Browsing News Entries

Nebraska combats ‘misleading’ ad campaign promoting pro-abortion ballot measure

Nebraska Capitol. / Credit: Steven Frame/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 14:55 pm (CNA).

Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has released an advisory clarifying that the state’s preborn protection law does not prohibit miscarriage care or lifesaving care amid a pro-abortion advertisement campaign that told the public otherwise.

“The Department of Health and Human Services has received several inquiries, from physicians and health care providers, expressing concern regarding recent radio and television ads that included incorrect and misleading information regarding the Preborn Child Protection Act,” the Oct. 28 advisory reads.

The health advisory came amid an advertising campaign by advocates of Nebraska’s Right to Abortion Initiative 439, which advocates for a right to abortion up to fetal viability in the state constitution. The campaign featured multiple ads that stated that women couldn’t receive miscarriage care and necessary health care because of Nebraska’s current law.

“Any time misleading information causes confusion among health care professionals, it could cause harm to the health and well-being of their patients,” stated the advisory by Dr. Timothy Tesmer, the chief medical officer of the DHHS in Nebraska.

In the health advisory, Tesmer didn’t name which ads the department was responding to, but he clarified that the current law, which protects unborn children after 12 weeks’ gestational age from abortion, provides exceptions for medical emergencies and for cases of rape or incest.

But an advertisement campaign by pro-abortion group Protect Our Rights: Nebraska for 439 told the public otherwise. In one advertisement, advocates said that in Nebraska, there is “an abortion ban that threatens women’s lives” and that “doctors can’t help them even if the pregnancy won’t survive. It puts their lives in danger.” Other advertisements by the same group state that doctors “can’t properly care for patients” and claim that women get sent home “because of the confusing abortion ban” when they have miscarriages.

Allie Berry, the campaign manager for Protect Our Rights, told NBC News that she believed the advisory referred to her group’s ads but said the advisory was designed to “confuse voters.”

The advisory noted that a medical emergency is legally defined as either a threat to the pregnant woman’s life or a “serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.”

“The act does not require a medical emergency to be immediate,” Tesmer noted in the advisory. “Physicians understand that it is difficult to predict with certainty whether a situation will cause a patient to become seriously ill or die, but physicians do know what situations could lead to serious outcomes.”

Nebraska also has a competing pro-life amendment, Initiative 434, which would prohibit abortions after the first trimester, with exceptions for medical emergencies and cases of rape or incest. Another advertisement by Protect Our Rights claimed that Initiative 434 would make Nebraska’s current law permanent and “opens the door” to banning miscarriage care and IVF. 

The health advisory clarified that a variety of medical treatments are not prohibited by the Preborn Child Protection Act, including the removal of a child’s remains after pregnancy loss and the termination of a preborn child produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) but not implanted in the mother’s womb. The advisory noted that any act intended to save the child’s life, as well as treatment for ectopic pregnancies, is not prohibited under the current law. 

“Physicians should exercise their best clinical judgment, and the law allows intervention consistent with prevailing standards of care,” the advisory continued. “The law is deferential to a physician’s judgment in these circumstances.”

Political context

With two contradicting abortion-related measures on the 2024 ballot, Nebraskans will decide Nov. 5 on protection for unborn children in the nation’s only competing abortion ballots. 

Marion Miner, the associate director of Pro-life and Family Policy for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, told CNA that “these lies … are abortion activists’ attempt to terrify voters into approving a radical pro-abortion constitutional amendment they would never otherwise support.”

“Abortion activists are putting women’s lives at risk in a gambit to advance a pro-abortion political agenda,” Miner added. “There are real potential human costs, including lost lives.”

She noted that “misinformation by abortion activists …is putting women’s lives at risk.”

“These lies have become so rampant in the weeks leading up to this election that public health officials felt the need to correct the record to prevent this misinformation from provoking a public health crisis,” Miner said.

Kelsey Pritchard, director of state public affairs for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, pointed out that this pro-abortion rhetoric is not isolated to Nebraska.

“This falsity that has been parroted by [Vice President] Kamala Harris and unchecked by most of the media leads women to delay seeking care and gives doctors pause when they need to act immediately,” Pritchard said in a statement shared with CNA.

“This falsity that has been parroted by Kamala Harris and unchecked by most of the media leads women to delay seeking care and gives doctors pause when they need to act immediately," said Kelsey Pritchard, director of state public affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Credit: EWTN News/Screenshot
“This falsity that has been parroted by Kamala Harris and unchecked by most of the media leads women to delay seeking care and gives doctors pause when they need to act immediately," said Kelsey Pritchard, director of state public affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Credit: EWTN News/Screenshot

“Every state with a pro-life law, including Nebraska, protects women who experience a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or any other medical emergency in pregnancy,” Pritchard emphasized. “This care continues to be available under ‘life of the mother’ exceptions, which allow physicians to rely upon their reasonable medical judgment.”

Recently, Harris amplified claims by several news outlets that two women died as the result of Georgia’s pro-life laws. But doctors say one woman, Amber Thurman, died because of the abortion pill and medical malpractice, while the other woman, Candi Miller, died of side effects from the abortion pill after she didn’t seek medical help.

