Catholic News

With summer vacation time in full swing, the Spanish foundation Dale una Vuelta ("Give it some thought"), dedicated to combating pornography, has compiled a list of practical tips for adults, young people, families, and educators.

"The summer vacation time is perhaps always more conflict-ridden. This is because there is more free time and more opportunities [to fall into watching pornography]. The heat itself plays a role, too. There are many factors that make it easier to get hooked or stay hooked on pornography," Jorge Gutiérrez, the organization's director general, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

Although vacations can increase the risk of falling into pornography use, a change in routine can also become an opportunity to leave the habit behind.

"It's an ideal time to focus more on hobbies, your own family, and many enjoyable, pleasant activities rather than isolating yourself and ending up watching pornography," Gutiérrez said. He explained that this addiction "has a lot to do with emotional factors such as tension and anxiety and the desire to escape unpleasant moods."

The organization's approach to freeing oneself from porn is based on two ideas: releasing "your best dopamine through activities and relationships that you genuinely enjoy and that help you become freer" and seeking the meaning of life.

"'Know yourself, love yourself, better yourself' is the best recipe for overcoming porn," the organization advises.

'Humanize the way you look' at other people

For adults who have fallen into pornography use, the organization offers nine basic recommendations:

1. Identify triggers. Pinpoint the "situations, objects, places, or people" that spark the desire to consume pornography in order to anticipate them or replace harmful habits.

2. Learn from relapses. Make the most of your relapse by asking yourself questions that help you understand why and for what purpose you consume pornography.

3. Strengthen personal relationships. Devote time to social interactions, maintaining contact with friends or forging new connections.

4. Organize your day. Avoid letting your vacation days pass without a plan; pay attention to your diet, rest, and hobbies.

5. Avoid isolation. During vacations, be wary of the most secluded areas of the house, experts warn, noting that "pornography thrives on solitude and isolation."

6. "Humanize the way you look at others." Strive to "see beyond sexual pleasure," recognizing the other person as "an individual with their own life story, family, problems, etc."

7. Train your willpower. Delay any urge — whether it's eating a sweet or watching pornography — by five minutes to strengthen your self-control.

8. Understand the reality of the pornography industry. Educate yourself on the dark reality of this industry, because that time spent is "invested in your recovery."

9. Accept discomfort without giving in. When the urge to consume arises, "accept it without having to satisfy it; tolerate the discomfort," remembering that it's possible to experience a sense of lacking something and at the same time, be happy.

The 'Bermuda Triangle of Porn' for young people

In addition to these recommendations, Dale una Vuelta offers others specifically for young people.

Tips include seeking out screen-free leisure activities and getting at least a half an hour of exercise daily. It also helps to have three planned activities ready if faced with relapsing, with the rule that they must be "anything other than digital."

Along with recommendations to avoid sleeping with a mobile phone in the room and to turn off notifications, the organization emphasizes the importance of planning one's day, noting that "boredom, loneliness, and curiosity make up the 'Bermuda Triangle of Porn.'"

Advice for parents and educators

For parents and educators, Dale una Vuelta recommends avoiding "long periods where your child spends hours not knowing what to do," establishing guidelines for mobile phone use, getting to know their friends, and talking to them about sexuality.

The organization also urges parents to get their children into "action mode" to help "release tension and relax the mind and body" while simultaneously encouraging an "inner journey" through connecting with the beauty found in nature, art, and music.

Encouraging reading — "the best vaccine for almost everything," including pornography as well as building mutual trust and promoting deep conversations — is also among the recommendations.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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A new medal named after Pope Leo XIV to recognize individuals who have worked toward ecological sustainability will be introduced in October 2026.

The pontiff will personally present the "Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal" at the International Sustainability Conference, to be held at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome from Oct. 12–15. The award ceremony will take place on Oct. 13 in the Borgo Laudato Si' garden, part of the Pontifical Gardens in Castel Gandolfo.

