The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1. This means the novena begins on April 22 or April 23. If you begin on April 22, the novena ends one day before the feast. If you begin on April 23, your novena will conclude on his May 1 feast day.

In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in response to the growing threat posed by communist and socialist ideologies in the workplace.

He chose May 1 to Christianize the secular International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day. 

“During this time, the Soviet Union proclaimed themselves as the defender of workers and utilized May Day as an opportunity to exalt communism and parade its military prowess,” EWTN Vatican reported. “Pope Pius XII chose the date specifically to ensure that workers did not lose the Christian understanding of work.”

During this address, instituting the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1, 1955, Pope Pius XII said in Saint Peter’s Square:

“There could be no better protector to help you let the spirit of the Gospel penetrate your lives…The humble craftsman of Nazareth not only embodies before God and the Holy Church the dignity of the manual laborer, but is also always the provident guardian of you and your families.”

“Thus, if you want to be close to Christ, We also repeat to you today: ‘Ite ad Ioseph’: Go to Joseph!”

In honor of this glorious feast approaching, ChurchPOP has provided a novena to Saint Joseph the Worker below. Feel free to turn to him whenever you need him, but especially in your work. The husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus will never fail you!

Novena to Saint Joseph the Worker

Pray this novena on the nine days leading up to May 1, or any time you seek Saint Joseph’s help in work, employment, or provision for your family.

Each day:

1. Sign of the Cross
2. Scriptural Meditation
3. Daily prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker
4. Your intention
5. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker

Dear Saint Joseph, by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow, you supported Jesus and Mary and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.

Teach me to work as you did, with patience and perseverance, for God and for those whom God has given me to support.

When my work is pleasant and productive, remind me to give thanks to God for it.

When it is burdensome, teach me to offer it to God in reparation for my sins and for the sins of the world.

Good Father Saint Joseph, obtain for me the grace to see my work as participation in God’s creative and redemptive plan, and to perform it in union with Jesus and Mary.

Through your intercession, guard my soul in peace, my family in charity, and all workers in justice and safety.

Amen.

Day 1 – The dignity of work

Scriptural mediation:

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

 (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for a spirit of gratitude and faithfulness in my daily work).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 2 – Trust in God’s providence

Scriptural mediation: 

“But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6:33.)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for those who are unemployed or underemployed).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 3 – Patience in trials

Scriptural mediation: 

“Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3–5.)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for patience and peace in workplace difficulties).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 4 – Justice in labor

Scriptural mediation: 

“Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another.” (Luke 10:7)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for just wages, honest employers, and protection from exploitation).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 5 – Charity toward co‑workers

Scriptural mediation: 

“Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for reconciliation and charity where there is conflict at work).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 6 – Work and family life

Scriptural mediation: 

“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for balance between work and family, and for the protection of my home).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 7 – Holiness in ordinary tasks

Scriptural mediation: 

“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: to offer even small, hidden tasks to God with love).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 8 – Protection for workers

Scriptural mediation: 

“The LORD will guard you from all evil; he will guard your soul. The LORD will guard your coming and going both now and forever.” (Psalm 121:7–8)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for safety and protection for all who labor in dangerous or exhausting conditions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Day 9 – Perseverance in grace

Scriptural mediation: 

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Pray the Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker.

Add your intention (for example: for final perseverance, a holy death, and eternal rest for deceased workers in my family).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Saint Joseph the Worker, pray for us!

However, the Church offers concrete ways to care for the soul of the deceased and lovingly support those who are grieving. Here are 12 ways to do so.

The project “The Catholic Classroom,” which describes itself as a “resource for exploring and understanding the Catholic faith,” shared a reflection on this delicate moment on Instagram.

The account points out that when someone dies, we often offer condolences or say, “I’m sorry,” but we can still feel unsure about how to act.

“But as Catholics, we are not without guidance. The Church, in its wisdom, offers us concrete ways to care for the soul of the deceased and to love those who are grieving,” the post says.

They explain that praying, offering Mass for the deceased, being present, accompanying, and supporting the family are true acts of charity.

