Synodality in Action: During the Holy Thursday liturgy, Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte, North Carolina, delegated the foot-washing ritual to lay men and women. The Eucharist was at the Jesuits' church. Bishop Martin participated in the ritual himself, but he also allowed members of the laity to perform much of the optional Mandatum.
Brian Williams on Twitter: Meanwhile in Charlotte, Bishop Martin delegated the washing of feet on Holy Thursday to lay men and women. +Martin did participate to some degree, but at this Jesuit parish where he chose to celebrate Holy Thursday, the laity assumed the role of the clergy for much of the (optional) mandatum.
So, congregants can kneel before others to wash their feet but not before the actual incarnate God to receive him in communion. The Synodal Church is occupied territory, Catholics Need Not Apply.
IRAN WAR: Bridges, Electric Power Plants Next /Lt Col Daniel Dav is & Robert Barnes How many times does he have to say it's all about the oil? Not only from him but from his administration. One former Military Officer even saying on live tv. We will go in and take anything we want. How sick and evil that is. Iran was no threat to anyone. including us. They say we are doing it to free the people of Iran. No one asked for his help. They don't need his help. Nor do they want it. Now they are all united and standing firm against two lying, evil beasts. And dragging us into their evil war with people who didn't want to harm anyone. People who live in peace with many other religions. Getting along and helping each other. Maybe that's what they hate about Iran. The same reason why they hate Russia!
Well the "ONLY" good thing coming out of this evil war against Iran is how I have watched trump get thrown off the pedestal he and his base put him on. Time and time again. Now the whole world knows we are far from the greatest and most powerful Military at all. Nor the wisest. So much for all he needs is 48 hours to do the job. In and out he said. And now over two months and getting worse every day. And no end in sight.
kouji @yoyonofukuoka A post reposted by Japan’s Finance Minister Katayama. Japan’s major oil company ENEOS has succeeded for the first time in producing synthetic fuel (e-fuel) — made without using petroleum — from CO₂ in the air and water at its facility in Yokohama. The demonstration plant’s current production scale is still very small at 1 barrel per day (roughly the size of one drum), but the company aims to scale it up to 10,000 barrels per day by 2040. Although it is still at the experimental stage, this is drawing attention as a new fuel that could reduce dependence on petroleum. In the timeline we’re currently living in, the move away from oil appears to be beginning at the same time as the move away from the US dollar.
“None of us carries any weapons. We carry nothing but kindness, goodness, love and prayer.” Father Pierre El Rahi... ...murdered by Jewish soldiers after refusing to leave his flock in a Christian village in southern Lebanon.
Franciscan Father Francesco Patton wrote the meditations for tonight's Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome with Pope Leo XIV. Fr Patton served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025. On April 1, he told VaticanNews.va that the inspiration comes from "current reality" and that the meditations are meant to inspire political "change". The Vatican press office published the text today. Traditionally a penitential and contemplative devotion, the Via Crucis is repurposed here as a vehicle for contemporary socio-political reflection. The text shifts from the Passion of Christ to war, refugees, human trafficking, surveillance, deportation, the media, the economy, prisons, hostages, and crackdowns on protests. Notably absent, however, are abortion, euthanasia, and gender ideology. One acclamation reads: "For migrants, the displaced, and refugees: Comfort us, O Mother." In the first station, the meditation talks about political and economic power "to start or end a war… the power …Okuninzi
However, the anxious crowd has been waiting for half an hour! The smoke stopped 15 minutes ago, which is normal. Normally, the Pontiff appears no more than 20 minutes after the smoke begins to rise. But here, there is no Habemus Papam and no Pontiff! What is going on? fumee- …
Watch till the end. ( 8:42 seconds or less)l. A Christian civilian. Killed by a foreign strike near his home. Buried by his Muslim neighbors. This is the Iran they don't show you. In a country the world calls divided by religion, Muslims carried their Christian brother to his final rest. Not because of politics. Not because of propaganda. Because that is who they are. We filmed his memorial service—the grief, the unity, the shared humanity. This video is not about war. It is about what survives war: faith, dignity, and the bonds that no bomb can break. Watch. Share. Remember his name: *"Avanes"* IRAN War: When Muslims Wept for a Christian
[Saint Catherine of Genoa ~ XV-XVI Century; Genoa, Republic of Genoa/ Genoa, Republic of Genoa; (aged 62-63); Mystic; Spiritual Writer] “Chapter VIII ~ THE NECESSITY OF PURGATORY, AND HOW TERRIBLE IT IS AGAIN I say that, on God's part, I see paradise has no gate, but that whosoever will may enter therein ; for God is all mercy, and stands with open arms to admit us to His glory. But still I see that the Being of God is so pure (far more than one can imagine), that should a soul see in itself even the least mote of imperfection, it would rather cast itself into a thousand hells than go with that spot into the presence of the Divine Majesty. Therefore, seeing purgatory ordained to take away such blemishes, it plunges therein, and deems it a great mercy that it can thus remove them. No tongue can express, no mind can understand, how dreadful is purgatory. Its pain is like that of hell ; and yet (as I have said) I see any soul with the least stain of imperfection accept it as a mercy, not …Okuninzi
"No tongue can express, no mind can understand, how dreadful is purgatory. Its pain is like that of hell ; and yet (as I have said) I see any soul with the least stain of imperfection accept it as a mercy, not thinking it of any moment when compared with being kept from its Love. It appears to me that the greatest pain the souls in purgatory endure proceeds from their being sensible of something in themselves displeasing to God, and that it has been done voluntarily against so much goodness ; for, being in a state of grace, they know the truth, and how grievous is any obstacle which does not let them approach God."