The award and conference were established by Villanova University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Pennsylvania. This is where Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1977 and an honorary doctorate in 2014. The Dicastery for Integral Human Development will also sponsor the event.

The inaugural Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal is a permanent award that will be presented by the university every two years.

An award to reflect the care for our common home

In a July 20 press release, Villanova University's president, Father Peter Donohue, OSA, explained that the medal will recognize individuals who embody the university's core belief in ecological stewardship and the common good.

"The Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal reflects a deeply held belief at Villanova University: that care for our common home and care for one another are inseparable," Donohue said. "By recognizing leaders whose work advances both environmental stewardship and the common good, we hope to inspire meaningful and lasting impact in communities around the world."

The conference, themed "Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor," will gather more than 300 academics, church officials, and stakeholders for discussions on integral ecology.

The recipient of the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal may come from any field and will be evaluated based on their efforts to advance sustainability and equity.

Another Villanova initiative to honor Leo XIV

The medal is not the only recent initiative by Villanova University to honor its most famous alumnus.

In July 2026, the university co-sponsored the 38th Annual Liberty Medal ceremony in Philadelphia, which awarded the pope the Liberty Medal ahead of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

On Nov. 1, the university's basketball team will open its NCAA season in Rome with a men's and women's doubleheader against Notre Dame. The initiative was also inspired by Leo XIV, who will meet both teams in an audience ahead of the games.

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Pope Leo XIV made a private visit on July 20 to the Abbey of Montecassino, where St. Benedict of Nursia is buried.

As announced by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff made the trip while on vacation at Castel Gandolfo, where he will remain from July 5-27. At Montecassino, he prayed at the tomb of St. Benedict, considered the father of Western monasticism, "entrusting him with his plea for peace in those regions of the world marked by bloodshed and conflict."

The pope also enjoyed lunch with the Benedictine community at the abbey.

Leo's surprise visit to Montecassino was his first since his election to the papacy in 2025. While on vacation that year, he also made a surprise visit to the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie della Mentorella in Guadagnolo, where he also prayed for peace.

The Abbey of Montecassino, founded by St. Benedict in 529 AD, will celebrate the 1,500th anniversary of its founding in 2029.

Leo's visit to Montecassino was also his third public appearance (outside his Sunday Angelus) during his Castel Gandolfo vacation, following his lunch with the poor on July 11 and a summer concert on July 18. Except for his Sunday Angelus, all private and public audiences, including the Wednesday general audience, are suspended during his vacation.

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In 1976, Franciscan University of Steubenville held its first youth conference on its campus in Steubenville, Ohio. This summer, the Catholic university celebrates 50 years of a conference that has changed many lives.

Since its founding, the youth conferences have helped over 1 million young people encounter Jesus Christ through dynamic talks, the Mass, Eucharistic adoration, confession, prayer, and fellowship.

The inspiration for the conference for young people came after Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, former president of Franciscan University, held a conference for priests and asked them what the university could do for them. Their response? They wanted some kind of event for young people — specifically teenagers. The next year the first youth conference was held.

"It's really a beautiful testimony to God's faithfulness," Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, current president of Franciscan University, told EWTN News.

"I was thinking the other day that the teenagers that came to the first youth conferences are now in their late 60s, almost 70 years old," he added. "So that's half a century of young people whose hearts have been touched, who have encountered Jesus in the sacraments, who have encountered him in the community gathered of young people … it's just a tremendous milestone for the young people. Now, the fact that Franciscan University has been able to be a part of that and we had the vision to be able to provide this opportunity, I think, is just a great grace for us as well."

This summer, Franciscan University hosted four sold-out conferences on its campus in Steubenville with an additional 15 conferences taking place in cities across the United States.

Youth conference speakers this summer include Father Mike Schmitz, host of "The Bible in a Year" podcast; Chris Stefanick, author, speaker, and television host; Father Leo Patalinghug, author, podcast host, and priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore; Katie Prejean McGrady, author and Catholic radio host; Paul J. Kim, speaker, author, and musician; and many more.