“Women who need medical care should not be made to believe, because of ads they have seen on TV or in political mailers, that they have no option but to stay home instead of seeking treatment,” Miner said.

Catholic diocese in China conducts ‘Red Tour’ of ‘gratitude’ to Communist Party

null / Credit: crystal51/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 1, 2024 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

A Catholic diocese in China recently announced that it had made a tour of “gratitude” to heroes of the Communist Party of China.

The Yibin Catholic Diocese of the Shian Province announced in a press release earlier this month that it had led all of its priests, nuns, and “heads of grassroots patriotic associations” on a “Red Tour to Express Gratitude to the Party.”

News of the tour comes shortly after the Vatican announced it would renew its agreement with China on the appointment of Catholic bishops in the country for another four years.

The delegation of Chinese Catholics visited several memorial sites associated with Chinese Communist Party history, such as the Nanchang Aug. 1 Uprising Memorial Hall, the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall, the Red Army Mint, and the former site of the Lushan Conference.

“By listening to the explanation of revolutionary deeds on the spot, watching patriotic educational documentaries, and offering wreaths for revolutionary martyrs,” the release said the delegation was able to “further enhance the recognition of the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China (CCP), and socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

A group led by Bishop Peter Luo Xuegang of the Yibin Diocese also visited several Chinese Catholic churches “in order to promote the process of Sinicization.” Luo was ordained as a bishop in the Yibin Diocese in November 2011 with the Holy See’s blessing.

Notably, an excommunicated bishop who had been ordained without papal approval participated in the ordination Mass despite being ordered not to do so in a move that highlighted strained diplomatic relations between the Chinese government and the Vatican.

Nina Shea, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and director of the Center for Religious Freedom, told CNA that although Luo was made a bishop with the Vatican’s approval, he appears to have the support of the Communist Party.

“Since the China-Vatican agreement, Chinese authorities are pressing all bishops to join the association and pressing those inside it to show fervor for the party,” Shea told CNA. “This bishop is doing that and is demonstrating his embrace of the CCP’s Sinicization campaign by educating his diocese in Communist Party values and doctrines. This is one of the more extreme examples I’ve heard about.”

In the wake of the recent diplomatic agreements, the Vatican has noted several violations of terms in recent years, such as the government appointment of several bishops without Holy See approval, including one in a diocese not recognized by the Vatican.

According to Shea, the Catholic Church in China is undergoing a “transformation shaped by the CCP with Vatican acquiescence.”

“It is becoming an enthusiastic partner in the United Front, the propaganda department of the CCP, which since 2018 directly controls the Patriotic Association,” Shea said.

The Catholic Church in China has been split between the government-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the underground Church, which is persecuted and whose episcopal appointments are frequently not acknowledged by Chinese authorities.

The diocese in its statement noted that during the tour further dialogue was also held among the bishops and priests “on adhering to the direction of Sinicization and democratic teaching.”

The diocese lauded the event further, stating: “All members believed that this ‘Red Tour to Express Gratitude to the Party’ was full of revolutionary spirit and cultural heritage, and they benefited a lot.”

“They all expressed that in their future work, they will inherit and carry forward the fine tradition of patriotism and love for the Church,” the statement reads, “[and to] constantly enhance the ‘five identifications,’ firmly adhere to the direction of the Sinicization of Catholicism in our country, listen to the party, feel grateful to the party, follow the party, and actively contribute to the local economic and social development with a more high-spirited state of mind.”

The tour appears to be a continuation of the Communist Party’s objective to subordinate religious groups under government control. According to a report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom earlier this month, Chinese officials have ordered the removal of crosses from churches, replacing images of Christ and Mary with pictures of President Xi Jinping.

Catholic diocese in China conducts ‘Red Tour’ of ‘gratitude’ to Communist Party

null / Credit: crystal51/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 1, 2024 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

A Catholic diocese in China recently announced that it had made a tour of “gratitude” to heroes of the Communist Party of China.

The Yibin Catholic Diocese of the Shian Province announced in a press release earlier this month that it had led all of its priests, nuns, and “heads of grassroots patriotic associations” on a “Red Tour to Express Gratitude to the Party.”

News of the tour comes shortly after the Vatican announced it would renew its agreement with China on the appointment of Catholic bishops in the country for another four years.

The delegation of Chinese Catholics visited several memorial sites associated with Chinese Communist Party history, such as the Nanchang Aug. 1 Uprising Memorial Hall, the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Hall, the Red Army Mint, and the former site of the Lushan Conference.

“By listening to the explanation of revolutionary deeds on the spot, watching patriotic educational documentaries, and offering wreaths for revolutionary martyrs,” the release said the delegation was able to “further enhance the recognition of the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China (CCP), and socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

A group led by Bishop Peter Luo Xuegang of the Yibin Diocese also visited several Chinese Catholic churches “in order to promote the process of Sinicization.” Luo was ordained as a bishop in the Yibin Diocese in November 2011 with the Holy See’s blessing.