Office of Tenebrae, Good Friday, Reading 6 From the Treatise of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Upon the Psalms On Psalm 63: They whetted their tongue like a sword. The Jews cannot say: We did not murder Christ, albeit they gave Him over to Pilate His judge, that they themselves might seem free of His death. For when Pilate said unto them, Take ye Him: and kill Him, they answered, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. They could throw the blame of their sin upon a human judge: but did they deceive God, the Great Judge? In that which Pilate did, he was their accomplice, but in comparison with them, he had far the lesser sin. John xix. 11. Pilate strove as far as he could, to deliver Him out of their hands; for the which reason also he scourged Him, John xix. 1, and brought Him forth to them. He scourged not the Lord for cruelty’s sake, but in the hope that; he might so slake their wild thirst for blood: that, perchance, even they might be touched with compassion, and cease …Okuninzi
The Jews conspire against Christ. He is anointed by Mary. The treason of Judas. The last supper. The prayer in the garden. The apprehension of our Lord. His treatment in the house of Caiphas. Douay-Rheims Bible, Matthew Chapter 26
[Saint Albert the Great – Albertus Magnus – XIII Century AD; Duchy of Bavaria/Cologne, Holy Roman Empire; (Aged ca 80); German Dominican friar, philosopher, scientist, and bishop; one of the greatest medieval philosophers and thinkers; Doctor of the Church] “Chapter 7 ~ How the heart should be gathered within itself What is more, as is said in the book On the Spirit and the Soul (of St. Augustine), to ascend to God means to enter into oneself. He who entering within and penetrating his inmost nature, goes beyond himself, he is truly ascending to God. So let us withdraw our hearts from the distractions of this world, and recall them to the inner joys, so that we can establish them to some degree in the light of divine contemplation. For this is the life and peace of our hearts - to be established by intent in the love of God and to be sweetly remade by his comforting. But the reason why we are in so many ways hindered in the practical enjoyment of this matter and are unable to get into …Okuninzi
"It is therefore right and necessary for the mind to raise itself above itself and everything created by the abandonment of everything, with humble reverence and great trust, and to say within itself, He whom I seek, love, thirst for and desire from everything and more than anything is not a thing of the senses or the imagination, but is above everything that can be experienced by the senses and the intellect. He cannot be experienced by any of the senses, but is completely desirable to my will. He is moreover not discernable, but is perfectly desirable to my inner affections. He cannot be comprehended, but can be loved in his fullness with a pure heart, for he is above all lovable and desirable, and of infinite goodness and perfection."
[AR - DE - EN - ES - FR - IT - PL - PT] GOOD FRIDAY THE PASSION OF THE LORD THE WAY OF THE CROSS COLOSSEUM ROME, 3 APRIL 2026 [Multimedia] Introduction The Way of the Cross winds through the narrow streets in the Old City of Jerusalem, allowing us to retrace Jesus’ path from the place of his condemnation to that of his crucifixion and burial, which is also the site of his resurrection. This route is not reserved for the devout or those seeking a quiet space for prayer. Rather, as in the time of Jesus, we find ourselves walking through a chaotic, distracting and noisy environment, surrounded by people who share our faith in him, but also by those who deride or insult him. Such is the reality of our daily life. The Way of the Cross is not intended for those who lead a pristinely pious or abstractly recollected life. Instead, it is the exercise of one who knows that faith, hope and charity must be incarnated in the real world, where the believer faces ongoing challenges and must …
1. The War Was Predictably Destabilizing The speaker begins by saying any competent analyst should have known that attacking Iran would disrupt global energy markets. Iran has the capability to interfere with oil flows (especially in key shipping lanes), so economic fallout was a “known known”—not a surprise. 2. Failure to Build International Support They contrast this conflict with earlier U.S. wars: 1991 Gulf War: A broad coalition was built before combat—European allies, Arab states, and NATO partners were aligned. 2003 Iraq War: Even though controversial, the U.S. at least attempted to gain NATO backing and international legitimacy. Current situation: No real diplomatic effort was made to build a coalition. Europe is refusing to participate. European economies are already strained (e.g., from Russia sanctions), and this war is worsening their situation. Conclusion: The U.S. acted unilaterally and now stands isolated. 3. No Serious War Planning The speaker argues the war was launched …Okuninzi
"#1 The War Was Predictably Destabilizing" Who benefits? Certainly not US interests. Destabilizing the region is exactly what Israel wants. Bibi's mission accomplished.
[St. Augustine of Hippo – IV-V Century AD; Thagaste, Roman Empire/Hippo, Western Roman Empire; (aged 75) – Church Father – Doctor of the Church – Blessed; Resting Place – Pavia, Italy] “Chapter V 13 ~ "Blessed are ye," says He, "when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." Let any one who is seeking after the delights of this world and the riches of temporal things under the Christian name, consider that our blessedness, is within; as it is said of the soul of the Church by the mouth of the prophet, "All the beauty of the king's daughter is within;" for outwardly revilings, and persecutions, and disparagements are promised; and yet, from these things there is a great reward in heaven, which is felt in the heart of those who endure, those who can now say, "We glory in tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; …Okuninzi
"15 ~ "Rejoice," says He, "and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." I do not think that it is the higher parts of this visible world that are here called heaven. For our reward, which ought to be immoveable and eternal, is not to be placed in things fleeting and temporal. But I think the expression "in heaven" means in the spiritual firmament, where dwells everlasting righteousness: in comparison with which a Wicked soul is called earth, to which it is said when it sins," Earth thou art, and unto earth thou shalt return."