Heaton expressed that she began her day “struggling with worldly dissatisfaction, discontent, a general spiritual frustration, and an unease” in her soul. She said her mood “was not of God: and spiritually unhealthy.

The wife, mother, and actress then went on to explain how she handled the issue: with prayer and gratitude.

She thanked God for the birds, the trees, and her day in general. She then prayed for her children, resolved a small dispute with her husband, and concluded a phone meeting “on a very positive note.” 

Heaton then said she felt “much better” and thanked Jesus.

“If your Monday started off badly, start with the birds and work your way back to Him,” the actress advised.

Here is Patricia Heaton’s full post below:

Patrica Heaton’s full post reads,

“Woke up this morning struggling with worldly dissatisfaction and discontent and a general spiritual frustration and unease in my soul. It was a mood that was not of God and was not healthy spiritually. So I battled it with gratitude - started thanking Him for the birds I could hear singing (I love birds so much!), then for the trees, then for the fact that I had been given another day of life. 

“Prayed for my boys, had a small spat with hubs (natch), resolved it (after 36 years you don’t give too much weight to these things), had a phone meeting that could have gone off the rails but ended up on a very positive note. Feeling much better. Thank you Jesus. If your Monday started off badly, start with the birds and work your way back to Him.”

Heaton’s post generated over 11,000 likes and several hundred comments.

Here’s how some users reacted:

David Limbaugh responded, “Love your honesty and your encouragement. It's a good reminder of how to remedy these blue spells. I started on the wrong side of the bed today myself. Thanks for sharing.

Another user commented, “This is straight from scripture! - ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ / Philippians 4:6 - 7 / “Thanksgiving changes everything. It’s the greatest weapon! ❤️thanks for the reminder!”

Someone else wrote, “I've been feeling uneasy as well. Wolves sneaking in, but look who's at the gate guarding the sheep. Gratitude for the keeper of Creation, that is where my heart shall reside.”

Another user added, “Good for you. I've struggled with this and started with the birds too...what matters is starting, drawing unto the presence of God with praise and He does the rest. Praise Jesus!”

What do you think of Patricia Heaton’s words of encouragement?

The parish priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Villa Berthet, Argentina, posted a video on his Facebook account on March 21 recounting how, earlier that same morning, he discovered a newborn boy at his front door.

The priest explained that he was carrying out one of his usual Saturday tasks—preparing his homilies for the week—when he heard a knock. That unexpected moment would change the course of his day.

“I heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, I found a baby there on my doorstep, wrapped in a towel—and my heart melted.”

He said he fell in love with the baby “at first sight” and, amid the shock, immediately called a trusted doctor. The doctor soon arrived with a nurse to provide the necessary care.

Before the ambulance took the child to the hospital, Father Pintos asked that the baby be called “Juan Francisco” until he received an official name.

“I can say that I have a son in my heart,” he said.

He also confirmed that the baby is healthy and receiving proper care.

An Urgent Call Not to Judge

Father Pintos said that, for him, the situation revealed a beautiful gesture: in the midst of anguish, fear, and pain, someone trusted him to care for their child.

“This person probably knew I would take good care of him or make sure he received the help he needed. And perhaps they also trusted that, if they returned, no one would point a finger at them.”

The priest emphasized that his home is a safe place—not because of security measures, but because of the presence of God.

“In this safe place, someone trusted that a priest could care for this baby, or at least connect him with the necessary public services to accompany him in these first moments of life.”

He also lamented that many people, especially on social media, were quick to harshly judge the baby’s mother.

“I don’t like that. I wouldn’t want a Catholic to say, ‘I’m just sharing my opinion,’ when in reality they are judging. I don’t even know if this baby was abandoned, because he wasn’t discarded. He was left in a safe place, likely by someone in deep distress.”

“This door of the priest’s residence was a safe place. And it fills me with pride that they chose the house of God.”

The priest also invited personal reflection, noting that people often judge from a distance without recognizing their own wounds.

Trust in God and Respond With Prayer

Finally, Father Pintos encouraged trust in God even amid difficult situations, reminding the faithful that the Lord “writes straight on crooked lines and every evil that occurs is for a greater good."

“I am not justifying this person, nor am I trying to. I simply do not want to stand with those who accuse without knowing the full story.”