Notably, an excommunicated bishop who had been ordained without papal approval participated in the ordination Mass despite being ordered not to do so in a move that highlighted strained diplomatic relations between the Chinese government and the Vatican.

Nina Shea, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and director of the Center for Religious Freedom, told CNA that although Luo was made a bishop with the Vatican’s approval, he appears to have the support of the Communist Party.

“Since the China-Vatican agreement, Chinese authorities are pressing all bishops to join the association and pressing those inside it to show fervor for the party,” Shea told CNA. “This bishop is doing that and is demonstrating his embrace of the CCP’s Sinicization campaign by educating his diocese in Communist Party values and doctrines. This is one of the more extreme examples I’ve heard about.”

In the wake of the recent diplomatic agreements, the Vatican has noted several violations of terms in recent years, such as the government appointment of several bishops without Holy See approval, including one in a diocese not recognized by the Vatican.

According to Shea, the Catholic Church in China is undergoing a “transformation shaped by the CCP with Vatican acquiescence.”

“It is becoming an enthusiastic partner in the United Front, the propaganda department of the CCP, which since 2018 directly controls the Patriotic Association,” Shea said.

The Catholic Church in China has been split between the government-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the underground Church, which is persecuted and whose episcopal appointments are frequently not acknowledged by Chinese authorities.

The diocese in its statement noted that during the tour further dialogue was also held among the bishops and priests “on adhering to the direction of Sinicization and democratic teaching.”

The diocese lauded the event further, stating: “All members believed that this ‘Red Tour to Express Gratitude to the Party’ was full of revolutionary spirit and cultural heritage, and they benefited a lot.”

“They all expressed that in their future work, they will inherit and carry forward the fine tradition of patriotism and love for the Church,” the statement reads, “[and to] constantly enhance the ‘five identifications,’ firmly adhere to the direction of the Sinicization of Catholicism in our country, listen to the party, feel grateful to the party, follow the party, and actively contribute to the local economic and social development with a more high-spirited state of mind.”

The tour appears to be a continuation of the Communist Party’s objective to subordinate religious groups under government control. According to a report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom earlier this month, Chinese officials have ordered the removal of crosses from churches, replacing images of Christ and Mary with pictures of President Xi Jinping.

Vatican: Holy days of obligation not dispensed if transferred to a Monday

A crowd prays the rosary in Madrid, Spain, on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, patron saint of Spain, Dec. 8, 2023. / Credit: ACI Prensa

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 09:45 am (CNA).

The Vatican has clarified that Catholics in the United States must still attend Mass on holy days of obligation even when they are transferred to Mondays or Saturdays, correcting a long-standing practice in the U.S. Church.

In its complementary norms, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) stipulates that when certain feast days fall on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend Mass on that day is “abrogated.”

Dec. 8 is typically a holy day of obligation celebrating the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, but this year the feast day lands on a Sunday in Advent. As a result, the USCCB transferred it to Monday, Dec. 9, according to the 2024 USCCB liturgical calendar. 

In its complementary norms the USCCB does not list the Immaculate Conception as a solemnity to which the abrogation normally applies. Nevertheless, the bishops’ calendar this year stated that “the obligation to attend Mass … does not transfer” to Monday, Dec. 9.

Yet the Vatican’s Dicastery for Legislative Texts, in a Sept. 4 letter to Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, stated that all of the feasts in question “are always days of obligation … even when the aforementioned transfer of the feast occurs.” 

Paprocki, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, had in July written to the Holy See seeking clarification on whether an obligation transfers when the feast itself is transferred.

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, the prefect of the legislative text dicastery, told Paprocki that “the feast must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred.” 

Iannone noted in the letter that certain feast days are established by canon law as days of obligation. These “must be observed” and “the canon does not provide exceptions,” he noted in the letter.

Iannone clarified that if someone is unable to attend Mass for a “grave cause” such as illness or caring for an infant, then they are excused, as “no one is bound to the impossible.” 

Several U.S. dioceses are already stipulating that Mass attendance is obligatory on that day. The Archdiocese of Boston lists the day as obligatory on its website. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati website cited the Vatican’s clarification in making the announcement.

The Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, also cited the Vatican’s clarification that the obligation transfers with the feast day. 

Multiple other archdioceses confirmed to CNA that the day would be treated as obligatory, including Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas; Miami; Atlanta; St. Louis; Denver; Oklahoma City; and Seattle.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, meanwhile, granted a dispensation for the feast day given the “short notice” of the change. 

DiNardo noted that “many parishes and families already have in place the schedules for Advent and Christmas, and that this will cause confusion due to the short notice of this change.”

He urged the faithful, however, to “make a special effort to attend Mass on Dec. 9 even though there is no obligation to do so this year.”

The Diocese of Tulsa in Oklahoma also granted a dispensation, a spokesman told CNA. 

The USCCB 2024 liturgical calendar had not been updated with the change at the time of publication. The USCCB did not respond to queries on the matter.

