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Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

Do not neglect Scripture's human dimension or divine origin, Pope says at audience on Vatican II (CWN)

Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV reflected today on Sacred Scripture as “the Word of God in human words.”

Pope appeals for prayer for Ukraine, continuance of expiring Russia-US arms treaty (CWN)

At the conclusion of today’s general audience, Pope Leo XIV appealed for prayer for Ukraine and for the continuation of New START, an arms reduction treaty between Russia and the United States that expires tomorrow.

St. John Henry Newman added to General Roman Calendar as optional memorial (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV has “decreed that Saint John Henry Newman, Priest and Doctor of the Church, be inscribed in the General Roman Calendar, and that his Optional Memorial be celebrated by all on 9 October,” according to a curial decree made public on February 3.

Feb. 4 Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Weekday

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Jane (or Joan) de Valois (1464-1505), Queen of France, foundress of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, renowned for her piety and special participation in the sufferings of the Cross. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

US Solicitor General backs Catholic parents and preschools in upcoming Supreme Court case (Becket Fund for Religious Liberty)

The Solicitor General of the United States filed a brief with the Supreme Court on behalf of Catholic preschools and families excluded from the State of Colorado’s “universal” preschool funding program.

“The Solicitor General’s filing in this case signals to the Court just how egregious, illegal, and dangerous Colorado’s discrimination is,” said Nick Reaves, lead attorney for the Catholic preschools and families, said of the impending case.

“The state is labeling a program ‘universal’ and then banning religious families and schools from it because of their faith,” Reaves added. “If that kind of exclusion is allowed to stand, no religious group is safe from being pushed out of public life.”

Consider the lessons of history, US bishops write in Black History Month statement (USCCB)

The chairmen of the US bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation and Subcommittee on African American Affairs issued a brief statement for Black History Month.

“We encourage the faithful to consider the lessons of history, honoring our heroes of the past and learning from the mistakes of the past,” said Bishop Daniel Garcia of Austin and Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell of Washington, DC. “Although we may at times encounter people or situations in our country that seek to erase ‘memory’ from our minds and books, it can never be erased from our hearts.”

“Let us be courageous witnesses to truth,” the bishops added. “Let us pray and work to honor the inherent dignity of every person and the sacred stories of every people.”

Pope appoints 54-year-old as archbishop of Prague (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV has named Bishop Stanislav Přibyl, CSsR, of Litoměřice, Czech Republic, as the new archbishop of Prague, less than two years after his ordination as a bishop.

Portugal's president describes Pope Leo as 'intelligent,' 'rational' following meeting (CWN)

Portugal’s president described Pope Leo XIV as “superiorly intelligent” and “very rational” following a 25-minute audience on February 2.

Archbishop Gallagher concludes journey to Slovakia, hails Church-state relations (CWN)

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, concluded a three-day visit to Slovakia commemorating the 25th anniversary of the basic agreement, or concordat, between the Holy See and the central European nation.

Feb. 3 Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Opt Mem of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr; St. Ansgar, Bishop , Opt. Mem.

The Universal Calendar offers two saints, Blaise and Ansgar, for separate celebration as Optional Memorial. St. Blaise (or Blase) (d. 320) enjoyed widespread veneration in the Eastern and Western Churches due to many cures attributed to him. According to tradition, he was Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and was martyred under Licinius. On this day the Church gives a "Blessing of the Throats" in honor of St. Blaise. From the eighth century he has been invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with illnesses of the throat. St. Blaise is included in the list of Fourteen Holy Helpers.