The patron saint of priests, St. John Vianney, died Aug. 4, 1859. A century later, Pope John XXIII reflected on the life of the saint.
A century after the patron saint of priests, St. John Vianney, died on Aug. 4, 1859, Pope John XXIII reflected on the life of the saint and what it means to be a holy priest.
In contemplating his life, one immediately thinks of a priest who lived out great penance and whose "only motives were the love of God and the desire for the salvation of the souls of his neighbors," John XXIII said.
The saintly pope reflected on the life of Vianney in an encyclical titled Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia. The encyclical was written in 1959 for the 100th anniversary of Vianney's death.
After struggling with his studies, John Vianney was ordained a priest in 1815. Shortly afterward, he was assigned to Ars, France, near his hometown of Dardilly. There, he spent the majority of his priesthood.
The devoted pastor was known for his dedication to the poor, his counseling to those in need, and for founding La Providence, an orphanage for girls.
He was also well known for his dedication to the sacrament of penance. He would make himself available for confession for up to 16 hours daily.
In his encyclical, Pope John XXIII called St. John Vianney a model of priestly holiness.
"[The priest] is no longer supposed to live for himself … He must be aflame with charity toward everyone. Not even his thoughts, his will, his feelings belong to him, for they are rather those of Jesus Christ who is his life," he wrote, quoting a sermon from Pope Pius XII.
"St. John Mary Vianney is a person who attracts and practically pushes all of us to these heights of the priestly life," John XXIII further added.
The pope highlighted the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which he said Vianney exemplified.
"His example in the various works of priestly asceticism still points out the safest path to follow, and in the midst of this example, his poverty, chastity, and obedience stand forth in a brilliant light," the pope said of Vianney.
"What great benefits are conferred on human society by men like this who are free of the cares of the world and totally dedicated to the divine ministry so that they can employ their lives, thoughts, powers in the interest of their brethren!"
Pope John XXIII said Vianney, who was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, clearly lived a life of poverty. He noted the saint's heavy mortifications — restraining himself from food, sleep, and other personal belongings.
"This detachment from external goods enabled him to offer the most devoted and touching care to the poor," the pope said.
"He passed a life that was almost completely detached from the changeable, perishable goods of this world, and his spirit was free and unencumbered by impediments of this kind, so that it could always lie open to those who suffered from any kind of misery."
Similarly, Pope John XXIII wrote, the preservation of chastity breaks the restraints of self-interest and grants a person greater dedication to those in need.
"St. John Mary Vianney has this pertinent comment to make in this regard: 'A soul adorned with the virtue of chastity cannot help loving others; for it has discovered the source and font of love — God.'"
The pope also pointed to Vianney's dedication to the virtue of obedience. The saint, he said, had desired a contemplative life rather than the heavy burden of pastoral duties, but he still remained obedient to his bishops.
"All his life he longed to lead a quiet and retired life in the background, and he regarded pastoral duties as a very heavy burden laid on his shoulders, and more than once he tried to free himself of it," the pope said.
While God never allowed him to achieve this goal, it was certainly God's way of forming the saint in the virtue of obedience, he said.
He also highlighted Vianney's prayer life and devotion to the Eucharist as well as his commitment to the sacrament of confession.
Pope John XXIII said Vianney "habitually restrained his own will" to further dedicate himself to the Church. He expressed hope that this fire for the Church that consumed Vianney may also consume all priests.
"It is said that St. John M. Vianney lived in the Church in such a way that he worked for it alone, and burned himself up like a piece of straw being consumed on fiery coals. May that flame which comes from the Holy Spirit reach those of us who have been raised to the priesthood of Jesus Christ and consume us too."
This story was first published on Aug. 3, 2018, and has been updated.
"Every day there are attacks against the Most Holy Virgin in many ways," noted Father Manuel Navarro.
Two priests who experienced firsthand recent acts of desecration at the Medjugorje Shrine and a Mexican parish have addressed the issue of how Catholics should best respond to such acts.
Father Manuel Navarro, a priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain, was at the renowned Marian shrine on the night of July 27–28 when the Polish national Bartlomiej Wlodzimierz Krakowiak allegedly vandalized a statue of the Virgin Mary and set fire to an outdoor altar located next to the local parish church.
"We were all shocked because we didn't know why it had happened," Navarro explained in an interview with EWTN News, describing how images and videos began reaching him that morning.
Despite the emotional impact, the priest highlighted how "within minutes and hours, volunteers from the Cenacolo Community, along with pilgrim volunteers, set about cleaning and clearing everything away," allowing devotional activities to proceed normally by that afternoon.
When asked how to respond to such attacks, Navarro said he felt the statement released by the parish that day rightly identified three key elements: prayer, fasting, and forgiveness.
"First, prayer for all those who commit attacks" not only in the physical sense, as in this most recent incident, but also bearing in mind that "every day there are attacks against the Most Holy Virgin in many ways, and we must also pray for the conversion of hearts."
Secondly, Navarro added that "fasting makes us humble," an attitude that counters the temptation to believe ourselves "superior to others." Finally, regarding forgiveness, the Spanish priest stated that Medjugorje is "a place of reconciliation" that calls upon us to forgive those who offend us; otherwise, "the message is undermined if we take justice into our own hands."