Vatican: Holy days of obligation not dispensed if transferred to a Monday

A crowd prays the rosary in Madrid, Spain, on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, patron saint of Spain, Dec. 8, 2023. / Credit: ACI Prensa

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 09:45 am (CNA).

The Vatican has clarified that Catholics in the United States must still attend Mass on holy days of obligation even when they are transferred to Mondays or Saturdays, correcting a long-standing practice in the U.S. Church.

In its complementary norms, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) stipulates that when certain feast days fall on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend Mass on that day is “abrogated.”

Dec. 8 is typically a holy day of obligation celebrating the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, but this year the feast day lands on a Sunday in Advent. As a result, the USCCB transferred it to Monday, Dec. 9, according to the 2024 USCCB liturgical calendar. 

In its complementary norms the USCCB does not list the Immaculate Conception as a solemnity to which the abrogation normally applies. Nevertheless, the bishops’ calendar this year stated that “the obligation to attend Mass … does not transfer” to Monday, Dec. 9.

Yet the Vatican’s Dicastery for Legislative Texts, in a Sept. 4 letter to Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, stated that all of the feasts in question “are always days of obligation … even when the aforementioned transfer of the feast occurs.” 

Paprocki, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, had in July written to the Holy See seeking clarification on whether an obligation transfers when the feast itself is transferred.

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, the prefect of the legislative text dicastery, told Paprocki that “the feast must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred.” 

Iannone noted in the letter that certain feast days are established by canon law as days of obligation. These “must be observed” and “the canon does not provide exceptions,” he noted in the letter.

Iannone clarified that if someone is unable to attend Mass for a “grave cause” such as illness or caring for an infant, then they are excused, as “no one is bound to the impossible.” 

Several U.S. dioceses are already stipulating that Mass attendance is obligatory on that day. The Archdiocese of Boston lists the day as obligatory on its website. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati website cited the Vatican’s clarification in making the announcement.

The Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, also cited the Vatican’s clarification that the obligation transfers with the feast day. 

Multiple other archdioceses confirmed to CNA that the day would be treated as obligatory, including Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas; Miami; Atlanta; St. Louis; Denver; Oklahoma City; and Seattle.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, meanwhile, granted a dispensation for the feast day given the “short notice” of the change. 

DiNardo noted that “many parishes and families already have in place the schedules for Advent and Christmas, and that this will cause confusion due to the short notice of this change.”

He urged the faithful, however, to “make a special effort to attend Mass on Dec. 9 even though there is no obligation to do so this year.”

The Diocese of Tulsa in Oklahoma also granted a dispensation, a spokesman told CNA. 

The USCCB 2024 liturgical calendar had not been updated with the change at the time of publication. The USCCB did not respond to queries on the matter.

Catholic bishops share message on 160th anniversary of Maryland Emancipation Day

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Baltimore Basilica. / Credit: Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Nov. 1 marks the 160th anniversary of Maryland Emancipation Day, remembering the day the Maryland Constitution of 1864 went into effect and officially abolished slavery in the state.

“This day, when all those still held in bondage were finally set free, is a profound reminder of the dignity of every human person, a dignity that the Catholic Church upholds as sacred and inviolable,” the Catholic bishops of Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Delaware wrote in a joint statement.

The message was signed by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore; Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell of Washington, D.C.; Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar of Washington, D.C.; Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, D.C.; Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito of Washington, D.C.; Auxiliary Bishop Adam Parker of Baltimore; Bishop William Koenig of Wilmington, Delaware; and Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR, of Baltimore.

The bishops remind the faithful in their message that “at the heart of our Catholic faith is the belief that each person is made in the image and likeness of God. Slavery, in any form, is an affront to this divine image, reducing human beings to mere property and denying them their God-given freedom.”

The 1864 decision made Maryland one of the earliest states to abolish slavery. This monumental decision came one year ahead of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States and its territories.

Despite this victory, the bishops pointed out that “the work of justice is never complete.”

“The end of slavery was a monumental victory, but it also reminds us that freedom must be protected, matured, and expanded to ensure justice for all.”

The bishops also highlighted the fact that not only did the abolition of slavery restore the dignity of individuals but also “the sanctity of family life, which had been shattered by the horrors of slavery.”

“Families that had been torn apart, sold, and scattered could now hope to rebuild and thrive, standing as a testament to the power of human resilience and the grace of God,” they added.

Recognizing that the effects of slavery and racism continue to affect society today, the bishops reminded the faithful that “as Catholics, we are called to be active participants in the promotion of justice, standing against all forms of oppression and advocating for the rights and dignity of all. This day reminds us that freedom is a gift from God that must be extended to everyone without exception.”

They continued: “This day is not only a time to look back with gratitude for the progress made, but also a time to look forward, recommitting ourselves to the work of healing, reconciliation, and justice.”

The bishops concluded their message stating: “We stand in solidarity with all who are oppressed, working for a world where the dignity of every human life is recognized and upheld. Let this anniversary inspire us to be instruments of God’s peace, justice, and love, as we continue to journey towards true freedom for all.”

