There is a tendency nowadays to depict saints as people who bypass the realities of life and somehow attain sanctity with little effort. Here we have two pictures of Saint Anthony of Padua. The first is a fresco in the basilica dedicated to the saint in Padua, Italy, and it is the oldest known depiction of the great thirteenth century apostle and miracle worker. In this picture, we see a powerfully built Franciscan, his expression young though mature, serious and determined. The second is a holy card bought in the souvenir shop of the same basilica. This depiction is obviously not inspired by the fresco. Here we see a delicate, rosy cheeked young man, his face devoid of the natural masculinity necessarily brought on by the preacher’s arduous life. His is sentimental, of soft countenance, devoid of the personality and strength of character necessary for climbing the mountain of perfection. Anthony was born Ferdinand of Bouillon of a Portuguese noble family. Early in life he engaged in …More
13. Juni Festtag des hl. Antonius von Padua Altes Gebet zum hl. Antonius Heiliger Antonius, hochgepriesen! Große Ehr‘ hat Dir erwiesen Jesus, den man als ein Kind stets an Deiner Seite find’t. Jesus trägst Du auf den Armen, der sich unser woll‘ erbarmen! Die schneeweiße Lilienglut kündet Deiner Keuschheit Gut. Deiner Fürbitt‘ große Macht Satan selbst von dannen jagt. Auf Dein Fleh’n hat Gott das Leben vielen Toten neu gegeben; die schon Grabesnacht bedeckt, wurden wieder auferweckt. Schwer verirrte arme Seelen, solche, die im Glauben fehlen, hast Du wunderbar bekehrt und den rechten Weg gelehrt. Komm zu Hilf auch uns, den Deinen, wenn wir in der Trübsal weinen! Steh uns bei im letzten Streit bis dereinst zur Seligkeit! Amen
Ancient Chaldean Church vandalized in Northern Iraq: The historic Mar Kiriakos Chaldean Catholic Church in the village of Sharanish, near Zakho in northern Iraq, was recently vandalized. Videos released in mid-June 2026 show damage inside the church. Mar Kiriakos, believed to be more than 400 years old, is one of two historic Chaldean Catholic churches in Sharanish. No perpetrators have yet been publicly identified.
Ancient Chaldean Church vandalized in Northern Iraq | Shalom World News An ancient witness of Chaldean Christian faith in Iraq has been desecrated in Sharanish, a historic Christian village near Zakho, close to the Iraq–Turkey border. Video from inside Mar Kiriakos Church shows extensive vandalism, with sacred spaces damaged and church property destroyed. The incident has left the local community mourning the incident, which is another blow to a village that has endured years of instability and displacement. Sharanish, home to the Chaldean churches of Mart Shmune and Mar Kiriakos, remains a symbol of the ancient Christian presence in Mesopotamia. As investigations continue, the faithful hold on to a message carried through centuries: a wounded church can still be a living testimony of faith.
Churches in communion with Rome Who are the Christians of Iraq? A long history … After periods of Mongol, Turkoman, and Safavid rule, Mesopotamia fell under the Ottomans, whose empire lasted until the First World War in the early 20th century. It was during the Ottoman period that the East and West Syriac Churches – the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Syriac (or Syrian) Catholic Church, respectively – were formed. The Syriac Catholic Church was created when a Jacobite patriarch united with Rome in the 18th century. The Bishops who did not enter into full communion with Rome formed the Syriac Orthodox Church. Today’s Chaldean Catholic Church dates from 1830, when the historical patriarchate of the Church of the East was united with an earlier Chaldean branch created in the 17th century. An even-earlier Chaldean union from the 16th century subsequently separated from Rome and developed into what are today the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East. Rich history …More
And GOD saw that, it was good! And the evening and morning were the fifth day. 24 And God said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature in its kind, cattle and creeping things, and beasts of the earth, according to their kinds. And it was so done. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and cattle, and every thing that creepeth on the earth after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Natural England and MPs are urging the government to change its livestock rules to stop ponies on Dartmoor from potentially being culled. Semi-wild ponies have roamed Dartmoor for more than 4,000 years and have become uniquely suited to the boggy landscape, providing a charming sight for those who visit the national park. There was therefore widespread outrage after reports that the government quango Natural England could cause a cull of up to 90% of the ponies, with the Conservative party calling for the government body to be reviewed and possibly stripped of its powers. However, sources at the quango say it is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) policy that is at fault, as it fails to differentiate between sheep and ponies. Because the barren moors are so overgrazed, putting species including rare birds and butterflies at risk as there is no food or nesting sites for them, Natural England said there should be an aim to destock the moors by 76%. Natural …
