Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288923&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Oct 6, 2025 / 12:24 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with leaders of the Knights of Columbus, whom he thanked for their generosity to the Vatican and their dedicated service to local communities in the United States. 

He also expressed his "profound gratitude" for the Knights' funding of the restorations of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's baldacchino and monument of the Chair of St. Peter in St. Peter's Basilica, completed last year. 

Such contributions are "a visible sign of your continued devotion to the vicar of Christ," the pontiff said, addressing members of the board of directors and their families in the Apostolic Palace's Hall of the Consistory. 

"Throughout its history, the order has supported the charitable work of the Roman pontiff in a variety of ways, including through the 'Vicarius Christi' Fund, which allows him to express solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable throughout the world," Leo continued.  

The pope noted that local Knights councils "seek to bring the compassion and love of the Lord into your local communities, including through your efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all of its stages, to assist victims of war and natural disasters, and also to support priestly vocations."  

The Knights of Columbus is a lay Catholic men's organization with more than 2.1 million members worldwide. It was founded by Blessed Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882. 

The pope also sent a video greeting to the Knights of Columbus during their 143rd Supreme Convention in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 5. On July 4, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore met Pope Leo for the first time in a private audience at the Vatican.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288922&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI MENA, Oct 6, 2025 / 12:54 pm (CNA).

In Lebanon, thousands of Christians filled the streets on Saturday, Oct. 4, in a solemn procession honoring Father Bechara Abou Mrad, a Melkite priest whose cause for sainthood is underway. 

In a country often marked by hardship and unrest, the glow of candles and sound of hymns offered a moment of peace as the faithful carried icons and flags in tribute to a man remembered for his quiet life of prayer, humility, and service.

Born Salim Abou Mrad in Zahle in 1853, the young man entered the Basilian Order of the Most Holy Savior at age 21, taking the religious name "Bechara," which means "Annunciation" in Arabic. Known for his humility and dedication, he spent his life in prayer and service until his death in 1930. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI recognized his heroic virtue, declaring him venerable.

Mrad was known as "the apostolic hermit," a title reflecting his unique balance of deep solitude and active charity. His life joined rigorous asceticism and constant prayer with an untiring devotion to the salvation of souls, lived out through the sacraments of the Church and humble works of Christian love.

This year's procession, titled "Walking Towards You," began at the monastery and school of the Salvatorian Sisters and continued for just over a mile to Deir el-Moukhalles, the Greek Catholic Monastery of the Savior, where Mrad lived and where his tomb is. The procession concluded with a Mass celebrated by Archimandrite Antoine Rizk.

The event took place in Joun, a village whose name means "corner" in Aramaic. It lies between Mount Lebanon and South Lebanon, forming a natural corner that inspired its name. However, participation extended beyond the region, with many Catholics from across the country joining the locals from nearby southern villages.

In an interview with ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, Father Youssef Mezher, parish priest of al-Mharebiyya in South Lebanon, explained the significance of the procession.

"After periods of displacement, we often feel a kind of discouragement," he said. "But during this procession we felt as though Father Bechara himself was illuminating the area with his presence. We are deeply rooted in this region. The procession renewed our Salvatorian spirituality and gave new strength to our families and youth."

Mezher also described the procession as a message of steadfastness and perseverance in a 'Holy Land' — the land once visited by Christ and the Virgin Mary, which, he said, "must continue to shine with light among us." He added that the community remains determined to stay in the region despite the challenges and hardships they face.

For many who walked, the procession was deeply personal. From the nearby village of Anan, Gloria Haddad expressed her hope that the event would help the world learn more about Mrad, describing it as "more than a religious gathering, it is a message that reveals the depth of our community's faith, resilience, and rootedness." 

She added that "the world needs to learn from Father Bechara's genuine humility, simplicity, and purity of service."

Haddad also called for greater media attention on his story, emphasizing the need for international coverage: "His story can touch hearts and transform lives around the world." She encouraged people everywhere to discover his life and miracles.

"I recommend everyone, no matter which country they come from, to read about him or watch the film 'Siraj al-Wadi,' which tells his story and miracles." She noted that while thousands already take part in this annual procession, she believes that when his canonization is announced, the numbers will multiply; a moment she and her community eagerly await.