In conclusion, Navarro noted, the act of desecration served as an occasion to recall that "God brings good out of evil" — a providence made evident through the cooperation of all those present, which made it possible to celebrate a Mass of reparation at the desecrated altar that very afternoon.
Meanwhile, Father Gerardo Martínez, the St. Bonaventure Parish priest in Mexico's Diocese of Saltillo, reflected on the attack carried out in the early hours of July 28 against the statue of the parish's patron saint, which was beheaded.
Martínez explained to EWTN News that during the month of July — which is dedicated to this saint and bishop — the statue is placed on a cart in the parish courtyard so that the faithful can approach to venerate it.
The parish responded with a statement encouraging prayers "for the person who committed this outrage" and urging everyone "to continue walking in the light of faith, creating bonds, ties, and better ways of living as a society and as a Christian community," Martínez explained.
Facing this moment of "pain and sadness," Martínez said the next step is to "strengthen our faith" and our sense of fraternity, and to "be signs of communion," because such a profanation "is undoubtedly outrageous and distressing, yet it also strengthens us."
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.
While the local Church was still mourning the priest's death, yet another act of violence shook the country's Catholics.
Two violent attacks against the Catholic Church in Nigeria have been perpetrated in less than a week. A priest was killed and days later, on Aug. 2, gunmen stormed a Mass and abducted several people.
According to the Vatican agency Fides, the slain priest was Father Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro of the Diocese of Lokoja in Kogi state.
"With deep sorrow but with firm faith in the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ," on July 30 the Diocese of Lokoja announced "the passing unto eternal glory" of Oyetoro.
Details of the murder were released by state police spokesperson and assistant superintendent Afusat Oyiza Salihu. "On July 29, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., the police received information regarding the discovery of a man's lifeless body along Church Road in Ajaokuta," Salihu said.
Salihu added that police arrived quickly at the scene and confirmed that the victim "had severe machete wounds to the head." The body was taken to ASCL Hospital, where the priest's death was pronounced.
The Diocese of Lokoja in Nigeria announces "the passing unto eternal glory" of Father Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro. | Credit: Courtesy of Diocese of Lokoja
According to Salihu, "the investigation is ongoing," and they are working "to apprehend those responsible."
"Once the preliminary investigation is concluded, the case will be transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department for further proceedings," she explained.
Meanwhile, the governor of Kogi state, Ahmed Ododo, condemned the killing, describing it as "an atrocious and unacceptable act," according to Fides.
Gunmen storm a Mass
While the local Church was mourning the priest's death, still another incident of violence shook Nigerian Catholics.
Fides also reported that on Sunday, Aug. 2, at least seven gunmen stormed St. Joseph's Church in Inoyi Affa, Enugu state, during the morning Mass.
The attackers abducted three people: a seminarian, a catechist, and a parishioner.
Several attendees at the Mass attempted to pursue the kidnappers but abandoned the effort upon realizing the assailants were armed and to avoid further endangering the lives of the hostages, according to Fides.
Police launched a search operation that led to the release of the catechist. However, seminarian Lawrence Chidera Igbo and a parishioner identified only as Emmanuel remain in captivity.
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.
Speaking to ARISE NEWS on July 31, Onaiyekan said the president responded directly to the concerns raised by the Catholic bishops during a July 28 meeting at the State House in Abuja and made it clear that he did not share their assessment of the situation in the country.
The cardinal said the CBCN members nevertheless considered it their responsibility to speak honestly about the realities facing Nigerians.
"When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the head of state," Onaiyekan said.
He explained that while the bishops told Tinubu that the economy was failing to adequately support poor Nigerians, the president maintained that the economy was doing well.
"Frankly speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us," the cardinal said.
Bishops' message was widely consulted
Onaiyekan emphasized that the statement presented to Tinubu was not the opinion of a handful of bishops but the outcome of extensive consultation within CBCN members.
The Nigerian cardinal, who retired from his episcopal ministry as archbishop of Abuja in November 2019, said the document had been written, reviewed, and corrected before being presented to the president.
"It was not done at random, nor did we deliver it with levity. As bishops, we have no ambitions to take Mr. Tinubu's job or anybody else's job. We are not politicians running for office," the cardinal said.
Rather, he explained, the CBCN members see it as part of their responsibility as religious leaders to address issues affecting both Catholics and the wider Nigerian population.
"We feel we have a duty — not just to preach our religious doctrines, but also to address the lives of our people, both those who are our members and those who are not," he said.
Bishops had a duty to tell the president the truth
Onaiyekan said he was not surprised that Tinubu appeared unhappy while listening to the bishops' presentation, arguing that they deliberately chose to communicate the realities they see among Nigerians rather than offer the president a favorable picture.
"We knew that this is different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from all kinds of people," he said.
The 82-year-old archbishop emeritus of Abuja expressed concern that some people around the president may be giving him an overly positive assessment of the situation in Nigeria.
"We felt that we have a duty not to do that. Indeed, we have the obligation to help him appreciate the reality of the situation in which we find ourselves," the cardinal said.
Despite the disagreement, Onaiyekan said the bishops were encouraged by the fact that the president responded to the issues they raised, indicating that he had heard their concerns.
