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April 1: Saint Mary of Egypt

April 1 is the feast of a little-known saint whose story demonstrates the power of the Church as the home of forgiveness, redemption and mercy. St. Mary of Egypt was a prostitute for 17 years before she received the Eucharist and chose the life of a hermit. Born in 344 …
Why is the First Saturdays devotion called the ‘unfulfilled part of the Fatima message’?

by Joe Bukuras Boston, Mass., Mar 30, 2022 / 15:07 pm When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children at Fatima, she asked that certain devotions be followed in order to bring peace to the world. The most well-known of her requests is for the consecration of Russia …
Connecticut priest named rector of North American College seminary in Rome

by Hannah Brockhaus Rome, Italy, Mar 30, 2022 / 05:53 am The Vatican has appointed Connecticut priest Msgr. Thomas W. Powers as the next rector of the Pontifical North American College seminary (NAC) in Rome. Powers, a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was formerly a student of the NAC, …
Pope Francis appoints new bishop of Lourdes

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Mar 30, 2022 / 06:30 am Pope Francis named on Wednesday a new bishop of the French Catholic diocese that is home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of the world’s most-visited Marian shrines. Msgr. Jean-Marc Micas was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes on March …
New Vatican instruction: Identity of Catholic schools to be respected by teachers, students

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 29, 2022 / 10:20 am The Vatican’s education congregation on Tuesday published a document responding to conflicts over the interpretation of the concept of “Catholic identity” in Catholic school settings. The 20-page instruction affirmed the importance of a Catholic educational project with an evangelical goal and …
March 30: Saint John Climacus

St. John Climacus was born around the year 525 in Palestine. As a youth, he excelled in his studies and was highly regarded by his peers for his knowledge. At the age of 16, John decided to leave the world and retired to a hermitage near the base of Mount …
Vatican corrects ‘extraordinary form’ error in new constitution

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 28, 2022 / 04:20 am The Vatican has corrected a paragraph in its new constitution which it said erroneously referred to the Traditional Latin Mass as the “extraordinary form of the Roman Rite.” Journalist Diane Montagna reported on March 24 that the constitution’s wording had been changed …
5 things to know about Pope Francis’ consecration prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Mar 25, 2022 / 08:00 am Pope Francis has asked Catholics around the world to join him on Friday in consecrating all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To enable Catholic parishes around the world to participate, …
‘Enough!’ End war before it ends us, Pope Francis says as Ukraine invasion continues

by Kevin J. Jones Vatican City, Mar 27, 2022 / 10:36 am Pope Francis has again lamented the war in Ukraine and appealed for peace more than a month after Russia’s invasion. “Enough. Stop it. Silence the weapons. Move seriously toward peace,” Pope Francis said again in remarks after the …
Pope Francis consecrates Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 25, 2022 / 12:30 pm Pope Francis on Friday consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a prayer asking for peace in the world. At the end of a penitential service in St. Peter’s Basilica on March 25, the pope carried out …