March 5: Saint John Joseph of the Cross

Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity—as the life of Saint John Joseph shows. John Joseph was very ascetic even as a young man. He devoted himself even at his youngest years to a life of poverty and fasting. At 16 he …
March 4: St. Casimir of Poland

On March 4, the Catholic Church honors Saint Casimir Jagiellon, a prince whose life of service to God has made him a patron saint of Poland, Lithuania, and young people. In 1984, Pope John Paul II addressed Lithuanian pilgrims commemorating the 500th anniversary of the prince’s death. He said the …
WWII martyr Titus Brandsma to be canonized with Charles de Foucauld

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 4, 2022 / 04:00 am The World War II martyr Titus Brandsma and two other blesseds will be declared saints at a canonization Mass on May 15, Pope Francis indicated on Friday. The decision was made through a vote of cardinals during an ordinary consistory at …
Catholic bishops support praying football coach in Supreme Court case

by Katie Yoder Washington D.C., Mar 3, 2022 / 16:02 pm The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) submitted an amicus brief Wednesday in support of Joseph Kennedy, a Christian who lost his job as a high school football coach for refusing to stop praying at the 50-yard line …
Spanish nuns evacuated from Ukraine: Christ was with us in the Blessed Sacrament

by ACI Prensa Madrid, Spain, Mar 3, 2022 / 16:19 pm Before war broke out in Ukraine, Sisters María, María Jesús, and Antonia of the Missionaries of the Congregation of Saint Dominic were running an after-school program in Kyiv. The three were evacuated last week, and they told the Pontifical …
Lent 2022: Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, Lent is a favorable time for personal and community renewal, as it leads us to the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For our Lenten journey in 2022, we will do well to reflect on Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians: “Let …
Pope Francis accepts retirement of Peoria’s Bishop Jenky on 75th birthday

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 3, 2022 / 05:55 am Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Daniel Jenky as head of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, on Thursday, the day of Jenky’s 75th birthday. Diocesan bishops are required by canon law to submit a letter of resignation …
Pope Francis on Ash Wednesday: Lent is about eternal rewards, not appearances

by Hannah Brockhaus Rome, Italy, Mar 2, 2022 / 10:57 am Pope Francis cautioned on Ash Wednesday against the temptation to allow Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to be taken over by an “illness of appearances” that cares more about earthly than eternal rewards. In a homily read by the Vatican Secretary …
Biden balks at explaining abortion stance to EWTN correspondent

by Christine Rousselle Washington D.C., Mar 2, 2022 / 13:24 pm U.S. President Joe Biden (D), a Catholic, declined to discuss why he supports abortion rights despite Church teaching prior to boarding Marine One ahead of a flight to Duluth on Wednesday, March 2. “I don’t want to get into …
Archbishop Schnurr Celebrates Fat Tuesday with Local Students

The friendly wager between Jose H. Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati over the Super Bowl was a big win for students in both archdioceses. More than $22,000 was raised for tuition assistance scholarships for students. In addition to …