Catholic bishops share message on 160th anniversary of Maryland Emancipation Day

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Baltimore Basilica. / Credit: Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Nov. 1 marks the 160th anniversary of Maryland Emancipation Day, remembering the day the Maryland Constitution of 1864 went into effect and officially abolished slavery in the state.

“This day, when all those still held in bondage were finally set free, is a profound reminder of the dignity of every human person, a dignity that the Catholic Church upholds as sacred and inviolable,” the Catholic bishops of Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Delaware wrote in a joint statement.

The message was signed by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore; Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell of Washington, D.C.; Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar of Washington, D.C.; Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, D.C.; Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito of Washington, D.C.; Auxiliary Bishop Adam Parker of Baltimore; Bishop William Koenig of Wilmington, Delaware; and Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR, of Baltimore.

The bishops remind the faithful in their message that “at the heart of our Catholic faith is the belief that each person is made in the image and likeness of God. Slavery, in any form, is an affront to this divine image, reducing human beings to mere property and denying them their God-given freedom.”

The 1864 decision made Maryland one of the earliest states to abolish slavery. This monumental decision came one year ahead of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States and its territories.

Despite this victory, the bishops pointed out that “the work of justice is never complete.”

“The end of slavery was a monumental victory, but it also reminds us that freedom must be protected, matured, and expanded to ensure justice for all.”

The bishops also highlighted the fact that not only did the abolition of slavery restore the dignity of individuals but also “the sanctity of family life, which had been shattered by the horrors of slavery.”

“Families that had been torn apart, sold, and scattered could now hope to rebuild and thrive, standing as a testament to the power of human resilience and the grace of God,” they added.

Recognizing that the effects of slavery and racism continue to affect society today, the bishops reminded the faithful that “as Catholics, we are called to be active participants in the promotion of justice, standing against all forms of oppression and advocating for the rights and dignity of all. This day reminds us that freedom is a gift from God that must be extended to everyone without exception.”

They continued: “This day is not only a time to look back with gratitude for the progress made, but also a time to look forward, recommitting ourselves to the work of healing, reconciliation, and justice.”

The bishops concluded their message stating: “We stand in solidarity with all who are oppressed, working for a world where the dignity of every human life is recognized and upheld. Let this anniversary inspire us to be instruments of God’s peace, justice, and love, as we continue to journey towards true freedom for all.”

Catholic books and movies for families to get to know the saints better

null / Credit: SeventyFour/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

On Nov. 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of All Saints, a day in which all who have attained eternal life in heaven are honored and celebrated. 

The Catholic Church has tens of thousands of saints, blesseds, and venerables — some of whom have had their life stories told in movies and books.

Here are several Catholic favorites to get to know some of the Church’s beloved saints a little better:

St. John Paul II

The two-part movie “Karol: A Man Who Became Pope,” starring Piotr Adamczyk, who became known around the world for his role portraying Pope John Paul II, tells the true story of Karol Woityla from his childhood and his teenage years to his life as an actor and writer, his entrance to the priesthood, and all the way to his death as well as the lasting impact he left on the Catholic Church and the world.

The film can be purchased through EWTN’s religious catalogue as well as Amazon and can be streamed on Formed and most major streaming platforms. (Editor’s note: EWTN is CNA’s parent company.)

Blessed Carlo Acutis

To learn more about the first millennial to be beatified in the Church, Blessed Carlo Acutis, look no further than the book “Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers.” Written by CNA Vatican journalist Courtney Mares and published by Ignatius Press, the book takes the reader on a tour through Italy to hear from several individuals who knew Carlo and share their stories about him. 

St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi

“Clare and Francis” is a classic film shot in Italy that tells the story of beloved saint friends Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi. Known for its historical accuracy and authentic portrayal of these saints, the film is unique in that it’s one of the only depictions to tell the story of both saints and the role they played in each other’s life. The film can be streamed on Formed as well as most major streaming platforms and purchased from EWTN’s Religious Catalogue, Amazon, and the Catholic Market. 

St. Giuseppe Moscati 

A medical doctor in Naples, Italy, during the early 20th century, St. Giuseppe Moscati treated poor patients free of charge, encouraged his patients to receive the sacraments, and always placed himself in the presence of God before examining a patient. The movie about his life, “St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor,” received praise when it was released in 2007 for its realistic and moving script telling the saint’s story, cinematic style, and ability to accurately depict Moscati’s humanity, deep faith, and medical achievements. The film can be purchased through EWTN’s Religious Catalogue, Amazon, and the Catholic Market, and streamed on Formed and most major streaming platforms.

St. Gemma Galgani

The Diary of St. Gemma” is a translation of St. Gemma Galgani’s original diary that her spiritual director ordered her to write. The diary was translated by Passionist Father William Browning and published by Sophia Institute Press. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the life of the Italian saint and her numerous encounters with Christ crucified, the Blessed Virgin Mary, her guardian angel, and her physical experience of receiving the stigmata every Thursday evening.

EWTN original productions

EWTN has a plethora of original productions of movies that tell the lives of saints and can be viewed on EWTN OnDemand. Among these movies are “Mother Cabrini,” “St. Rose of Lima,” “Kateri,” and “St. Martin de Porres.”