“These are more than simple kind gestures: they are works of mercy, rooted in love and in the hope of the Resurrection.”

When our loved ones are going through the pain of grief, here are 12 concrete actions we can take:

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1) As soon as you find out, pray

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their soul(s) and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

2) Offer a Mass

Offer a Mass for the repose of their soul. Let the family know.

3) Gain an indulgence

Obtain an indulgence for the soul of the deceased.

4) Light a candle

Light a candle for their soul and let the family know.

5) Pray the Rosary

Pray a Rosary for the repose of their soul.

6) Write a card

Let the family know that you are praying for them and for the soul of their loved one.

7) Send flowers

A simple way to express your prayers and condolences.

8) Visit the family

Stay close to them with charity and prayer.

9) Bring food

Offer to bring a meal to the family during their time of grief. Organizing meal trains can help, but always ask first—some families may prefer privacy.

10) Attend the visitation (wake)

Be present for the family and pray for their loved one.

11) Attend the funeral Mass

Pray with the Church for the repose of their soul.

12) Offer a financial donation

Give to their parish or to a ministry they loved.

What helped you the most during a time of grief?

In a video published by Andrew Biggio on Instagram, Bill, a former prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War, describes the unique rosary beads he received from a fellow inmate.

 “It was a rosary made out of bread. One of the older guys was Catholic, and that’s what he did—he made rosaries,” Bill explains.

Bill says each prisoner was given one piece of bread for breakfast. His fellow inmate used this bread to form beads. He also used threads from his blanket for the string and colored the rosary using a stolen pen.

“Whenever new POWs would come in who were Catholic, he would risk punishment by going over to their cell and tossing the rosary through the window,” Bill continues. “I happened to receive one of these, and I still had it when I was released.”

“During the first release of prisoners—the sick and wounded—they didn’t check us very carefully, so we were able to sneak a lot of items out.”

Watch the video below:

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Here is the full text of his story:

“It was a rosary made out of bread. One of the older men was Catholic, and that’s what he did—he made rosaries.

We each received a piece of bread in the morning for breakfast, and he would take part of his portion and use it to form the beads. He would pull threads from his blanket to make the string. He had also stolen a pen with ink, which he used to color the rosary.

Whenever new POWs would come in who were Catholic, he would risk punishment by going over to their cell and tossing the rosary through the window. I happened to receive one of these, and I still had it when I was released.

During the first release of prisoners—the sick and wounded—they didn’t check us very carefully, so we were able to sneak a lot of items out.”

The video has generated over half a million views, approximately 50,000 likes, and more than 700 comments.

Hundreds of users provided their reactions. One user even told their incredible story about a family member in World War II.

Here is one user’s story:

“My husband’s grandmother was an American Catholic who was taken to a concentration camp during WW2. She moved home to Poland after the Great Depression, and her birth certificate was wrong. They thought she was an American spy. She made these rosaries as well. Her husband traveled to America, got the correct paperwork, and rescued her. My daughter is named after her. She was buried with the rosary she made with bread.”

Other users explained how much this post moved them:

“Give us this day our daily bread…Literally his daily bread,” one user commented.

“Oh my gosh...Hanoi Hilton survivor. He got a rosary from a man who risked punishment. This is heartwrenching,” another user wrote. “Today, they don't teach history in school. High school kids don't even understand Hanoi Hilton.”

“This touches my heart so deeply as a Marine and Knight of Columbus. We carry our Rosary always,” someone else added. “You and your brother POW have lifelines to every single one who touched them.”

Our Lady of the Rosary, please pray for all veterans!

This reflection seeks to address that question through lived experience and the hope that flows from Easter.

1) The Question That Rises From the Heart in Suffering

“Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4).

The Christian message is clear: Christ is risen. Sin does not have the last word. Death has been defeated. Light has triumphed over darkness. Yet we need only look at our own lives—or the lives of those around us—to notice something unsettling: suffering remains.

We continue to experience loss, illness, conflict, failure, and fear. At times, even when we believe, our hearts grow weary. Doubts arise, along with spiritual fatigue and a troubling question: Where is God when it hurts?