Maya Abboud Maamary, one of the founding members of the Family of Father Bechara Abou Mrad, established 17 years ago, spoke of her deep spiritual bond with him. 

"Father Bechara is with me every day, in every moment. Whoever truly wants to know him must strive to resemble him, to be humble, to love serving others, and to work in silence," she said.

For the Melkite community in Lebanon, this yearly procession is more than a tradition. It is a testimony that the memory of one humble monk continues to inspire faith and unity. While the official cause for sainthood moves forward, Mrad's legacy is already alive in the devotion of the people who walk in his footsteps.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated for and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288921&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vilnius, Lithuania, Oct 6, 2025 / 13:32 pm (CNA).

The heart of Lithuania's capital came alive with music, speeches, and powerful personal stories as thousands gathered on Saturday for the "Žygis už gyvybe" ("March for Life"), an event dedicated to celebrating the sanctity of life and raising awareness about the necessity of its protection.

The march drew participants from across Lithuania as well as from neighboring countries including Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.

The event on Oct. 4 began in the early afternoon near the Martynas Mažvydas National Library, drawing a diverse crowd of families, students, activists, artists, and clergy. Promoted by a range of civil and religious organizations, the march focused on affirming the value of every human life.  

Religious figures outside of Lithuania vocalized support of the initiative, including Latvian Catholic Archbishop Zbignevs Stankevics of Riga and Latvian Lutheran Bishop Rinalds Grants, both of whom expressed solidarity with the march's aims. Auxiliary Bishop Saulius Bužauskas of Kaunas, Lithuania, participated in the march in person.

Attendees gathered near the Lithuanian National Library for the event's opening ceremony, where speakers shared insights from personal, medical, social, and philosophical perspectives. Among them was Dr. Lina Šulciene, who highlighted the moral and spiritual need for a more compassionate society.

"The depths of our conscience cry out for a path other than the culture of death," she said. "Our inner humanity calls for a culture of life, one marked by solidarity, genuine compassion, and sensitivity to human beings, respecting their lives."

Agnieszka Gracz, coordinator of pro-life marches for Poland's Centrum Zycia i Rodziny ?(Centre for Life and Family), also addressed the crowd. The Warsaw-based organization has been active for over two decades, advocating for the protection of life, family, and parenthood.

Gracz noted that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the center helped organize an average of 150 marches annually across Polish cities. She spoke about how these public demonstrations have played a key role in promoting the protection of unborn children, particularly those with disabilities. She highlighted that the marches have helped build public support leading up to Poland's 2020 Constitutional Court ruling, which strengthened legal protections for children diagnosed with disabilities before birth.

After the opening event, the crowd set off in a peaceful procession from the National Library to Vilnius Cathedral Square via Gediminas Avenue, carrying banners and flags with messages of hope and support for families. A commemorative concert and a series of personal testimonies followed.

Among the highlights of the event was a national drawing contest for schoolchildren titled "Aš esu dovana" ("I Am a Gift"). More than 300 submissions were received from across the country. The winning artists were presented awards onstage for their creative reflections on the value of life.

The musical program included performances by well-known artists such as Voldemars Peterson, Dalia and Julius Vaicenaviciai, and popular singer Sasha Song. Performances were accompanied by the personal testimonies of individuals whose lives have been shaped by issues surrounding life and family. International speakers from Latvia and Estonia also addressed the crowd, offering cultural and moral perspectives from across the Baltic region.

Among the speakers at Cathedral Square was lawyer and social activist Dr. Salomeja Fernandez Montojo, who addressed prevailing societal attitudes toward parenthood, stating: "Today, I see how deeply rooted is the idea that having children means losing — losing money, time, career, opportunities, and a good figure. I disagree. Having children is not losing but giving meaning to money, time, energy, opportunities, and beauty." 

Markus Järvi, editor-in-chief of Estonia's Objektiiv and one of the speakers, expressed his appreciation for the Vilnius march and the hope that it would inspire similar initiatives throughout the Baltic states.  