Books for children

To introduce children to the lives of the saints, “Saints Around the World,” written by speaker, writer, and missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer, shares the stories of more than 100 saints from over 60 countries.

Theotokos Kids, a small, Catholic company run by husband and wife team Allan and Veronica Caballero, offers wonderful board books for younger kids on the stories of several saints and Marian apparitions. The books are also available in Spanish.

For older children, “57 Saints,” written by Sister Anne Eileen Heffernan, a Daughter of St. Paul, includes biographical information, feast days, reflections, and narratives about the lives of 57 saints including Sts. Lucy, Monica, Katherine Drexel, Edith Stein, Augustine, Juan Diego, and many more.

Catholic books and movies for families to get to know the saints better

null / Credit: SeventyFour/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

On Nov. 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of All Saints, a day in which all who have attained eternal life in heaven are honored and celebrated. 

The Catholic Church has tens of thousands of saints, blesseds, and venerables — some of whom have had their life stories told in movies and books.

Here are several Catholic favorites to get to know some of the Church’s beloved saints a little better:

St. John Paul II

The two-part movie “Karol: A Man Who Became Pope,” starring Piotr Adamczyk, who became known around the world for his role portraying Pope John Paul II, tells the true story of Karol Woityla from his childhood and his teenage years to his life as an actor and writer, his entrance to the priesthood, and all the way to his death as well as the lasting impact he left on the Catholic Church and the world.

The film can be purchased through EWTN’s religious catalogue as well as Amazon and can be streamed on Formed and most major streaming platforms. (Editor’s note: EWTN is CNA’s parent company.)

Blessed Carlo Acutis

To learn more about the first millennial to be beatified in the Church, Blessed Carlo Acutis, look no further than the book “Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers.” Written by CNA Vatican journalist Courtney Mares and published by Ignatius Press, the book takes the reader on a tour through Italy to hear from several individuals who knew Carlo and share their stories about him. 

St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi

“Clare and Francis” is a classic film shot in Italy that tells the story of beloved saint friends Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi. Known for its historical accuracy and authentic portrayal of these saints, the film is unique in that it’s one of the only depictions to tell the story of both saints and the role they played in each other’s life. The film can be streamed on Formed as well as most major streaming platforms and purchased from EWTN’s Religious Catalogue, Amazon, and the Catholic Market. 

St. Giuseppe Moscati 

A medical doctor in Naples, Italy, during the early 20th century, St. Giuseppe Moscati treated poor patients free of charge, encouraged his patients to receive the sacraments, and always placed himself in the presence of God before examining a patient. The movie about his life, “St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor,” received praise when it was released in 2007 for its realistic and moving script telling the saint’s story, cinematic style, and ability to accurately depict Moscati’s humanity, deep faith, and medical achievements. The film can be purchased through EWTN’s Religious Catalogue, Amazon, and the Catholic Market, and streamed on Formed and most major streaming platforms.

St. Gemma Galgani

The Diary of St. Gemma” is a translation of St. Gemma Galgani’s original diary that her spiritual director ordered her to write. The diary was translated by Passionist Father William Browning and published by Sophia Institute Press. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the life of the Italian saint and her numerous encounters with Christ crucified, the Blessed Virgin Mary, her guardian angel, and her physical experience of receiving the stigmata every Thursday evening.

EWTN original productions

EWTN has a plethora of original productions of movies that tell the lives of saints and can be viewed on EWTN OnDemand. Among these movies are “Mother Cabrini,” “St. Rose of Lima,” “Kateri,” and “St. Martin de Porres.”

Books for children

To introduce children to the lives of the saints, “Saints Around the World,” written by speaker, writer, and missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer, shares the stories of more than 100 saints from over 60 countries.

Theotokos Kids, a small, Catholic company run by husband and wife team Allan and Veronica Caballero, offers wonderful board books for younger kids on the stories of several saints and Marian apparitions. The books are also available in Spanish.

For older children, “57 Saints,” written by Sister Anne Eileen Heffernan, a Daughter of St. Paul, includes biographical information, feast days, reflections, and narratives about the lives of 57 saints including Sts. Lucy, Monica, Katherine Drexel, Edith Stein, Augustine, Juan Diego, and many more.

‘Dilexit Nos’: wisdom from 20 saints on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Top, left to right: St. Catherine of Siena, St. John Paul II, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Francis de Sales. Bottom, left to right: St. John Henry Newman, St. Gertrude of Helfta, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and St. Thomas Aquinas. / Credit: Brooklyn Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Gov.pl, CC BY 3.0 PL, via Wikimedia Commons; Leiloeira São Domingos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Corrado Giaquinto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Giovanni Battista Lucini, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Herbert Rose Barraud, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Public domain via Wikimedia Commons; Céline Martin, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Carlo Crivelli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Vatican City, Nov 1, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus is packed with testimonies from the saints of prayer and devotion to the heart of Christ throughout the centuries.

Dilexit Nos, meaning “He Loved Us,” describes how devotion to the heart of Christ “reappears in the spiritual journey of many saints” and how in each one the devotion takes on new hues. The most frequently quoted saints in the encyclical are St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Francis de Sales, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. John Paul II, but more than two dozen saints are quoted in all.

