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Spirituality
The Disciple Who Remained: How the Apostles Chose Judas’ Replacement
Every year on May 14th, the Church celebrates the feast of the Apostle who came late to the party: St. Matthias. Biblically, we know very little about this man, but legend and tradition tell us he was full of zeal. Upon being chosen to be counted among the Twelve, he devoted his life to preaching an...
Spirituality
The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima Is Truly Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day in the United States usually finds people celebrating in a big way. Mothers are showered with gifts, and restaurants experience one of their busiest days of the year as families treat Mom to dinner. People in the United States were celebrating Mother’s Day on that May 13, 1917, when our...
Spirituality
The Lesson of the Ascension in Our Lives Today
Have you ever noticed how the Ascension is celebrated during a time when many cross graduation stages and enter new stages of life? There is much to learn from these seemingly unrelated yet coinciding events. Against the context of graduations and new beginnings, the Ascension of the Lord imparts a...
Spirituality
The Diaconate: Learning to Die to Self for My Husband’s Call
Almost five years ago, on a beautiful, warm summer evening, while watching our daughter play soccer, my husband turned to share some life-changing news with me. I remember it clear as day. He told me: “I’ve been quietly discerning the diaconate for the past 9 months.” It was not something I ever exp...
World News
The Tuesday Pillar Post - May 12, 2026
Written by JD Flynn and published May 12, 2026.ShareAre you a paying subscriber?Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phoneCheck the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar TL;DRHaving issues? Email our producer Ka...
World News
Starting Seven: May 13, 2026
Welcome to Starting Seven, The Pillar’s daily newsletter.I’m Luke Coppen and I aim to guide you each weekday morning to the most interesting Catholic news and commentary. Read more
World News
Social media, situationships, and a ‘ring by spring’ — the complex dating world for Gen Z Catholics
One year ago, Joe Kuebler decided he wanted to start taking dating seriously.A 25-year-old software engineer, Joe struggled to find a long-term relationship, so he took his desire to prayer. Later that month, he met a woman named Cameron at a parish retreat.Now, a year later, the two are engaged.Joe...
World News
What does Georgia’s new patriarch mean for Rome-Orthodox ties?
The Vatican welcomed Monday the election of a new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, one of the 14 universally recognized self-governing Eastern Orthodox Churches.Shio III of Georgia. Credit: President.ge/wikipedia CC BY 4.0.Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Uni...
World News
Did the Vatican really give a special award to the Iranian ambassador?
The Vatican press office has clarified that an award given to the Iranian ambassador to the Holy See is not an exclusive honor, but a customary award routinely given to ambassadors after two years of service.The clarification came after several Iranian outlets reported May 12 that Pope Leo XIV had g...
World News
If the SSPX consecrations happen, who exactly is excommunicated?
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reiterated Wednesday that if the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X carries out plans to illicitly consecrate bishops in July, those involved will commit an act of schism and be subject to the canonical penalty of excommunication.Cardinal Víctor Manuel F...
World News
How Myanmar’s Catholics are faring amid civil war
When a country has been engulfed by civil war for five years, it’s surprising to hear a cardinal describe the local Church as “incredibly flourishing.”Cardinal Charles Bo, pictured on May 12, 2016. © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.ShareBut that is the phrase Cardinal Charles Bo used to sum up the Catholi...