[Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich; XVIII-XIX Century; born: 8 September 1774 Flamschen, Coesfeld, Prince-Bishopric of Münster, Holy Roman Empire/ died: 9 February 1824 (aged 49), Dülmen, Kingdom of Prussia, German Confederation; mystic, Marian visionary and stigmatist; Roman Catholic Augustinian canoness] Meditation III ~ Arrangements for eating the Paschal Lamb. When the disciples had spoken to Heli of Hebron, the latter went back into the house by the court, but they turned to the right, and hastened down the north side of the hill, through Sion. They passed over a bridge, and walking along a road covered with brambles, reached the other side of the ravine, which was in front of the Temple, and of the row of houses which were to the south of that building. There stood the house of the aged Simeon, who died in the Temple after the presentation of our Lord; and his sons, some of whom were disciples of Jesus in secret, were actually living there. The Apostles spoke to one of them, a tall …More
" The cup was pear-shaped, massive, dark-coloured, and highly polished, with gold ornaments, and two small handles by which it could be lifted. The foot was of virgin gold, elaborately worked, ornamented with a serpent and a small bunch of grapes, and enriched with precious stones."
Meditation IV ~ The Chalice used at the Last Supper The chalice which the Apostles brought from Veronica’s house was wonderful and mysterious in its appearance. It had been kept a long time in the Temple among other precious objects of great antiquity, the use and origin of which had been forgotten. The same has been in some degree the case in the Christian Church, where many consecrated jewels have been forgotten and fallen into disuse with time. Ancient vases and jewels, buried beneath the Temple, had often been dug up, sold, or reset. Thus it was that, by God’s permission, this holy vessel, which none had ever been able to melt down on account of its being made of some unknown material, and which had been found by the priests in the treasury of the Temple among other objects no longer made use of, had been sold to some antiquaries. It was bought by Seraphia /Saint Veronica/, was several times made use of by Jesus in the celebration of festivals, and, from the day of the Last Supper …More
Today, Pope Leo XIV has appointed three new U.S. bishops who have expressed criticism of President Donald Trump. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 55, currently auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington, is the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston covering West Virginia. He is a formerly undocumented immigrant who was smuggled into the United States in a car trunk. Furthermore, Leo XIV elevated the prelates Gary Studniewski, 68, and Robert Boxie, 45, as new auxiliary bishops for Washington Archdiocese. Cardinal McElroy of Washington is one of the strongest pro-homosexual infiltrators. He publicly defended Fiducia Supplicans and said U.S. opposition focused on homosexual blessings reflected “enduring animus” toward homosexuals. His Archdiocese of Washington spans Washington, D.C., and surrounding Maryland communities, placing its bishops in regular contact with policymakers, diplomats and national media. With Menjivar, Boxie and Studniewski, Leo XIV has again reinforced a leadership group …More
An immigrant from El Salvador was chosen to be the shepherd of a state (West Virginia) with the lowest percentage of Spanish speakers in the country (less than 1.5%).
Being a “critic” of DJT is a good thing….a very good thing. These newly appointed Bishops may have other dire issues but in this area they’re right on target.
Prominent Vatican journalists Edward Pentin and Diane Montagna decried the Vatican’s recent reception and celebration of the Anglican female “archbishop” of Canterbury as scandalous and “absurd.” Montagna on Monday quoted from Pope Leo XIV’s address to Sarah Mullally in which he referred to “new problems” that “have arisen in recent decades, rendering the pathway to full communion” between the Catholic Church and Anglicans “more difficult to discern.” “Of course, chief among these new problems is the fact that a woman dressed in liturgical attire is now being passed off – and celebrated by the Vatican and even by the Pope – as someone who seemingly has valid Orders when she doesn’t – first because she’s a woman and second because she’s an Anglican,” Montagna wrote. She highlighted the fact that Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, had gone so far as to “bow” before her and make the Sign of the Cross “as though receiving a real …
Bishop René Henry Gracida has died at the age of 102. A veteran of World War II who flew combat missions aboard bombers before entering the priesthood, Gracida later served as Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee and then as Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas, from 1983 to 1997. In his later years, he became known for questioning the legitimacy of Pope Francis’s papacy. Requiescat in pace.