The encyclical explains how the Church Fathers’ descriptions of the wounded side of Christ as the wellspring of the life of grace later began to be associated with his heart, especially in monastic life.

It adds that “devotion to the heart of Christ slowly passed beyond the walls of the monasteries to enrich the spirituality of saintly teachers, preachers, and founders of religious congregations, who then spread it to the farthest reaches of the earth.”

Here are 20 saints devoted to the Sacred Heart as described by the pope’s new encyclical:

St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622)

St. Francis de Sales was deeply moved by Jesus’ words “Learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29). He writes in the “Introduction to the Devout Life” that the ordinary trials of life — such as “the tiresome peculiarities of a husband or wife” or a headache or toothache — when accepted lovingly, “are most pleasing to God’s goodness.” In his letters, Francis wrote about Christ’s open heart, seeing it as an invitation to dwell within and trust completely in God’s grace, describing it as “a heart on which all our names are written.”

“Surely it is a source of profound consolation to know that we are loved so deeply by Our Lord, who constantly carries us in his heart,” he said in a Lenten homily on Feb. 20, 1622.

St. John Henry Newman (1801–1890)

St. John Henry Newman chose “Cor ad cor loquitur” (“Heart speaks to heart”) as his motto, a phrase drawn from a letter by St. Francis de Sales. He experienced Christ’s Sacred Heart most powerfully in the Eucharist, where he sensed Jesus’ heart “beat[ing] for us still” and prayed: “O make my heart beat with thy heart. Purify it of all that is earthly, all that is proud and sensual, all that is hard and cruel, of all perversity, of all disorder, of all deadness. So fill it with thee, that neither the events of the day nor the circumstances of the time may have power to ruffle it, but that in thy love and thy fear it may have peace.”

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690)

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is perhaps the saint most associated with the Sacred Heart of Jesus because of a series of apparitions of Christ in Paray-le-Monial, France. In the first message Alacoque received, she described how the Lord “asked for my heart, which I asked him to take, which he did and then placed myself in his own adorable heart, from which he made me see mine like a little atom consumed in the fiery furnace of his own.” In subsequent messages, “he revealed to me the ineffable wonders of his pure love and to what extremes it had led him to love mankind” and how “ his pure love, with which he loves men to the utmost” is met with “only ingratitude and indifference.”

Alacoque wrote in one of her letters: “It is necessary that the divine heart of Jesus in some way replace our own; that he alone live and work in us and for us; that his will … work absolutely and without any resistance on our part; and finally that its affections, thoughts, and desires take the place of our own, especially his love, so that he is loved in himself and for our sakes. And so, this lovable heart being our all in all, we can say with St. Paul that we no longer live our own lives, but it is he who lives within us.”

St. Claude de La Colombière (1641–1682)

St. Claude de La Colombière was a French Jesuit priest and confessor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. He helped develop devotion to the Sacred Heart, combining the experiences of St. Margaret Mary with the contemplative approach of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Claude meditated on the attitude of Christ toward those who sought to arrest and put him to death: “His heart is full of bitter sorrow; every violent passion is unleashed against him and all nature is in turmoil, yet amid all this confusion, all these temptations, his heart remains firmly directed to God.”

St. Gertrude of Helfta (1256–1302)

St. Gertrude of Helfta, a Cistercian mystic, writes of a time in prayer in which she leaned her head on the heart of Christ and heard his heart beating. She reflected that the “sweet sound of those heartbeats has been reserved for modern times, so that hearing them, our aging and lukewarm world may be renewed in the love of God.”

St. Mechtilde of Hackeborn (1241–1298)

St. Mechtilde, another Cistercian mystic, shared St. Gertrude’s intimate devotion to the heart of Jesus. The encyclical lists her as among “a number of holy women, [who] in recounting their experiences of encounter with Christ, have spoken of resting in the heart of the Lord as the source of life and interior peace.”

St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660)

St. Vincent de Paul emphasized that “God asks primarily for our heart,” teaching that the poor can have more merit by giving with “greater love” than those with wealth who can give more. He urged his confreres to “find in the heart of Our Lord a word of consolation for the poor sick person.” The constitutions of his congregation underline that “by gentleness we inherit the earth. If we act on this, we will win people over so that they will turn to the Lord. That will not happen if we treat people harshly or sharply.” For him, embodying the “heart of the Son of God” meant going everywhere in mission and bringing the warmth of Christ’s love to the suffering and poor.

St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380)

St. Catherine of Siena wrote that the Lord’s sufferings are impossible for us to comprehend, but the open heart of Christ enables us to have a lively personal encounter with his boundless love. Catherine’s “Dialogue on Divine Providence” records a conversation she had with God in which he said to her: “I wished to reveal to you the secret of my heart, allowing you to see it open, so that you can understand that I have loved you so much more than I could have proved to you by the suffering that I once endured.”