The Bible does not hide this reality. It does not soften or deny it. On the contrary, it speaks of it plainly. Saint Paul writes:

“We even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope.” (Rom 5:3–4)

Suffering is not an anomaly in the Christian life—it is part of the journey.

2) The Resurrection: A Real Victory That Does Not Eliminate the Cross

The Resurrection of Christ is not merely a beautiful symbol or a motivational idea. It is the heart of the Christian faith. Saint Paul says it directly:

“And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty, too, your faith.” (1 Cor 15:14)

Believing in the Resurrection changes everything—but not always in the immediate way we expect. Christ has triumphed, yes, yet we continue to walk in a world where evil exists, and the cross remains part of life.

That is why the question persists: If Christ has won, why does it still hurt so much? Why do some crosses seem too heavy? Why does God sometimes seem silent?

These questions are not signs of weak faith. Often, they are prayer—the cry of a heart that continues to seek God even without understanding.

3) A Hope That Does Not Promise Ease, but Meaning

The Christian faith never promised a life without suffering. What it offers is something deeper: the assurance that pain does not have the final word. Christ’s victory does not remove the cross, but transforms it from within. It reveals that suffering is not meaningless and that no wound is beyond God’s reach.

That is why Saint Paul can boldly say:

“Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts” (Rom 5:5).

We live in a kind of tension: Christ is risen, yet the fullness of His glory has not been fully revealed. We walk between the promise and its fulfillment. That is why we suffer—but we do not suffer without hope. Every cross borne with Christ is touched by the light of Easter, even when that light is not yet clearly seen.

4) When Suffering No Longer Has the Last Word

The Resurrection does not erase pain, but it assures us that no wound is final when we remain united to Christ. The empty tomb does not cancel the cross—it gives it new meaning.

“If we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him” (Rom 6:8).

Perhaps the most important question is no longer simply why we suffer, but with whom we suffer. Pain lived apart from God can feel crushing, but pain lived with Him can open a path to hope.

The Resurrection does not answer every question. But it ensures that suffering does not have the last word. And that—while it does not remove everything—changes everything.

5) A Call to Prayer and Daily Living

What specific suffering am I facing today that I have not yet placed in God’s hands? Do I truly believe that the Risen Christ walks with me in that wound?

This week, take a moment to name before the Lord what weighs most heavily on your heart, and surrender it to Him—even if you do not yet see an answer.

Because Easter does not remove us from the world, but teaches us to live in it with a hope that does not disappoint.

Here are some moving moments surrounding Pope Francis' death that touched Catholics around the world:

1) Pope Francis Died on “Monday of the Angel.”

Easter Monday commemorates the angel’s announcement of Christ’s Resurrection to the women at the tomb. Pope Francis had always shown a tender devotion to the Guardian Angels. 

He once said, 

“Let us call upon them frequently in prayer… that they may help us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our only salvation.”

2) He Died During the Easter Octave

The Easter Octave is the most joyful time in the Church’s year — eight days of celebrating Christ’s victory over death. Throughout his life, Francis preached and lived the joy of the Resurrection. He often said that Christians must “sow the hope of Easter in our lives and in the world.”

3) His Last Public Appearance Was on Easter Sunday

Despite his visible frailty, Pope Francis appeared one final time to offer the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday.

In his homily, which he could not read by himself, he reminded the world: 

“We can live this poor, fragile, and wounded existence clinging to Christ, because He has conquered death… to make us live with Him in joy, forever.”

4) His Last Words

According to Vatican journalist Salvatore Cernuzio, Pope Francis’ final words were whispered on Easter Monday morning, and were about gratitude to the people helping him: 

“He asked for a glass of water, drank it, said to the nurse, ‘Thank you, sorry for the inconvenience,’ and then died.” 

5) His Body Was Taken to Saint Peter’s Basilica on His Name Day

On April 23, the feast of Saint George — patron of Jorge Mario Bergoglio — the late Pope’s body was carried to Saint Peter’s Basilica. Throughout his pontificate, Francis often invoked Saint George when speaking of spiritual combat and courage against evil.