Catholics in Bahrain consecrate four Gulf Nations to the Sacred Heart of Jesus | Shalom World News The Catholic community of Bahrain gathered in faith and devotion as the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, the Mother Church and Vicarial Shrine of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia. The solemn Pontifical Mass was presided over by Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, together with Archbishop Eugene Nugent, Apostolic Nuncio to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Priests, religious communities, and faithful from across the Kingdom joined in this celebration of Christ’s love. The highlight of the occasion was the historic consecration of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Representatives carried candles in procession, symbolizing the four nations entrusted to the Vicariate — Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Through the solemn Act of Consecration, the Catholic community renewed its …More
Yes, why does this revealing and very disturbing video documentary. posted in 2024, only have some 15,000 views? It's called, "What Happened to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla: The Truth: Lost At Sea." In 2010, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, a convoy of ships carrying humanitarian aid, attempted to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. After refusing Israel’s request to desist, the flotilla continued on course through international waters, and Israel launched a night-raid, boarding the ships. On one of the six ships, a melee broke out between a group of activists and Israeli naval commandos. In the struggle, nine activists were shot dead and a tenth later died of their injuries. The murky details of what happened that night are laid out by the filmmaker, one of the surviving activists, unravelling how the story was spun by the media. The current official Israeli position on Gaza is for total military control, de-arm the area, and remove Hamas and their military capabilities. To do this, Israel claims …
Fri Jun 19, 2026 - 2:29 pm EDTFri Jun 19, 2026 - 3:08 pm EDT (LifeSiteNews) — St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose feast day is celebrated on July 31, has been measured by the stature of the order of priests and brothers he founded in the sixteenth century—the Society of Jesus (the “Jesuits”). Unfortunately for the Society and the whole Church, that order is now in serious decline. In a 2022 memo to fellow cardinals just before he died, Cardinal George Pell suggested an official investigation: Despite the dangerous decline in the West and the inherent fragility and instability in many places, serious consideration should be given to the feasibility of a visitation on the Jesuit Order. They are in a situation of catastrophic numerical decline from 36,000 members during the Council to less than 16,000 in 2017 (with probably 20-25% above 75 years of age). In some places, there is catastrophic moral decline. The order is highly centralized, susceptible to reform or damage from the top. The Jesuit …
interestingengineering Midjourney — the AI art company — just announced it's building a full-body ultrasonic scanner. You step into a pool of water, descend through half a million sensors, and get an MRI-quality scan of your entire body in 60 seconds. They're wrapping it inside a spa opening in San Francisco in 2027. Their goal: scan a billion people a month by 2031.
2nd book of Kings 11,1-4.9-18.20. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land. But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed them the king's son. The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David's spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn …More
Guaranteed they either have it already. Or they will allow it. Usually when they say something, it's already happening. US President Donald Trump has confirmed the licensed production of anti-aircraft missiles for Patriot systems in Ukraine is under consideration, specifying that no decision has been made yet. “They would like to be able to do that, we’ll take a look at it. They have asked about it,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday.
Response to Francis: Catholic Tradition of Mary … reported on May 30, 2020: by Alexandra Clark The logic is simple, without Mary, there would have been no Jesus, and without Jesus no salvation. The Early Church Fathers often called Mary “the new Eve” or the spiritual mother of all men. It is important to note, that salvation is not automatic; we must be co-operators in Christ’s plan of salvation. Jesus Himself said: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." [Matthew 16:24] And St. Paul adds “with fear and trembling work out your salvation." [Philippians 2:12] We must be co-operative in Christ’s Redemptive Sacrifice and unite ourselves to Him, to have Communion with Him in order to be saved. Now, no other person on earth was more united to Jesus, more co-operative, than His Blessed Mother! By her Immaculate Fiat she became the new Eve and gives birth to the New Adam (Jesus) who will save mankind by offering up His Body, Blood, Soul and …More
SAINT ROMUALD Abbot - June 19 (c. 952-1027) In the midst of a wasted youth, Romuald watched his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he fled to a monastery near Ravenna. After three years, some of the monks found him to be uncomfortably holy and eased him out. Romuald spent the next 30 years going about Italy, founding monasteries and hermitages. He longed to give his life to Christ in martyrdom, and got the pope’s permission to preach the gospel in Hungary. But he was struck with illness as soon as he arrived, and the illness recurred as often as he tried to proceed. During another period of his life, Romuald suffered great spiritual dryness. One day as he was praying Psalm 31 (“I will give you understanding and I will instruct you”), he was given an extraordinary light and spirit which never left him. At the next monastery where he stayed, Romuald was accused of a scandalous crime by a young nobleman he had rebuked for a dissolute life. Amazingly, his fellow …More