Brian Kissinger, executive director of conferences at Franciscan University, told EWTN News that "at the heart of our conferences, at the heart of this experience for young people, is the Blessed Sacrament."

He explained that they also try to keep the conferences "as invitational as possible."

"We know teens are coming from a million different places — not just geographically but emotionally, spiritually, catechetically. Some have great formation and loving Catholic homes, others are not Catholic but were just brought there by their Catholic friends," he explained. "So we really try to make the weekend as invitational as possible, to preach the Gospel message, which never changes, but always approaching the presentation of kerygma assuming that a teenager does not know the whole story."

One of the most impactful moments that takes place during the conference, Kissinger said, takes place during the closing Mass when the presiding priest invites young men and women to come forward if they heard during the weekend an invitation from God calling them to the priesthood or religious life.

According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate's (CARA) 2026 survey of newly ordained priests, 18% of priests ordained this year attended a Franciscan University of Steubenville Youth Conference during their vocational journey.

Separate CARA studies found that 21% of women religious and 15% of religious brothers who recently professed perpetual vows also attended a Franciscan youth conference. Combined, 18% of newly professed religious men and women reported participating in a Steubenville Youth Conference — more than any other Catholic conference ministry in the United States.

So what is the secret to the Steubenville Youth Conference's success among young Catholics?

"People will often ask me, 'What's the secret sauce of the conferences?' But honestly, there's nothing complicated about it," Pivonka said. "What we do is we gather young people and we provide an environment where they can encounter Jesus. We do that through the sacraments. We do that through adoration. We do that through the sacrament of reconciliation. We do that through worship. And in the best way that we can, to kind of take down the barriers that might exist between that encounter."

"So, I'd like to say that there's some secret sauce but it's really just providing an environment for encounter for the young people," he added.

"I also don't buy into the whole 'young people aren't zealous or you can't challenge them,'" he continued. "I mean, we present the teachings of the Church without any hesitation. And what we're finding is that young people respond to that."

From reluctant attendee to joyful disciple

Elizabeth Feulner, an 18-year-old student from Syracuse, New York, has attended two Steubenville Youth Conferences.

In an interview with EWTN News, she shared that she was forced to attend the conference her first year. The youth group at her parish was just starting up and her mom received an email from the youth group leader giving her details about the conference.

"My mom was like, 'You're going to this. This sounds like a great opportunity. I wish I'd had this when I was your age.' And I was like, 'Wow, this is very short notice; I don't know if this is going to be my favorite thing.' So it wasn't really my choice the first year," Feulner said.

However, looking back at the first experience, she said it helped her "grow in my personal relationship with Jesus and in more outwardly showing that and being confident in that in a lot of ways in my life."

She pointed out that attending by herself the first year allowed her to "really sit there and feel the presence of Jesus and feel him working in my life," which then motivated her to find relationships "centered in God" when she returned home.

Feulner recalled the one moment that impacted her the most during that first conference: Eucharistic adoration.

That year, she attended the conference with a dislocated knee and had to walk with crutches. Adoration took place in the evening but during the day she had walked a lot and was in a lot of pain and was exhausted by the evening.

"I was sitting there during adoration; I was really emotional and the monstrance just stopped right over me and it just felt like for a moment it was just me and God and he was like, 'I see you and I'm here,'" she shared.

"I think that moment has shown me — and I've continued to try and allow it to show me — that he's always there," she added. "And so that physical representation of him being there, looking at me through the monstrance, it's like it's me and him. And that's continued to shape how I view my relationship with God especially through struggle and throughout my life."

When Feulner attended this year, she expressed having a completely different perspective and feeling extremely thankful for all the work God had done in her life since attending the first time the previous year.

