With the country experiencing such devastation, Catholics must come together and pray for them. 

Venezuela’s patron saint is Our Lady of Coromoto, a 17th-century Church-approved apparition. The Venezuelan people often turn to her for strength and protection in times of devastation and crisis.

Here are 10 things to know about Our Lady of Coromoto, Venezuela’s patron saint: 

1) Our Lady of Coromoto is the official patroness of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan bishops declared Our Lady of Coromoto the official patroness in 1942. Pope Pius XII then ratified this on October 7, 1944. 

2) Her title comes from an indigenous chief.

Our Lady of Coromoto is named after the cacique (tribal leader) Coromoto, whom she appeared to in the 17th century near present‑day Guanare, Venezuela.

3) Our Lady appeared holding the Child Jesus.

Tradition says Our Lady appeared to Chief Coromoto and his wife near Guanare, Venezuela, in 1652. Speaking to them in their native language, she held the Child Jesus in her arms and urged them to receive the sacrament of Baptism so they could “go to heaven.”

4) The apparition evangelized Christianity to the indigenous peoples of Venezuela.

Mary’s invitation brought the Christian faith to the indigenous Coromoto people and their neighbors. Encouraging them to seek baptism was a sign of God’s desire to bring the Gospel to all cultures and tribes.

5) Our Lady miraculously left a tiny image as a relic in Chief Coromoto’s hand.

After one of the apparitions, Our Lady left a small relic containing an image of herself with the Child Jesus inside his hand. It is imprinted on a parchment‑like material and now venerated as a miraculous relic at the Basilica National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto.

6) The miraculous relic is preserved and publicly venerated.

The relic is only a few millimeters in size and is venerated inside a beautiful monstrance at the Basilica National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto, where pilgrims visit to pray for Venezuela and their own personal intentions.

7) The Church celebrates Our Lady of Coromoto on three dates throughout the year.

Venezuelans honor Our Lady of Coromoto on February 2 (Presentation of the Lord), September 8 (Nativity of Mary), and September 11, which is considered the principal feast associated with her apparition and coronation.

8) Pope Pius XII crowned her and raised her sanctuary to a basilica.

On October 7, 1944, (also the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary) Pope Pius XII declared her “Patroness of the Republic of Venezuela.” He also ordered her canonical coronation in 1952 on the third centenary of the apparition, and raised her sanctuary to a basilica in 1949.

9) Saint John Paul II dedicated the Basilica National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto.

On February 10, 1996, Pope Saint John Paul II visited Guanare and dedicated the Basilica National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto. The sanctuary was built at the site linked to her apparitions, which is now a major pilgrimage destination.

10) She is a powerful symbol of unity, hope, and protection in times of crisis.

Venezuelans often turn to Our Lady of Coromoto during social unrest, economic hardship, and natural disasters. They seek her maternal intercession, consolation, and protection for the nation. She provides them comfort and strength during difficult times.

Amid Venezuela's earthquake devastation, let us ask Our Lady of Coromoto to come to their aid.

Our Lady of Coromoto, please pray for and help Venezuela in its time of need!

Though it is interpreted differently among Protestants, it generally means that the Bible is either the highest or sole authority for Christians, superseding ecclesiastical authority and tradition.

The Catholic Church rejects sola scriptura, teaching instead that the Word of God is transmitted through both written Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and that the Church’s Magisterium is guided by the Holy Spirit to definitively and authoritatively interpret that Word for the faithful.

Here are three major problems with sola scriptura:

1) The Bible does not teach sola scriptura.

Where do Protestants derive the idea that the Bible alone is the highest authority for Christians? Is this taught anywhere in Scripture?

Actually, no. The verses to which Protestants usually point to answer this question indeed speak highly of the authority of Scripture and its importance for the people of God (e.g., Psalm 119, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, et al), but none of them say that the Bible alone is the only authority.

Not only that, but the Bible upholds the authority of oral tradition alongside Scripture in contradiction of sola scriptura.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, St. Paul writes:

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.”

Here, Paul affirms that his teachings are authoritative whether delivered orally (tradition) or in writing (Scripture).

2) Sola scriptura cannot account for the origin of the Bible.

If the Bible is the only authority for Christians, then where did Christians get the Bible in the first place? Who determined what books should be in the Bible?

God did not deliver a fully compiled Bible from heaven. Rather, God inspired many different writers over the course of many centuries to write the various books of the Bible. The canon of the Bible was later definitively discerned and compiled by the Catholic Church in the fourth century, exercising apostolic authority and drawing upon Sacred Tradition to recognize which texts were inspired.

