“Why are you hurt, Jesus? We have to get you a Band-Aid!”
My 3-year-old said that recently in church when he saw a pieta, a statue of Our Lady holding Jesus taken down from the cross. It was a poignant moment, one that really tugs at the heart. But it also served as a fresh reminder to me, especially during Lent, of Christ’s suffering and dying for our sins, and to add some little Band-Aids of penance to a firmer resolve to sin no more. Perhaps my sharing this vignette from our family life will help you do this, too.
There have been stories of things that wound the body of Christ this week, but also of good news and deeds. Find a selection of our articles below, and on our social media @OSVNews.
Megan Marley
Digital Editor
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Can Irish arts and culture foster Catholic renewal? These Catholics think so
The arrival of St. Patrick’s Day always spotlights Irish culture, music, dance and language. Catholics, too, are involved in Irish cultural efforts on both sides of the Atlantic, and some say Irish culture continues to be a foundation for Catholic evangelization amid the trappings of secular celebration.
Churches resist calls to remove priest’s ‘brilliant mosaics,’ dubbed ‘rape art’ by victims
As evidence mounts of sexual crimes by Slovene-born Father Marko Rupnik, church communities are resisting calls for his expensive sacral artworks to be removed from public display.
Pro-life group deplores Harris’ historic visit to Planned Parenthood abortion clinic
Vice President Kamala Harris on March 14 toured a Minnesota abortion clinic, marking the first time that a president or vice president has done so, according to Harris’ office.
ANALYSIS: Major changes in store for Latin Church in US as bishop appointments stall
With Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki turning 75 on March 12, there are now 19 dioceses — 12 with bishops serving past retirement age and seven vacancies — in the U.S. Latin Church awaiting the appointment of a diocesan bishop.
Experts: Historic rise of ‘never-marrieds’ calls church to act on marriage’s ‘three-alarm fire’
IFS’ collected data is “a rather bleak portrait of where marriage is now, and where it’s heading,” said Julia Dezelski, associate director of marriage and family life at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth. “Unfortunately, I would say I’m not so surprised.”
Macron says euthanasia bill is ‘law of fraternity’; archbishop calls it ‘a deception’
“Calling a text that opens up both assisted suicide and euthanasia a ‘law of fraternity’ is a deception,” Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort of Reims said. Such a law will move France’s health care system “towards death as a solution, … so much easier and less costly than everything else.”
Egyptian Catholic clergy say interreligious ties are being derailed by ‘Fiducia’
Catholic clergy from Egypt have warned that ties with Orthodox and Islamic leaders are being derailed by a Vatican decision to allow the blessing of same-sex couples after the country’s influential Coptic Orthodox Church suspended dialogue over the issue.
24 ‘perpetual pilgrims’ eager to lead ‘biggest Eucharistic procession in world history’
The National Eucharistic Congress identified the 24 “perpetual pilgrims” who will be traveling the full lengths of the four routes of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage ahead of the congress in Indianapolis.
Polish diocesan phase closes in cause of Catholic midwife who delivered babies at Auschwitz
Stanislawa Leszczynska, a Polish midwife imprisoned at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Nazi Germany-occupied Poland, delivered 3,000 babies of different nationalities and treated them and their mothers with heroic humanity.
Lenten lessons: Practices to keep all year
Prayer, fasting and almsgiving should be part of our lives all year, and not just when the statues are veiled, or the altar is dressed in purple.
Rose Hawthorne’s remarkable life story in the spotlight as sainthood cause advances
On March 14, Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to decree as “venerable” Mother Mary Alphonsa Hawthorne — also known as Rose Hawthorne, the daughter of an American literary icon and founder of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Rose of Lima.