"He heard it, and he tried to tell us that he heard us, which is precisely why he replied the way he replied," he said.
The cardinal expressed hope that people close to the president would encourage him to reflect further on the bishops' concerns.
"We believe one of the problems within our government right now is that there are not too many people telling him the truth," he said.
Bishops warn against one-party dominance
Onaiyekan also defended the bishops' warning about what they described as the "creeping danger" of a one-party dominant state in Nigeria.
He said the concern was linked to the conduct of elections and the growing use of the powers of incumbency, stressing that electoral victory should not be pursued at the expense of democratic principles.
The cardinal questioned the notion that "in politics, all is fair," saying that political competition must remain subject to standards of propriety.
"If that is what politics is — that in politics everything can be done provided you win elections — that is certainly not correct," he said.
He warned that if Nigeria failed to reform its electoral system to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections, the country could face serious difficulties.
"We warned that the country doesn't gain anything by a one-party state in a so-called democracy," the cardinal said.
He clarified that the bishops were not asking Tinubu to assist opposition parties in defeating his administration but were insisting that the president should be treated as a candidate like any other during elections despite the advantages of incumbency.
Onaiyekan questions INEC's independence
Responding to Tinubu's defense of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Onaiyekan questioned whether the electoral body can be perceived as fully independent under Nigeria's current appointment system.
The cardinal noted that the president appoints the chairman, members, and commissioners of INEC, arguing that this arrangement creates doubts about the commission's impartiality.
"The presumption is that Mr. President will appoint independent, impartial, wonderful people. But on the ground, we see that standard politicians and members of his party are appointed," he said.
Onaiyekan called for consideration of a system in which members of the electoral commission would be selected by a genuinely independent body.
He said such reforms are possible and have been implemented elsewhere.
The cardinal also challenged Tinubu to live up to his reputation as a pro-democracy figure by strengthening institutions that guarantee credible elections.
"You have a reputation to be a democrat, and you can't under your watch watch our democratic structures disintegrate," he said.
Bishops united despite political differences
Onaiyekan insisted that the CBCN members were not acting at the behest of any political party. He acknowledged that individual bishops may have their own political preferences but said they were united in addressing issues affecting the welfare of Nigerians.
"When it comes to what is important for Nigeria, when it comes to our existential existence, when it comes to the life of our people, we are united," he said.
According to the cardinal, the bishops believe Nigerians deserve better in terms of economic well-being, security, and governance.
Cardinal defends National Peace Committee
The cardinal, who is involved in Nigeria's National Peace Committee, also defended the relevance of the body ahead of the forthcoming Osun state governorship election.
While acknowledging concerns that political actors sometimes sign peace accords and subsequently fail to respect their commitments, he said the committee remains useful and should be strengthened.
"My own conclusion is that it is useful, and we must find a way of reviving it," he said.
'We have delivered our message'
Despite the disagreement between CBCN members and Tinubu, Onaiyekan said the Catholic Church had fulfilled its responsibility by bringing the concerns of Nigerians directly to the head of state.
"We have delivered our message, and we are quite convinced that it will not go for nothing," he said.
The cardinal expressed hope that the bishops' intervention would eventually contribute to changes in Nigeria's political, economic, and security landscape.
"At least we have expressed the feelings of many Nigerians who have no way of meeting Mr. President," he said.
"We knew that this is different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from all kinds of people," he said.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News English.
Abelardo de la Espriella reaffirmed his conviction that "to build a great nation, one must place God at the center of every decision."
Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, went on a spiritual retreat alongside his vice president and various cabinet nominees just one week before the inauguration of his administration.
Accompanying the president-elect on the retreat were his wife, Ana Lucía Pineda; vice president-elect José Manuel Restrepo; and cabinet nominees Jaime Andrés Beltrán, Mauricio Gómez, Iván Cancino, and Elsa Noguera, among others.
"With faith, hard work, and love for our land, we will make the country of our dreams a reality," De la Espriella wrote.
In another post published on Aug. 2, the president-elect stated that the retreat strengthened his and his team's faith and commitment "to serve Colombia with humility, responsibility, and love for the nation."
As part of the event, each participant was given a copy of the Bible, featuring a map of Colombia and the heart of Jesus on the cover. Additionally, a video of Pope Leo XIV was shown.
Beltrán, the country's incoming minister of labor, stated on his X account that "human effort is futile without God's help" and that the together the retreatants experienced "a moment of encounter and unity, because we know that the battle ahead is also spiritual. God bless Colombia."
Meanwhile, the retreat drew sharp criticism from members of current President Gustavo Petro's outgoing administration. Among them, Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino and Rep. Mafe Carrascal argued that the event undermined the secular state established by the Colombian Constitution.
However, the spiritual gathering was defended by other political leaders, including some outside the incoming administration's political party.
"What stands out is the double standard. When shamanic rituals and Santería were promoted from within the government, many spoke of diversity and respect. Today, a spiritual retreat is portrayed as an attempt to replace the Constitution with the Bible, something that never happened. The Constitution remains the same; the only thing that changed was the president. And, judging by the reaction of some, it seems that is what truly makes them uncomfortable," López added.
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.
Israel has not publicly endorsed the agreement and has continued airstrikes, killing at least 17 people, including children, in Gaza Sunday night.