Since then her youth group has formed and through that she has received Christ-centered friendships, her boyfriend of two years has now converted to Catholicism, and her younger sister was able to attend the conference with her this year.

"I just felt so thankful for the past year and for the community that I, honestly, never thought I would have as a youth," she said. "This past year has been so fundamental in finally having a community in Christ and in my faith and friendships that are just so unwavering."

Feulner said she hopes that for those who attend a Steubenville Youth Conference that they would have an "experience at some point that showed them that they know that they are worthy of his love, no matter what they've done and that they know that he sees them, whether they had that moment in adoration or not, that he truly sees them every single day and in everything they go through and that he loves them not in spite of that but because of that."

Information about upcoming Steubenville Youth Conferences can be found here.

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The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted a public comment on proposed changes to federal grants, expressing support for restrictions on gender ideology and abortion but opposing restrictions for groups that work with migrants who are in the country unlawfully.

The bishops submitted the public comment to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on July 8. The proposed rule change regulates the activities of organizations that receive certain forms of federal assistance, which includes Catholic charities, schools, and healthcare providers.

Areas of agreement

The bishops support a provision that bans federal funds from being used on efforts that deny "the sex binary in humans" or express the notion "sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic."

"We fully support this provision, which is prudently designed as a restriction on the scope of activities that may be supported by federal awards rather than as a prohibition on speech or conduct outside the scope of the award," the bishops' comment stated.

The bishops also support a provision that bans organizations from charging federal awards for costs "associated with elective abortions … except as expressly authorized by federal law."

However, they also commented that the rule should be "even stronger in protecting innocent human life" by at least aligning fully with the Hyde Amendment, which would prohibit funds for abortions, with the exception of unborn children conceived in rape or incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger.

They also stated that OMB should clarify what "associated with" means, warning the language does not appear as strong as the gender ideology provision.

The bishops also support a proposal to ban federal agencies from discriminating against or disfavoring faith-based organizations in award applications but urged OMB to strengthen this language too by expressly applying the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

"Even when the law places religious and secular entities on equal footing, RFRA prohibits the federal government from substantially burdening religious exercise unless doing so serves a compelling governmental interest and is the manner of doing so that is least restrictive of that exercise," the comment added.

It also encouraged a revision in the language to ensure that religious organizations do not get accused of bias against other religions.

Areas of disagreement

The provision receiving the strongest opposition from the bishops is one that prohibits funds from being used to encourage or facilitate "illegal immigration," noting that Catholic charitable groups have been accused of doing that.

"Providing for the basic human needs of immigrants, without regard to their immigration status, is integral to the mission of the Catholic Church and her ministries," the comment stated.

"Religious entities that provide food, shelter, or other humanitarian aid to immigrants, or transportation related to such aid, may reasonably fear that their ordinary ministries could be characterized as facilitation of illegal immigration or as an initiative that compromises public safety," it added.

"Under these same interpretations, even ensuring the full inclusion of undocumented immigrants in the sacramental life of the Church or providing for the education of undocumented children could be misconstrued as 'encouraging' their presence in the United States without authorization," the comment continued.

The bishops also oppose a ban on funding that encourages "anti-American values," warning it is unclear what this means.

In their comment, they also opposed mandatory e-verify, saying it "may chill lawful hiring, burden nonprofits and religious organizations, create confusion over contractors and indirect-cost employees, and encourage discriminatory over-screening."

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Ferrán Torres is the Catholic forward who secured a 1–0 victory for Spain over Messi's Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, played on Sunday, July 19, in New Jersey.

"The goal is the least important thing; right now, all I want is to grab that trophy and squeeze it as hard as I can, because I believe it represents the dream of the 47 million people we were representing on the pitch today — because I think we deserved it and we gave it our all," said Ferrán Torres after the final.

Torres, who plays for Barcelona in Spain, also said that the goal brought him a sense of relief, given the heavy criticism he had faced during the World Cup. "Thank God, He always gives me the strength to keep going, and in the end — as I always say — God grants things to those who deserve them most," the forward emphasized.