Speaking afterward in an interview, he described the limited public discourse on abortion in Estonia as a lingering consequence of the Soviet era, during which abortion was legal and widely practiced. Over time the prevalence of the procedure contributed to its emergence as a social taboo.

"Despite this, many Estonians value marriage and family life," he said. "We need to break the societal silence on this matter in order to have honest conversations about life."

He added that both civil society and religious institutions have a role to play in fostering more open and thoughtful dialogue on the issue. In a message directed at young people, he noted that "the sanctity of life and its reverence must be recognized as truth. Search, and you will find it."

Professor Benas Ulevicius, dean of the faculty of Catholic theology at Vytautas Magnus University, spoke at the event and later in a brief backstage interview reflected on shifting societal values in post-Soviet Lithuania.

"Lithuania during the Soviet occupation was quite isolated," he said. "After winning independence, the nation went through gradual changes, with more foreign products available, higher salaries, and greater comfort."

While acknowledging the benefits of economic growth, he noted that it led to people prioritizing careers and wealth over family life and suggested that this shift left some with a sense of emptiness. He encouraged young adults to seek deeper fulfillment through family, which offers a unique kind of joy and happiness that material success alone cannot provide. 

Alongside the main stage program, Cathedral Square hosted a family-friendly educational and creative zone where visitors were invited to explore nongovernmental organization booths, sign petitions, take part in children's activities, and learn about family support services offered by various participating organizations such as Nacionaline šeimu ir tevu asociacija (National Association of Families and Parents), ProLife Vilnius, and more.

The event culminated in a special Mass in Vilnius Cathedral celebrated by Father Deividas Stankevicius.

Organizers and participants expressed optimism that the March for Life in Vilnius will continue to grow in both size and impact. With increasing collaboration between civil, religious, and cultural voices, many said they see this year's march as a turning point, one that may inspire broader conversations about life, family, and the future of society in Lithuania and across the Baltics.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288920&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 6, 2025 / 14:06 pm (CNA).

A New Jersey man was arrested on Sunday outside of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., on charges of unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person, and possession of a molotov cocktail, according to authorities.

The cathedral held its Red Mass on Sunday, Oct. 5, "to invoke God's blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials," St. Matthew's reported. Supreme Court justices and lawmakers usually attend the annual Mass.

The Mass is traditionally held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, which marks the opening of the Supreme Court's annual term. Due to the expected high-profile attendees, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were surveilling the area ahead of the 9 a.m. Mass.

Shortly before 6 a.m., officers noticed an individual who set up a tent on the steps of the cathedral, MPD said. The suspect charged with possessing a molotov cocktail, a hand-thrown incendiary weapon, was identified as 41-year-old Louis Geri from Vineland, New Jersey, according to an MPD statement.

Officers said they learned that Geri had been banned from the cathedral, but the department did not specify the reason. After Geri refused to leave, he was placed under arrest without incident.

Officers said they found vials of liquid and possible fireworks inside of his tent. Members of MPD's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and the Arson Task Force responded to the situation to search and secure the belongings. 

The scene was quickly secured but due to the situation, none of the Supreme Court Justices attended the Mass, according to the Catholic Standard.

Power to 'bring hope'

In his homily, Cardinal Robert McElroy addressed the "men and women of the law" in attendance and said they have the power to "bring hope" amid political violence. 

The arrest outside the cathedral follows a number of recent acts of political violence and the Minnesota and Michigan attacks on houses of worship. 

"It is certainly true that political violence has been a part of our history as a nation and that political dialogue has often been confrontational," McElroy said in his homily. "But we live at a moment in which politics is tribal, not dialogical, and where party label has become a shorthand for worldview on the most volatile topics in our national life. The result is explosive, within politics, family life, and friendships."

"As students of the law, as leaders in the law, whether as judges or legislators or public advocates or as counsel, you are by that commitment privileged and obligated to raise the plane of our political and social discussion," McElroy said. "No group in our society has a greater capacity to remold our political discourse. No group has a deeper calling to bring hope."

