Details:  Timothy Parsons-Heather was sound asleep early on Feb. 22, 1991, when he had the experience he said changed his life. “I was awakened — not as if you would hear a sound, but as if an impulse came from inside you,” he recalled. “After I awoke, I could hear a voice coming from outside me. It was a pleading voice from a very young girl. There was authority in her voice, even though it was very mild.” A Catholic... Read more

This didn’t get much attention last month, but the Christian Medical & Dental Associations is praising the new ethical guidelines of the American Medical Association. The guidelines state: Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks. Instead of engaging in assisted suicide, physicians must aggressively respond to the needs of patients at the end of life. Read it all. The Christian Medical and Dental... Read more

Via Vatican Radio: Pope Francis has telephoned leaders of the terror-stricken French city of Nice, asking what he could do to help in the wake of last week’s attack which left 84 people dead and scores wounded. Pope Francis made his call out of the blue on Sunday evening to Paolo Celi, head of “Amitié France-Italie”, a national association for Italians living in France, and to Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice. Celi told Vatican Radio that the Pope called at... Read more

This video is quickly going viral. See below. The description: Polish nuns showing their joy would like to encourage the young faithful to participate in World Youth Day, which will take place in Krakow on 25 – 31 July . Sisters of St. Faustina Order from Mysliborz in West Pomerania recorded a video with themselves in the main role. I feel bad for the gal who got stuck holding up the poster. Meantime, the USCCB announced today: More than 40,000... Read more

From Bishop Robert Meunch:  Words cannot express the emotions we feel for those who have lost loved ones in the tragic events of this day. Their entire lives have been unexpectedly and terribly turned upside down. In visiting this afternoon with two of the families affected by these shootings, Fr. Tom Ranzino and I shared prayer and support in the midst of their shock, horror and grief. Prayer is a powerful path to follow when tragedy happens, but even the... Read more

I love getting emails like this. It arrived today from John Donaghy in Honduras: Dear Deacon Greg, Yesterday I was ordained as permanent deacon by the laying on of hands by Bishop Darwin Andino of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras. A transitional deacon, Wilman Perez, was ordained as priest for the diocese. Three seminarians were as acolytes and one seminarian was installed as lector. The ordinations and installations were in Cucuyagua, Copán, Honduras, which is the seat... Read more

Deo Gratias! This was announced a few months ago, but for some reason just trickled across my news feed today: In today’s world, life moves at a rapid pace with technology right at our fingertips. There never seems to be any moment for peace and quiet in the “full-speed ahead” atmosphere of current times. But at the Monastery of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel here — far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world —... Read more

For those who might be wondering, here’s the 411 on the religion of Donald Trump’s reported running mate, from a 2013 blog post by journalist Craig Fehrman:  All Pence would say to me is “I’m a pretty ordinary Christian.” He even ducked my question about where he goes to church, and I think it’s worth comparing that vagueness to some of his older answers about his faith. Indeed, as Pence has become more prominent, he’s also become more committed to saying absolutely... Read more

Gracious God, you walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We pray that the suffering and terrorized be surrounded by the incarnate presence of the crucified and risen one. May every human being be reminded of the precious gift of life you entered to share with us. May our hearts be pierced with compassion for those who suffer, and for those who have inflicted this violence, for your love is the only healing balm we know.... Read more