Meditating on St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Bishop Erik Varden on the second day of the Lenten Spiritual Exercises for the Holy Father and the Roman Curia says: “On the face of it, the Cistercian project was conservative. Yet its protagonists introduced novelties. This dialectic was fruitful. Bernard’s confidence in his own judgement could make him flexible in the observance of conventional procedures he otherwise claimed to uphold. His view of the Church’s needs drove him sometimes to adopt rigid positions that involved fierce partisanship. But he was no hypocrite. He was a genuinely humble man, fully given to God, capable of tender kindness, a firm friend — indeed, able to befriend former enemies — and a compelling witness to God’s love. He was, and remains, fascinating.”
Life Illumined From the second conference of this week’s Lenten Retreat. Italian text below. What sort of man was St Bernard? Where did he come from? He towers over the twelfth-century Cistercian movement: such were his charisma and industriousness. Many people, including some who should know better, suppose he got the order going. He did not, of course; though he did make a splash when he turned up in 1113, aged 23, with a band of thirty companions. The monastery he joined, Cîteaux, was a project as much of innovation as of reform. The founders, who set it up in 1098, called their house novum monasterium. They were doing something new, not primarily reacting against anything, which is just as well, since projects of reaction sooner or later run into the sand. On the face of it, the Cistercian project was conservative. Yet its protagonists introduced novelties. This dialectic was fruitful. Bernard’s confidence in his own judgement could make him flexible in the observance of conventional …
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich, 70, as apostolic nuncio to the Netherlands—just ten months after Pope Francis appointed him. Although nuncios may retire at 70, such a brief tenure is highly unusual. Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad said the reasons for his resignation are “shrouded in mystery.” Named an archbishop by Pope Francis in 2013, Speich previously served as nuncio to Ghana (2013–2019) and Slovenia (2019–2025) before being appointed to the Netherlands shortly before Pope Francis’ death.
On February 21, Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich as nuncio to the Netherlands. Monsignor Speich left The Hague only ten months after his appointment. Nuncios may retire upon reaching the age of 70 (and not only at 75). Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to The Hague in April 2025. He turned 70 in June 2025. Had Monsignor Speich truly planned to step down at 70, he could have requested to remain in Slovenia until his birthday and then taken his leave. He became known for his role as nuncio in Slovenia in connection with the Marko Rupnik case. Rupnik is accused by two dozen former nuns of sexual perversion. Monsignor Speich is considered responsible for Rupnik's incardination in the diocese of Koper (Capodistria). Born in Strasbourg on June 15, 1955, Speich was ordained a priest in 1982 for the Archdiocese of Strasbourg. He joined the Holy See's diplomatic service in 1986 and served in numerous countries, including Haiti, Nigeria, Bolivia, Canada …More
"In seminary I had the chance to whirl with dervishes in a Sufi Dergah in Tribeca." You ever hear an Episcopal 'pastor' describe his seminary experience like this before?
Recalling his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in December, Bishop Athanasius Schneider said: "Leo XIV himself said that he had met young people — and I was surprised to hear this from his own lips — who told him that their conversion to God had come through the Traditional Latin Mass.”
+Schneider on his meeting with Leo XIV in December 2015: He said from himself that he met youth who converted thanks to the Tridentine Latin Mass.
ORMER PRINCE ANDREW HAS BEEN ARRESTED The disgraced royal has just been arrested over his ties to Peadophile Jeffrey Epstein at his home after multiple police cars turned up in the early hours of the morning
In the Sotho–Tswana cultural environment, this ceremonial attire such as the animal-skin chest panels and the wooden staff symbolizes adult manhood, dignity, leadership, and pride in one’s ancestral lineage.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Rev Amos Mabuti Masemola as Bishop of the Diocese of Kroonstad, South Africa. Since 2021, he has served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Pretoria. Background and Formation Born on 5 March 1978 in Winterveld, within the Archdiocese of Pretoria, he was ordained a priest on 3 June 2007. Over the years, he has held various pastoral and administrative roles, including parish priest in several communities, administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Pretoria and chancellor of the archdiocese. He has also served as spiritual director and lecturer at St John Vianney Seminary. Public Presence Disguised in Civil Clothes Monsignor Masemola has maintained a Facebook account for many years. Many of his photographs — despite his role as Vicar General — show him in civil clothing (below). One of his profile pictures, which he reused repeatedly up to 2024, shows him wearing traditional Southern African cultural attire outside of church contexts. He is wearing a hat …More
Pope Leo has named Sister Simona Brambilla, M.C, Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life , as a member of the Dicastery for Bishops. Additionally, the Pope has reconfirmed Cardinals Cupich and Tobin and members of the same Dicastery.
Pope Leo XIV has named today Sr Simona Brambilla as a member to the Dicastery for Bishops. He also confirmed numerous previous members including the outrageously pro-homosexuals Cardinals Cupich, Tobin, Fernández, Grech, Tolentino de Mendonça, Cobo, or Heung-sik. Newly Appointed Sr. Simona Brambilla, 60, Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Confirmed Members — Cardinals Pietro Parolin, 71, — Cardinal, Vatican Secretary of State Kurt Koch, 75 — Cardinal, Prefect, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity João Braz de Aviz, 78 — Cardinal, Prefect Emeritus, Dicastery for Consecrated Life Sérgio da Rocha, 66, Cardinal, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia Blase Joseph Cupich, 76, Cardinal, Archbishop of Chicago Joseph William Tobin, 73, Cardinal, Archbishop of Newark Juan José Omella Omella, 79, — Cardinal, Archbishop of Barcelona Anders Arborelius, 76, Cardinal, Bishop of Stockholm José F. Advincula, 73, Cardinal, Archbishop of Manila …More
Hillary Clinton arrives by train from Berlin for the Munich Security Conference, MSC. Germany experience so far: No hassle from people asking about those files. No hot drinks because of a power failure in the bistro for half the trip.