This means that the biblical canon itself depends on the very authority of oral tradition and ecclesiastical authority that sola scriptura rejects.

3) Sola scriptura does not work.

The Bible must be interpreted. Even when people think what the Bible says is clear, they are interpreting it. The problem is that different Christians often interpret the Bible in contradictory and mutually exclusive ways.

When that happens (and it happens constantly), how does the Christian church settle disagreements and safeguard the Gospel truth God has revealed in Jesus Christ?

If Christians cannot agree on the content of the Gospel, they cannot effectively fulfill their mission to proclaim it.

Sola scriptura offers no way out of these disagreements, except for Christians to split and go their separate ways – hence, myriad denominations. But this is a problem, too, because the Bible teaches that division among Christians is a sin (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10ff).

The solution to this problem is the way of the very Catholic Church that Protestants reject, the way dating back to the early Church established by Jesus.

Jesus entrusted authority to the Apostles to teach and govern, and this authority has been handed down through apostolic succession to bishops in every generation. This authority does not supersede the Word of God—transmitted through Scripture and Tradition—but is guided by the Holy Spirit to faithfully preserve and interpret it.

Reels featuring the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist chatting all about faith, friendship, and even ultimate frisbee on their podcast are hitting millions of views on Instagram and TikTok. The wholesome, holy joy of convent life is reaching the world through little bits of the sisters’ content—and Gen Z can’t seem to get enough.

“Maybe for some it’s a bit of refreshment in the desert,” Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, suggests.

This truly seems to be the case because the internet’s newest obsession has become a real-life movement, too.

Many Gen Z women now consider convent stays as the new ideal way to spend “summer vacay,” and they’re on TikTok talking about it. On their bucket lists? Not a week at the beach, but a few days of silence, steeped in an atmosphere of simplicity and prayer.  

It sounds like “nun summer is loading” for 2026, as Isabel Brown says in a reel about this trend.

What’s the secret draw behind this new cultural interest in the rhythm of Catholic consecrated life? What do religious sisters have that this generation is seeking? 

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A post shared by Isabel Brown (@theisabelbrown)

Doing the Lord’s Work

While they may have gained attention through the algorithm, orders like the Dominican sisters are living much more than a microtrend.

The peaceful and sincere personalities of these religious sisters spring from a way of life informed by a timeless and treasured rhythm of Catholic prayer and relationship with God.

One of the most fundamental prayers these sisters participate in is the Liturgy of the Hours.

The Liturgy of the Hours is basically the “pray without ceasing” verse of Scripture put into practice (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Also known as the “Divine Office” or work of God, the Liturgy of the Hours allows those who pray it––whether a priest or the pope, missionaries or lay Catholics––to participate in God’s saving work, sanctifying their days with prayer and worship.  

The Divine Office is Catholicism’s most ancient tradition and even predates the existence of the Church. In Old Testament times, there were set times every day when psalms were prayed and sacrifices made in the temple. When the first monasteries were established in the early centuries of Christianity, the monks prayed all 150 psalms daily. Finding this overwhelming, they soon spread them out over a week. Now, the Church observes a rotating liturgical cycle of scriptures, canticles, intercessions, and antiphons, which has become the Liturgy of the Hours. 

The Divine Office holds a special place in the communal life and spirituality of religious orders.

What many young women are turning to as a refuge from the stress of the outside world is actually one of the central pillars of a religious vocation. Cloistered contemplative nuns may pray all seven daily hours, while sisters active in the outside world keep the major ones. 

Inside the Secret Prayer Life of Religious Sisters

In reality, it’s not classified information at all–it’s one of Catholicism’s most important public prayers. 

Although there are a total of seven daily prayer times in the Liturgy of the Hours, communities such as the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist typically gather to pray the principal hours together: Lauds and Matins (Morning Prayer and the Office of Readings) around sunrise, Vespers (Evening Prayer) before dinner, and Compline (Night Prayer) before retiring for the night. 

The rhythm of prayer sustains religious orders in the Lord’s grace so that they can serve the Lord with faithfulness and joy. At the same time, their intercessory prayer strengthens and supports the entire Church.

Help Religious Communities Participate in the Prayer of the Church

In 2027, the Catholic Church in the United States will officially begin praying with the Second Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, featuring a new translation. 