St. John Paul II (1920–2005)

St. John Paul II described Christ’s heart as “the Holy Spirit’s masterpiece” and saw it as foundational for building a “civilization of love.” In a general audience in the first year of his papacy, John Paul II spoke about “the mystery of the heart of Christ” and shared that “it has spoken to me ever since my youth.” Throughout his pontificate, he taught that “the Savior’s heart invites us to return to the Father’s love, which is the source of every authentic love.”

“The men and women of the third millennium need the heart of Christ in order to know God and to know themselves; they need it to build the civilization of love,” John Paul II said in 1994.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)

St. Bernard preached on the importance of loving Jesus with “the full and deep affection of all your heart.” He described Christ’s pierced side as a revelation of the outpouring of the Lord’s love from his compassionate heart. In the year 1072, he preached: “Those who crucified him pierced his hands and feet … A lance passed through his soul even to the region of his heart. No longer is he unable to take pity on my weakness. The wounds inflicted on his body have disclosed to us the secrets of his heart; they enable us to contemplate the great mystery of his compassion.”

St. Bonaventure (1221–1274)

St. Bonaventure presents the heart of Christ as the source of the sacraments and of grace. In his treatise “Lignum Vitae,” Bonaventure wrote that in the blood and water flowing from the wounded side of Christ, the price of our salvation flows “from the hidden wellspring of his heart, enabling the Church’s sacraments to confer the life of grace and thus to be, for those who live in Christ, like a cup filled from the living fount springing up to life eternal.”

St. John Eudes (1601–1680)

St. John Eudes wrote the propers for the Mass of the Sacred Heart and was an ardent proponent of the devotion. Dilexit Nos describes how St. John Eudes convinced the bishop of the Rennes Diocese in France to approve the celebration of the feast of the “Adorable Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” the first time that such a feast was officially authorized in the Church. The following year, five more bishops in France authorized the celebration of the feast in their dioceses.

St. Charles de Foucauld (1858–1916)

St. Charles de Foucauld made it his mission to console the Sacred Heart of Jesus, adopting an image of the cross planted in the heart of Christ as his emblem. He consecrated himself to Christ’s heart, believing that he must “embrace all men and women” like the heart of Jesus. He made a promise in 1906 to “let the heart of Jesus live in me, so that it is no longer I who live, but the heart of Jesus that lives in me, as he lived in Nazareth.”

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that the phrase “heart of Christ” can refer to sacred Scripture, “which makes known his heart.” The encyclical quotes St. Thomas Aquinas’ theological exposition of the Gospel of St. John in which he wrote that whenever someone “hastens to share various gifts of grace received from God, living water flows from his heart.”

St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897)

St. Thérèse of Lisieux felt an intimate bond with Jesus’ heart. At age 15, she could speak of Jesus as the one “whose heart beats in unison with my own.” One of her sisters took as her religious name “Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart,” and the monastery that Thérèse entered was dedicated to the Sacred Heart. She wrote in a letter to a priest: “Ever since I have been given the grace to understand also the love of the heart of Jesus, I admit that it has expelled all fear from my heart. The remembrance of my faults humbles me, draws me never to depend on my strength, which is only weakness, but this remembrance speaks to me of mercy and love even more.”

St. John of the Cross (1542–1591)

St. John of the Cross viewed the image of Christ’s pierced side as an invitation to full union with the Lord. In his poetry, he portrayed Christ as a wounded stag, comforted by the soul that turns to him. John sought to explain that in mystical experience, the infinite love of the risen Christ “condescends” to enable us, through the open heart of Christ, to experience an encounter of truly reciprocal love. 

St. Ambrose (340–397)

The encyclical repeatedly quotes St. Ambrose, who offered a reflection on Jesus as the source of “living water.” He wrote: “Drink of Christ, for he is the rock that pours forth a flood of water. Drink of Christ, for he is the source of life. Drink of Christ, for he is the river whose streams gladden the city of God. Drink of Christ, for he is our peace. Drink of Christ, for from his side flows living water.”

St. Augustine (354–430)

St. Augustine “opened the way to devotion to the Sacred Heart as the locus of our personal encounter with the Lord,” according to Dilexit Nos. “For Augustine, Christ’s wounded side is not only the source of grace and the sacraments but also the symbol of our intimate union with Christ, the setting of an encounter of love.” In his “Tractates on the Gospel of John,” Augustine reflects on how when John, the beloved disciple, reclined on Jesus’ bosom at the Last Supper, he drew near to the secret place of wisdom.

St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556)

In his “Spiritual Exercises,” St. Ignatius encourages retreatants to contemplate the wounded side of the crucified Lord to enter into the heart of Christ. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, which has promoted devotion to Jesus’ divine heart for more than a century. The society was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1871.

St. Daniel Comboni (1831–1881)

St. Daniel Comboni saw the heart of Jesus as the source of strength for his missionary work in Africa. He founded the Sons of the Sacred Heart Jesus, which today are known as the Comboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as the Comboni Missionary Sisters. The saintly missionary once said: “This divine heart, which let itself be pierced by an enemy’s lance in order to pour forth through that sacred wound the sacraments by which the Church was formed, has never ceased to love.”