The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin is preparing for America’s 250th anniversary next month with an exhibition on 76 holy men and women who helped shape the country’s history. The event starts in early July, and includes relics and displays on St. Damien of Molokai, Hawaii; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first U.S.-born saint; and Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, set to be canonized in Illinois in September. The Shrine also is leading a nine-day novena for the future of the United States. John Paul Brissette, the shrine’s director of communications, says the saints with ties to the U.S. are a reminder for us to see the goodness and dignity of everyone. Watch the full story: ow.ly/xiBn50ZbSEY

A baby whisperer? In Tenerife, on the last day of his trip to Spain, Pope Leo proved once again that he not only loves blessing and holding babies, but that the affection is mutual. Crying in the arms of the security guard carrying him toward the pontiff, this baby instantly soothed upon being cradled in the Holy Father’s arms. And some say he doesn’t have superpowers with babies...

The Pope has blessed more than 100 babies during his trip to Spain, which concludes this Friday. While television cameras have captured many of these scenes, this lovely video by Catalan businesswoman María Fàbrega, shared on the Instagram profile @/cashfana and distributed with her permission, shows another perspective: that of a mother who, overjoyed to see the successor of Peter, hands over her baby and receives the most memorable blessing.

Gates Garcia, Host of “We the People” Podcast: “Young men have agency… They’ve been told that all these forces in society are joining against them to ruin their life... But what I tell students on college campuses is, there have been challenges for every generation.”

Dr. Kent Lasnoski, President of San Damiano College for the Trades: “The Holy Spirit has been moving people to answer the crisis of young men not knowing what it means to be a man, how to provide for themselves and for a family...”

Gary DeKler, Catholic Grandfather: “I've been married 50 years to my wife, and that's all because of her patience... I want [my grandchildren] to remember that I was faithful to her, I was faithful to the Church, I was as faithful as I could be to God, as often as I could be.”

Adm. Brian Christine, 18th Secretary for Health at HHS: “Making sure we take care of our men, we have good health efforts for men. Just like we do for women. I am particularly interested in that, as a men’s health practitioner.”

A new report says many ab*rtion businesses are violating federal rules designed to protect women. Charlotte Lozier Institute says more than a half-dozen online businesses are shipping the drugs into states with pro-life laws prohibiting their distribution. The pro-life group also says these drugs are widely available beyond the FDA’s 10-week regulations. Dr. Ingrid Skop, vice president and director of medical affairs for Charlotte Lozier Institute, even says many ab*rtion drug providers targeted in the first Trump administration are still in business. Watch the full story: ow.ly/HMxB50Z9uoM

Bishop Stephen Parkes of Savannah explains how the example of the Georgia martyrs, who gave their lives in defense of marriage, can inspire us today to believe in the sanctity of this vocation and to strive to form holy families in a society where marriage is often attacked and discredited. Watch the full story: ow.ly/2G1f50Z9pqR

Pope Leo is on his apostolic trip to Spain this week and crowds are following him everywhere he goes. As he rolls through the streets of Madrid in the popemobile, he keeps making the best kind of “traffic stops” to bless multiple babies. Honestly, how could this not be our favorite combo?

Olga, a little Russian girl with autism who was abandoned and grew up with the religious of Casa Santa Teresa, had one of her greatest dreams come true today: hugging Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Spain. The other dream that this “little” 23-year-old holds in her heart is to be a saint. With her leaps of joy, Olga moved even the journalists covering the moment. Casa Santa Teresa, of the Daughters of Our Lady of Providence, accompanies adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering the necessary support to achieve their socio-laboral goals and develop their own life projects. Photo and video: Fran Otero/Ecclesia

Pope Leo’s blessing of babies turned into a double dose of grace in Spain. At CEDAR, a center that welcomes immigrants, he met a young Cuban mother who arrived alone and found love and support at Hogar Santa Bárbara, where she was able to carry and welcome her twin babies. Now, those twins have received a special blessing from the pope on the first day of his apostolic trip.

At the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on the busy streets of Washington DC, Saturday morning June 6th, many children and babies got to witness Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. The cutest little faithful, adored and prayed as the Cabrini Route made it’s way through the nation’s capital before continuing its journey to Pennsylvania. This powerful public witness of faith continues across the nation, having started in St. Augustine Florida Memorial Day weekend and culminating 4th of July weekend in Philadelphia to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

All human life is designed and loved by God and should be protected. 💛

Parents and pro-life leaders react, calling children with Down syndrome ‘a light in the world.’ Read the full story: ow.ly/qfTr50Z8b27

Several U.S. states push back on so-called “Pride Month” by inaugurating pro-family and pro-life initiatives for June, which is also dedicated to Sacred Heart Month in the Catholic Church, a devotion honoring Christ's infinite love, passion, and mercy for humanity. Watch the full story: ow.ly/FaA250Z85hy

John Paul Brissette, National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, on the 76 holy men and women with ties to the US: “So many of their stories are regarding how they treated other people and how they respected life. It’s so beautiful to see and such an example for all of us.”

Dr. Joseph Meaney, Past President, National Catholic Bioethics Center: “One of the things [Pope Leo] mentioned was that some countries claim to have family-friendly policies ... promoting families, and at the very same time they’re promoting abortion as a fundamental right.”

Dr. Ingrid Skop, Vice President for Charlotte Lozier Institute: “So far, from the FDA? Crickets. But I’m optimistic. I believe that as more and more information comes out, as more and more pressure is placed by the American public on the FDA, they will be forced to act.”

“Don’t treat this season like it’s a waiting season; treat it like it’s the only season you may ever have, and give your all to it.” We recently spoke with the author of “The Catholic Girl Survival Guide for the Single Years”, Emily Simpson. She says for those who want to be married and have not yet found their spouse, the key is to remember God has a plan for your life.