From Diocese of Corpus Christi At the age of 102, Bishop René Henry Gracida passed away on the morning of May 1, 2026. Bishop Mario Avilés wrote, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bishop Emeritus René Henry Gracida. He served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi from 1983 until 1997. We are deeply grateful for his faithful service as our shepherd for 14 years.” Previously, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida (1975–1983) and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami in Florida (1971–1975). Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 9, 1923, Gracida was the second child of Enrique J. Gracida Carrizosa, a Mexican architect and engineer, and Mathilde Derbes, a fifth-generation French American Cajun. His great uncle was a vicar general of a diocese in Mexico. As a teenager, Gracida was fascinated by the Jesuit martyrs portrayed in James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Last of the Mohicans. During World War …More
[Venerable Mary of Agreda – XVII Century AD; Agreda, Spain; Mystic; Writer; ‘Blue Nun’] Chapter V ~ ST. JOSEPH ASKS PARDON OF THE HOLY MARY HIS SPOUSE— HE RESOLVES TO SERVE HER IN ALL THINGS WITH PROFOUND RESPECT ST. JOSEPH, after the discovery of his error, waited until our blessed Lady should come forth from her retreat. As soon as he thought it was time, he opened the door of the little chamber occupied by the mother of the heavenly King, and, throwing himself at her feet, he exclaimed, with humility and profound veneration, ‘ My spouse, Mother of the Eternal Word, behold your servant prostrate before you. By the same Lord whom you bear in your most chaste bosom, I pray you to pardon my presumption. Sure I am that none of my thoughts can be hidden from your wisdom, nor from the divine light which you have received. Great was my blindness to think of deserting you; but you know that I did it in ignorance, because neither the secret of the great King had been revealed to me, nor the …More
"Then she /Mary/ said to the saint: “It is I, my spouse, who ought to beseech your pardon for the pain and sorrow that you have had to endure on my account, therefore I beg you will forget them.” Our blessed Lady, for the consolation of her husband, continued: “I could not reveal to you the hidden mystery which the Most High had enclosed within me, because it was my duty to await the expression of the will of the Lord. Thus my silence should not be considered as arising from any want of esteem for you, for in all things I regard you as my master and my husband. I am, and I always shall be, your faithful servant; but do not make any change in the demeanor which you have always preserved towards me. The Lord has not elevated me to the dignity of being His own mother to be served, but to be the servant of all, and of you especially. This is my office: it is but just that you should leave it to me, since the Most High has so ordained in giving me your protection."
"The august Mary listened with mingled feelings to the humble words of her spouse. She rejoiced in the Lord to learn that St. Joseph was informed of the mysteries of the incarnation, and that he revered them with such profound faith and humility. But she was troubled by the resolution he had taken to change his conduct towards her, and with the respect and submission with which he addressed her. Knowing ‘how much she ought to esteem humility, she was disturbed by the apprehension that St. Joseph, recognizing in her the mother of the Lord, would deport himself in all things as her inferior."
