A depiction of Our Lady by Romanian artist Teodora Axente has sparked controversy in Siena, Italy. The Virgin on this year's Palio banner os androgynous and departs from any Marian iconography. The Municipality of Siena commissioned Axente to create the Drappellone, the painted silk banner awarded to the winning contrada, one of Siena's historic districts, in the city's centuries-old Palio horse race. Axente was appointed by the city government on the proposal of Mayor Nicoletta Fabio. The banner was unveiled on August 10. It places the Virgin above Siena and its contrade, protecting the Golden Rose associated with Pope Pius II, and commemorates the 500th anniversary of the 1526 Battle of Camollia. Axente called the figure her personal vision of the Madonna and said the figures in the work were “more androgynous” and therefore “universal characters.” On August 13, the Archdiocese of Siena published a statement by Father Enrico Grassini, rector of the Collegio dei Correttori. He rejected …Higit pa
"You are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people; that you may declare his virtues, who bath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" ( 1 Pet. 2, 9). You are a chosen generation, for the Saint of saints has elected you to the holy office of the priesthood. To you particularly He addresses these words: "But according to him that bath called you, who is holy, be you also in all manner of conversation holy; because it is written: 'You shall be holy, for I am holy"' ( 1 Pet. 1, 15-16). You are clothed and adorned with a kingly priesthood. You are priests and kings as Jesus Christ Himself is the Supreme Priest and King. You are a purchased people in a very special significance. It is true that Our Blessed Redeemer purchased all mankind at the price of His Blood and that Almighty God gave Him to all nations. Nevertheless Jesus acquired you in a particular manner and so His Heavenly Father manifests a unique love for you. After the Blessed Virgin …Higit pa
Lourdes Bans FSSPX Masses: On August 13, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes, France, issued a statement concerning the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) pilgrimage to Lourdes. He cited the episcopal consecrations at Écône on July 1 and the subsequent decree of the Holy See. The FSSPX is no longer authorized to celebrate Mass or other sacraments inside the Lourdes Sanctuary, nor to organize public prayers there. Individual pilgrims remain free to pray privately. Bishop Micas wrote that he was aware the decision would cause “pain” and “perhaps incomprehension.” The FSSPX had held organized public worship at Lourdes for many years, including Masses, confessions, processions and public prayers within the Sanctuary.
Micas, traitor to Christ and His Holy Traditional Catholic Church. Accomplice of the syncretist Prevost who offends the Most Holy Trinity with false gods and insults the Co-Redemptrix. Micas does not condemn Prevost's mortal sin, but condemns the virtue of faithfulness to Jesus Christ in the Catholic tradition.
He Flunked Latin but Died a Martyr: The Story of Blessed Stanley Rother with Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda "The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger." Biographer Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda joins CatholicTV to share the incredible witness of Blessed Stanley Rother, the first martyr born in the United States. What does it take for an ordinary farm boy from Okarche, Oklahoma, to become a recognized Catholic martyr? Author and biographer Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda steps into the living room on This Is the Day to unpack the life of Blessed Father Stanley Francis Rother. Maria shares Father Stan's relatable early struggles—from being sent home after flunking his first year of theology due to Latin textbooks, to discovering his true calling at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and volunteering for the Oklahoma mission in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. There, among the Tzʼutujil Mayan community, this humble farmer built schools, a hospital, translated scripture, and learned their language fluently. When civil …Higit pa
US Sisters and the Macarena Retirement Tour: The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) held its 70th anniversary gathering in Orlando, Florida, from 11 to 14 August. They posted a video on Facebook showing elderly women in civilian clothes dancing the Macarena (1995). The fitting headline: "When Catholic sisters get together, watch out for the dance parties! ". Macarena was popular when the sisters were in their 50s. The LCWR represents the leaders of many women's religious congregations in the United States.
Dance party of "nuns": The LCWR 70th Anniversary Gathering was held August 11–14, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. The event brought together Catholic women and men religious from the United States, Canada, Latin America and other parts of the Americas for prayer, worship, talks, discussion and community events.