In response to President Donald Trump's announcement last week of a deal between the U.S.-led Board of Peace, Israel, and Hamas, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called for "intense prayers" for the deal's success as Gaza faces a worsening humanitarian crisis.
In an Aug. 3 statement, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on International Justice and Peace, said he is "heartened by news of an agreement which aims at the disarmament of Hamas and Israel's military withdrawal from the [Gaza] Strip," calling for "intense prayers for the success of these negotiations."
"As I previously articulated, as 'people of faith who deeply care for all our brothers and sisters who live in the land of Christ's life, death, and glorious resurrection, we cannot lose this opportunity for peace,'" Zaidan continued, calling on the U.S., Israel, and the international community "to facilitate greater amounts of humanitarian and development assistance to the Strip."
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 30 that his Board of Peace had reached a deal for Hamas to fully disarm after nearly three years of war.
"The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases," Trump indicated. "As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors."
Though a Hamas official confirmed the disarmament pact the next day, according to the Associated Press, significant hurdles remain, leaving the deal's implementation uncertain despite U.S. optimism. Israel has not publicly endorsed the agreement and has continued airstrikes, killing at least 17 people, including children, in Gaza Sunday night.
'People are living with nothing'
"Alleviating the suffering of the Gazan people is not only a vital moral imperative but is also necessary for the consolidation of peace in the Holy Land and the entire region," Zaidan declared. "This should include restoring educational opportunities for children and youths, jobs, and clean water."
In an interview last week with Vatican Media, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church in Gaza, begged for humanitarian aid for the region, emphasizing that "when people say the situation here is disastrous, believe me: It really is disastrous — if anything, it calls for an even stronger word."
"People are living with nothing," Romanelli said. "Reconstruction is certainly essential, but so too are all the basic necessities of everyday life."
Former U.S. ambassador and EWTN contributor on Middle East issues Alberto Fernandez told EWTN News that while the deal is "extraordinarily shaky from both sides," he is hopeful because "the situation of the civilian public in Gaza is so dire," Fernandez said. "Gaza is destroyed, people are traumatized, there's no economy."
'Deeply conflicting agendas'
"The agreement on paper is a positive, concrete step in the right direction," Fernández said, pointing out that the issue of which side will act first "is a small part of a bigger problem. There is no trust between the two sides, and deeply conflicting agendas."
In Zaidan's statement, the bishop wrote that the "agreement's successful implementation, as its principles statement says, has the potential of finally providing the Palestinian people with a 'credible political path that achieves self-determination and Statehood.' This would be a major milestone."
Hamas said Friday that it would give up its heavy weapons, including rockets, contingent on Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the creation of a Palestinian state, the latter condition one Netanyahu's government strongly rejects.
"The two-state solution among the Israeli public is moribund," the ambassador continued. "We're not there at all in a situation where they will compromise. They've become more intransigent. That's a reality."
"It's not time for celebration, but time to recognize there is small progress being made, and huge obstacles remain," Fernandez said.
'Serious security concerns'
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told the AP on Aug. 2 that Israel has "serious security concerns" surrounding the deal. Spielman said Israel believes Hamas is still committed to building up its military, not demilitarizing, and said Israel would not withdraw from the Gaza Strip, where it controls more than half the territory, before Hamas disarms.
"Disarming means physically giving up the weapons. Nothing less," he said.
"Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, once again threaten Israeli communities, and seek to carry out another Oct. 7-style attack," Spielman told the AP.
Zaidan concluded his statement acknowledging the "extreme challenges inherent in this ongoing peace process" but called on all to "entrust the hearts and minds of the negotiators to the maternal care of Our Lady of Wisdom, that she may illumine and enliven their efforts to finally achieve peace in those sacred lands."
The new podcast "Stand Firm and Be Strong" with Father of Mercy Wade Menezes has launched on EWTN+.
A new podcast called "Stand Firm and Be Strong" with Father of Mercy Wade Menezes launched Aug. 3 on EWTN+. The new podcast is aimed at, and intended for, men. Menezes is especially inviting them to learn how to live and strengthen their Catholic faith, one day at a time.
Menezes is already familiar to EWTN audiences from his many appearances on various shows across the network. The numerous televised and online series he has produced and hosted include "The Gospel of Life vs. the Culture of Death" and "The Ten Commandments of Catholic Family Life."
He is also familiar to EWTN audiences as a guest on various episodes of EWTN's "Mother Angelica Live" and "Life on the Rock," during which he discussed such topics as the sanctification of marriage and family life, vocations, and the sacred liturgy.
He is the current host of EWTN Global Catholic Radio's "Open Line Tuesday."
Menezes has also served as the chaplain-in-residence at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama.
Prior to the launch, and while inviting listeners, Menezes spoke about the podcast with the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News.
Register: Father Menezes, please tell us how your "Stand Firm, Be Strong" audio podcast came to be.
Menezes: This 200-day audio-only podcast grew out of the popularity of my men's daily devotional book of the same title that was published in 2024. The book is a six-month spiritual manual for men. Each day has a different spiritual or temporal (secular) topic that is followed by three components: a Scripture quote, a saint quote, and a short meditation written by me. Both the book and podcast titles are based on 1 Corinthians 16:13, wherein we read: "Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong."