The investigation into the situation at the cathedral is ongoing in coordination with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, authorities said.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288901&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Oct 5, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Sister Norma Pimentel is known as "the immigrants' nun." For over a decade, she has directed the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) Humanitarian Respite Center, a humanitarian aid center located in McAllen, Texas, on the border with Mexico. From there, she has provided assistance to people who arrive in the United States seeking asylum.

According to Pimentel, the increase in arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expel immigrants who lack legal status in the country has unleashed a climate of fear in communities.

'Raids are taking place everywhere'

"People are extremely afraid ... they know that nowhere is safe, they pick you up anywhere, and you can't even go to the supermarket because raids are taking place everywhere," the religious explained.

Last year, the center received a legal request from the Texas attorney general's office to compel a CCRGV representative to sit for a deposition regarding its immigrant assistance efforts, although the case was subsequently dismissed by a judge.

Pimentel said the sense of widespread fear has also spread to other residents of the Rio Grande Valley. Many now think: "If I help him, maybe something will happen to me too," she told ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, shortly after participating in the Oct. 2 "Refugees and Migrants in Our Common Home" conference with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

The initiative, part of the Jubilee of Migrants, is the first global meeting promoted by the Vatican to bring together religious institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and experts dedicated to addressing the challenges of migratory flows.

At the meeting, the pontiff asked all of the participants to promote a culture of "reconciliation and hope" to address the "urgent challenges" of migration.

'You can't say you're pro-life if you don't defend immigrants'

"The Holy Father strongly affirms that immigrants are human beings who must be recognized and treated with dignity. Therefore, you can't say you're pro-life if you don't defend the lives of human beings and immigrants," Pimentel pointed out.

Every so often, dozens of exhausted people knock on her door, their bodies reflecting the consequences of a hellish journey. Most travel hundreds of miles on foot to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pimentel, a sister of the Missionaries of Jesus, who works side by side with the bishop of Brownsville, Daniel Flores, always greets them with a warm welcome: "We are right on the border, there with the immigrants, with the migrant families, who are truly part of our Church."

"We are very versed in how to be present, how to speak and encourage people to be good neighbors, to help each other, to not feel afraid that the government won't allow us to live our religion, our faith, and to be present to help people when they need it," she explained.

The most important thing is "that they don't feel abandoned and alone" and that they realize that, despite the growing hostility, "they do matter in this life."

This total commitment is born from the conviction that every person who suffers bears the face of Christ. In any case, Pimentel doesn't hide the fact that she sometimes feels overwhelmed. "We don't have enough resources," she lamented.

She's also convinced that giving these migrants a face and sharing the horror stories they endure is the best antidote to society being fed up with immigrants: "When I see a crying child who comes up to me and says, 'Help me,' with tears streaming down his face, [I want] to be able to share that with other people. That way, people can feel that pain, the cries of that child or that mother who is scared and afraid of how to protect her children."

That's why she never misses an opportunity to make known the pain of these people because "when you get close to a human being who is suffering, your heart connects and you change."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288900&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Oct 5, 2025 / 07:50 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned the resurgence of antisemitic hatred and appealed for renewed commitment to peace in the Middle East, while also assuring prayers for victims of a devastating earthquake in the Philippines.

"I express my concern about the rise of antisemitic hatred in the world, as unfortunately we saw with the terrorist attack in Manchester a few days ago," the pope said from St. Peter's Square, before leading the Angelus prayer. He added that he "continue[s] to be saddened by the immense suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza."

The pope said that "in the dramatic situation in the Middle East, some significant steps forward have been taken in peace negotiations," and urged all leaders "to commit themselves to this path, to bring about a ceasefire and to release the hostages." He also invited the faithful "to remain united in prayer, so that the ongoing efforts may put an end to the war and lead us towards a just and lasting peace."

Turning to the Philippines, where a strong earthquake struck the central region on Sept. 30, Pope Leo expressed closeness "to the dear Filipino people," and said he prays "for those who are most severely affected by the consequences of the earthquake." "Faced with any danger," he added, "let us remain united and supportive in our trust in God and in the intercession of our Blessed Mother."

