Every evening the Church remembers the words of the elderly Simeon with the closing canticle of Compline: “Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine…” But in the Bible verses just after his beautiful prayer, there’s another character who also met the Holy Family during the Presentation in the Temple. She’s left out in the shortened Gospel readings for Feb. 2 — which is a pity.
The prophetess Anna “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem” (Lk 2:38). I found this verse a striking continuance of Simeon’s prayer and prophecy: upon encountering the infant Christ, she goes and shares this joy with others in her life also waiting for his coming.
I hope my own news missive also shares the joy of Christ with you. Last week’s stories have been a mix of happy events, terrible sadnesses, intriguing analyses and interviews with interesting people — all seen through a Catholic lens. A few are listed below, and more can be found on social media @OSVNews.
Megan Marley
Digital Editor
Award-winning creator of ‘Barbie’ gears up to adapt beloved ‘Narnia’ series for Netflix
Renowned filmmaker Greta Gerwig, fresh off the success of her record-breaking box office hit “Barbie,” is gearing up for her next major project — the adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved children’s series, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” for Netflix.
As St. Brigid relic returns to Irish Kildare, bishop reminds all of her strong faith, hospitality
A relic of one of Ireland’s patron saints was returned to her hometown after a millennium and as the country marked 1,500 years since the death of St. Brigid.
Social media CEOs grilled over child exploitation: ‘You have a product that’s killing people’
“You and the companies before us — I know you don’t mean it to be so — but you have blood on your hands,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said to Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. “You have a product that’s killing people.”
Catholic all-girls high schools flourish in the spirit of their religious founders
Three different, all-girls Catholic high schools and college preparatory academies are no longer run by the respective religious orders that founded them, but all of them could be given A’s for both academics and adoration of the Catholic faith.
As season four premiers around world, ‘The Chosen’ actors talk faith, life struggles
When the creators of “The Chosen” started with a crowdfunding project in 2017, they would not have thought in their wildest dreams they would be walking the red carpets from Los Angeles to New York and from London to Warsaw, with screaming fans begging for selfies.
Islamic State group claims responsibility for attack on church in Turkey
The shooting occurred just before noon at the church in the Sariyer district of Istanbul and was reportedly carried out by two masked men, according to eyewitnesses. Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “We strongly condemn this vile attack.”
Planting a Rosary garden: the Luminous Mysteries
COLUMN: Each month, master gardener Margaret Rose Realy presents a group of Mysteries and a list of companion plants for each meditation, concluding in May. In this way you can plan or build your rosary garden, one step at a time.
France’s Catholic bishops strongly back farmers in their massive protest
Protesting farmers aim to pressure the government over the future of their industry, which has been shaken by repercussions of the Ukraine war.
Experts: Spending priorities, rising debt make the federal budget a ‘moral document’
ANALYSIS: Is the federal budget a moral statement? And federal borrowing a moral issue?
Through Catholic Extension’s exchange program, sisters empower people, train leaders
Recognizing the treasured value and efforts of religious sisters, one of Catholic Extension’s latest initiatives involving them is the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program. Since its inception in 2013, the program — possible thanks to a partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation — has brought a total of 150 sisters, representing religious congregations across Latin America, to serve in dioceses across the U.S.