6) He Was Buried on the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday

Mercy was the cornerstone of Pope Francis’ papacy. His motto, “Miserando atque eligendo” (“He looked upon him with mercy and chose him”), and his proclamation of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015 made clear how central mercy was to his mission. He was buried on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday — a providential seal on his life.

7) He Died on the Eve of a Jesuit Marian Feast

As the first Jesuit pope, Francis’ passing on the eve of the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Society of Jesus (April 22), carried special resonance. The Jesuits have long honored Mary as their mother and guide. 

In his spiritual testament, Francis wrote that he wanted his earthly journey to end close to her, resting in Saint Mary Major, where he prayed before and after every apostolic trip.

8) His Funeral Became a Mini “World Youth Day.”

In a moving tribute to his love for young people, tens of thousands of youth — many formed in the faith under his guidance — filled Saint Peter’s Square for his funeral as that weekend the Jubilee of Teenagers was supposed to take place. They brought flags, rosaries, and the joy he had always encouraged them to share.

The scene resembled a miniature World Youth Day — one last celebration of the Pope, who told them again and again: 

“Christ is alive, and He wants you to be alive!”

However, one story has recently gone viral because of the heartfelt way an eight-year-old Japanese girl asked her family to have her baptized. Even more striking, her conviction led her mother to decide to be baptized as well.

Minami Kimura, a second-grade student, told her parents in May of last year that she wanted to become a Christian.

Although she does not come from a religious family, she has attended the Catholic school Shirayuri Gakuen in Tokyo since kindergarten. It was there, at the age of three, that she first encountered Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Bible.

Minami’s teachers note that while all students learn about the faith, they rarely show an immediate interest in baptism. However, Minami consistently demonstrated a deep love and curiosity for the Catholic faith and for Jesus.

“I don’t remember much because I was very young, but I felt like Jesus was a member of my family,” Minami told Asami Ohmoto of the Union of Catholic Asian News website.

As she received religious instruction and participated in catechism classes, Minami deepened her relationship with Jesus and surprised both her parents and teachers by asking to convert to Catholicism.

Jesuit priest Father Kiyoshi Shibata, from Kojimachi Parish, accompanied Minami in her catechesis and said that the girl “has always had the story of Jesus in her heart since kindergarten.”

When he asked her why she wanted to be baptized, Minami replied, “I’m like this now.” Then she raised her hands high and said, “I want to be baptized because it will bring me closer to God.”

The priest also asked if there was anything in particular that drew her to the faith. She simply answered:

“The way of being of Jesus.”

Maiko, Minami’s mother, said she was surprised by her daughter’s conviction. This prompted Maiko to learn more about Catholicism and led her to desire baptism as well.

She attributes her daughter’s strong foundation of faith to the Catholic school.

“Children are taught to be grateful for everything and that ‘Jesus is our friend.’ This teaching—that Jesus is our friend—was naturally absorbed by my daughter, and I feel that it became the core of her faith,” she said.

Maiko and her husband wanted to give their daughter a “solid foundation” to guide her in life. They believe that baptism is more than just a formality—it is a necessary step to help her along that path.

Minami and her mother, Maiko, were baptized at Kojimachi Parish in Tokyo on Easter.

Let’s pray for Minami and her family!

According to Catholic News Agency,

“The National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year initiative by the U.S. bishops that aims to inspire, educate, and unite the faithful in a more intimate relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.”

The Eucharist is central to our Catholic faith. The saints who have gone before us share a common love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

Inspired by their deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, some saints have composed prayers that help the faithful draw closer to Christ.

The following prayers are perfect to add to your prayer routine during a Holy Hour, after communion, or any other time!

1) Saint Ignatius of Loyola – Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy Wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.

From the malignant enemy, defend me. I
n the hour of my death, call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee.
Forever and ever.

Amen.

2) Saint Catherine of Siena – A Prayer to Jesus in the Eucharist

O boundless charity! Just as You gave us yourself, wholly God and wholly man, so You left us all of yourself as food so that while we are pilgrims in this life, we might not collapse in our weariness, but be strengthened by You, Heavenly Food.