2. Historical Context and "Dance Manias" Catholic history records instances where mass dancing was interpreted through the lens of spiritual affliction or divine punishment. [1, 2] St. Vitus’ Dance (Chorea): In the Middle Ages, outbreaks of compulsive, uncontrollable dancing (now understood as a neurological or psychological phenomenon) swept through Europe. [1, 2, 3, 4] Spiritual Intercession: Victims were sent to shrines of St. Vitus, a Christian martyr, to pray for deliverance and healing from what many at the time feared was a demonic curse or affliction. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 3. Ritual Dancing and Entry Points Catholic moral theology warns against practices that willingly open a person up to the influence of evil spirits. Trance Induction: Repetitive, frenzied, or rhythmic dancing used in occult or neo-pagan rituals is designed to lower conscious defenses and alter the state of mind. [1, 2, 3] The Danger of Invitation: Exorcists warn that participating in dances meant to invoke …Higit pa
On July 20, at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, the 88th Annual Meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association (CBA) elected Amy-Jill Levine, 70, as president for 2026–2027. She is the first Jewish president in the CBA’s history. Founded in 1936, the CBA is an independent association with longstanding institutional ties to the U.S. bishops. Its constitution says it pursues biblical scholarship “in conformity with the teaching of the magisterium of the Catholic Church.” Levine is a New Testament scholar and is a longtime member of the CBA. In spring 2019, she became the first Jewish scholar to teach New Testament at Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute. She has also had three audiences with Pope Francis. In a sermon at Washington National Cathedral on March 7, 2021, Levine said: “I’m a Jew. I don’t worship Jesus as Lord and Savior.” "Lectionary Revision Is Only A Start" In an interview published by The Christian Century in June 2023, Levine describes parts of the Gospel of John as …Higit pa
When I was in seminary unfortunately this person was invited to speak. I still ask the same question, how can someone who says “I’m a Jew. I don’t worship Jesus as Lord and Savior” be considered a New Testament scholar? She is doing the work of the devil. She will change nothing that that the Catholic Church preaches or teaches. We have our Lord’s promise, “the gates of hell will not prevail.”
Bishop Gerard de Korte of s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) in the Netherlands criticized Auxiliary Bishop Robert Mutsaerts for publishing an open letter to Pope Leo XIV last week imploring the pontiff to consider the 'fruits' of the Synod on Synodality and whether this process has truly helped to bring souls closer to Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bishop Gerard de Korte of’s-Hertogenbosch has responded critically to the open letter against the failed synodal project by his auxiliary bishop Rob Mutsaerts. Monsignor Mutsaerts did not consult him about this lengthy open letter, Bishop De Korte told Nd.nl on August 14. For him “a personal letter to the pope would have been the proper course of action, if Mutsaerts truly does not wish to sow division, as he writes”. Bishop de Korte added: “After all, a bishop or auxiliary bishop has his own means of communicating with the Bishop of Rome”. And: “In any case, at the request of Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, the Dutch bishops will continue building a synodal Church. On Friday, October 16, the bishops and Dutch religious orders will organize a national day of inspiration on synodality, at the St. John’s Centre in ’s-Hertogenbosch.” In 2020, because of differences with the liberal Bishop de Korte, Monsignor Mutsaerts stepped down from virtually all of his administrative duties in the …Higit pa
After entering a civil ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, on August 11, Cristiano Ronaldo and his concubine Georgina Rodríguez received for their Amoris Laetitia relationship a blessing à la Fiducia Supplicans from a priest at the Shrine of Fátima. This was followed a Eucharist behind closed doors in the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Dores. Ronaldo's management confirmed the civil marriage to Reuters. Portuguese and Spanish reports say the ceremony took place in the couple's living room. Both have publicly identified with “Catholicism”. On August 10, Ronaldo and Rodríguez signed a prenuptial agreement in Lisbon establishing separation of property. They retained their respective surnames, while the marriage record reportedly lists their residence as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “Their” children were present at the event in Fatima. Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., born in 2010, is Ronaldo's eldest son. His mother's identity has never been publicly disclosed, and Ronaldo has said he has custody of him. Twins …Higit pa
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝. At this link you can listen to the Sixth Lecture of the series "Prophecy and the End Times," which Father Leonardo Castellani (Universal Sacred Doctor by bull of Pius XI) delivered in 1969. Audio in Spanish.
