It is life’s unpredictable events that reveal our character the most.

When life pushes us against a wall and threatens to take everything from us, it is our response that tells the truth about our soul.

When life is easy, we can talk a big game about our values and virtues. It is in the hardness of life--suffering, trial, and difficulty--that lays bare our innermost self, tearing off the masks we wear in easy times to reveal our true face.

On Sept. 29, 2006, Petty Officer Second Class Michael A. Monsoor of Navy SEAL Team Three revealed his character and showed his true face.

In Ramadi, Iraq, at the height of violence between United States forces and the insurgency, and less than one week when he was slated to go home, a live grenade bounced off Michael’s chest.

It was thrown by insurgents onto his rooftop sniper position where he, three other SEALs, and eight Iraqi soldiers were providing overwatch security.

He was sitting closest to the staircase and a quick dive to the side would bring him to safety. Michael Monsoor, however, was not looking out for himself, but for his brothers next to him.

In one sudden and terrible moment, without time to deliberate, Michael Monsoor flew out of his chair so hard it crashed against the far side of the rooftop and dove upon the fragment grenade, taking its full force into his body and saving the lives of the men with him.

Shrapnel still hit two of his fellow SEALs, but both credit him with saving their lives.

One said, “He never took his eye off the grenade- his only movement was down toward it.”

At the level of split-second decisions, humans prove the saying:

"No one rises to the occasion, but falls to the level of their training."

We all imagine ourselves as the hero, and with no prior effort, we become as courageous and selfless as the situation demands of us, but that is just not true.

We react in the moment with how we have trained, and this is as true in moral virtue as it is in military skills and tactics.

The virtues are cultivated through repeated actions.

As the Catechism tells us:

“The moral virtues grow through education, deliberate acts, and perseverance in struggle. Divine grace purifies and elevates them.” (CCC 1839)

When you hear the stories of his parents, friends, and teammates, you hear how he deliberately practiced courage and selflessness all his life.

As a kid at Christmas time, he gave away his gifts to the less fortunate kids at his school. When his own parents fell on hard times as a young child, he made everyone gifts and even cut down one of the shrubs outside for their Christmas tree.

On May 9, he pulled a wounded teammate to safety while under fire, with bullets pinging off the ground all around them.

That teammate, not a religious man, said that as he was being dragged through the street to safety by Michael, he saw angel wings completely surround them.

Moreover, he was actually supposed to have left the battlefield to return home but had voluntarily switched with a SEAL brother with a newborn baby at home.

The kid from California who loved fast cars, his family, and his Catholic faith, died as he lived. His courage, the virtue that makes us firm in the face of difficulty and constant in the face of fear, was revealed on that rooftop but was cultivated throughout his whole life.

On the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, whom he was named after, he received Last Rites from his unit’s chaplain, Major Father Paul Halladay, who heard many of Michael’s confessions and celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that Michael attended.

Everyone who steps onto the USS Michael Monsoor, a next-generation Naval guided-missile ship, will find the prayer card to Saint Michael the Archangel that Monsoor kept in his battle helmet when on mission. Her sailors will see “DEFEND US IN BATTLE” etched into the steel of the ship as it was etched in his warrior’s heart.

"Defend Us in Battle: The True Story of MA2 Navy SEAL Medal of Honor Recipient Michael A. Monsoor" is available on Amazon.

Legendary bodybuilder and Hollywood icon Lou Ferrigno, famous for bringing the green superhero to life in the classic hit series The Incredible Hulk (1977–1982), just fulfilled a lifelong dream: meeting Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square.

During Wednesday's General Audience, the beloved actor opened up about his deep Catholic roots and what meeting the Holy Father meant to him.

"I'm here because it's a lifelong dream for me to meet the Pope," Ferrigno shared. "My family comes from Amalfi, Italy. When I was a little boy, I used to hear so much about the Pope. Being Catholic myself, I'm very, very honored to be here to see Pope Leo... it's a dream coming true."

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Before becoming a fitness legend and starring in sword-and-sandal classics like Hercules and Sinbad, Ferrigno grew up serving at the altar as a young Catholic boy.

Reflecting on his encounter in Rome, the actor stressed that the world is in urgent need of Christ-like spiritual leadership.

"Our world, our country, needs someone like him—a great leader of kindness and peace," Ferrigno said. "There's so much turmoil happening in this world."

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His life was marked by fearless preaching of the Gospel, memorable quotes, and a love for the Eucharist. He is considered a "prophet" for having preached and taught things that transcended his own time; here are some timeless lessons we can apply to our lives today.

1. Use your talent to evangelize

Fulton Sheen was known for his eloquence and his gift for teaching and preaching Catholic doctrine; his television program reached 50 million viewers, making him a highly charismatic figure who was respected and loved even in secular circles.

Blessed Sheen recognized communication as one of the greatest gifts God had bestowed upon him, using it to preach the Gospel and write over seventy books that continue to inspire and teach to this day. His witness reminds us that we, too, are called to evangelize using our talents and abilities, certain that they were given to us to be put to good use and can serve as a path to sanctification for ourselves and for others.

2. Be convinced of what you believe

If there is something we can all agree on, it is that Fulton Sheen preached with authority and boldness. Even when addressing topics that were difficult, or even sensitive, for the society of his time, the bishop did not mince words. He always preached the Church's truth with charity, yet without fear of remaining faithful to his beliefs. He adapted the message to the audience, but never its content.

In a world of  "cancel culture," where many fear speaking up for or defending their beliefs, dreading judgment and consequences, Fulton Sheen shows us that, with discernment and sincerity, it is possible to engage in dialogue with those who think differently without compromising the Truth.

