Catholic Culture, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord – Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: O God, who willed that your Word should take on the reality of human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who confess our Redeemer to be God and man, may merit to become partakers even in his divine nature. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever… Again Lent’s austerity is interrupted as we solemnly keep a feast in honor of the Annunciation. The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is a mystery that belongs to the temporal rather than to the sanctoral cycle in the Church’s calendar.
By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, Human Life International – Ehrlich predicted that by 1980 all important animal life in the sea would be extinct. He predicted that the United States would “be dying of thirst” by 1984. In a 1969 article, he declared that “by 1985 enough millions will have died to reduce the earth’s population to some acceptable level, like 1.5 billion people.” Visiting Britain, he announced that he would take “even money that England will not exist in the year 2000.”… Instead, the world’s population more than doubled, from 3.5 billion when his book was published to over 8 billion today, and humanity became vastly wealthier, healthier, and better fed. Extreme poverty plummeted. Life expectancy soared.
By Jacqueline O’Hara, Catholic Herald – On March 15, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas promoted an essay posted by ‘Insurrection Barbie’ that accused Catholic integralists, among others, of dividing the conservative movement and contributing to growing Evangelical scepticism about support for Israel. As the Catholic Herald previously reported, the essay heavily criticised traditional Catholic groups, frames Evangelicalism as inherently connected to Zionism, accuses Catholicism of being anti-Zionist, and ultimately concludes that Catholic integralism is hell-bent on destroying ‘Christian Zionism’.
NEWS
‘Mother Earth’ Comes to Church: Art Installation ‘GAIA’ in German Basilica
By Novus Ordo Watch – Opening the Church to the world was the idea behind the so-called Second Vatican Council (1962-65). How that’s going can currently be seen in the Basilica of St. James in Straubing, part of the diocese of Regensburg, Germany. There a giant, illuminated replica of our globe is hanging from the ceiling as part of a touring exhibition meant to raise awareness concerning our planet… The installation is called ‘GAIA’, just like the Greek earth goddess, and was created by artist Luke Jerram. It opened on March 6 and will run through March 27, 2026. …
In Sanctuary Cities, American Lives Don’t Matter, by Brian Lonergan
By Brian Lonergan, Chronicles – America’s “sanctuary” communities claim to possess higher levels of compassion for others, but the reality is that the measure of a human life in these places has quietly been assigned a hierarchical value based on immigration status. By the logic of sanctuary laws, illegal aliens’ lives have the highest value, while those of American citizens have virtually none… Sanctuary policies have a dehumanizing effect on our society. By design, they pick and choose whose lives matter. Illegal aliens get second, third, and fourth chances, even after committing violent crimes. …
Luxembourg’s Cardinal Hollerich Says Women’s Ordination Essential to Church’s Future, by Alexander Folz
By Alexander Folz, EWTN News, (Catholic World Report) – Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, SJ, the former general relator of the Synod on Synodality, has publicly called for the ordination of women, arguing that the Church cannot long endure if half of the people of God lacks access to ordained ministry… “I cannot imagine in the long run how a Church can survive if half of the people of God suffers because they have no access to ordained ministry,” Hollerich said Thursday at a symposium on synodality and Praedicate Evangelium at the University of Bonn, according to news agency KNA.
Here’s the Way to Save La Grande Trappe Monastery from Closing, by John Horvat II
By John Horvat II, Crisis Magazine – It is easy to trace the origins of this new enemy. Modern spiritualities introduced after the Second Vatican Council attacked traditional forms of worship, hollowed out everything of substance, and left countless communities devastated. Viking theologians tore down everything in their paths… Like a Viking lightning raid, old monastic traditions were overturned. Schedules, fasts, and prayer vigils were abandoned. Churches were gutted of their old adornments, “wreckovated” in a manner far more thorough than the ignorant barbarians. Social justice causes replaced the focus on prayer and penance.
Theologians Press Vatican to Address Concerns Over Marian Document, by Edward Pentin
By Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register – Scholars request a formal reply from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to their detailed criticism of ‘Mater Populi Fidelis,’ which they say departs from papal and conciliar teaching on Our Lady… Members of an international group of leading theologians and Mariologists have written to Cardinal Victor Fernández, asking him to respond to their detailed criticisms of a Vatican doctrinal note published last November that diminished some long-established devotional Marian titles.
New Report Shows 1.1 Million Babies Killed in Abortions Last Year, by Steven Ertelt
By Steven Ertelt, LifeNews – A new report from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute estimates that more than 1.12 million babies were killed in abortions in 2025… That is a heartbreaking figure that remained virtually unchanged from the previous year despite state-level restrictions following the 2022 Dobbs decision. It provides more evidence that pro-life states need to keep fighting mail-order abortions and President Donald trump and the FDA need to step in to reverse the Biden rule allowing them.