Solennité de saint Joseph ouvrier, époux de la bienheureuse Vierge Marie, confesseur, patron des ouvriers. Le mois de mai est consacré à la Très Sainte Vierge. Il est recommandé de faire en famille, dans les paroisses et les communautés religieuses, des exercices en son honneur et de fleurir son image. Premier vendredi du mois. Sanctoral Saint Joseph, Artisan, époux de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie La fête de saint Joseph Artisan, fixée au 1er mai par le pape Pie XII, succède à la solennité de saint Joseph qui se célébra jusqu’en 1955. Le monde du travail prend une conscience grandissante de son importance et c’est le rôle de l’Église de lui enseigner toute sa dignité; la figure de saint Joseph y contribue merveilleusement. Cette fête de saint Joseph est une triple fête patronale: fête de l’Église, fête de la famille et du foyer, fête du travail et de l’atelier. En était-il une qui fût davantage dans l’esprit de l’Évangile et dans l’esprit des temps nouveaux? L’Église …
The Archdiocesan of Toronto newspaper The Catholic Register on April 30, 2026, posted an open letter written by Morgan Ste. Marie, chair of the Durham Catholic District School Board. A number of schools boards in Ontario have come under government supervision. Some form of governance reform is soon coming. The letter tries to defend the importance of Catholic trustees and what it would mean if the government decoded to get rid of them. Here's Ste. Marie's message followed by our response: After a few months of speculation about school board governance, a decision on the future of school boards is expected soon. Yet one critical question remains: What would happen if we diminished the role of elected school board trustees? Loss of local involvement Elected school trustees serve as vital links between the community and the education system. We communicate, respond and are accountable to parents, students, and local communities, ensuring that the values and needs of those we represent …
Justice Department prosecutors in the Biden administration joked about prosecuting Catholic nuns who attended a pro-Trump rally, according to text messages released by Senator Chuck Grassley and reported by DailyWire.com on April 29. Prosecutor Molly Gaston wrote after viewing a photo of nuns wearing habits at the rally: “I would like to take a special assignment of finding and prosecuting them.” Prosecutor Joseph Cooney replied, “I’m with you,” adding that he would like to prosecute “any nun who still wears the head habit.” Grassley obtained the messages during an investigation into Justice Department conduct and condemned the remarks as evidence of bias against religious Americans. #newsHtiwujinop
Now she hurried home from work that night as soon as she arrived. She found that pretty snake she’d taken in had been revived. “Take me in, oh tender woman , “Take me in, for heaven’s sake, “Take me in oh tender woman,” sighed the snake. Now she clutched him to her bosom, “You’re so beautiful,” she cried. “But if I hadn’t brought you in by now you might have died.” Now she stroked his pretty skin and then she kissed and held him tight . But instead of saying thanks, that snake gave her a vicious bite. …“I saved you,” cried that woman. “And you've bit me even, why? “You know your bite is poisonous and now I’m going to die.” “Oh shut up, silly woman,” said the reptile with a grin, “You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in.”
A new Christian-Muslim event at the Grand Mosque of Rome has drawn criticism from some Catholics who question the setting and wider message of the meeting.
Home » Architecture » Before and After: St. Frances Borgia in Cedarburg, Wisconsin Conrad Schmitt Studios have provided us with yet another 'before and after' project, this time coming out of the parish church of St. Francis Borgia in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The present church building was originally constructed in the year 1870 and over the century it underwent at least two renovations; one around the mid-century period, and another following the Second Vatican Council. In the mid-century period it obtained a renovation which essentially modified the church's altars and decoration programme to something more akin to the fads and fashions of the twentieth century liturgical movement; what came in the latter part of the twentieth century was far more radical with decorative paintwork being white-washed over, altars stripped out, and the sanctuary ordering completely changed. That is the particular face of the church that constitutes what came immediately before the restorative works …
From Newsweek Pope Leo XIV has appointed three new U.S. bishops who have expressed criticism of President Donald Trump's actions. Washington auxiliary bishop Evelio Menjivar has been named as the new bishop for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston covering West Virginia, according to the Catholic Standard. Father Gary Studniewski and Father Robert Boxie III have also been named as new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Washington. Menjivar previously criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies, writing in the the National Catholic Reporter last April: "the federal government has pursued a 'shock and awe' campaign of aggressive threats and highly visible operations of questionable legality that go far beyond mere immigration 'enforcement.'" Boxie previously expressed concern over Trump's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the U.S. "In a lot of ways we have made great progress, but in so many ways, I feel like we're regressing," Boxie …More
The six remaining cloistered Carmelite nuns in Jonquières, France, are closing their historic community, ending a 400-year legacy of prayer ... and martyrdom.
The Carmelite convent that gave us the 16 Martyrs of the French Revolution will close: "The Carmel of the Annunciation, founded in Compiègne in 1641 and following the Rule of St. Teresa of Avila, was the 53rd foundation in France at the time. It had a unique impact, giving the Church 16 holy martyrs. These 16 nuns were expelled from their monastery during the French Revolution and guillotined in Paris on July 17, 1794, out of hatred for the faith."
