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:

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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:

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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.

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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:

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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!

On Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholics have the opportunity to receive probably the most powerful grace you can receive all year.

According to Father Chris Alar, MIC, of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, Divine Mercy Sunday is the “most important day of the year” for Catholics.

“The eighth day, symbolic of our last day on earth, entering into eternity to clean us up and that we're spotless,” Father Chris Alar explains. “On this one day, Jesus promises the floodgates of his mercy are open.”

“Jesus says on this one day, you can be forgiven not only of all sin, but also of all punishment,” he continues. “It is wiped clean, and your soul will never be cleaner than it is on your original baptism.

In Saint Faustina’s diary, Jesus explains how to obtain the unique graces on Divine Mercy Sunday:

“The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day, all the Divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though his sins be as scarlet….Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the fount of My Mercy.” (Diary, 699)

What makes the Divine Mercy Sunday grace so unique?

To obtain a plenary indulgence throughout the year, the individual must be detached from all sin, which is very difficult.

However, Jesus does not require complete detachment from sin with the special graces he offers on Divine Mercy Sunday. This is the only time complete detachment from sin is not required.

How to obtain complete remission of all sin on Divine Mercy Sunday, as Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina

1) Go to Confession before or on Divine Mercy weekend

2) Receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy weekend 

Catholics may also receive a plenary indulgence by participating in the Divine Mercy devotion. These graces are separate from the special graces Jesus describes to Saint Faustina in her private revelation.

Pope Saint John Paul II’s Vatican Decree for Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgences

The Vatican Apostolic Penitentiary Decree entitled, “Indulgences attached to devotions in honor of Divine Mercy,” also grants an indulgence to those who fulfill the specific requirements 20 days before or after Divine Mercy Sunday. 

Here’s how to obtain a plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday:

1) Go to Confession (20 days before, on, or after Divine Mercy Sunday)

2) Receive Holy Communion  (20 days before, on, or after Divine Mercy Sunday)

3) Pray for the Pope's intentions 

4) In any church or chapel, recite an Our Father, Creed, and a prayer to the Merciful Jesus (i.e., “Merciful Jesus, I trust in You!”) in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, or, participate in services honoring the Divine Mercy devotion.

One must approach the indulgence with a spirit “completely detached from the affection for a sin,” both mortal and venial.

The Church also allows the ill or those who cannot attend church to obtain this indulgence.

One may fulfill the three usual conditions as described above as soon as possible, along with reciting an Our Father, Creed, and a prayer to the Merciful Jesus.

“If it is impossible that people do even this,” the decree continues, “on the same day they may obtain the Plenary Indulgence if with a spiritual intention they are united with those carrying out the prescribed practice for obtaining the Indulgence in the usual way and offer to the Merciful Lord a prayer and the sufferings of their illness and the difficulties of their lives, with the resolution to accomplish as soon as possible the three conditions prescribed to obtain the plenary indulgence.”

Click here for more information about Divine Mercy indulgences.

Merciful Jesus, I trust in You!

As part of NASA’s new lunar exploration program, the Artemis II rocket launched on April 1, 2026, with four astronauts on board. The mission aims to advance exploration of the Moon and prepare the way for future crewed missions to Mars.

As the spacecraft continues its journey, people around the world can follow the mission through live broadcasts and content shared by NASA across its digital platforms.

A Special Easter Message

On April 4, the space agency released a message from Glover for Easter. In it, the astronaut shared that, while reading the Bible and gazing at Earth from space, he is struck by awe at “all the incredible things that were done for us.”

“As we are so far from Earth and looking back at the beauty of creation, I think, for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is that I can really see Earth as one thing.”

Here is the full message below:

You know, I don’t have anything prepared. I’m glad you brought that up, though. I think these observances are important.

As we are so far from Earth and looking back at the beauty of creation, I think, for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is that I can really see Earth as one thing.

And, you know, when I read the Bible, and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us—whoever created it—you have this amazing place, this spaceship.

You guys are talking to us because we’re in a spaceship really far from Earth, but you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos.

I think maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special, but we’re the same distance from you. And I’m trying to tell you—just trust me—you are special in all of this emptiness.

This is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe. You have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.

I think as we go into Easter Sunday, thinking about all the cultures all around the world—whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not—this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing, and that we’ve got to get through this together."

–

The astronauts of the Artemis II mission have already marked a historic milestone: they are part of the crewed mission that has traveled farther from Earth than any before.

As we await their return and entrust the success of their mission to God, the images of our planet seen from space continue to remind us of the beauty and grandeur of creation.

According to a survey conducted by the National Catholic Register,

“Many U.S. dioceses are expecting heavy increases in people joining the Catholic Church at Easter 2026, including some with record highs…”

While every Catholic has a story, some newly-confirmed Catholics choose to publicly share their stories on social media.

Below are a few stories from some Catholics who entered the Church this Easter:

Joshua Michael, an X user and United States Marie Corps Veteran, said he returned to the Catholic Church after nearly 40 years away.

Michael said that after undergoing four eye surgeries and going on medical leave for seven months, he walked into a Catholic Church for the first time.

He then explained that he “felt something I have never felt in any Protestant church: the True Presence of Our Lord” in the Eucharist.

Here is Joshua Michael’s Catholic conversion story below:

Here is the full text of Joshua Michael’s story:

“I have been confirmed, and as a newly confirmed Catholic, I have received Our Lord. I am so thankful and grateful that I was guided back to the Church after nearly 40 years after my baptism. If a year ago you would have told me I was going to come back to the Catholic Church and receive my sacraments, I would have called you crazy, but God had other plans. 

"Last year, I had four eye surgeries, and I was on medical leave for 7 months. I started researching churches, and I found out I lived about a half a mile away from a Catholic Church. About 11 months ago, I walked into a Catholic parish and for the first time, I felt something I had never felt in any Protestant church: the True Presence of Our Lord. It was like a switch was flipped in my brain, and I became obsessed. During a confession, I was told about OCIA, and I joined last September—The rest is history.

"I am forever grateful, and I have felt the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

"Christus Resurrexit! Alleluia! Happy Easter! ✝️🔥”

Another X user who goes by the name “Praying Actress” also shared her story.

Praying Actress said her marriage was convalidated in the Catholic Church during Holy Week, and she received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Easter Vigil. The X user said she feels “like I’m literally home.”

Here is Praying Actress’ story below:

Here is the full text of the post:

“My Catholic Confirmation 🕊️

🤍🙏🏼✝️He is Risen.

Our marriage was convalidated on Holy Week. 

I was confirmed at Easter Vigil last night. 

I feel so much closer to Jesus now it’s just something I can’t even describe, but to know that I’m a part of the church that Jesus Christ originally instituted before it was fractured into the 40,000+ Protestant denominations we have today.

I feel like I’m literally home. IYKYK. 

I feel closer to Jesus than ever before. 🥹🤗💕

Happy Easter!”

Blockchain Rob, also an X user, published his testimony about entering the Catholic Church.

Rob responded to a post that asked, “What’s with everyone becoming Catholic?”

“I was confirmed Catholic on Easter Vigil,” Rob responded. “Catholicism is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ. Nothing compares with the depth of theology and the fullness of faith found in Catholicism. Christ is king.”

Chrisman, another X user, also became Catholic this Easter. He thanked his fellow social media users for posting about Christ on the platform.

“I was confirmed in the Catholic Church this Easter weekend,” he said. “Thank you to those of you who post about Christ on this platform. It has made a difference to me.”

Let us pray for all those who entered the Catholic Church this Easter!