He urged people to replace judgment with prayer: to pray for the baby, that he may grow up in a loving home; for his own healing after what he has experienced; and for the mother, that she may find peace and one day be reunited with her son.

What Do We Know About the Baby’s Mother?

According to local media, the baby’s 33-year-old mother later arrived at the hospital. Reports indicate that she gave birth alone in a nearby hotel, without her family knowing she was pregnant.

The child’s grandmother—who had previously reported her daughter missing—has taken temporary custody of the baby while the investigation continues.

Let us pray for little Juan Francisco and for all mothers facing difficult situations.

Divine Mercy images can be seen in churches around the world. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is very popular, and Divine Mercy Sunday is an official feast day of the Church. The founder of the devotion, Saint Faustina Kowalska, is even honored as a saint.

But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, the whole devotion was suppressed for many years and almost lost for good. It only came back due to prayer, perseverance, and the hand of Divine Providence. This is the amazing story.

Worldwide Spread of the Divine Mercy Devotion

The Divine Mercy devotion as we practice it today came from Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who lived in the early 20th century. She claimed that she had regular visions of Jesus and saints and that Jesus himself gave her the details of the devotion.

She wrote descriptions of what she saw and heard in her diary, which is now published in her book, "The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul."

Warning her fellow nuns that a great war was coming and that they should pray for Poland, she died at the age of 33 on Oct. 5, 1938.

A year later, Germany invaded Poland. Impressed by the accuracy of her prophecy, Archbishop Jałbrzykowski of Vilnius allowed for public use of the Divine Mercy devotion for the first time.

The devotion quickly spread throughout Poland and was a source of strength and inspiration during the terrible years of the war. By 1941, it had spread around the world and, despite the war, had made it to the United States.

Polish priest and Saint Faustina's spiritual director, Father Michał Sopoćko, was inspired to start a religious congregation related to the devotion.

With the end of the war, the devotion spread even faster. By 1951, just 13 years after Saint Faustina’s death, there were 150 religious centers in Poland dedicated to Divine Mercy.

In 1955, a Polish bishop, with the approval of Pope Pius XII, started a religious congregation dedicated to spreading the devotion. Pope Pius XII blessed a Divine Mercy image in 1956 and allowed many bishops throughout the world to give their blessing to writings about the devotion. Vatican Radio even started promoting the devotion in its programming.

Two Decades of Suppression

Not everyone in the hierarchy approved of the devotion, however. Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, the head of the Holy Office (predecessor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith – the Vatican’s theological watchdog department), tried to persuade Pope Pius XII to sign a condemnation of Saint Faustina’s works but was rebuffed.

When Pope John XXIII was elected Pope in 1958, Cardinal Ottaviani had another chance. The Cardinal included her works on a list of books to consider banning soon after the new pope was elected.

On March 6, 1959, the Holy Office finally issued a document forbidding the use of “images and writings that promote devotion to Divine Mercy in the forms proposed by Sister Faustina.”

It seemed like Saint Faustina’s devotion to Divine Mercy might be over with.

A Second Look at the Divine Mercy Devotion

The Polish people were crushed, including many of the clergy. One such person was Karol Wojtyła (now Saint John Paul II), a “rising star” in the church’s hierarchy. He was influential in drafting several key documents of Vatican II and was appointed Archbishop of Kraków at the relatively young age of 43 in 1964.

Within a year of having his new position, and with approval from the Vatican, he started a fresh investigation into her works.

Wojtyła discovered that the previous condemnation of Saint Faustina’s works had been mostly a result of those at the Vatican reading her works not in their original Polish but via faulty French and Italian translations.

Then, in April of 1978, after decades of work and prayer by the supporters of the Divine Mercy devotion, the Vatican reversed its previous ban on her works! Catholics around the world rejoiced!

Just a few months later, the now-Cardinal Wojtyła, who had led the effort, was made Pope John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II personally beatified Faustina in 1993 and canonized her in 2000. He also designated the first Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. Saint Faustina and her devotions were completely vindicated and took the message of God’s infinite mercy to the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

This applies especially to the dying.

Our Lord once told Saint Faustina these words:

“My daughter, encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the Chaplet…Write that when they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the merciful Savior.” (Diary of St. Faustina, 1541)

What an amazing promise made by Our Lord! He will stand between the dying person and His Father as the merciful Savior!

Let me share with you a conversation I once had and how it relates to the life of Saint Faustina regarding praying this Chaplet for the dying.