Days before the final, a video was released in which Torres spoke about the importance of God in his life. "I have a cross and an image of the Virgin Mary; ultimately, I think having such strong faith gives me great support — it is something very important to me," remarked the Spanish forward, who was named the final's Superior Player of the Match.

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Torres stands out for his Catholic faith within the Spanish national team, alongside coach Luis de la Fuente — who, at the press conference prior to the semifinal match where they defeated France 2–0, stated that he prays "every day, but not because I am at a World Cup or in order to get a result."

"I give thanks every day — every day I wake up and find myself well, I look at myself and say: 'Another day I can enjoy life.' I give thanks for those little things. I pray—because I do pray every day — not to ask for more help," the Spanish head coach explained at the time.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Peru's bishops offered prayers and expressed their solidarity with the victims of an earthquake that struck Saturday night in the Junín region — located in the country's central Andean zone — leaving at least five people dead, more than twenty injured, and hundreds affected.

The earthquake, which occurred around 9:00 p.m., was centered in the district of Chongos Bajo, in the Chupaca province of the Junín region — situated in Peru's central Andes, some 193 miles east of Lima — according to the National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI, by its Spanish acronym).

"We share in the grief of the families mourning their loved ones, offering our prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased, and we ask the Lord to grant everyone strength, comfort, and hope," the bishops stated in the aftermath of the disaster.

"We express our spiritual closeness to all those affected, to those who have lost their homes, and to those generously participating in rescue, care, and relief efforts," said Bishop Carlos García Camader, president of the Peruvian Bishops Conference.

After encouraging Peruvians to show solidarity with those affected, the bishops urge them not to lose hope and pray "that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope, may intercede for all those affected and accompany our beloved people of Junín."

Junín's 5.1 magnitude earthquake

Rescue operations involving the police, firefighters, and the Peruvian army are ongoing, and authorities are assessing the damage — particularly in the Pumpunya area of ??the Chongos Bajo district, where approximately 50 homes have been affected.

In an interview with Radio Programas del Perú (RPP, by its Spanish acronym), Hernando Tavera, president of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP, by its Spanish acronym), stated that the extent of the destruction in this area is due to the fragility of the houses, most of which were built using substandard materials.

"When structures are built according to standards and proper engineering, they obviously yield better results than those constructed using local materials," which makes them prone to easy collapse, Tavera explained.

So far, the IGP has recorded 12 aftershocks. The strongest measured 3.7 and 3.4 in magnitude.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Luis Enrique Arroyo Sánchez headed to the Chongos Bajo district alongside Defense Minister Amadeo Flores and INDECI chief Luis Enrique Vásquez "to oversee the response to the 5.1-magnitude earthquake and coordinate assistance for the affected population," according to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Historic cross collapses

As a result of the earthquake, the historic Cani Cruz —known as the Lord of Cani Cruz — collapsed. The cross, erected in 1534 and located in the main square of Chongos Bajo, is one of the region's oldest religious monuments, according to local media reports.

Carved from limestone and featuring reliefs of the crucified Christ and the Virgin Mary, in 1990 it was declared national cultural heritage site, alongside the main church of Chongos Bajo and the El Copón Chapel.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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How can you find God amid tragedy? Why does God allow so much suffering?

These are questions people might be asking themselves in Venezuela following the earthquakes of June 24.

Carlos Márquez, auxiliary bishop of Caracas, reflected on the mystery of suffering in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. In the prelate's view, the Catholic Church plays a fundamental role in shedding light on these existential questions.

A promise to hold onto: 'We are not alone'

Márquez said it would be "an act of tremendous pridefulness" to attempt to provide answers that fully resolve this mystery. Ultimately, he noted, asking these questions is a way of "looking for someone to blame." They are questions that "paralyze us and fill us with bitterness and pain."

