Daily Readings

The recent murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández in the Mexican state of Hidalgo has once again drawn attention to the violence plaguing the country and has renewed concerns over how organized crime acts with impunity. De la Cruz, 48, the parish priest of Santa Cruz in Huejutla, Hidalgo, was found dead on ... read more

Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, said Sunday he was “deeply saddened and disturbed” by an ICE officer’s shooting of a Venezuelan man in Austin, as federal officials described the encounter as an officer responding to the man’s attempt to flee arrest.In a letter dated Sept. 20, the day of the ... read more

Pope Leo XIV flies to France on Friday, where across four days in three cities he will proclaim Catholic teaching to the heart of secular Europe on matters that include end-of-life questions, immigration, and artificial intelligence.The visit “will truly be a moment in which Leo’s project of making the Church’s social doctrine better known can ... read more

For the first time in seven centuries, Aquileia, a city in northeastern Italy with a fascinating past, has reunited the three scattered fragments of a sixth-century manuscript that for centuries was venerated as if it were the Gospel written by St. Markʼs own hand.The author of the Gospel that bears his name was St. Peter’s ... read more

Thousands of pro-life demonstrators took to the streets of Berlin and Cologne on Saturday, Sept. 19, for Germany’s annual March for Life, which for the fourth time was held in both cities at once. Organizers put the combined turnout at about 6,000.At the start of the Cologne rally on the Neumarkt square, counterdemonstrators threw paint ... read more

The Vieira family from Blumenau, Brazil, has been home-schooling their seven children for over a decade, an approach that the parents, Diego and Patricia, view as an educational mission focused on human, spiritual, and academic formation.“We have a well-structured routine. We value sound pedagogical planning. Each child has a plan tailored to their age, and ... read more

A dozen U.S. states could see Catholic governors elected in 2026, and in two states — Texas and Massachusetts — the outcome is nearly assured because both major-party nominees are Catholic.Catholics are positioned to play a visible role in this year’s 36 gubernatorial contests, with at least 14 candidates across both parties publicly identifying as ... read more

The Roman Martyrology commemorates Sts. Maurice and Companions (d. 287), Christian soldiers who were massacred in Switzerland around the year 287 A.D. because they refused to offer sacrifices to pagan gods. They are also called the Theban Legion or Forty Martyrs. ... read more

Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi, a Polish correspondent for EWTN News and a longtime Vatican affairs expert, was crowned Poland’s speech champion on Sept. 19.She received the honor at the 26th edition of the Master of Polish Speech (Mistrz Mowy Polskiej) Social Program awards ceremony in Ostrowiec, Poland. The prestigious award was decided by a nationwide poll in ... read more

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged the Poor Clares not to be discouraged by their lack of vocations but to view it as a call to renew their commitment.The pontiff made these remarks during a private audience with a delegation from the Federation of Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns of Italy on Sept. 21. The Capuchin Poor ... read more

Between 700 and 1,000 children will pray a rosary for peace with Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 1 at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, part of a prayer initiative promoted by Aid to the Church in Need.Coming from schools and parishes throughout Rome, the children will join the pontiff in the “One Million ... read more

Sept. 21 marks the feast day of St. Matthew, also known as Levi, an apostle of Jesus and, according to tradition, the author of one of the four Gospels.Surprisingly little is known for certain about Matthew’s life, even though his Gospel is so crucial for the Church. The manner of Matthew’s calling by Jesus is ... read more

Today is the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. At the time that Jesus summoned him to follow Him, Matthew was a publican, that is, a tax-collector for the Romans. His profession was hateful to the Jews because it reminded them of their subjection; the publican, also, was regarded by the pharisees as the ... read more

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed for greater international assistance to Somalia, where violence and extreme weather are worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, particularly for women and children.After reciting the Angelus on Sept. 20, the pope said: “With great concern, I am following the humanitarian crisis unfolding in certain areas of Somalia, where acts ... read more

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed for greater international assistance to Somalia, where violence and extreme weather are worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, particularly for women and children.After reciting the Angelus on Sept. 20, the pope said: “With great concern, I am following the humanitarian crisis unfolding in certain areas of Somalia, where acts ... read more