Leo XIV’s Peru Visit Prepared By Pachamama Offering: On 13–14 August, “Entrelazando Voces por la Dignidad,” a regional gathering of social organizations and Indigenous communities, took place in Cusco, Peru. Spanish-language outlets, including Vatican News, linked it to preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s November visit. Bishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera, auxiliary bishop of Cusco and CELAM secretary-general, inaugurated the gathering; Bishop Miguel Ángel Cadenas of Iquitos also attended. InfoVaticana video shows the event opening with an Andean offering to Pachamama/Mother Earth. Participants received coca leaves, performed guided breathing, blew three times on the leaves, and placed them with food offerings in bowls on the ground. Bishop Estrada is shown adding coca leaves to the offering. Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, Vatican official overseeing the dissolution of the community Sodalitium, also took part, placing coca leaves in the offering.
Un comisario pontificio y un obispo depositan coca en un «pago a la tierra»: Jordi Bertomeu oferente a la Pachamama
New FSSPX Chapel in Poland: On August 1, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) blessed a new chapel in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The previous chapel had become too small for the growing congregation. The FSSPX has maintained an apostolate in Poland's Kuyavian-Pomeranian region for more than 20 years. According to PiusX.org.pl, by April 30, 2026, a fundraising campaign for the new chapel had raised 306,595.86 PLN (about €71,000). The chapel was not newly built, but created by adapting existing premises over several weeks, including the sanctuary, sacristy, altar, and liturgical furnishings.
Une nouvelle chapelle de la FSSPX a été bénie le 1er août à Bydgoszcz. Depuis l’ouverture de la précédente chapelle en 2022, le nombre de fidèles assistant aux messes dominicales n’a cessé de croître, au point de rendre les locaux trop exigus.
The Archdiocese of Olomouc, Czech Republic, has cancelled a homosexual “pilgrimage” scheduled for September 19, in Olomouc. Olomouc Archbishop Josef Nuzík, 60, was expected to preside at the Eucharist, giving the event direct institutional backing. The program also included a presentation by priest Cyril Havel on Building a Bridge, a book by American Jesuit James Martin; a video greeting from Martin; testimony from parents of alleged transgender-children; and a discussion of different Christian approaches to homosexual pastoral care. Organizers claimed a “wave of negative and hostile reactions” online, although they did not identify who was responsible or where these reactions were posted. Claiming they could no longer guarantee participants a safe environment, organizers cancelled the event on August 14. The event, Pouť na půli cesty (“Pilgrimage Halfway”), was to be the second pilgrimage for homosexuals, their relatives and other participants. It was organized by pastoral ministries …Higit pa
A mother in Ceuta has broken down in tears on Live TV: "My 16-year-old daughter has to go everywhere with her father or with me because the migrants devour her. I can't take it anymore. I want them all gone." The left-wing feminists are silent.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider has issued his first public statement since Leo XIV declared six FSSPX bishops excommunicated on July 2, published on Diane Montagna's Substack. Schneider had previously appealed for liturgical peace, meeting with Pope Leo XIV in December 2025 and Cardinal Parolin a little over a week before the July 1 episcopal consecration. Bishop Schneider's central claim: in an extraordinary Church crisis, fidelity to unambiguous doctrine and traditional liturgy can outweigh obedience to ecclesiastical law. He opens with St. Athanasius, excommunicated by Pope Liberius in 357 for refusing communion with Arian bishops the Pope himself had recognized under imperial pressure. Athanasius was later canonized as a Doctor of the Church; Liberius was never canonized. Schneider treats Écône as a modern parallel — a forced choice between canonical obedience and doctrinal integrity. Bishop Schneider blames two distortions for narrowing this question: "legalism" (treating Church law …Higit pa
Jesus Calls You Beyond Mere Obligation The new covenant, written on our hearts, emphasizes acting out of love and charity rather than mere obligation. While the old covenant focused on following rules, the new covenant calls us to internalize God’s will and live it out through genuine love for God and others. This higher standard, though challenging, ultimately leads to fulfillment and aligns with God’s original plan for humanity. God created us to love and be loved, and Jesus calls us to love Him and our neighbors with our whole heart, soul, and strength. This love should be practical, starting with small acts of kindness towards those around us, even those we may not like. By dying to ourselves and seeking the good of others, we can find fulfillment and become saints, fulfilling God’s purpose for us. Fr. Altier is a Priest at Holy Trinity Parish in South St. Paul: Home | Holy Trinity Parish You can also find Fr. Robert Altier’s homilies and talks on: catholicparents.org: Daily Homilies …Higit pa