"We can't escape biological law; we can't escape the laws of nature. What we once thought was a curse or divine punishment, we now know to be natural processes, processes that are even necessary," he explained regarding the devastating earthquakes.

To help make sense of the tragedy, Márquez pointed to two specific factors. The first is human freedom, which, when misused, "causes suffering and pain." He referred to the collapsed buildings, many of which might have been built in unsuitable locations due to poor ground conditions or perhaps constructed without adhering to proper safety standards.

"Imprudence, whether culpable or not, always ends in tragedy. This is not caused, desired, or much less ordained by God. It's not the divine will," he remarked.

Márquez identified the second specific element in St. Paul's Letter to the Romans, where the apostle to the Gentiles wrote that creation "groans until the present and suffers the pains of childbirth" (Rom 8:22-39).

This helps us understand that nature "readjusts, evolves, and moves" as part of a process "toward the fullness promised by Jesus Christ." The auxiliary bishop explained that creation "will be subject to pain" until it is recapitulated in Christ, and we, as creatures, undergo these vicissitudes.

"Therefore, on our journey toward the fullness of living happily forever with Christ in heaven, we will encounter pain and suffering," Márquez noted.

Yet in the face of these realities, the prelate offered a reassuring promise: "Christ's promise was not that we would not suffer, nor that there would be no earthquakes, floods, or natural tragedies. Amid the pain, he promised not to abandon us. We are not alone: ??'I will be with you until the end of the world.' He promises us his companionship in the midst of pain."

The Lord "walks with us in the midst of our pain" and fulfills his promise "through his Church, among those who suffer." The sacraments and the word, he continued, comfort and heal us, and transform our hearts "so we can move forward."

God also gives us the example and intercession of the saints "so that we do not lose heart" and might feel accompanied. "When one is in great pain, when one is suffering deeply, the tragedy becomes worse when we are alone and isolated," he said.

Christian hope in the face of death and tragedy

In recent weeks, the most heart-wrenching stories have filled social media. Yet, for the most part, they share a fundamental element highlighted by Márquez: hope.

Many people are thanking God for being alive and, amid unimaginable suffering, affirming that they will live to honor their deceased loved ones and will spare no effort to discover the purpose for which God has saved them.

"If we live united with Christ in suffering, we will live with him forever in heaven. Death does not have the final word. This earthquake does not have the final word. God has the final word, which is a word of life, happiness, and eternal joy," he stated.

So, what is required of those Venezuelans who remain? Márquez answered clearly: to follow the example of all their saintly compatriots, to face adversity without asking "why," and to work so that the future may be better.

"Pain is fleeting; death is not final. United in faith, hope, and charity, with our eyes fixed on the risen Christ, we walk together in communion to overcome this tragedy," Márquez said.

"Venezuela is a land of grace; Venezuela is a land of saints. We have hope, and we will rise again. We will rise from the dust of this earthquake," he added.

Finally, he recalled the words St. John Paul II spoke at the Teresa Carreño Theater in Caracas during his second visit to the country on Feb. 10, 1996: "Venezuelans, even though the difficulties are serious and the challenges immense, your resolve must be great. Faced with a present full of uncertainty and a future full of questions, put your abilities to use with imagination and, above all, with generosity, trusting in God: God loves mankind."

As of now, the official death toll following the earthquakes stands at 4,829, while the number of injured and affected people runs into the tens of thousands.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The canonization cause for celebrated novelist and Catholic convert Sigrid Undset is expected to open its diocesan phase this fall. One of Norway's most celebrated writers, her life of faith, suffering, and intellectual depth still speaks powerfully to the Church in a secular age.

Undset's life was marked by personal challenges, public controversy, and choices that drew social scandal — giving complexity to her witness to the faith. Literary historians have noted that her life was unconventional for a woman of her time: She smoked, drank, swore, and was known for a sharp tongue and strong personality.