I spoke with a nurse who said she had prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet with one of her dying patients.

As she prayed, she felt something “swoosh” by her and exit the room. This account blew me away, partially because of the story itself, but also because of a similar account from Saint Faustina.

Faustina, the great saint of Divine Mercy, recounted a similar experience during her lifetime. What made Saint Faustina’s experience different is that she saw what happened behind the scenes, beyond the veil, in the realm of the supernatural.

Saint Faustina describes it in her writings. Our Lord said to her:

“My daughter, help Me to save a certain dying sinner. Say the Chaplet that I have taught you for him.”

Saint Faustina then stated:

“When I began to say the Chaplet, I saw the man dying in the midst of terrible torment and struggle. His Guardian Angel was defending him, but he was, as it were, powerless against the enormity of the soul's misery.

“A multitude of devils was waiting for the soul.

“But while I was saying the Chaplet, I saw Jesus just as He is depicted in the image. The rays which issued from Jesus’ Heart enveloped the sick man, and the powers of darkness fled in panic.

“The sick man peacefully breathed his last. When I came to myself, I understood how very important the Chaplet was for the dying. It appeases the anger of God.” (Diary of St. Faustina, 1565)

As if this episode was not enough to convince us to pray the Chaplet for the dying person, Our Lord attached this promise as well:

“At the hour of death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same.” (Diary of St. Faustina, 811)

These promises, simply put, are enormous and amazing.

Given that praying this Chaplet takes about 5-7 minutes, this is an awesome, life-giving work of mercy that is within everyone’s means.

Let us be convinced that through the testimony of Saint Faustina and the secretary of God’s mercy, one of the greatest things we can do for a dying person is to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for them.

God’s mercy is amazing.

He wants all His children home with Him, no matter how dark their sins are or how many demons wait for them.

Jesus said to Saint Faustina,

“The greater the sinner, the greater the right they have to My mercy.”

With all the encouragement I can possibly muster, I exhort you: the next time you hear someone is dying, especially those close to you, take 5-7 minutes, and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for them. Help the Lord save them.

What an amazing thing it is to cooperate with the ushering of a soul to eternal life in the Father’s house–to make demons flee when the rays of Divine Mercy show forth.

Let’s end with this prayer right from the lips of Saint Faustina:

“O Jesus, inspire souls to pray often for the dying” (Diary of St. Faustina, 1015).

Jesus revealed the Divine Mercy Chaplet to Saint Faustina Kowalska in 1935 during a private revelation. He asked that we meditate on His Passion at 3 p.m.—the hour He died on the cross.

Our Lord also shared 14 special promises for those who faithfully pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Here are 14 promises Jesus made to souls who pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, as listed in Saint Faustina's diary, "Divine Mercy in My Soul":

1) “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image (of Divine Mercy) will not perish. I also promise victory over (its) enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.”

(Diary of St. Faustina, 48)

2) “The two rays denote Blood and Water…These two rays issued from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father…I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy…whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 299-300)

3) “I desire that the Feast of Mercy…be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter…The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion (in a state of grace on this day) shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 699)

4) “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 687)

5) “Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy…I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 687)

6) “The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 754)

7) “Souls who spread the honor of My mercy…at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1075)

8) “The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion for sinners. Know, my daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1397)

9) “My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1485)

10) “To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1521)

11) “Through this chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1731)

12) “When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1541)

13) “When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as a just Judge but as a merciful Savior.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1541)

14) “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony…I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.”

(Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1320)

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word in the video below:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

Italian skier and Olympic gold medalist Simone Deromedis recently met with Pope Leo during the Vatican audience.

Deromedis won the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Cross on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. He won Italy’s first-ever gold medal in this category.

In a viral reel posted by ChurchPOP’s Instagram account, Deromedis shows Pope Leo his gold medal during their meeting at the Vatican. Pope Leo then jokes with the Olympian, pretending to keep it for himself. The pope then smiles and returns the medal to Deromedis.

The meeting between the Olympian and the Holy Father generated over two million views and thousands of likes and comments.

Here is ChurchPOP’s video of Pope Leo and Simone Deromedis below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ChurchPOP (@churchpop)

The video’s caption reads,

“Pope Leo XIV met with Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the Vatican today, praising sport as a school of fraternity and inclusion. One especially joyful moment came when an athlete handed him a gold medal, and the Pope playfully pretended to keep it before returning it with a smile.”