Beginning July 1, Ascension will open preorders for this new edition of the Divine Office, making it easier for Catholics to enter more deeply into a spiritual tradition that has nourished the Church for centuries.

To help prepare for this historic transition, Ascension has established the Liturgy of the Hours Assistance Fund, a need-based program designed to help clergy, seminarians, and religious communities throughout the United States obtain copies of the new Divine Office.

To learn more about supporting religious sisters and others who rely on the Liturgy of the Hours, visit Ascension's Liturgy of the Hours Assistance Fund page.

Unfortunately, whether it’s out of ignorance or laziness, it seems many Catholics do not receive the Eucharist correctly.

Here are three mistakes many Catholics make when receiving the Eucharist:

1) Not bowing before receiving the Eucharist.

Many Catholics move through the Communion line and receive the Eucharist with little or no outward sign of reverence. Yet in this sacrament, we are receiving Jesus Himself—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—so a visible sign of adoration and love is not just fitting, it’s deeply important and necessary.

Some may not even realize that a specific gesture of reverence is expected before receiving Holy Communion. Yet, the USCCB clearly explains this requirement in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. It provides concrete norms for how we are to approach the Eucharist:

“When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence… [T]he sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.” (GIRM 160)

Though the norm in the United States is to receive while standing (after bowing your head), individuals can also receive while kneeling if they so choose. (GIRM 160)

But don’t do nothing!

2) Not saying “Amen.”

It’s easy for this part of the liturgy to get rushed, especially when the Communion line is long, and people feel pressure to move quickly. But the Order of Mass is clear: after the priest (or minister) presents the Host and says, “The Body of Christ,” the communicant is to respond, “Amen.”

This simple word matters—it is a personal profession of faith that you truly believe you are receiving Christ Himself, and a moment to renew that faith interiorly.

It’s just one word, so don’t skip it; slow down, look at the Host, and consciously say, “Amen.”

3) Are you in a state of grace?

Still, many Catholics seem unaware of a serious reality: you are only supposed to receive the Eucharist if you are a practicing Catholic in a state of grace.

If you have committed any mortal sin since your last good confession, you must first be reconciled in the sacrament of penance before approaching Holy Communion. You should still attend Mass, but if you are not in a state of grace, you should not receive.

This matters for at least two reasons.

First, receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin is a sacrilege—an abuse of the sacrament and a grave offense against the Lord—so we must not do it.

Second, not receiving when you are not in the proper state shows your love and respect for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. If you are in the state of mortal sin, going to Mass but not receiving is a humble step back onto the right path, showing that you take both your soul and the Real Presence of Christ seriously.

Would you add anything to this list?

World-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli sent a beautiful message to thousands of attendees of the Italian March for Life on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in the streets of Rome, Italy.

Bocelli is vocally pro-life and often shares his story when provided the opportunity.

The singer could not attend the event due to a scheduling conflict; however, he sent a letter, which was read at the end of the March.

Bocelli was born with congenital glaucoma, which severely impaired his vision. He became fully blind after a tragic soccer accident.

Doctors advised his mother to abort him amid appendicitis complications during her pregnancy. They feared Bocelli would be born with a disability. Rather than take this advice, Bocelli’s mother chose life.

"Life, when welcomed and not feared, multiplies, and the civilizations that have prospered are those that have invested in new generations,” Bocelli said in his letter.

He explained that his mother “was advised by doctors not to continue with the pregnancy, but chose to trust in life and not to withdraw. I owe everything to that choice, " the singer said. 

"I am delighted," he said, "to be able to reach you with this brief greeting and these few notes. I would like to do so, in particular, by sharing with you a thought that is close to my heart: there are not four but five mathematical operations. The fifth is not studied in school; it is learned by living and growing alongside others, the people we meet. It is called cooperation (but also trust, care, friendship), and it always arises from an act of love. I learned it before I was even born."

"Care generates; it doesn't impoverish. And often it changes everything,” he concluded. “Bringing this testimony among you is a privilege for me and a gesture of gratitude to those who believed, like my mother, that one plus one never just makes two."

Italy's March for Life spokesperson Jacopo Coghe shared some of Bocelli’s message in a post on X. Here is his post below:

Andrea Bocelli also told this story many years ago during one of his concerts:

What do you think of Andrea Bocelli’s testimony?

If it wasn’t for a certain forward-thinking pope who was willing to go against the counsel of his advisers, coffee might never have found its way to you.