Her work reflects the suffering and turmoil she encountered in her own life as well as the transcendent faith she discovered in Christ. She became Catholic at 42 after being raised an atheist.

Below is a list of several of Undset's books — both fiction and nonfiction — each a starting place to discover more about the work and life of this renowned writer and possible saint.

'Kristin Lavransdatter'

Set in medieval Norway, Undset's magnum opus follows the life of Kristin Lavransdatter, a headstrong and passionate fictional character who defies societal expectations. Throughout the trilogy, Kristin falls in love and weds against her family's wishes into a marriage that ultimately becomes tumultuous and stained with infidelity and tragedy.

'Gunnar's Daughter'

Set in the Viking era on the edge of the introduction of Christianity, a young woman named Vigdis is raped by a man she loved and conceives a son whom she raises on her own. The heart-wrenching story deals with revenge, forgiveness, and a society on the cusp of accepting Christianity but governed by laws of vengeance.

'The Master of Hestviken' tetralogy

"The Master of Hestviken" follows the life of Olav Audunsson, a man torn between pagan codes and Christian piety in medieval Norway. The tetralogy, consisting of four volumes ("The Axe," "The Snake Pit," "In the Wilderness," and "The Son Avenger"), deals with sin, suffering, guilt, and redemption. The book has deeply Catholic themes, including a focus on the sacrament of reconciliation, as Audunsson deals with the guilt of a great sin that he feels he cannot confess.

'Saga of Saints'

"Saga of Saints" tells the history of Norway through the lives of saints who witnessed to the faith throughout the nation's history. The saga begins with an opening essay called "The Coming of Christianity to Norway" and follows with stories of historical Norwegian figures including Sunniva, King Olava, and Eystein.

Undset's personal writings

With a journey to faith that has been compared to St. Augustine, Undset was raised by atheist parents and did not find Catholicism until later in her adult life. "Men, Women, and Places" is a collection of Undset's biographical and cultural essays that offer a closer look into her inner life.

In the collection of nine biographical essays and literary critiques, Undset explores literary figures, saints, and geography, among other topics. Essays highlight medieval English mystics like Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich as well as poet and philosopher D.H. Lawrence and Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.

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The Sicar retreat ("Sychar" in the English Bible) has given rise to one of the most notable youth evangelization experiences in Latin America. It came about through a process of discernment by a Mexican religious in her own search for God, a dynamic movement that today reaches thousands of young people.

With over 30 years of consecrated life, Mother María Elena Martínez has dedicated her life to the spiritual formation of young people and adults through "Mary, Mother of Love," a private association of the faithful she founded in Mexico in 2015.

The community is centered on retreats making a spiritual impact, such as Emmaus, which is held in parishes and correctional facilities, and Sicar, which is aimed specifically at young adults.

Her life, marked from childhood by a quest for God, would ultimately become bound up in an initiative that is active today in several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Argentina, and Peru.

"I remember as a little girl I had a great thirst for God," she shared in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

That initial calling deepened over time. At age 11, she recalled, a desire to please Jesus arose within her. "A desire for purity … I wanted to live a life of virginity," she noted, explaining that she prayed insistently to the Virgin Mary, asking for that consecration.

However, her path was neither immediate nor direct. "Religious life wasn't something that particularly appealed to me," she admitted. In her youth, she went through various experiences ranging from completing a degree in translating to exploring broader spiritual concerns, which eventually led her to try out consecrated life with the Missionaries of Charity.

Some time later, she tried cloistered contemplative life. "I wanted something more interior, deeper," she confessed.

A concern arises: 'What about the young people?'

The Sicar retreat did not originate as a planned initiative but rather as a pastoral response that only gradually took shape. According to Mother María Elena, for years many people approached her with the same concern: "What about the young people?"

"Do something for the young people," they would tell her.