Simone Deromedis also published the video, reacting to the Holy Father’s joke in the reel’s text and caption:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Simone Deromedis (@simo.deroo)

Deromedis’s text overlay reads, 

“POV: The Pope tries to steal your Olympic medal.”

The Olympic gold medalist then provides his reaction in the caption:

“I was so confused 😭😂 / Leone, you’re the best!”

Hundreds of reactions flooded the comments on both ChurchPOP’s and Deromedis’ reels. Here’s what some people said about it:

“What a great moment of spontaneity!” one user told Deromedis.

“He was doing this, but then he remembered one of the 10 commandments 😂,” another user joked.

“He is such a jokester,” another user said in ChurchPOP’s comments. “I love a Pope with a good heart and sense of humor.”

“God bless our Holy Father Leo,” another person said. “I love his sense of humor.”

Let us pray in thanksgiving for Pope Leo’s witty sense of humor! 

The official website for Major League Baseball dropped the news on April 8, 2026.

“The world’s most famous White Sox fan will be honored with a specialty giveaway at Chicago’s Rate Field later this year. On Aug. 11 against the Reds, the White Sox will be giving away a limited number of pope-themed hats with a special ticket package – shaped like the Pope's miter with a White Sox logo on it – to fans lucky enough to receive them.”

Pope Leo XIV is a huge Chicago White Sox fan.

John Prevost, the pope’s brother, stressed that Pope Leo XIV is a loyal White Sox fan and “was never, ever a Cubs fan.”

“He was always a Sox fan,” John Prevost told WGN. “Our mother was a Cubs fan…and our dad was a Cardinals fan.”

Following this revelation last year, several stories hit the news regarding the Pope and the White Sox.

One of these viral stories includes a clip of then-Father Robert Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) attending Game 1 of the World Series in Chicago between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox. The video generated nearly 340,000 views on X alone.

In May 2025, the Chicago White Sox honored Pope Leo by marking his seat from the 2005 World Series game.

The announcement came after the team installed a graphic of the pope near Section 140 at Rate Field. Then-Father Robert Prevost sat in row 19, seat 2 during the first White Sox game of the 2005 World Series. 

The now-pontiff attended that game with his friend Ed Schmit, who has since passed away. Schmit's grandson, Eddie, told WGN News,

"When all that transpired, I looked back and said, 'Is that the pope next to me?' And sure enough, it was, and it was pretty surreal, to say the least. It was awesome to see that..."

Another example includes the Pope’s White Sox joke during his digital encounter with over 16,000 young people from across the United States at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In a surprising response to moderator Katie McGrady, Pope Leo XIV said,

"I just want to say I only wear 'White Sox' and I use a different word for Wordle every day.”

What are your thoughts about the Chicago White Sox honoring Pope Leo XIV?

On her Instagram account, “desdemisillaa,” Lola shared her testimony as part of the International Day of Life, celebrated on March 25. In the video, she explains that her story began on June 25.

“My father was going out for a drink with his friends because the next day—his birthday—he was going to a Maná concert in Madrid with my mother. But my mother, who stayed home because she was pregnant, started bleeding. When my father returned, he and my grandmother rushed her to the hospital,” she says.

Upon arriving at the hospital, an ultrasound revealed that her mother had suffered a placental abruption, and an emergency cesarean section was required. Lola was born weighing about 3.2 pounds and remained in an incubator for a month.

Months later, doctors diagnosed her with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her legs and right arm and has required her to use a wheelchair ever since. But rather than dwell on the hardship, Lola has chosen to see her life from a different perspective.

“Life has given me a difficult challenge, but I’ve always said that for me, life is a gift. I’m here to enjoy it and to be happy too. So yes to life—always,” she says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lola González-Pinto (@desdemisillaa)

Her post has touched countless hearts, with many users sharing messages of gratitude and encouragement:

“Thank you so much for your example—you’ve set the bar so high! It helps so much to see and hear you. Congratulations and a big hug.”

“A powerful example of ‘yes’ to life 🙌.”

“You are a great fighter. Keep enjoying life and being happy. Your story reminds us that challenges can make us stronger. Hugs.”

Let us choose life—always.

This flower is not just any flower - it represents something much deeper for Christians and the Easter Season.