O, mercenary people! And what has your God left you? He has left you himself, wholly God and wholly man, hidden under the whiteness of this bread.

O fire of love! Was it not enough to gift us with creation in Your image and likeness, and to create us anew to grace in Your Son’s blood, without giving us Yourself as food, the whole of divine being, the whole of God?

What drove You? Nothing but Your charity, mad with love as You are!

3) Saint Bonaventure – Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.

Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste.

Let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor.

May it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the House of God.

May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain to Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy Holy Name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with readiness and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.

Be Thou alone ever my hope and my whole confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, and my joy; my rest and tranquility; my peace, my sweetness, and my fragrance; my sweet savor, my food, and refreshment; my refuge and my help; my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm, and rooted immovable.

Amen.

4) Saint Padre Pio – Prayer After Holy Communion

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes, and death, judgment, and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way, and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.

Amen.

5) Saint Alphonsus Liguori – To Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

My Lord Jesus Christ, Who, through the love which You bear toward men, does remain with them day and night in this Sacrament, full of mercy and love, awaiting, inviting, and receiving all who come to visit You, I believe that You are present in the Sacrament of the Altar.

From the abyss of my nothingness, I adore You. I thank You for all the graces which You have bestowed upon me, particularly for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, for having given my Your most holy Mother Mary for my advocate, and for having called me to visit You in this church.

I pay my homage to Your most loving Heart for these three ends: first in thanksgiving for this great Gift; second to make amends to You for all the outrages which You do receive in this Sacrament from all Your enemies; third I intend by this visit to adore You in all the places on earth in which You are present in this Sacrament and in which You are the least honored and the most abandoned.

My Jesus, I love You with my whole heart. I am sorry for having offended Your infinite goodness so many times. I purpose, with the help of Your grace, never more to offend You; and, at this moment, miserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being to You.

I give You my entire will, all my affections and desires, and all that I have. From this day forward, do what You will with me and with everything that belongs to me.

I ask and desire only Your holy love, the gift of final perseverance, and the perfect fulfillment of Your will. I commend to You the souls in Purgatory, particularly those who were most devoted to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary; and I also commend to You all poor sinners.

Finally, my dear Savior, I unite all my affections with the affections of Your most loving Heart; and thus united, I offer them to Your Eternal Father, and I entreat Him, in Your Name and for Your sake, to accept and answer them.

Amen.

6) Saint Faustina – Before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed Your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.

My Lord and Creator, Your goodness encourages me to converse with You. Your mercy abolishes the chasm which separates the Creator from the creature. To converse with You, O Lord, is the delight of my heart. In You I find everything that my heart could desire. Here You light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of graces flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your miserable creature.

O Christ, let my greatest delight be to see You loved and Your praise and glory proclaimed, especially the honor of Your mercy. O Christ, let me glorify Your goodness and mercy to the last moment of my life, with every drop of my blood and every beat of my heart. Would that I be transformed into a hymn of adoration of You. When I find myself on my deathbed, may the last beat of my heart be a loving hymn glorifying Your unfathomable mercy. Amen.

One event that Venerable Mary of Agreda described in her book can simply be called the greatest hug that ever took place in the history of the universe.

This embrace between Our Lord and His Blessed Mother after His triumph on the Cross and descent into the abode of the patriarchs, where He liberated all the righteous souls held there, to free the just that had gone before Him.

Our Lord’s soul was then united once again to His body, endowing it with radiant splendor and unimaginable glory.

As Our Lord accomplished this, Venerable Mary describes Our Lady as “aware of all these mysteries…and participating in them from her retreat in the Cenacle (the Upper Room).”

Venerable Mary of Agreda also describes what happened in Our Lady’s soul when Our Lord’s soul was reunited with His Body:

“In the same instant in which the most holy soul of Christ entered and gave life to His body, the joy of her immaculate soul overflowed into her immaculate body.

“This overflow was so exquisite in its effects, that she was transformed from sorrow to joy, from pain to delight, from grief to ineffable jubilation and rest.”