Democrats Have Nothing To Offer But Fear And Misery, by Chris Bray
By Chris Bray, The Federalist – Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked funding for the TSA, the Coast Guard, and other DHS agencies, trying to force the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to agree to defunding ICE and protecting illegal immigrants in exchange for funding the rest of DHS… They shut down a bunch of government agencies, then say “Republican shutdown” over and over again. They create giant security lines at airports, then tell voters to be angry that mean Republicans are doing this to you. Deliberately inflicting pain on Americans ….
Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations: When You Have Lifted up the Son of Man
Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 8:21-30 – 21 Again he said to them, “I go away, and you will seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 Then said the Jews, “Will he kill himself, since he says, `Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” …
Who’s Teaching Those AI Machines Your Kids Will Learn From? by Scott McKay
By Scott McKay, The American Spectator – The public conversation often focuses on which company will “win” the AI race. A lot better question is one Melissa keeps asking in those fabulous Spectacle segments: what values are being programmed into these systems that will soon help govern modern life?… That question becomes especially urgent when it comes to the kids… Over the past decade, parents have slowly come to realize that the internet children inhabit is very different from the one many adults first encountered. Digital platforms, once described as harmless entertainment, are now powerful cultural ecosystems shaping our identity, behavior, and belief… And not in a way we’ve voted for.
Iran War Day 24: Trump Halts Strikes on Iranian Energy Infrastructure, Israel Signals Deeper Push Into Lebanon, by Elise Winland
By Elise Winland, Zeale – As the Iran war entered its 24th day, President Donald Trump halted U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure amid “constructive conversations” with Iran and suggested the U.S. could jointly control the Strait of Hormuz along with a new Iranian regime. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue striking targets in Iran while other Israeli officials signaled a deeper push into Lebanon.
Trump postpones strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, citing ‘productive’ talks
U.S. Enjoys Net Negative Migration for First Time in Over 50 Years. What’s Driving It? by S.A. McCarthy
By S.A. McCarthy, The Washington Stand – The era of mass immigration to the U.S. is slowly, painfully drawing to a close, according to new statistics, but much work remains to be done to secure the American homeland. The Washington Post on Sunday published an analysis of new U.S. State Department numbers tracking a modest but meaningful decrease in legal immigration into the U.S., the first time in over 50 years that more immigrants left the U.S. than entered.
Fr. Jerry Pokorsky: Our Quest to Live Forever
By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture – God created us to live forever. Our longing for eternal life unfolds as a continuum of human love finding its fulfillment in divine union. This yearning is not accidental; it is an essential part of our human nature. Because God created us in His image, human love cooperates with God in bringing forth new life. Our cooperation fulfills the command at creation to “be fruitful and multiply”—and extends our existence over generations. …
Double-Lives in the ‘Naked Public Square’, by John M. Grondelski
By John M. Grondelski, The Catholic Thing – When Fr. Richard John Neuhaus introduced the concept of the “naked public square” in a 1984 book with the same name, he argued that it was anti-democratic because it required citizens to strip off their religious identities as the price of admission to public life and discourse… The naked public square paradigm of church/state relations requires the majority of citizens, who are believers, to disavow that basic identity to participate in political and social life. Religion needs to be hidden from public view. In public life. In schools. On the subway.
The Seat of Moses and the Crucifixion of Christ, by Dr. Marcus Peter
By Dr. Marcus Peter, Catholic Exchange – Our sins pierced His hands. Our transgressions required His sacrifice. He entered the grave for our redemption and rose for our justification. Consequently, when we hear Him speak about the chair of Moses and the dangers of spiritual pride, we stand before Him as brothers and sisters under one Father, guided by one Teacher, redeemed by one Lord. In that humble posture, the covenant lives within us, and through the grace of the Spirit, we learn to serve with sincerity and to walk in the path that leads to exaltation in Him.
Just War Doctrine and the Duties of Soldiers, by Dr. Edward Feser
By Dr. Edward Feser, Catholic World Report – The main point of just war doctrine is to guide public authorities in determining whether a military action they are considering is morally defensible. In a democratic society, it also assists citizens in carrying out their own duties as voters, opinion makers, and so on… But what of the servicemen who have to fight in the wars their governments decide to wage? Do they have an obligation to make a moral judgment about these wars in light of just war criteria? Must they refuse to fight in an unjust war?
Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations: When You Have Lifted up the Son of Man
Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 8:21-30 – 21 Again he said to them, “I go away, and you will seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 Then said the Jews, “Will he kill himself, since he says, `Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” …
Founder’s Quote
Patriot Post – “The circumstances that endanger the safety of nations are infinite, and for this reason no constitutional shackles can wisely be imposed on the power to which the care of it is committed.” —Alexander Hamilton (1787)
Saint of the Day, March 24: Catherine of Sweden
By Zeale News, March 24, 2026 – St. Catherine of Sweden was born in 1330, a noblewoman and daughter of St. Bridget of Sweden. As a young girl, Catherine was sent to a monastery to be educated until she was 13, and her parents had arranged a marriage for her… Catherine married a German nobleman named Egard, but her time in the monastery had led her to desire religious life. She persuaded her husband to take a mutual vow of celibacy with her, and the couple practiced mortification and acts of charity together.