The Gospel account of the Samaritan woman began to take center stage in her prayer and discernment. Jesus' dialogue at the well of Sychar — "If you knew the gift of God" (cf. Jn 4:1-42) — served as the starting point for helping young people discover Christ.

"The passage about the Samaritan woman was so rich, so rich, that I could draw so much from it," she explained.

The decisive step came in 2016, when the first Sicar retreat was held. Mother María Elena remembered it as the beginning of something small and simple yet deeply meaningful. Young people with prior experience in movements like Emmaus were the first to participate.

Sicar began to expand. After establishing itself in cities such as Mexico City, Tehuacán, and Tecamachalco (in the state of Puebla), as well as San Luis de la Paz (Guanajuato state), Veracruz, Mérida (Yucatán state), and Cuernavaca (Morelos state), the initiative began to cross borders beyond Mexico. The first retreat in Guatemala took place in 2017; Buenos Aires in 2018; Paraguay in 2022; and in Peru in 2023.

"It has been growing in many places, rescuing so many young people," Mother María Elena said with gratitude.

In Mexico, 38 Sicar retreats have been held with an average of 50 participants each, amounting to nearly 2,000 young people. In Peru, where the initiative arrived in 2023, seven retreats have already taken place with around 70 participants each, reaching approximately 490 people.

Ottmar Ricalde, a Sicar volunteer in Mexico, noted that "Sicar means and has meant so much over these past 10 years."

"I could write and speak about all the stories, all the laughter, and all the tears, but the most important thing of all is the love of God that has been a gift to me," he stated.

"My life was always focused on pleasing others, but when I met God and realized how much he loves me, I began wanting to please him," he said.

In Paraguay, Sicar coordinator Fátima Correa highlighted that the experience "was a time of growth and renewal. It allowed us to view our history with fresh eyes."

"It was a retreat organized by young people for young people, where every testimony reflected realities many of us could relate to," she added.

A couple from Argentina who participated in the retreat and are now married say that Sicar marked a turning point in their lives. "We arrived as boyfriend and girlfriend and returned with completely transformed hearts ... today, we feel that one of the greatest fruits was our marriage."

A growing community in Peru

Sicar arrived in Peru in 2023 and has since established a growing community.

Geraldine Spihlman, director of Sicar in Peru, explained that the initiative arose after a need was identified within youth ministry. "When young people reached the age of 24 or 25, they no longer had a place to continue their journey of faith," she noted.

Following contact with Mother María Elena, it was decided to launch the initiative in Lima, which holds two retreats a year: in May and November.

Spihlman highlighted that the most visible fruit is the community: "Many young people have discovered that it's hard to go it alone but that everything is easier in community. It is a community where you can see how they love one another."

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'God's mercy knows no bounds'

One of the most common fruits of these retreats is a shift in how one views others.

In personal encounters, transformation occurs not only for those receiving the retreat but also for those who put it on.

"God's mercy knows no bounds," Mother María Elena stated. "You look at people with eyes of mercy. You no longer judge the person; instead, you see them as a child of God," she explained.

Eros Acevedo, another team member, said the retreat "was an encounter with God that changed everything … I arrived bearing wounds, and his presence touched them. I left renewed."

Rafael Mansilla, 27, said Sicar taught him to persevere in the faith. "Faith is not a flame that goes out but a steady flame," he said.

Dina Dávila shared that the retreat was the instrument God used to call her. "The love I have experienced in the community is overwhelming," she added.

'A living Jesus'

Through the retreats, Mother María Elena explained, people are invited to encounter "a living Jesus."

"God continues to act; he continues to perform miracles every day," she affirmed.

She said she lives one day at a time. "Each day I tell the Lord, 'For one more day, I say yes to you.'"

The Sicar retreat, born of a contemplative reading of the Gospel, continues to spread wherever young people seek meaning, healing, and an experience of mature faith.

Today, the young "Samaritans" who have lived this experience carry with them the words that marked their encounter with God: "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst" (Jn 4:14).

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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