Call to pray for peace

The pope invited Catholics to join spiritually with those gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, for the traditional Supplication held each October. "In this month of October, as we contemplate with Mary the mysteries of Christ our Savior, let us deepen our prayer for peace: a prayer that becomes concrete solidarity with those people tormented by war," he said. "Thank you to the many children around the world who have committed themselves to praying the Rosary for this intention. You have our heartfelt thanks!"

Pope Leo also greeted participants in the Jubilee for missionaries and migrants, thanking them for their witness. "The Church is entirely missionary and is one great people journeying towards the Kingdom of God," he said. "But no one should be forced to flee, nor exploited or mistreated because of their situation as foreigners or people in need! Human dignity must always come first."

'A new missionary age opens in the Church'

Earlier that morning, the pope celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of the Missionary World and the Jubilee of Migrants in St. Peter's Square, inviting Catholics to renew their missionary vocation through compassion and welcome.

"Today we celebrate the Jubilee of the Missions and of Migrants," he began. "This is a wonderful opportunity to rekindle in ourselves the awareness of our missionary vocation, which arises from the desire to bring the joy and consolation of the Gospel to everyone, especially those who are experiencing difficult and painful situations."

Recalling the prophet Habakkuk's lament — "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?" — the pope said that faith transforms lives and "makes of them an instrument of the salvation that even today God wishes to bring about in the world." True faith, he said, "does not impose itself by means of power and in extraordinary ways," but "carries within it the strength of God's love that opens the way to salvation."

Pope Leo said the missionary calling today means responding to suffering close at hand as well as far away. "If for a long time we have associated with mission the word 'depart' … today the frontiers of the missions are no longer geographical, because poverty, suffering and the desire for a greater hope have made their way to us," he said.

"Those boats which hope to catch sight of a safe port, and those eyes filled with anguish and hope seeking to reach the shore, cannot and must not find the coldness of indifference or the stigma of discrimination!" he warned. "Mission is not so much about 'departing', but instead 'remaining' in order to proclaim Christ through hospitality and welcome, compassion and solidarity."

The pope encouraged renewed cooperation among Churches, noting that migration from the Global South can "renew the face of the Church and sustain a Christianity that is more open, more alive and more dynamic." He also called for "new missionary effort by laity, religious and priests who will offer their service in missionary lands," especially in Europe.

Concluding, Pope Leo offered his blessing "to the local clergy of the particular Churches, to missionaries and those discerning a vocation," and told migrants, "know that you are always welcome!"

Throughout his homily and his Angelus address, Pope Leo returned to a single message: faith expressed in prayer, compassion, and hospitality remains the seed of peace — whether in war-torn regions, along migration routes, or in the hearts of those who choose to welcome others.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288893&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 13:05 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday attended the swearing-in of the Swiss Guard at the Vatican, the first time a pope has attended the pomp-filled ceremony since the pontificate of Pope Paul VI in 1968.

The event took place in the Vatican's San Damaso Courtyard. The Holy Father was joined by a crowd of spectators watching as the 27 new members were sworn into the ranks of the papal guard.

The swearing-in ceremony, when the new guards promise to protect the pope, if necessary with their lives, was postponed from the traditional date of May 6 due to the conclave that saw Leo elected.

The pope met the recruits and their families at the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 3, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

"From the first steps of my pontificate, dear Swiss Guards, I have been able to count on your faithful service," the pope said on Oct. 3.

"The successor of Peter can fulfill his mission in service to the Church and the world in the certainty that you are watching over his safety," he added.

He encouraged the new guards to draw inspiration from the stories of the first Christian martyrs in Rome to deepen their relationships with Jesus and to cultivate their interior lives "amid the frenzy of our society."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288892&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 14:39 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 4 signed the first apostolic exhortation of his pontificate, the text of which is expected to be released next week.

The Vatican said in a press release that Leo signed the exhortation "Dilexi te" in the library of the Apostolic Palace. The Holy See did not reveal the text of the document, which it said will be presented on Oct. 9 by the Holy See Press Office.

