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A call came to my home one night in late June 2003: “Do you want to see The Passion?” Of course, I did. Everybody in Christendom did... Looking back now, it’s hard to believe how the political fuss pretty much overwhelmed any discussion of the artistic merits of the movie. No one could have fathomed in that moment that Gibson would be the first victim of the cancel impulse, as his stunning and very personal movie about Jesus arguably destroyed his career, even as it made him the wealthiest man in Hollywood. Few faith-based filmmakers have any idea what makes...

The Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate has announced the cancellation of all public Easter celebrations in Syria for 2026, citing ongoing security concerns and unstable conditions across the country. In an official directive addressed to clergy in the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Damascus, the Patriarchate confirmed that this year’s observances will be significantly scaled back, with services limited strictly to prayers held inside churches. “As we stand at the threshold of Holy Week, and in light of the current unfavorable circumstances, we have decided, in coordination and agreement with the other Churches, that this year’s Easter celebrations (2026) will be limited to...

Learn about Pysanky - Amazing Ukrainian Eggs in this tutorial video. Hi I'm Donna Wolfe from Naztazia. I come from a family with Ukrainian heritage. Creating pysanky every spring is a part of our culture and traditional. This egg art from Ukraine goes back many generations. Beeswax, dyes, and a wax tool called a kistka are used to make these eggs. Watch as I show how to create a pysanka in this video!PYSANKY - Ukrainian Easter Egg Art [video]

“Donkeys were portrayed in Scripture as symbols of service, humility, suffering, and peace. Therefore, riding a donkey symbolized the arrival of peace.” Riding a horse would have symbolized war, but Jesus was declaring peace. By riding a colt, Jesus was essentially saying, “Yes, I am your king. The time you’ve been waiting for has arrived. But things aren’t going to happen as you expect.” The people welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday expected Him to bring peace to their circumstances through a military victory over the Romans. Jesus came to bring peace between humans and God. He also gives...

Over 13,000 adults and 8,000 teens will be baptized in France this Easter, setting a new record, the French Bishops' Conference announced on March 25. "How is this happening? What's going on?" Archbishop Olivier de Germay of Lyon, France, didn't try to downplay the mystery. He serves as the point person for the catechumenate for the French Bishops' Conference (CEF). Speaking from Lourdes, he noted the many unknowns still surrounding the surge in teen and adult baptism requests. During the Easter Vigil, on April 4, the Church will celebrate 21,386 adult and teen baptisms. The CEF shared these staggering figures...

During a recent press conference in Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement that stirred strong reactions. Citing historian Will Durant, he said: "History proves that, unfortunately and unhappily, Jesus Christ has no advantage over Genghis Khan. Because if you are strong enough, ruthless enough, powerful enough, evil will overcome good." Though later clarified as a reflection on the harsh realities of history rather than an attack on Christianity, the statement invites a deeper theological response… The cross does not look like victory. It does not resemble the triumphs of emperors or conquerors. Christ does not defeat his enemies; he allows...

Sunday 8 June 2025 Pentecost shrine to the memory of St. Jacques Berthieu in Ambiatibe, MadagascarReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: C(I).These readings are for the extended-form Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.These readings are for the simple-form Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.These readings are for the day of the feast itself.These readings are for the extended-form Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.First readingGenesis 11:1-9The tower of BabelThroughout the earth men spoke the same language, with the same vocabulary. Now as they moved eastwards they found a plain in the land of...

7 June 2025 Saturday of the 7th week of Eastertide Fountains Abbey Cistercian monastery church with Tower and Chapel of AltarsReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 28:16-20,30-31In Rome, Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God without hindrance from anyoneOn our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him. After three days he called together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed...

6 June 2025 Friday of the 7th week of Eastertide Saint Norbert of Xanten Church - AntwerpReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 25:13-21'I ordered Paul to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar'King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. Their visit lasted several days, and Festus put Paul’s case before the king. ‘There is a man here’ he said ‘whom Felix left behind in custody, and while I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews laid information against him, demanding his condemnation. But I told...

5 June 2025 Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr on Thursday of the 7th week of Eastertide St. Boniface Catholic Church - Sublimity, ORReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: C(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingActs 22:30,23:6-11'You have borne witness in Jerusalem: now you must do the same in Rome'Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them. Now Paul was...

4 June 2025Wednesday of the 7th week of EastertideThe Bridgettine Chapel & Retreat in Columbus, OhioReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 20:28-38I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, and its powerPaul addressed these words to the elders of the church of Ephesus: ‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will...

3 June 2025 Saints Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs on Tuesday of the 7th week of EastertideSaint Charles Lwanga Church, ZimbabweReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: C(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingActs 20:17-27I have without faltering put before you the whole of God's purposeFrom Miletus Paul sent for the elders of the church of Ephesus. When they arrived he addressed these words to them: ‘You know what my way of life has been ever since the first day I set foot among you in Asia, how I have served the Lord...

2 June 2025 Monday of the 7th week of EastertideIn the north transept of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the first altar on the left is that of St. ErasmusReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 19:1-8The moment Paul laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on themWhile Apollos was in Corinth, Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ they answered, ‘No, we were never even told there was such a thing as a...

Sunday 1 June 2025 The Ascension of the Lord Solemnity St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church, St. Louis, MissouriReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).These readings are for the Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.These readings are for the day of the feast itself.These readings are for the Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.First readingActs 1:1-11Jesus was lifted up while they looked onIn my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit,...

Saturday 31 May 2025 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feast The Altar of Saint Petronilla in Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome. Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingZephaniah 3:14-18The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midstShout for joy, daughter of Zion,Israel, shout aloud!Rejoice, exult with all your heart,daughter of Jerusalem!The Lord has repealed your sentence;he has driven your enemies away.The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;you have no more evil to fear.When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:Zion, have no fear,do not let your hands fall limp.The Lord your God...

30 May 2025Friday before Ascension SundaySt Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Canton, OHReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 18:9-18'I have many people on my side in this city'At Corinth one night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid to speak out, nor allow yourself to be silenced: I am with you. I have so many people on my side in this city that no one will even attempt to hurt you.’ So Paul stayed there preaching the word of God among them for eighteen months. But, while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia,...

29 May 2025 Thursday before Ascension Sunday; Ascension Thursday in some dioceses The 50th Anniversary of Paul VI's First Italian MassReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).In some dioceses the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated today. If this applies to you, please reconfigure Universalis to use the appropriate local calendar.First readingActs 18:1-8Paul lodged with them and worked, and held debates in the synagoguesPaul left Athens and went to Corinth, where he met a Jew called Aquila whose family came from Pontus. He and his wife Priscilla had recently left Italy because an edict of Claudius had expelled all...

28 May 2025 Wednesday of the 6th week of EastertideChurch of Saint-Bernard de Menthon, commune of Menthon-Saint-Bernard, FranceReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 17:15,22-18:1I proclaim the God you already worship without knowing itPaul’s escort took him as far as Athens, and went back with instructions for Silas and Timothy to rejoin Paul as soon as they could. So Paul stood before the whole Council of the Areopagus and made this speech: ‘Men of Athens, I have seen for myself how extremely scrupulous you are in all religious matters, because I noticed, as I strolled round admiring your...

27 May 2025 Tuesday of the 6th week of EastertideSt. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, TorontoReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I).First readingActs 16:22-34Become a believer and you will be saved, and your household tooThe crowd joined in and showed their hostility to Paul and Silas, so the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be flogged. They were given many lashes and then thrown into prison, and the gaoler was told to keep a close watch on them. So, following his instructions, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Late that...