I’ve met many saintly people in my life, but rarely do they make the news.
Years ago, I took photos of the consecration of the Abbey of Our Lady of Ephesus and Abbess Cecilia’s installation, and briefly met Sister Wilhelmina, foundress of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. While I can’t recall much of the encounter, the thing about her that has stayed with me was a radiant joy in her smile — this was a woman in love with the Lord.
This past Sunday, I marveled at meeting her yet again … four years after her death. I could walk right up to her in the Abbey church, and see her face much unchanged as she lay in state. While this apparent miracle is still under investigation, it reminds me to hope in eternal life and that holiness is something that everyone can and should strive toward.
While we’ve reported on Sister Wilhelmina, causes for sainthood in Argentina and Spain, good works done in parishes and other joyful stories this week, we’ve also reported on less happy news — such as the release of the Illinois attorney general’s report on clerical sex abuse, government surveillance on the Church in China, and the murder of a priest in Mexico continuing an alarming trend of attacks on clergy in the country.
Good or bad, OSV News will cover it all to keep you informed on Catholic issues and issues that affect Catholics.
Below is a collection of stories and other content that went on the wire this week — enjoy!
Megan Marley
Digital Editor
Fifty years later, N.Y. priest still draws on Vietnam combat experience to minister to others
Msgr. Fink said his faith enabled him “enormously” in remaining “mostly sane” during his nearly two year deployment during which he became a sergeant.
AI topic draws record number of participants to media ethics conference at Pontifical University in Krakow
Catholic journalism has a role to play in AI-revolution “by showing that values matter, that we can’t only follow persuasive communications, achieving the goal of clickbait at any cost. The dignity of a human being has the biggest value and by communicating it; we lay the fundamentals of good communications based on respect and truth.”
Dioceses wake up to youth mental health crisis, helping parents, teachers and pastors take action
Through a variety of programs and initiatives, many dioceses are taking action to equip parents, teachers and pastors with much-needed tools to respond to a growing mental health crisis among young people.
Lawsuit claims Cardinal O’Malley, Boston Archdiocese officials failed to stop school official’s sexual abuse
One of the leading figures in the Catholic Church’s effort to protect children from sexual abuse, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, is named in a new lawsuit claiming he failed to properly supervise at the time a vice principal who abused three teens at a Catholic high school.
Despite growing use, abortion pill not ‘safer than Tylenol’ and carries serious risks, including trauma of flushing a baby down the toilet, pro-life experts say
BACKGROUNDER: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates 5.6 million women in the United States used mifepristone for abortion between September 2000 and June 2022.
How to forgive and reconcile after being hurt or hurtful
In a world made imperfect by original sin, human beings make mistakes. We are created to love God and one another, but we often fall short.
10 Easy ways to grow in your faith this summer
What are some ways we can concretely grow in our faith this summer? Here are 10 simple ways that you can open yourself to the growth God desires for you.
Nicaraguan government investigates two priests from diocese overseen by imprisoned bishop
The investigation into the priests further deepened the campaign of harassment and terror against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua that has forced clergy into exile, booted the Missionaries of Charity out of the country and imprisoned Bishop Álvarez — its most prominent voice.
Spanish banker and skateboarder killed in 2017 London attack while saving woman’s life is on path to beatification
Spain’s Madrid Archdiocese is pressing for the beatification of a bank employee and skateboard enthusiast who was killed attempting to save passers-by during an islamist terror attack in London.
Shia LaBeouf: ‘I fell in love with Christ’ to portray Padre Pio on screen
LaBeouf said he “wasn’t even trying to make movies” when director Abel Ferrara approached him about the role.
