The movie was the 1943 drama, "The Song of Bernadette," about a young girl from France named Bernadette. It took only a few minutes of watching it for all of us to become completely enthralled.

When the movie ended, I found myself crying my eyes out. I then looked to find all of my siblings--my three sisters, including Kathleen, who was in kindergarten, and my brother, who was in first grade–crying their eyes out too.

Although very young, we all saw the beauty of innocence and holiness in Bernadette. It moved us in such a profound way– so much so that my sisters and I took Bernadette as a confirmation patron!

If you haven’t seen the film, I encourage you to see it. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Here's a trailer for "The Song of Bernadette" below:

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

The most beautiful and endearing thing about Bernadette was her innocence, her willingness to suffer, and her utter lack of malice. She’s beautiful. So beautiful that a bunch of little kids saw it and were moved by it.

I want to share a few things that little Bernadette said in her life. I admit, when I read these words, I’m reminded of the story of the walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus in Saint Luke’s Gospel. In this particular passage, after the breaking of the bread, (the Mass) the two disciples realized that Jesus was walking with them.

They said their hearts burned within them when He spoke (Luke 24:13-35). This "burning of the heart" is an undeserved grace that God has given me. It happens at Mass, while I pray the Divine Office, or while I read about saints or their writings. I am so edified by the holiness of God, Our Lady, and the saints. What a grace!

Here are a few quotes from Saint Bernadette that I pray will cause all of our hearts to burn:

1) “I must die to myself continually and accept trials without complaining. I work, I suffer and I love with no other witness than his heart. Anyone who is not prepared to suffer all for the Beloved and to do his will in all things is not worthy of the sweet name of Friend, for here below, Love without suffering does not exist.” 2) “The Blessed Virgin used me like a broom. What do you do with a broom when you have finished sweeping? You put it back in its place, behind the door!”3) When asked if Our Lady was beautiful, she said, “Oh! Oh! Yes indeed! And even more than that! So lovely that, when you have seen her once, you would willingly die to see her again!”4) “I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home.”5) “From this moment on, anything concerning me is no longer of any interest to me. I must belong entirely to God and God alone. Never to myself.” 

As Saint Bernadette said above, heaven is our true home. I can’t wait to get there. May we all be given the grace for our hearts to burn for it– to burn for Jesus.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us!

Did you know three heroic priests died on the Titanic?

Before the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, three heroic priests offered their lives for the passengers aboard the ship.

The priests chose to minister to passengers on the ship rather than choose a lifeboat to save their own lives.

Below are photos of the three priests:

The three Catholic priests aboard the RMS Titanic that refused spots in the lifeboats, choosing instead to give their lives ministering to the passengers who were stuck on the ship pic.twitter.com/3CfqK6PA7O

— Pius (@Pius____) June 9, 2021

Click here if you cannot see the post above.

The three priests were Father Josef Benedikt Peruschitz, O.S.B. (age 41) of Bavaria, Father Juozas Montvila (age 27) of Lithuania, and Father Thomas Byles (age 42) of England. Each of the priests died on the ship, and none of the bodies were recovered.

On a website dedicated to Father Thomas Byles, survivors explained their experiences with the priest on the ship. Pope Saint Pius X even described Father Byles as a “martyr” for the faith.

Here’s what one Titanic survivor said she witnessed as the ship sank:

“When the crash came we were thrown from our berths… Slightly dressed, we prepared to find out what had happened. We saw before us, coming down the passageway, with his hand uplifted, Father Byles. We knew him because he had visited us several times on board and celebrated Mass for us that very morning.“‘Be calm, my good people,’ he said, and then he went about the steerage giving absolution and blessings…“A few around us became very excited, and then it was that the priest again raised his hand and instantly they were calm once more. The passengers were immediately impressed by the absolute self-control of the priest.“He began the recitation of the rosary. The prayers of all, regardless of creed, were mingled and all the responses, ‘Holy Mary,’ were loud and strong.”

- Miss Helen Mary Mocklare, third-class Titanic passenger

Here’s another testimony about the priests:

“When all the excitement became fearful, all the Catholics on board desired the assistance of priests with the greatest fervor. Both priests aroused those condemned to die to say acts of contrition and prepare themselves to meet the face of God.“They led the rosary and others answered. The sound of the recitation irritated a few passengers, and some ridiculed those who prayed and started a ring dance around them.“The two priests were engaged continuously giving general absolution to those who were about to die. Those entering the lifeboats were consoled with moving words.“Some women refused to be separated from their husbands, preferring to die with them. Finally, when no more women were near, some men were allowed into the boats. Father Peruschitz was offered a place which he declined.”

The video below also briefly describes the three priests:

Click here if you cannot see the post above.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.