Will the podcast follow the same daily devotional format?
The "Stand Firm, Be Strong" daily audio podcast is related closely to the book's own format. For example, each of the 200 days' prerecorded short audio podcasts correspond directly — and in proper order — with each of the book's own 200 days' topics. But whereas the book is designed to be a five- to 10-minute exercise each morning for men as they begin their day, each podcast episode is itself under five minutes in length and highlights the most pertinent points of the book's topic for that same day.
What does it mean to be a man of God? | Credit: EWTN Studios
Why did you decide on a daily podcast?
EWTN pitched the idea to me to do a "Stand Firm, Be Strong" daily audio podcast precisely because the book has done so well with male readers. The book has proven to hold men's attention as a committed daily exercise to strengthen their spiritual and temporal lives. I hope that a podcast will likewise strike at the male heart and spark the male intellect to help men live their vocations more fully and committedly — whether single, married, widowed, or as a consecrated brother, deacon, priest, or bishop.
Please share a highlight or two that listeners will hear about in opening episodes.
The timely wisdom offered by the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast will help prepare men to put on the armor of God for their daily struggles and help them withstand trials at home and at work. It will also help them to kindle their prayer life, better utilize their talents, and order their priorities in daily life. It will also help guide men in imitating Christ in guarding their senses and responding to temptation — all important factors when navigating life in this third millennium.
Please share or give a hint of what will be a few topics or themes you will be dealing with that are certainly relevant.
During the course of the first 20 [days] … for example, episodes will cover the following topics [titled]: "The Committed Man of God," "Strength and Fortitude," "Having No Duplicity or Guile," "Shunning Sin and Vice," "Fraternity and Brotherhood," "The Demands of Virtue and Aiming Toward Salvation," "The Virtue of Diligence," "The Truth," "The Need for Humility Amid Trials and Successes," "Accountability," "Confidence," and "The Athlete of God." Other podcast episodes include such topics as the "Importance of Eucharistic Adoration," "Sanctifying Grace," "Filial Fear of God vs. Servile Fear of God," and the "Importance of Fostering Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph."
Why are these topics essential for today?
Navigating third-millennium society and culture can be challenging. These various topics are essential today because we live in a day and age that tragically downplays authentic masculinity and what that means. Whether it's the prevalence of television commercials that frequently make the husband or man look like a buffoon to the misguided direction being offered by various movements within the so-called "manosphere," what it means to "be a man" in the authentic Christian sense is greatly attacked today.
But as Dr. Tim Gray of the Augustine Institute reminds us: "The virtues give us a blueprint for being a man. Indeed, the very term 'virtue' comes from the Latin word for man, 'vir.' For the ancients, to be manly was to be virtuous. The term 'virtue' in Latin ('virtus') signifies power, strength, and ability. Thus, the virtues are habits that give us the power to act in a manly way, with strength sufficient to do what is right. Without virtues we will neither be godly nor real men. Virtues are the building blocks of character, and without them our moral lives will eventually collapse under the pressures of the world."
Will your podcast appeal to, and be relevant to, men of any age?
Just like the book, the podcast is designed to appeal to any male that is 14 years of age and older. In other words, if a guy is a high school freshman or older and is serious about living his faith authentically and well in the midst of the modern world, he will benefit from hearing this podcast. This fact, in turn, will hopefully inspire him to "go deeper" with the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" book as a daily devotional that he commits himself to for a six-month period.
Will men learn to live a balanced life through your podcast?
Yes, listeners of the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast (as well as those readers of the book) will learn to live a balanced life — both spiritually and temporally. For example, a main theme peppered throughout the podcast and book is "faithfulness to daily duty" and what this means and why it is a main ingredient needed when a man strives for sanctification and advancement in the spiritual life according to his particular vocation and state in life. In short, a man is called to fulfill his duties with diligence and balance — all the while serving God and others.
What is the ultimate goal and hope for this podcast?
To help men of all vocations and states in life realize that they are called to become saints "right where they are."
Both the podcast and book are designed to help jump-start and strengthen a man's spiritual life over the course of six months. The podcast's daily topics and accompanying meditations are power-packed, offering achievable resolutions and prudent advice to help a man attain his spiritual and temporal goals in everyday living.
Will it improve their families, too, in any way?
Yes. Just as there is crisis in today's culture regarding authentic masculinity and what that means, the same can be said regarding the sanctification of marriages and family life. The "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast can help a married man become a better husband and father. For single men, it can help them to become a better brother, brother-in-law, co-worker, etc. This same goes for married men and those men in the consecrated religious state, of course.
Themes in the podcast call upon all men to provide, protect, and lead — again, according to each one's particular vocation and state in life.
Based on the popularity of your book, do you think the podcast will have a similar appeal?
I believe the podcast will appeal to listeners because it will help the individual man to grow in knowledge of his faith and gain strength for the spiritual battle. These, in turn, will help the individual male listener to become more fully the man he was created and meant to be in God's plan for him.
Is there anything else you would like to say or add about the podcast?
The "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast launched Aug. 3 and is posting a new episode daily over the course of 200 days. It is available from EWTN+, a free, ad-free digital streaming platform by the Eternal Word Television Network that offers on-demand Catholic podcasts, movies, live TV and radio, and original series.
