One of the world’s most influential evangelists has died. The full statement, just released from EWTN:  Irondale, AL (EWTN) — Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, P.C.P.A., known to millions around the world as Foundress of the EWTN Global Catholic Network, died peacefully at 5 p.m. CDT, Easter Sunday, March 27, surrounded by the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Ala. “This is a sorrow-filled day for the entire EWTN Family,” said EWTN... Read more

Horror:  The death toll has climbed to 65 after a suicide bomber attacked a busy park in Lahore, Pakistan, where Christians were celebrating Easter. Most of the dead are children, officials said. The devastating attack was near the children’s rides at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park, The Associated Press reported. Over 300 people are injured, a spokesman for Lahore rescue administration said, according to The AP. Ahsanullah Ahsan, a spokesman for the terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, told The AP that a suicide bomber... Read more

Well, let’s hope “forever” will end soon. From The Catholic Register:  The most significant 11 minutes and 48 seconds in the history of Christianity have been widening the gulf between Orthodox and Western Christians since 1582. But if Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant Christians can get their act together, the world’s Christians might finally start celebrating Easter on the same day. “I often wonder what it signals to the rest of the world that Christians cannot assemble around a common... Read more

Another reason why God made proofreaders: It’s a good day for Chrises everywhere. Acomb Parish, a Baptist church in York, United Kingdom, were getting ready for their Easter festivities on Sunday by ordering four banners enscribed with the words “Christ is Risen” on them. The church ended up with banners with the phrase “Chris is Risen” instead. Luckily, the printers discovered the error before delivering them to the parish. Read more. Read more

In Vanity Fair, Sam Roberts, an obituary writer for The New York Times, imagines how the paper might have covered the death of Jesus Christ two millennia ago: Jesus of Nazareth, a Galilean carpenter turned itinerant minister whose appeals to piety and whose repute as a healer had galvanized a growing contingent of believers, died on Friday after being crucified that morning just outside Jerusalem, only days after his followers had welcomed him triumphantly to the city as “the anointed one”... Read more

The Infant of Prague is already vested in his Easter finery, but the rest of us are rehearsing for the big event tonight. First, we had some unexpected visitors Friday, for our evening liturgy: Fr. Jeremy Canna and Fr. Kevin McBrien, from Our Lady of the Snows, stopped by and cheerfully offered to help hear confessions after the service. Fr. Jeremy, second from the left, spent his pastoral year at our parish and I was privileged to vest him for his ordination... Read more

From The Washington Post:  In her 50th Easter season as a nun, Sister Antonia Sanchez participated in something new. For the past 49 years, since she joined the order of Religious Mary Immaculate at age 16, Sanchez has watched priests wash the feet of men on Holy Thursday. This week, Sanchez was before the altar herself at the nation’s preeminent Catholic shrine. She was the one removing her shoes and socks. And then the pope’s representative to America washed her feet. This... Read more

Not unlike the annual statement for Ash Wednesday, this one doesn’t get much attention from the media, either. But here it is:  Michelle and I join our fellow Christians in observing Good Friday and celebrating Easter this weekend. This is a time to remember the sacrifices made for us and hold all who suffer close to our hearts. Yet it is also a time to rejoice, give thanks for the Resurrection, and unite with Christians around the world in proclaiming,... Read more