Finally, after the graces Our Lady received prepared her for an encounter with her Son, it happened.

The Lord of life, Jesus Christ, “arisen and glorious, in the company of all the saints and patriarchs, made His appearance. The ever humble Queen prostrated Herself upon the ground and adored her Divine Son; and the Lord raised Her up and drew Her to Himself.

“In this contact, which was more intimate than the contact with the humanity and the wounds of the Savior sought by Magdalen, the Virgin Mother participated in an extraordinary favor, which She alone, as exempt from sin, could merit.

“Although it was not the greatest of the favors she attained on this occasion, yet she could not have received it without the failing of her faculties, if she had not been previously strengthened by the angels and by the Lord Himself.”

The love that burst forth in this embrace was so strong that Our Lady had to be strengthened by the angels to sustain it.

Venerable Mary of Agreda continues:

“This favor was, that the glorious body of the Son so closely united itself to that of His purest Mother, that He penetrated into it or she into His, as when, for instance, a crystal globe takes up within itself the light of the sun and is saturated with the splendor of its beauty and light.

“In the same way the body of the most holy Mary entered into that of her divine Son by this heavenly embrace; it was, as it were, the portal of her intimate knowledge concerning the glory of the most holy soul and body of her Lord.”

During this most holy embrace, Venerable Mary states that Our Lady was blessed with an extraordinary grace of the Beatific Vision, where “she found complete, though only temporary, rest and reward for all her sorrows and labors.”

How long did this heavenly embrace last? Venerable Mary of Agreda provides the answer:

“For some hours, the heavenly Princess continued to enjoy the essence of God with her divine Son, participating now in His triumph as She had in His torments.

“Then by similar degrees, she again descended from this vision and found herself, in the end, reclining on the right arm of the most sacred humanity.”

After this took place, Venerable Mary states that Our Lord and Our Lady conversed about the mysteries of His Passion and His glory. 

Since Our Blessed Mother suffered so much with Her Son in His Passion, she was rewarded with all the joys of Her Son’s victory.

Venerable Mary later describes Our Lady conversing with the holy patriarchs and saints who had accompanied Our Lord in His triumph, with such figures as Sts. Joseph, Joachim, and Anne are present.

Finally, Our Blessed Lady “invited all the angels and saints there present to praise the Victor over death, sin, and hell.  Whereupon all sang new songs, psalms, hymns of glory and magnificence, until the hour arrived, when the risen Savior was to appear in other places.”

What an amazing event! It can only be described as the greatest hug that has ever taken place or will ever take place.

Venerable Mary of Agreda was a great witness to the Resurrection.

Almost 250 years after she died in 1665, they opened her casket for the first time, finding her body incorrupt. Praise God!

May Our Lady and Our Lord watch over all of our families, especially those members we are separated from, so that we may all experience the eternal embrace of God’s love in the kingdom of the Heavenly Father and in the eternal joy of the risen Lord forever and ever.

Below is a prayer I recite daily for all of those I hold in my heart. Awareness of Our Lady’s protection over loved ones provides deep consolation to the soul.

"An Old French Prayer for Friends”

“Blessed Mother of those whose names you can read in my heart, watch over them with every care. Make their way easy and their labors fruitful.

“Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, and repentance if they fall.

Amen.”

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia! For He whom you did merit to bear, Alleluia! Has risen, as He said, Alleluia!

On April 20, we celebrate Mother Angelica’s birthday.

In a video published on the social media channel, “Gabi After Hours,” Gabriel Castillo describes three incredible life lessons Mother Angelica provided him over the years. He explains that Mother Angelica is one of the most influential figures in his life. 

Castillo is a youth minister, videographer, and lay evangelist. He evangelizes the Catholic faith, especially spreading the power of the Holy Rosary and advising Catholics in navigating spiritual warfare.

Castillo says he was a “moral mess” in college when he first found Mother Angelica’s programs on EWTN. He says she taught “authentic Catholicism…unapologetically.”

“She preached about morality and spirituality unapologetically, and that provided me with a foundation upon which I could build my life,” Castillo says.