Fri May 1, 2026 - 12:16 pm EDT TYLER, Texas (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV named Tyler, Texas, priest Fr. John Gomez as the new bishop of Laredo, Texas. The move raised eyebrows since Gomez was instrumental in the removal of beloved Tyler, Texas, Bishop Joseph Strickland by Pope Francis. Gomez was vicar general in Tyler under Strickland, but was nevertheless the one who arranged clergy from the diocese to meet with Vatican investigators sent to assess Strickland’s leadership. One of the sources close to Strickland who identified Gomez’s role was Deacon Keith Fournier, who, when called in to give testimony about Bishop Strickland to the Vatican investigators, informed me that he was called by the vicar general – Gomez. Fournier told me that on his arrival he found that the visitation was “not seeking information but a foregone conclusion seeking a way to justify asking (Strickland) to resign.” I communicated with three other individuals intimately involved with the diocese who confirmed …
Oh, dear. Poor Bishop Strickland. When we catch a glimpse of the cross others are asked to carry, sometimes it is very painful to see. May God give him strength and courage.
The United States Department of Justice released on April 30 a 548-page report on how the Biden administration targeted believing Christians, including traditional Catholics. The report concludes that the Biden administration “zealously pursued actions to limit Christians’ ability to act in accordance with their faith,” particularly those holding traditional biblical views on abortion, sexuality, and gender. Among the report’s findings is that the FBI’s Richmond Field Office treated traditional Catholics as potential extremists, including churches associated with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X. The FBI expanded its scrutiny after interviewing Xavier Louis Lopez, a self-described “radical traditional Catholic Clerical Fascist” convicted of possessing destructive devices. Agents opened a formal law-enforcement “Guardian profile” on his church and interviewed his priest, despite the parish having no involvement in his crimes. Agents also tracked the priest’s jail visits to Lopez …More
luisapiccarreta.me/…ntent/uploads/2023/04/BVM-in-… Dearest child, I feel the irresistible need to descend from Heaven to make you my maternal visits. If you assure Me of your filial love and faithfulness, I will remain always with you in your soul, to be your teacher, model, example and most tender Mother. I come to invite you to enter into the Kingdom of your Mama – that is, the Kingdom of the Divine Will; and I knock at the door of your heart, that you may open it to Me. You know? With my own hands I bring you this book as gift; I offer it to you with maternal care, so that, in your turn, in reading it, you may learn to live of Heaven and no longer of earth. This book is of gold, my child. It will form your spiritual fortune, your happiness, also terrestrial. In it you will find the fount of all goods: if you are weak, you will acquire strength; if you are tempted, you will achieve victory; if you have fallen into sin, you will find the pitying and powerful hand that will lift you …More
"Extremely DIRE consequences!" Putin just issued a major warning to Trump on Iran Putin issued an extreme warning to Trump during a two-hour call as the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz drives oil to new highs, crushes global food supply, and fractures alliances. Colonels Douglas McGregor and Daniel Davis break down whether America has already lost its strategic goals in Iran and what comes next. This is from The Colonel's channel. NOT Redacted as I don't listen to them anymore. Excellent show with both Macgregor and Davis telling it like it is. Not what we are fed with by this administration or anyone else. Redacted 4/29/2026
From Diocese of Corpus Christi At the age of 102, Bishop René Henry Gracida passed away on the morning of May 1, 2026. Bishop Mario Avilés wrote, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bishop Emeritus René Henry Gracida. He served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi from 1983 until 1997. We are deeply grateful for his faithful service as our shepherd for 14 years.” Previously, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida (1975–1983) and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami in Florida (1971–1975). Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 9, 1923, Gracida was the second child of Enrique J. Gracida Carrizosa, a Mexican architect and engineer, and Mathilde Derbes, a fifth-generation French American Cajun. His great uncle was a vicar general of a diocese in Mexico. As a teenager, Gracida was fascinated by the Jesuit martyrs portrayed in James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Last of the Mohicans. During World War …More