According to legend, the “coffee question” came to a head in 1600 while Pope Clement VIII reigned as pontiff. Coffee was already popular in the Muslim world and found its way to Christian Europe. And for some people, that was a major cause of concern.

Wine was popular among Christians, and of course, was used at Mass for the Eucharist.

Muslims aren’t supposed to drink wine, and it seemed coffee had become something of a cultural substitute. As a result, some people thought that coffee in some way represented an anti-Christian beverage, a “bitter invention of Satan.” They said the pope should condemn and forbid it for Christians.

But Pope Clement wasn’t one to make a hasty decision. Before making any ruling, he said he wanted to try it first.

…And he loved it!

“This Satan’s drink is so delicious,” he exclaimed, “that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it!”

Some versions of the story even say he joked that Catholics should “baptize” this so‑called devil’s drink and make it a Christian beverage.

So he gave his blessing to coffee and the rest is history.

Historians usually treat this as a pious legend rather than a documented decree, but it captures how Catholics eventually embraced coffee.

So the next time you sip your morning brew, you can thank Pope Clement VIII, who refused to condemn a drink before tasting it.

Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi, who is considered one of the greatest players in soccer history, put the Catholic faith on public display while competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Messi, who is Catholic, made the Sign of the Cross multiple times throughout the duration of the competition. During the FIFA World Cup in Dallas, Texas, Messi crossed himself after scoring against Austria on June 22, 2026. He did this not once, but twice! 

The game resulted in a record-breaking victory for Messi and the Argentine team.

Here is the video below:

This is not the first time Messi publicly displayed his Catholic faith on the world stage. Messi often makes the Sign of the Cross and praises God for his accomplishments.

Just last week, Messi celebrated with the Sign of the Cross after his hat trick against Algeria.

“I can’t ask for anything more; God gave me too much, now everything is just for enjoying,” Messi said in a press conference after performing the hat trick.

Additionally, a Catholic priest blessed Messi’s shoes just before the World Cup at the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján in Buenos Aires.

According to the post by Sacred Chad,

“The boots, named ‘El Último Tango’ (The Last Dance) by Adidas, were specially designed to mark what is expected to be Messi’s sixth and final World Cup. They were brought to the Basilica by Argentine sports journalist Walter Queijeiro.”

“On June 16, 2026, wearing those very boots, Messi scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Algeria and tied Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history,” the post concludes.

Here’s the viral video below:

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A post shared by Sacredchad (@sacredchad)

Let us pray in thanksgiving for Lionel Messi’s public witness of his Catholic faith!

The Catholic Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist on June 24.

Here are 12 things to know and share about the life of Saint John the Baptist in honor of this special celebration:

1) Saint John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ before He began His public ministry. 

From the womb, God set him apart as a primary figure in His plan for salvation!

2) He baptized Jesus Christ.

“Looking at the events (of Christ’s baptism) in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realized what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon his shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan” - Pope Benedict XVI

3) His mother is Saint Elizabeth, a relative of the Virgin Mary and wife of Saint Zechariah. 

Saint John the Baptist's mother believed she would never have children before the Lord answered her prayers for a son.

4) We do not know the exact date of Saint John the Baptist’s birth, but the Church celebrates his Nativity on June 24. 

The Church bases this celebration on the Annunciation (March 25). Scripture says Saint John’s mother was in her sixth month of pregnancy when the angel appeared to Mary. (Luke 1:26-27)

5) The Gospel of Saint Luke references the birth of Saint John the Baptist in Luke 1:57-60. 

His is one of three birthdays celebrated on the Church’s liturgical calendar. The other two are Jesus' birth and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

6) He leaped in his mother’s womb at the Visitation. 

The first person to recognize the child Jesus was an unborn Saint John the Baptist!

7) He lived as a hermit in the desert before undertaking his ministry. 

Saint John the Baptist’s ministry ended with his martyrdom at Herod’s orders.

8) He wore camel hair.

Camel hair clothing was rough, uncomfortable, and absolutely anti–trend. John deliberately chose a simple, penitential lifestyle.

9) He ate locusts and wild honey.

Locusts and wild honey point to poverty, detachment, and a life lived in direct contact with God’s creation.

10) He cried out in the desert.

He was “crying out in the desert,” in an uncomfortable, seemingly irrelevant place… and yet people went out to find him.

11) He was the last great prophet before Jesus came. 

Saint John the Baptist is the bridge between the Old and New Testaments. He is the last great prophet before the coming of the Messiah, the final voice crying out: “Prepare the way of the Lord!”

