By Nate Jackson, Patriot Post – This is America. The heavy hand of government has never been a good or acceptable tool for determining the behavior of free citizens. If the CDC had been actually reliable and respectable from the beginning, and if the ruling class hadn’t become so quickly addicted to power with COVID as an excuse, we’d all be better off today.

Author Don Schwager – When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. …

Franciscan Media – Pope John I inherited the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Italy had been ruled for 30 years by an emperor who espoused the heresy, though he treated the empire’s Catholics with toleration. His policy changed at about the time the young John was elected pope.

By Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Integrated Catholic Life – The Ascension is about Jesus’s triumph and glorification. If we get our attention off ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit’s love of the Son to animate our souls, we’ll experience greater joy than when we see our child hit a home run or graduate from college… the Ascension is not just about charity. It is also a feast of hope. Yes, there is something in it for us.

By Rodney Pelletier, Church Militant – What’s happening today, however, is that people are paying government entities to do the charitable works for them… Democrats claim taxes must be raised so that those who have can pay for the have-nots… But it isn’t charity if it’s mandated by the government, meaning that paying taxes is not an act of charity. That’s just one aspect of the Marxist takeover of Western civilization.

By Father Raymond J. de Souza, EWTN News – One could imagine Deepak Chopra feeling quite at home in the sessions of the German “Synodal Path.” And while Chopra was not invited to speak about doctrinal or moral matters in his Vatican conversation with Dr. Oz, his presence in Rome might suggest why there are few in Germany who neither are amazed nor afraid.

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, Human Life International – “In the proclamation of this Gospel, we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and we must refuse any compromise or ambiguity which might conform us to the world’s way of thinking (cf. Rom 12:2). We must be in the world but not of the world (cf. Jn 15:19; 17:16), drawing our strength from Christ, who by his Death and Resurrection has overcome the world (cf. Jn 16:33).”

By John Zmirak, The Stream – The left demands unconditional surrender, and a thorough-going purge. Since everything they dislike is somehow “racist,” it might as well be “Nazi.” And what do we do with Nazis? Hang them when we can, but in the meantime punch them, silence them, try to ruin their lives and careers… These people have decided that America needs de-Nazification.

By Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D., Breitbart – U.S. climate czar John Kerry met with Pope Francis in the Vatican this weekend… The pope “is one of the great voices of reason and compelling moral authority on the subject of the climate crisis,” Kerry told Vatican News. “He’s been ahead of the curve. He’s been a leader. His encyclical Laudato Si is really a very, very powerful document, eloquent and morally very persuasive.”… His Holiness “speaks with a moral authority that is quite separate,” Kerry added. “It’s unique and we need all the power we can bring to the table.”… Last January, Kerry told the BBC that humanity has only nine years to save the planet from man-made climate change.

By Paul Kengor, Crisis Magazine – “I think I can use my own judgment on that.”… That was the assessment of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a longtime “pro-choice” Catholic, when asked her reaction to U.S. bishops and the Vatican considering the question of whether abortion-advocating Catholic politicians should be denied the Eucharist.

By Pete Baklinski, LifeSiteNews – Cardinal Gerhard Muller, former Prefect CDF at the Vatican, criticized U.S. Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Joseph Tobin of Newark for acting more like “representatives of the Democratic Party” than of Jesus Christ… “I think these two bishops came to Rome as members or representatives of the Democratic Party,” Muller said… “But the bishops are (supposed to be) the representatives of Jesus Christ, of the revealed truth.”

Msgr. Charles Pope – In more dioceses than not, the Feast of the Ascension is celebrated this Sunday. The liturgist in me regrets the move from Thursday, but here we are any way. Let’s ascend with the Lord, three days late!.. This marvelous feast is not merely about something that took place two thousand years ago, for though Christ our head has ascended, we the members of His body are ascending with Him.

By Arnold Ahlert, Patriot Post – A new woke recruiting ad sends all the wrong messages about America’s Armed Forces… The Army’s latest recruitment ad features a girl raised by two mothers, a lesbian wedding, and a civil rights protest, all aimed at “shattering stereotypes.” It opens with some music and the cartoon pictures of a soldier morphing into their photos. Then comes the narrative.

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 16:29-33 – His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! 30 Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? …

By Franciscan Media – In Paschal’s lifetime the Spanish empire in the New World was at the height of its power, though France and England were soon to reduce its influence. The 16th century has been called the Golden Age of the Church in Spain, for it gave birth to Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Peter of Alcantara, Francis Solano, and Salvator of Horta.