Today's Catholic Highlights:
Legislation to make Easter Monday a federal holiday has been reintroduced by Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, and Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri. If passed, the day following Easter Sunday would be recognized as a public holiday, marking a significant recognition of the Christian calendar within the United States’ national schedule.
In military news, Defense Secretary Hegseth has removed Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., a top Army chaplain, from his position. The specific reasons for this decision remain undisclosed. This move is part of a larger pattern, as Hegseth has dismissed numerous military leaders during his term and has expressed a commitment to reforming the chaplaincy.
The Catholic community mourns the loss of Vittorio Messori, a renowned Italian Catholic journalist and author. Messori, a convert to Catholicism, used his literary and investigative talents to ardently defend the faith. His contributions to Catholic journalism and apologetics have left a lasting impact on the Church.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, delivered a stirring homily on Easter Sunday. He emphasized that the resurrection of Christ disrupts our conventional understanding of life and death, and opens up new, unexpected horizons. The Cardinal’s message provided a fresh perspective on the Easter narrative and its implications for believers.
The Divine Mercy Novena, a nine-day period of prayer, began on Good Friday. The novena is associated with Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, OLM, a Polish religious sister and mystic who was canonized in April 2000. Sister Faustina is known for her reported visions of Jesus, which have greatly influenced Catholic devotional practices.