Also, for those listeners of the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast and/or readers of the book who are so interested, there are three additional "Stand Firm, Be Strong" merchandise items available from EWTN Religious Catalogue (EWTNRC.com). These include a "Stand Firm, Be Strong" T-shirt, travel mug, and 12-in-1 pocket knife. Along with the podcast and book, these items make great gifts for men who are striving to increase their faith and grow in holiness.
I would encourage all women — such women could include, of course, a wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, friend, or girlfriend — who may stumble across the podcast, book, or three items of merchandise to think about sharing these with the men in their lives so as to encourage them to "stand firm [and] be strong."
This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
The first World Meeting of OCDS Carmelites in the history of the order took place July 23–26 in Ávila, Spain.
When most Catholics think about Carmelites, they picture friars and nuns in full habits. If they love St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Thérèse, they may even think about their teachings on prayer, the "Dark Night of the Soul," and the "Little Way."
But like many of the so-called mendicant orders — which have traditionally relied on charity to survive — Carmelites have an order of laypeople who meet monthly in community and who develop a deep life of prayer over many years. They also study and discuss the writings of the Carmelite saints so they might become more like them and therefore more like God.
The call to Secular Carmelites
In 2003, in a move meant to signal that the laity is of equal importance to the priests and nuns who make up the first and second orders, the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD) — which is St. Teresa's reform group — changed the name of its lay order from Third Order Carmelites to Secular Carmelites (OCDS). Not everyone in the order truly understood what that meant in practice.
That changed during the first world meeting of OCDS Carmelites in the history of the order, held July 23–26, 2026, in Ávila, Spain, where the leaders of the Order of Discalced Carmelites called upon their almost 33,000 Seculars to fully embrace their vocation as coequal members of the order.
This historic call was enthusiastically embraced by the more than 900 Secular Carmelites who attended from almost 80 of the 92 countries in which Secular Carmelite communities are present.
"In the past, people thought, 'Whatever the priests say.' Seculars were more like followers whereas now, they are called to be leaders," said Father Ramiro Casale, OCD, general delegate to the OCDS, in an exclusive interview with EWTN News.
"The Fathers are called to the sacraments, preaching, teaching, accompanying people. Carmelite nuns are cloistered so they offer their lives for Christ and the Church and the world. [But] the Seculars have access to so many places where the friars and nuns are not present. They have biological children and are very engaged in their work and in different apostolates in the Church, and they are very well-prepared. I tell them that they have a voice and that voice needs to be heard," Casale said.
Father Ramiro Casale, OCD, general delegate to the OCDS, speaks at the first world meeting of OCDS Carmelites in the history of the order, held July 23–26, 2026, in Ávila, Spain. | Credit: Photo courtesy of OCDS World Encounter/Gonzalo Gonzalez de Vega Pomar
Of course, this call to the laity is partly due to the fact that Secular Carmelites outnumber Carmelite priests by more than 8 to 1. This imbalance is not limited to the Carmelite order. The Secular Franciscan Order outnumbers its friars by roughly 25 to 1, while Lay Dominicans outnumber their friars by more than 26 to 1.
Another major factor is also at play.
"We need only look around us to see that the world is still on fire," Ramiro said. In a world in which consumerism, secularization, self-promotion, and a thirst for power rule, the Secular Carmelite order needs "a greater awareness of its professional and vocational identity … [a] rich prayer life … [and a] growing cooperation with the entire Carmelite family. We live in a time where human beings — even if they do not often express it in words — want to find a path that gives meaning and direction to their lives. They thirst for us."
'Everyone is a house for God'
Father Miguel Marquez Calle, OCD, superior general of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, explained in a one-on-one interview with EWTN News that the charism of the Carmelite order is what Carmelites lovingly refer to as "a call to 'The Interior Castle.'" That is a reference to St. Teresa's masterwork in which she compares the soul to a mansion with many rooms, all of which lead to the center of the castle, which is where God dwells.
"We offer an invitation to live this richness of the presence of God in the soul of everyone, and to share it as St. Teresa did, with a joy that is contagious. We show the world that we are not empty, everyone is a house for God, and that gives life meaning."
The temptation, even for Carmelites, is to become divided like the world is divided. But Calle said the remedy is to be like St. Teresa, who was able to handle criticism with humor because she was not full of self but full of God. In fact, when a group of friars wanted St. Teresa's partner in reforming the old order, St. John of the Cross, removed as head of the friars, he famously joined his detractors and signed the petition requesting his removal, saying he was not worthy of the position.
Father Miguel Marquez Calle, OCD, superior general of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, right, with a volunteer at the first world meeting of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD) July 23–26, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of OCDS World Encounter/Gonzalo Gonzalez de Vega Pomar
Meeting highlights call to prayer, service, and leadership
The world meeting ("encuentro mundial"), appropriately titled "Witnesses to the Experience of God: Identity and Mission," was a call to communion, to a deeper prayer life, and to leadership. In recent years, the secular order has been making important inroads into the leadership role to which the order is explicitly calling them.