12) He shows us how to decrease so Christ can increase.

“He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30) summarizes John’s whole mission. As the Church celebrates his birth just as the days begin to shorten, we remember that our vocation is to let Christ’s light grow brighter while our ego steps back.

Here is a special prayer for the intercession of Saint John the Baptist:

O God, who hast made this day to be honorable in our eyes by the commemoration of blessed John the Baptist, grant unto Thy people the grace of spiritual joy, and direct the minds of all Thy faithful into the way of everlasting salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us!

The Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, led a Eucharistic procession on Thursday, June 4, 2026, in celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. 

However, it was not an ordinary procession–it included a stop at the county jail! 

According to the viral Facebook post published by the Diocese of Corpus Christi, a Eucharistic blessing took place at the Nueces County Jail in Corpus Christi, Texas.

“The third stop of the Feast of Corpus Christi procession is at the Nueces County Jail, where over 950 souls are entrusted into their care. This moment allows us to pause and pray together as brothers and sisters in Christ and focus on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.”

Here is the post below: 

Here is the full Eucharistic Procession livestream below: 

The original Facebook post generated over 26,000 views. Here’s what some people said about it:

“Their hearts and souls had to have felt the presence of Jesus,” Facebook user Lillian Diaz said. “This is a sight.”

“Yes, when I saw that, I was so touched. I am so proud of our Bishop,” Facebook user Estela Garcia added. “The whole ceremony was impressive. I did not go and have only seen bits and pieces, but I am touched.”

“That is just beautiful,” Cheryl Mitchell Najvar also said. “God bless all those men and women; I pray that each and every one of them received Jesus into their hearts.”

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All Praise and All Thanksgiving, Be Every Moment Thine! 

In what often becomes a one-sided dialogue with God, we speak to Him about our needs, worries, and difficulties—and most of the time, we focus very little on Him and much more on ourselves.

When the Lord invited His disciples to follow Him, He did not give them a list of instructions; He invited them to be with Him (Mk 3:13–14). The first thing we must understand, then, is that our prayer life is about being with Jesus—spending time with Him and allowing Him to speak to our hearts.

Beyond Technique or Method

When we begin to pray, external techniques or methods can help facilitate this encounter: posture, imagining the setting, vocal prayer, and so on. But these aids can become limiting when we allow them to become the focus.

Little by little, if we persevere in spending time with Jesus—and not merely in following methods—we discover a desire to go deeper, to make our encounter with Him more intimate and personal. Our souls become more united with God and long to remain with Him. 

This is what we call contemplative prayer.

Contemplative prayer focuses more on God—on who He is and what He desires to give us—than on what we might accomplish by setting aside time for prayer. In contemplation, God is at the center.

Letting Go of Goals and Objectives

We do not go to prayer to achieve a result; we go to build a loving relationship. Loving relationships are not instrumental—they are an end in themselves. When we understand prayer as a relationship of love, we rejoice simply in the presence of the Other, even when we receive nothing tangible in return.

For this reason, in contemplative prayer it matters little whether we are focused, use a good technique, or feel consolation. What matters is the union of our soul with God. 

Saint Teresa of Avila teaches us that we should not approach prayer seeking a pleasant feeling, but rather with a firm determination to unite ourselves with Jesus.

At times, it can be difficult to keep our thoughts fixed on God, and no matter how hard we try, our minds wander. In those moments, we must remember that we are still there with Jesus—even in distraction. We should not be discouraged, but instead unite ourselves to Him from the depths of our hearts. The greatest temptation is to believe we are wasting time, because as long as we pray with a willing heart, nothing is ever lost.

Go to the Center

The key, then, is to focus less on ourselves and devote more attention to Jesus and His desires. Prayer is, above all, about seeking to know what God wants from us and desiring to do it. When we try to make prayer merely a gratifying or energizing experience, the focus subtly shifts from God to our own well-being.

That is why prayer calls us to prioritize God’s desire to be with us and our desire to please Him—just as we often do with the people we love. Christian happiness has little to do with what the world today defines as happiness: a state of personal comfort or well-being. Gospel happiness is found in self-giving, unconditional love, and seeking the good of others.

As Saint John of the Cross reminds us, we must approach prayer with the desire to go beyond all knowledge. 

Our encounter with God surpasses every feeling and thought. These can give us a glimpse of who God is, but they can never fully reveal Him. God is infinitely more—and He desires to reveal Himself to us in the depths of our hearts.