There is another incredible, and even supernatural meaning behind the Easter Lily and why we use it in our churches today. Below is a simple breakdown of the beautiful Christian meaning behind the Easter Lily.

The Christian Meaning Behind the Easter Lily

“The Catholic Classroom,” which describes itself as "a resource for exploring and understanding the Catholic faith," published a beautiful post on Instagram explaining the meaning behind the Easter Lily.

(Fun fact: The founder, Lauren, said ChurchPOP had a great impact on her return to the Catholic Church about 10 years ago!)

Here is The Catholic Classroom’s simple breakdown of the Easter Lily’s meaning:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @catholicclassroom

The post explains that the Easter Lily (scientifically called Lilium longiflorum) “is a living icon of the Resurrection.” 

They describe the profound meaning behind its bulb, its shape, and where tradition says they grew in Jerusalem immediately following Christ’s resurrection. The post also reveals why the Easter Lily represents cleanliness and purity.

In the second slide, “The Catholic Classroom” describes the Easter Lily’s “dormant” bulb as “buried in the dark, cold earth.” 

“To the earth, it looks dead,” the post reads. “But out of that ‘tomb’ a beautiful life emerges. It’s a living icon of Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday.”

The post’s third slide explains the Easter Lily’s trumpet-like shape.

“In the Old Testament, trumpets heralded the arrival of a King,” the post reads. “These flowers are ‘sounding the alarm’ that the King of Kings has conquered death.”

In the third slide, the post reveals a fascinating story behind the Easter Lily - where tradition says they grew following Christ’s resurrection.

“Early Christian tradition says that after Jesus rose, white lilies sprang up in the Garden of Gethsemane–right where drops of blood fell during His agony,” the post says. “We fill our altars with them to show that His suffering has turned into glory.”

Finally, the post explains why we display the Easter Lily in churches throughout the Easter season.

“On Easter, the lily brings back the white of the ‘Glorified Body,’” the post says. “It reminds us that through the Resurrection, our sins are washed away and we are made new.”

The Easter Lily isn’t just a beautiful flower or decoration— it’s a gentle reminder of Christ’s victory over death, God’s unbounded mercy, and the fresh beginning God grants us every Easter. 

This season, as you admire the fragrant Easter Lily, let it lift your heart in love for Christ and in gratitude for His Resurrection!

You can follow “The Catholic Classroom” on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Upon returning home from work, Brazilian musician Gilberto Silva Jr. experienced an unexpected and touching moment: his young daughter was waiting for him at the door dressed as the Blessed Virgin Mary. The heartwarming video quickly moved thousands and went viral on social media.

In the video, Silva captures the moment he arrives home—still tired from the day—and finds his daughter, Maria Catarina, eagerly waiting for him.

A Little “Our Lady of Grace” at the Door

The little girl, dressed in a white veil, a light blue dress, and holding a rosary, greets her father as Our Lady of Grace.

Sweetly, she blows him a kiss and waits for him to step out of the car. The video then includes a charming moment when she says, “But Dad… be quiet… Carlo Acutis is sleeping,” followed by images of little Davi José dressed as the young saint.

“We Raise Them for Heaven.”

In the video description, Silva thanks his wife for her role in the children’s faith formation and emphasizes that their family’s goal is heaven.

“And catechism? It’s up to date 👍 (thanks to mom, always surprising us) 😍 We don’t raise our children for ourselves, nor for the world—we raise them for heaven,” Silva wrote.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maestro e Prod. Musical Gilberto Junior. (@gilbertojuniormaestro)

The video quickly went viral, surpassing 303,000 likes and gaining over one million views. In the comments, thousands of users praised the tenderness of the gesture and the little girl’s faith:

“I just unlocked a new life goal.”

“Bro, what a millionaire… and I’m not talking about money.”

“What a blessing to come home and find such a divine gift: a little girl dressed as OUR LADY. AMEN ❤️.”

A Sweet Gesture Repeated

The story didn’t end there. On March 27, Maria Catarina surprised her father again with something similar.

This time, she waited for him wearing a white dress, a pink cape, a flower crown, and holding a rosary and a palm branch.

When asked who she was dressed as, the little girl excitedly replied: “Saint Philomena.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ateliê Ora que Passa | Elana Garcia (@atelieoraquepassa)

Saint Philomena and Our Lady of Grace, pray for us!