Was macht die nicht gewählte Hillary Clinton eigentlich auf der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz?
The Lepanto Institute has asked Pope Leo XIV to laicize and suspend Fr. Steve Rosera of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. In an August 2025 report, Lepanto stated that Rosera entered a registered homosexual domestic partnership in San Francisco that lasted ten years during a 28-year leave from public ministry. The group submitted a notarized July 30, 2025 divorce document from the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco to the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Christophe Cardinal Pierre, requesting it be delivered to the pope. Lepanto said Rosera has been reinstated to ministry and serves as a parish pastor and marriage tribunal judge. The group stated that Archbishop John Wester has not imposed canonical sanctions.
Bishop Fellay on Sunday (Feb. 8): “This act [of consecrating bishops without a papal mandate] cannot be understood or justified if we do not understand that there is a major problem within the Catholic Church,” i.e., “a state of emergency or state of necessity.”
On Sunday, Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X spoke in his homily at the US seminary about his experiences of dealing with the Vatican and the upcoming episcopal ordinations on 1 July. Main points. Survival, Not Schism · The Fraternity proceeds to consecrate bishops even if Rome says 'no' - aware that accusations of "schism" and "excommunication" will follow. · The Fraternity acts to survive: it has the right to preserve the faith and the sacraments. Crisis in the Church: State of Emergency · Such an act cannot be understood without acknowledging a major crisis in the Church, also described as a state of emergency or necessity. · The Church’s mission is not ecological activism: “We are not here to save the trees, but the souls.” · Blessings and sacramental access are being extended to those living objectively in sin, contrary to Christ’s teaching. Recognition of Papal Authority - BUT · The Fraternity fully recognizes the Pope as having supreme authority …More
Cardinal Dolan, Reverend A.R. Bernard to Lead NYPD Chaplains Unit By: The Good Newsroom New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch on Tuesday will name Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Reverend A.R. Bernard as co-chief chaplains of the department’s chaplains unit, the commissioner said Monday in a statement. “For more than a century, our Chaplains Unit has made sure that our officers never have to carry the tremendous weight of their work alone. They’ve helped officers find their better angels and remember the calling that lives at the heart of this work,” the commissioner said. The official announcement will be made as part of her “State of the NYPD” address on Tuesday. “As I was thinking about who should fill this role, one Hebrew word kept coming to mind — ‘Tzadik,’ a person of righteousness. “Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Reverend A.R. Bernard are two of the most righteous people this City has ever known. They are two men of incredible faith whose lives and leadership …
Newyorský kardinál sa stal policajným kaplánom v medzináboženskej jednotke: Dolan bol vymenovaný za spoluhlavného kaplána newyorskej polície. Bude viesť medzináboženskú a medzináboženskú kaplánsku jednotku oddelenia - spolu s A. R. Bernardom, evanjelickým megacirkevným pastorom z Brooklynu. Jednotka zahŕňa kazateľov z rôznych náboženských tradícií vrátane katolicizmu, protestantizmu, judaizmu a islamu.
O Cardeal de Nova Iorque torna-se Capelão da Polícia numa unidade inter-religiosa: O Arcebispo Emérito de Nova Iorque, Timothy Dolan, foi nomeado Co-Capelão-Chefe do Departamento de Polícia de Nova Iorque. Irá dirigir a unidade de capelania inter-religiosa e interdenominacional do departamento - juntamente com A. R. Bernard, um pastor evangélico de uma mega-igreja de Brooklyn. A unidade inclui pregadores de uma variedade de tradições religiosas, incluindo o catolicismo, o protestantismo, o judaísmo e o islamismo.
ABC anchor Gio Benitez recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Manhattan, NYC. The sponsor was Benitez' "husband" Timmy DiDario. One of the priests co-celebrating the Sacrament was Fr. James Martin.
How can you receive the sacrament of confirmation when you are living (publically) in mortal sin? How can you desecrate the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist by giving the Holy Eucharist to a public sinner??? Dear God have mercy on us!
Pope Leo XIV today accepted the resignation of conservative Archbishop Samuel Aquila, 75, from Denver and appointed James R. Golka, 59, as his successor. Monsignor Golka was appointed bishop of Colorado Springs by Pope Francis in April 2021. In June 2025, El País described Golka as having “similar ideological leanings as Pope Francis.” When Golka became Bishop in Colorado Springs, the Peruvian priest Ricardo Coronado-Arrascue was serving as judicial vicar and chancellor of this diocese. A Peruvian Canon Lawyer with Ties to Prevost Coronado is a former Peruvian Augustinian friar who left the order in 2001 to become a diocesan priest. He knows Robert Prevost well, and the two have had tensions in the past according to CruxNow.com. In May 2022, Coronado resigned his offices in Colorado Springs, and a settlement agreement was signed between him and the diocese. The Making of a Disobedience Case In June 2023, the diocese Colorado Springs stated publicly that it had received “accusations” …More
New Hampshire Democrat Amanda Toll holds her newborn baby in her arms while promoting legislation to kill babies in abortions. She killed her first baby to further her career.
"Blessed are those who end their pregnancies" Because it's being shared around again, here is the fuller version. PCUSA 'pastor' says Jesus would have been an abortion doula and reveals she's had two abortions herself.