COLLECTION OF CATHOLIC PRAYERS ETC.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ final moments were peaceful, and he managed to give one last farewell to his nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, before slipping into a coma early April 21, Vatican News reported. Among his last words were his thanks to Strappetti late April 20 when he said, “Thank you for bringing me back…
Read More “Pope thanks nurse for taking him to St. Peter’s Square one last time” »
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis was a pastor first, “so consistently, so spontaneously and with such deep conviction,” that it will remain a gift to the Catholic Church, said Cardinal Michael Czerny. The cardinal, who served as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, spoke with Catholic News Service April 22, the…
Read More “Pope was a pastor first, which is lasting gift to church, cardinal says” »
It is uncertain when Saint George was born and historians continue to debate to this day. However, his death date is estimated to be April 23, 303 A.D. The first piece of evidence of George’s existance appeared within the works of the Bollandists Daniel Papebroch, Jean Bolland, and Godfrey Henschen’s Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca. George was…
Read More “St. George: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, April 23, 2025” »
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the liturgy, which begins a nine-day period of official mourning and daily memorial Masses. The deceased pope’s body, which was…
Read More “Pope’s funeral set for April 26, public viewing April 23-25” »
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from the Americas. His papacy, from March 13, 2013, to April 21, 2025, brought change to the Vatican and the Church at large, resulting in his becoming one of…
In the heart of the Catholic Faith lies a paradox so profound it can only be understood through the eyes of faith: the juxtaposition of the agony of the Cross and the overwhelming joy of the Resurrection. For Catholics, Holy Week and Easter form the spiritual core of the liturgical year. It is in this…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis died April 21 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, said the director of Vatican City State’s department of health services. The pope had also gone into a coma. “I certify that His Holiness Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, resident of…
Read More “Pope died of stroke, heart failure, coma, Vatican says” »
Sts. Epipodius and Alexander were Christian martyrs of Lyon, France, during the fierce persecutions under Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century. Epipodius, a native of Lyon, and Alexander, a Greek, were close friends known for their virtuous lives and strong Christian witness. When Christians were being hunted, the two went into hiding to…
Reading 1 Acts 2:36-41 On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people, “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis died April 21 after suffering a stroke and heart attack, said the director of Vatican City State’s department of health services. The pope had also gone into a coma. “I certify that His Holiness Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, resident of…
Read More “Pope died of stroke, heart attack, coma, Vatican says” »