With the largest population in the Western world, the United States boasts approximately 6,000 Secular Carmelites, the largest of any country, although Asia has the largest number of Seculars on any continent. A collaborative effort to standardize and unify various regional formation practices into a single national program by and for OCDS Carmelites began in 2017, was officially approved in early 2023, and was released and distributed by ICS publications on March 1, 2024.
The program consists of a handbook for formators and six official formation manuals covering all stages of formation. In the works are two manuals for those who are definitively professed and a manual for spiritual assistants. The program was presented at the world meeting by Angela Vel from the Washington Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and may become a model, or perhaps the basis of a similar effort, for OCDS communities around the world.
"I think that we have lost sight of our apostolate in many communities," said Ramon Gras, who is also a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary community in the Washington Province. "One of the things that we have been reminded of this week is that we, as Secular Carmelites, have access to the world in ways that the other two branches of the order do not. The national formation program is not just something to fill our head with facts, but it's something to help us to develop our spirituality and to give us a renewed sense of purpose."
He added: "Our formation program tells us that our saints say prayer and service are two sides of the same coin, so we need to review what we are currently doing in our apostolates and determine whether we are serving the current needs of the Church."
When asked for examples of successful community apostolates, Casale highlighted two that he finds especially impressive.
"There is one in Venezuela called Nagoanagoa," he said. "That's an Indian name. It was formed by medical doctors who began to go to the jungle to help people with no access to healthcare. It was something so attractive to others that many other people began to join them: engineers, people who knew about agriculture, dentists — so many people wanted to help. But everything began in the OCDS. That's something really beautiful, and it's happening still."
The other example is a project in Portugal called Casa de Comunión. "The interesting thing about this is that they have a community of nuns, a community of friars, and two communities of OCDS and they share life together," Casale explained. "They don't live together, but they do things together. They organize retreats, they organize talks for young people and for marriages, and they help in the local diocese, so this is an example of collaboration between the three branches of the order."
Left to right: Father Ramiro Casale, OCD, general delegate to the OCDS; Father Miguel Marquez Calle, OCD, superior general; and Father Agusti Borrell, OCD, definitor general, at the 2026 OCDS World Congress in Avila, Spain, held from July 23–26, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of OCDS World Encounter/Gonzalo Gonzalez de Vega Pomar
'We are a family'
The three branches don't just work together; they enjoy one another's company via various forms of recreation and by sharing the joys and challenges of the work. As Casale said: "We [the Discalced Carmelites] are a team; we are a family, and we need to help each other."
Esther Tijerina, a community-minded Carmelite from Texas, came to the conference despite some difficult health challenges over the past year. She had her own epiphany regarding the order's call to fraternity and community during the conference. Tijerina reached out to one woman who rebuffed her not once but twice. "It took three days, but she walked with me and she smiled and she apologized for how she had been on that first day," Tijerina said. "I learned not to give up because I don't know what her load is; I don't know what her baggage is."
Susy Stokes, immediate past president of an Alabama community, focused on another important aspect of the meeting: "By being in Ávila, the birthplace of my order, I received a much deeper sense of belonging to an international family and appreciation for my vocation. The bonus gift I received was a much better understanding of the role of the friars and spiritual assistants."
Indeed, as superior general of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, Calle kicked off the conference with a talk on the history of the Secular Carmelites.
In it, he explained that the friars were originally heavily involved in every aspect of the community, even down to determining who had a vocation to join the secular order. That deep involvement had to change because there are simply not enough friars to do such work.
Michelle Johnson stands beside the tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila located at the Carmelite Monastery of the Annunciation in Alba de Tormes, Spain. Along with the tomb of St. John of the Cross in Segovia, this is arguably one of the Carmelite order's most revered sites. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Michelle Johnson
Despite this, or maybe even because of this, fraternity within and outside of the order has become even more important. During the four-day meeting, many had the opportunity to visit important sites in the life of St. Teresa such as the convent in which she spent much of her life and her birthplace. One Secular said she was amazed to see that St. Teresa had placed a large painting of St. Francis in the local convent. When asked about this, Calle made a surprising statement.
"I am 30% Franciscan," he said, smiling at the reaction of the questioner. "My preparation for solemn profession was to go to Assisi in Italy without money, asking for food, and sleeping on the road for one month."
When one of his brothers insisted it was dangerous to do this without money, he promised him he would bring money, so he put one peseta (this was before the euro) in his pocket.
Calle said he discovered: "When you ask for food, people give food." Where did he sleep? "In the countryside, in a gas station, in the forest." He had a backpack and a sleeping bag. He said the experience set him up for 13 years of pilgrimages to the Holy Land and parts of Spain, traveling 170 kilometers (almost 106 miles) every year for 13 years. Through this, he learned the importance of fraternity and communion, which he is asking of Secular Carmelites — indeed, the entire order — today.
In addition to many important talks, which were translated into many languages, the four-day conference included excursions to nearby Carmelite sites, a flamenco celebration, and a visit to a special exhibit of St. John of the Cross celebrating his 300th anniversary as a saint and his 100th anniversary as a doctor of the Church.