Castillo then says Mother Angelica’s biography, “Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles,” by Raymond Arroyo, also deeply impacted his faith life.

“It is filled with spiritual wisdom. The way she lived her life, in my opinion, was far more powerful than anything she said."

Here are three lessons Gabi After Hours says we can all learn from Mother Angelica:

1) Absolute Confidence in the Power of God’s Providence

“If God is really calling you to do something, do it. Take the risk. He will provide,” Castillo says of Mother Angelica. “You will get the grace as you step.”

2) Authenticity Over Vanity

Castillo says authenticity over vanity is especially important in today’s culture.

“Social media says you have to look this way. You'd better get Botox. You're getting old. Your hair is turning gray. You'd better dye it.”

But Mother Angelica stressed authenticity and humility over vanity.

“Mother Angelica said, ‘Stop with the vanity. What matters most to people is authenticity,’” Castillo pointed out. 

“That’s exactly what you saw,” he adds. “Mother Angelica would come on her program and have an eye patch on. She would stop to cough. She would blow her nose in the middle of her program. This was who she was. What matters most is not how you look, but the message.”

3) Root Everything in Prayer and Contemplation

Rooting everything in prayer and contemplation is “the most important point,” Castillo says.

“Mother Angelica taught that a spiritual growth network must be rooted in contemplation,” he continues. “Conversion is a grace, and the number one way to obtain that grace is through prayer.”

“It was her prayer that supplied graces that flowed out to the people she was trying to minister to.”

As Saint Peter says: “Let he who speaks speak with the words that God provides.”

“Mother Angelica understood that what she needed to offer the world was not herself, but Jesus Christ,” Castillo concludes. “God’s message can only be heard in silence and in prayer. Then it becomes our responsibility to share the Lord with others.”

Happy Birthday, Mother Angelica! 🎉

He was a commander of a Roman legion who, after converting to Christianity, was martyred—possibly by order of Emperor Diocletian—in Melitene, Armenia (present-day Malatya, Türkiye).

He is recognized as the patron saint of urgent causes and a protector of young people, students, the sick, and those facing work-related, family, or legal challenges.

Below are five fascinating facts that make Saint Expeditus a figure close to all of us:

1) The Saint of Urgent Causes

Saint Expeditus is best known as the patron saint of urgent causes. His very name evokes speed, which is why many turn to him when they need an immediate answer—a job, financial help, or even emotional clarity. Devotion to him reminds us that while life often requires patience, there are also moments when we must act without delay.

2) His Story Has an Air of Mystery

Although his origins remain unknown, his name appears in the Roman Martyrology alongside Hermogenes and other companions. Unlike many saints with detailed biographies, the life of Saint Expeditus is not fully documented. Much has been lost to time, allowing his story to grow more through popular devotion than historical record.

3) The Crow and the Word “Tomorrow.”

One of the most symbolic images of Saint Expeditus shows him crushing a raven that cries out “cras” (Latin for “tomorrow”), while he holds a cross bearing the word “hodie” (“today”).

According to tradition, at the moment of his conversion, the devil appeared in the form of a raven, calling out “cras, cras, cras” to tempt him to delay his decision. Expeditus immediately crushed the bird, declaring:

“Today, today, today! I will not leave anything for tomorrow. From today, I will be a Christian.”

This powerful image represents the battle against procrastination. It is a call not to postpone what can transform our lives today.

4) He is Popular in Latin America

Although devotion to Saint Expeditus began in Europe, it has flourished in Latin America. Many people see him as a close intercessor in times of need—someone who listens quickly and responds as swiftly. His image is commonly found in homes, businesses, and altars filled with hope.

5) His Message Goes Beyond the Immediate

While he is often invoked for urgent needs, Saint Expeditus’s message is not only about quick solutions, but about decisive action. He encourages us to trust in God while also taking concrete steps forward, refusing to be paralyzed by fear or doubt.

In a world where we often delay important decisions, his witness offers a simple yet powerful reminder: the time to act, to believe, and to move forward is now.

Saint Expeditus, pray for us!