I have never forgotten the ending of #TheDiaryOfAnneFrank: “I still believe that people are really good at heart.” I think this has always been my central tenant & why I try to be a bridge builder. God bless her & us. #AnneFrank #peace #NeverForget

This 👇 👏👏👏

Fr. Grassi, pastor of St. James parish in Charles Town WV, gave his homily for Ascension on Mattie J.T. Stepanek & #Heartsongs. #Catholic #MattieMatters #hope #peace #Messenger @Mattie_Matters youtu.be/eIsx67P9wqc?si=mFfM…

Only the Almighty could have thought about creating fireflies.

Discovered a lovely ‘Saint in the making’ this morning from @RobertEllsberg book “Blessed Among Us!” Blessed Francisca de Paula de Jesus - born into slavery in Brazil - “known for her spiritual counsel” and care for the poor.

A 34-week-old baby. Premature infants at this stage have over a 95% survival rate with NICU support and low rates of severe long-term issues. Yet in some states, these children are dehumanized and aborted because they’re labeled “inconvenient” or “just a clump of cells.” This child isn’t disposable. He or she is fully human and worthy of life.

This past week, Spain was in maximum security mode for Pope Leo's trip to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. The European country was also in maximum nun mode, with religious sisters flooding the streets and stadiums everywhere the Pope went. The streets of Spain were extra blessed!

Yes yes yes! You dive - yellow card!!!!!!!! 💛💛💛💛💛💛 Thank you #WorldCup @FIFAWorldCup

Such a sad truth. #CommunistChina has stolen #HongKong’s life and freedom.

Check out my interview on Father Looney’s podcast and our conversation on Mattie! @Mattie_Matters #Catholic #podcast #MattieMatters #MattiesGuild ☺️

I love this girl and my soul hurts

Since the time Ángeles Hernández discovered her calling to become a pilot after boarding a Boeing 747 as a child bound for a visit to England, she never imagined that, decades later, she would sit in the cockpit of an Iberia airplane flying the successor of St. Peter from Madrid to Barcelona. During takeoff, the pope was invited to the cockpit, where they shared an exchange she said she will never forget. “I think I’m still beside myself ... I’m still on cloud nine. I’ve hardly had time to stop and pray, and I believe this is something you process through prayer because otherwise it doesn’t sink in the same way,” the 33-year-old pilot told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, just a day after an experience she said she will always cherish in her heart. The woman from Extremadura, Spain, said it hasnʼt yet fully sunk in and that she still needs to “bring down to earth” the emotions she experienced on the afternoon of June 9, when Pope Leo XIV sat with her and pilot Pablo Martínez in the cockpit. She said she feels “blessed” and attributed the event to “God’s ways.” She also recalled a conversation with a nun from the Eucharistic Sisters of Nazareth, for whom she holds great affection: “I told her I didn’t know if I deserved something like this, and she replied that it was the Lord’s way of telling me he loved me.” The video of Hernández with Pope Leo in the cockpit has gone viral around the world. It shows the pontiff clearly enjoying the experience. “I do think he really enjoyed the flight,” she said. “He mentioned that it was his first time taking off [while in the cockpit] and he asked us technical questions, such as what temperature the engines reach upon startup. He was very curious, and we explained the operation [of the plane] to him as we went along.” Martinez, the other pilot, told the pope he is a Real Madrid soccer team fan and had enjoyed the popeʼs allusion the day before to the “spectacular goal” scored for the Church in Madrid. The pope jokingly replied that he’s also a “White” (referring to the nickname for Real Madrid fans) and added that one has to “be careful” in Barcelona, ​​given the traditional rivalry between the Real team and Barça (the Barcelona team). During the journey, the plane carrying the pope was escorted by two Spanish Air Force F-18 fighter jets. At one point during the flight, the cockpit crew made contact with the military pilots. Hernández said the pope “didn’t hesitate for a moment to put on the headset and pick up the microphone” to speak with Commander López of the Zaragoza Squadron. “It was a unique experience,” she recalled, with feeling. Hernández also had the opportunity to ask the Holy Father to pray for her family’s intentions and, more broadly, for all families in Spain: “For all their concerns, their intentions, and the illnesses borne in silence, and also for those who care for the sick.” She also asked him for a blessing for many of her friends and family members. “The pope told me to let them know they have his blessing and that he is praying for them. I’ll never forget those words — they are truly a gift,” she said. Although the years of training and the journey to becoming a pilot haven’t always been easy, Hernández stated with conviction: “It’s a matter of putting things in God’s hands and saying, ‘Let’s give it our all; if you are with me, we’ll make it.’ She said faith is an immense gift she received from her parents and grandparents, who were the ones responsible for sowing that initial seed. Over the years, she explained, that seed has been “watered” thanks to many people she has met along the way. ewtnnews.com/vatican/i-m-sti…

So much more to say about Mattie. And so much more for me to understand. Ordinary and extraordinary. And so very close to God. #CatholicX #MattieMatters #MattiesGuild #podcast youtu.be/VH0QK_XL_dA?si=YQBV…

We place our trust in you, oh Lord. 🙏❤️🤍💙

Praying for the Church in #Mozambique and the soul of Bishop Afonso

This is joy

Last week St. Bernadette’s celebrated Fr. Larry Swink’s 20th anniversary! Here’s to many more!

"I was told the food was bad, so I sat in the cafeteria right along with the detainees." Border czar Tom Homan says he made a surprise lunch visit to an ICE detention facility after hearing complaints about the food. He says he had spaghetti and meat sauce, green beans, rolls and butter, and a fruit drink, but skipped the cake for dessert. "I couldn't finish it all," he said during an interview with @LaraLeaTrump.

Amen, brother Frank. Amen!

The pope received his answer tonight: 600,000 attended Pope Leo’s youth vigil in Madrid and 60,000 attended the Bad Bunny concert!

Mattie Stepanek — the Messenger of Heartsongs — persevered through great suffering and was exceptionally close to God sharing messages of faith, hope and peace with the world. Join us 6/22 at 6:30pm @Mattie_Matters #Heartsongs #MattiesGuild #MattieMatters