The focus of the document was also not officially announced, though it is reportedly expected to focus on the poor. It was signed on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

The signing of the document took place in the presence of Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, the Vatican said.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288888&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi every year on Oct. 4. Known as the patron saint of animals and ecology, the 13th-century Italian friar is often remembered for his deep humility, his life of prayer, and for founding the Franciscan order.

Here are seven things to know about this beloved saint:

1. Francis was a party-loving rich kid before his conversion.

Before giving his life completely over to the Lord, Francis lived a life of luxury. His father, Pietro di Bernardone, was a wealthy silk merchant in Assisi, and Francis lived a carefree, pleasure-seeking life in his youth. He was known for partying, fine clothes, and his dreams of glory on the battlefield. It wasn't until he was captured during a war between Assisi and Perugia — and spending nearly a year in prison — that he began to reflect on a different path.

2. Francis voluntarily gave up his wealth.

After hearing God's call to "rebuild my church," Francis renounced his family's wealth in a dramatic and public fashion. In front of the bishop and townspeople, he stripped off all his clothes — literally — and gave everything back to his father. He declared that from that point on, he would have no father but "Our Father who art in heaven." It was at this moment that he completely rejected worldly goods and embraced a life of poverty.

3. Francis never became a priest.

Many assume that St. Francis was a priest, but he was never ordained beyond the role of deacon. Due to his great reverence for the Eucharist, he felt unworthy to become a priest. Therefore, he remained a friar and lived a life of poverty, charity, and devotion to God. 

4. Francis was the first recorded person to receive the stigmata.

In 1224, while on retreat at Mount La Verna, Francis experienced a vision of a seraph bearing the image of Christ crucified. When the image ended, the wounds of Christ appeared on his body — piercings in his hands, feet, and side. 

5. Francis wrote one of the first known works of Italian literature.

Francis' "Canticle of the Sun," written around 1225, is considered one of the earliest works in the Italian language. At the time, most literary pieces were written in Latin. However, Francis chose to write it in his native language so more people could understand it. "Canticle of the Sun" is a poem in which Francis encourages all of creation to praise the Creator and consists of 23 verses dedicated to different aspects of creation. 

6. Francis created the first living Nativity scene. 

In 1223, Francis staged the first-ever live Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy. He used real people and animals with the hope of helping people connect more with the birth of Christ. To this day, the people of Greccio stage a live, historical reenactment of St. Francis and the first Nativity scene every year at Christmas. 

7. Francis' order continues his legacy over 800 years later.

The Rule of St. Francis was approved in 1223, which marked the beginning of the Franciscan order. The order has three main branches: the First Order (Friars Minor), the Second Order (Poor Clares), and the Third Order (Secular Franciscan Order for laity). Franciscans take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Today, Franciscans are active in over 100 countries and have roughly 650,000 members across its various branches.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288887&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Houston, Texas, Oct 4, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

After years of boys (and their parents) repeatedly ignoring the rules, a private boys school in Houston is taking a novel approach to its smartphone and digital device policy: Bring it to school, and "we will destroy it."

Western Academy, an independent, liberal arts school that states its goal is to educate young men "in the good, the true, and the beautiful," has never allowed students to bring electronic devices to school.

In the past, if a boy was caught with a phone or other device at the school or a school-sponsored event, faculty would confiscate the device, which would be returned to the parents only after they had met with headmaster Jason Hebert. He would explain the harms to boys caused by smartphone use and why parents "should not put the phone back into your son's hands."

Under the new policy, which Hebert laid out in a four-page letter to parents last month, after the device is discovered and destroyed, the boy will be suspended. If it happens again, the boy will be automatically expelled. 

Along with its singular smartphone policy, the school, which has 230 students in third through eighth grade, takes a unique approach to education. The boys are free to play throughout the park-like, rambling grounds, where they climb and swing from trees, build forts, shoot Nerf guns, and care for (or chase) chickens before and after school and multiple times throughout the school day. 

The all-male faculty expects respect and responsibility from the boys at a young age, according to Hebert. The teachers have the boys rise when an adult visits a classroom and encourage parents to let their sons learn to endure hardship and experience natural consequences when they forget their homework or their lunch at home.

A Catholic priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei serves as chaplain to the school, which was founded in 2010, and oversees the religious education program.