The closing Mass at the Ávila Cathedral ended with more than 30 priests on the altar, a magnificent choir, and more than 900 Carmelites raising their voices in the song that ends every Carmelite meeting around the world: the Salve Regina, a salute to the Queen of Heaven and Earth and of the Carmelite order under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
As Calle said, in this divided time, the spirituality of the Blessed Mother is of central importance. Just as she was literally filled with the presence of God, her Carmelite order witnesses to the fact that "the presence of God is in every soul without exception. The world needs to understand that everyone is a home for God."
For more information about the Secular Carmelite Order in the U.S., visit ocdswashprov.org (Eastern Province), thereseocds.org (Central Province), or ocds.info (Western Province). Information about communities worldwide can be found at https://www.carmelitaniscalzi.com/en/.
Young Catholics from Europe, the Middle East, and North America came together for prayer, service, fellowship, and to reflect on "what Christian witness means in an increasingly complex world."
From Anjar, the Lebanese town known among Armenians as "Little Armenia," the voices of young Armenian Catholics rose this week "with one heart in Christ" (Acts 4:32).
The gathering, held from July 28 to Aug. 3, brought together participants from Europe, the Middle East, and North America. More than simply a youth event, it offered a space for prayer, service, fellowship, and a renewed understanding of what Christian witness means in an increasingly complex world.
Catholicos-Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian of the Armenian Catholic Church presided over a festive Mass on Sunday at the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar. In his homily, Minassian noted that the participants came from different countries and dioceses, bringing with them diverse cultures, experiences, and hopes, yet they had gathered under the banner of "Christ the Savior."
The patriarch said the people of the Middle East live amid recurring crises and suffering while continuing to long for peace, freedom, and dignity. The young people's gathering, he said, sent a clear message: The final word belongs not to pain and division but to hope, love, and fraternity.
Minassian stressed that the gathering should not remain merely a cherished memory but should become a "spark" that continues to burn in the participants' hearts, inspiring them to draw closer to others, build peace, and serve with love.
He urged the young people to take initiative in their churches and communities, to offer words that unite when others are divided, and to extend a helping hand when others withdraw. Faith, he emphasized, is not simply an inheritance from the past but a calling that must continually be renewed.
Concluding his homily, the patriarch explained that the gathering sought to entrust a new generation with the deposit of faith that the Church had preserved through adversity. It is now their responsibility, he said, to live that faith and pass it on to those who come after them.
Fadi Beshkenji, general coordinator of the Armenian Catholic Youth Union of Lebanon, which organized the event, told ACI MENA that participants came from France, Luxembourg, Italy, Canada, Iraq, Jordan, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria.
The Syrian delegations included young people from Aleppo, the country's northeastern Jazira region, Damascus, and Kessab in the Latakia countryside.
Beshkenji explained that the program was organized around three principal areas. Its spiritual component included talks on the gathering's theme, drawn from Acts 4:32, as well as reflections on the participants' relationships with God, others, and themselves.
The service and humanitarian component included a visit to a home for the elderly, activities with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and service and beautification projects at the Armenian Catholic church and complex in Anjar.
The gathering also included pilgrimages to the Shrine of St. Charbel in Annaya, the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, and the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar, where participants visited the monastery's museum and viewed its historical collection, including items associated with St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Ignatius Maloyan.
A cultural evening also gave each delegation an opportunity to present the heritage of its country.
Beshkenji said Lebanon was chosen to host the gathering because it is a "country of message" and should remain a source of hope for young people in Lebanon, the Middle East, and around the world.
He encouraged participants to trust that Christ accompanies them and to use their talents in the service of their churches and communities.
This storywas first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The Holy Father invited festival participants to return to the source of true joy, following this year's motto: "Ad fontem! To the source!"
Pope Leo XIV urged the thousands of young people gathered in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the Mladifest International Youth Festival to rediscover the beauty of encountering Christ and not to be deceived by promises of fleeting happiness.
The event is proceeding normally, despite the grave act of vandalism that took place on July 28 at the Parish of St. James the Apostle, where the outdoor altar used for celebrations was set on fire and a statue of the Virgin Mary was found defaced with offensive graffiti.
In his message, read by the apostolic visitor for the parish of Medjugorje, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, shortly before the opening Mass presided over by the apostolic nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, the pontiff invited participants to return to the source of true joy, following this year's motto: "Ad fontem! To the source!"
Addressing participants from 73 countries, the pope warned against the false promises offered by the contemporary world. "Promises of easy and immediate happiness are alluring, but they often vanish without a trace," the pope noted, while reminding them that the deepest questions of the human heart — and the longing for lasting joy — endure.
The Holy Father emphasized that these very yearnings can become an opportunity for growth in faith when they lead to the "beauty of a personal encounter with the Lord, who satisfies every heart and gives the strength to always begin anew."
For that reason, he encouraged the participants to turn to Christ — the "source of new life and authentic joy" — through prayer, listening to the word of God, and receiving the sacraments.
Likewise, the pontiff encouraged the young people to sincerely seek "the truth that sets us free," without "letting yourselves be captivated by fleeting happiness."
He concluded his exhortation by inviting them to let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit and to trust in the intercession of the Virgin Mary, so as to become "luminous witnesses of the Gospel, promoters of fraternity, and builders of peace in society."
Mladifest has been held annually in Medjugorje since 1989, bringing together tens of thousands of young people from around the world.
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.