The model is popular: Even with middle-school tuition close to $28,000 a year, every grade has extensive waitlists, and the school may start wait-listing boys beginning as early as kindergarten. 

At the beginning of each school year, the boys are sorted into one of four houses that compete throughout the year in games such as capture the flag and "The Hero's Race," where the boys in each house choose one boy to race across campus, climbing over obstacles and crawling through mud. There is also a poetry recitation competition known as "The Bard." One mother, Stephanie Creech, told CNA her sons are so happy at the school they "beg to get to school early and to stay afterward to play."

Hebert sat down with CNA and discussed what brought about the change in the smartphone policy, saying he chose the words in his letter very carefully. 

Witnessing the damage 

"Smartphones are causing significant, unimagined damage to the students who have them," Hebert wrote in his letter to parents, "as well as to the sons of those parents who have chosen not to give phones to their sons." 

"The damage these phones have caused to our children," he told CNA in the interview, "it literally has never been imagined." 

"It's not just pornography," Hebert continued. "YouTube actors and other characters just trying to get clicks perform the most shameless actions on video. They just have zero respect for the dignity of their bodies and for life, zero. And these boys want to emulate these people."

Hebert said the last straw came after a mother called him complaining her son saw a graphic, violent video on a smartphone at a school event. 

After that, Hebert said he and the other administrators agreed: "That's it. We're done." 

Asked why the school did not just consider automatic expulsion after the first offense rather than the destruction of the devices, Hebert said with a laugh: "To be perfectly candid, I want to destroy the phone. I want to give the boys an opportunity to have life without it."

He ordered a metal grinder for the purpose.

"Look, I am not an alarmist. I am not reactionary. But the bottom line is this: These devices are not neutral. The research is definitive: They are bad for our kids. I have dealt with hundreds and hundreds of boys over two decades in education and I have yet to see an exception to this," he said.

Hebert said that over the years, he has noticed a degradation in the quality of the boys' conversation. "You can't imagine the level of shamelessness" among some of the boys," many of whom are generally considered "good kids."

"This type of behavior is unprecedented in my tenure as an educator, and even as a professional athlete," he said. 

In the early 2000s, before beginning his teaching career, which included teaching at The Heights School in Maryland, he spent one year as a professional football player on practice squads for three NFL teams: the Chargers, the Titans, and the Raiders. 

"I never played in a regular-season game. This is what I tell people: I made it to the NFL. I did not make it in the NFL," he said, laughing.

"Let me make it clear: I was an athlete around some of the most earthy human beings on the planet," he said. "These men were not ashamed to say anything in the locker room. Yet these same men would have blushed if they heard some of the things these boys talk about! This is so unimaginable. Yet it is becoming more common now, thanks to these devices."

Parents on board 

Asked if he was worried parents would leave over the school's new policy, Hebert said if parents are not on board with the school's values, it might be better if they left and one of the many others on the waitlist could take their spot.

In his letter to parents, Hebert wrote that the "school is a true partnership with parents. We say this not for poetic effect, but because it must be so for the authentic growth of your sons to become a reality."

He told CNA parents should ask themselves: "How valuable is the phone to you? Are you willing to leave this place for it? This place where your son is so abundantly happy? Is your phone worth that? And if it is, well, it's a mismatch of vision."

Since the change in policy, however, Hebert said parental response has been "100% positive."

After hearing about the school's new policy, a mother whose son graduated from the school several years ago dropped off a financial donation at the front desk recently "for the phone grinder."

"Everybody just knows it's right. Parents might be frustrated because saying no to their sons makes their lives harder, but they know it's right," he said.

Hebert, a father of seven, said he and his wife do not allow their children to have smartphones or social media. "My children may not know a lot of the lingo or some of the jokes or about all the parties. They're on the outside, to a degree."

"And even though that's a big deal," he continued, "the alternative overrides that. It's a bigger deal."

"The alternative is not worth it," he said.

"We all want the truth," he said, "and the truth is these devices are severely hurting kids. I'm not a doomsday guy, but some day these kids will be in charge of society. Think about that."

Full Article