3. Holiness is a daily journey

One of Blessed Sheen’s best-known quotes is, "You say you don't go to Church because it's full of hypocrites there? I say you're right, but come anyway, we've got room for one more." With good humor, he invited those who had drifted away from God and the Church to return, focusing not on the sins and shortcomings of others, but on the divine grace available to everyone.

Being "in the Church" does not mean we cease to sin or instantly become saints. Through his message, Sheen teaches us that holiness is a daily decision, not something that happens magically. It is a path we walk until the very last day of our lives; we will stumble, as will others, but it is always time to start over!

4. The Church is you

In one of his popular sayings, Blessed Sheen also echoes one of the most beautiful truths of the faith: the Church is not a building, but each one of us. “Who's going to save our Church? It's not our bishops, it's not our priests and it is not the religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that the priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops, and the religious act like religious.”

Far from diminishing the role of ordained ministers or centering the spotlight solely on the laity, Sheen sought to emphasize that every state of life and vocation has its place and role within the Church, and it is up to each person to live out their calling well. Although the Church is made of sinful people, each of us is called to bear witness and serve as an example to others, both within and outside the Church, thereby inspiring our brothers and sisters to remain faithful to what God calls them to live.

5. Jesus as the center of everything

One of the best-known facts about Blessed Fulton Sheen is the great love and devotion he held for Jesus in the Eucharist. When he was in seminary, he made the resolution to spend an hour before the Blessed Sacrament every day, a commitment he kept faithfully, even passing away during his Holy Hour on December 9, 1979.

Through his testimony, Sheen inspires us to commit ourselves to a life of prayer and to draw closer to Jesus and the sacraments. For it is useless to have gifts and initiatives if Jesus is not the root and center of our lives. All our works must spring from our relationship with God; when we do this, good fruits naturally follow—just as they did in the life of Fulton Sheen.

Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us!

According to EWTN,

“The Sacred Scriptures have revealed the proper names of only three angels, all of whom belong to the Choir of the Archangels. The names are well known to all, namely: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael.”

Since these archangels are in heaven, we affectionately refer to them as saints.

Here is a brief synopsis of each of the archangels, followed by special prayers for their intercession!

Note: The Church does not permit proper names of angels not found in the canonical books of the Bible. Read more here.

Who is Michael the Archangel?

Saint Michael the Archangel is the most popular of the Archangels. He is often depicted decked out in armor, holding a sword and crushing the head of a serpent.

Saint Michael the Archangel is mentioned multiple times in scripture. His most notable battle is described in the book of Revelation, where he defeats Satan and casts the fallen angels out of Heaven. In the Old Testament, he aids the prophet Daniel (Daniel 10:13).

The name, Michael, means “Who is like God?”

Saint Michael the Archangel is invoked during times of physical or spiritual danger. He is called on for protection against evil in all things and is considered a great defender of Christ’s Church on Earth.

Saint Michael the Archangel is the patron of many, including first responders, soldiers, and those needing special protection.

Saint Michael Prayer

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Who is Raphael the Archangel?

Saint Raphael the Archangel is mentioned in the Old Testament in the book of Tobit.

According to EWTN,

“In the book of Tobit, one of the deuterocanonical books of the Bible, Saint Raphael travels with a man named Tobias, with the archangel presenting himself as Tobias’ relative. Saint Raphael eventually helps Tobias in two ways. First, he releases a young woman, Sarah, from spiritual bondage. She was married seven times, and a demon killed each husband on their wedding night. Tobias eventually marries Sarah, with Saint Raphael’s help. Also, Saint Raphael helps restore the sight of Tobias’ father, Tobit, who had become blind.”

Because of his role in Tobias' life, Saint Raphael is invoked by those seeking spiritual or physical healing. His intercession is also sought after by singles discerning the vocation of marriage.

The name, Raphael, means “Divine Healer.”

Saint Raphael the Archangel is the patron saint of travelers, healthcare workers, blindness, matchmaking, and the sick.

Prayer to Saint Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings

O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, angel of happy meetings, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your light and transfigured by your Joy.

Angel guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth, we feel the need of calling to you and plead for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the province of Joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country.

Remember the weak, you who are strong--you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene, and bright with the resplendent glory of God.
Amen.

Prayer Source

Who is Gabriel the Archangel?

Saint Gabriel is best known for his role in the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38). He also told Zechariah of his answered prayers through the coming of Saint John the Baptist. In the Old Testament, Saint Gabriel the Archangel interprets Daniel’s visions.

The name, Gabriel, means “Strength of God.”

Saint Gabriel the Archangel is the patron saint of messengers, postal workers, communications, and broadcasters.

Saint Gabriel the Archangel Prayer

O blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech thee, do thou intercede for us at the throne of Divine Mercy in our present necessities, that as thou didst announce to Mary, the mystery of the Incarnation, so through thy prayers and patronage in heaven, we may obtain the benefits of the same, and sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living.

Amen.

Prayer Source

Alfoz was part of the extensive security operation organized for the Pope’s apostolic journey to France. Various security forces and specialized units took part to ensure safety in the areas where the Pontiff traveled.

A special operation for the Pope’s visit

Operation Sentinelle, working in coordination with the Internal Security Forces, participated in the security detail during Leo XIV’s visit.

The operation included a range of specialized resources, including bomb-disposal experts, search units, and drones.

“The diversity of the resources deployed made it possible to respond to the specific characteristics of the visit with flexibility and efficiency,” the Military Governor of Paris said in an Instagram post.

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The resources also included K-9 teams trained in detection and security duties.

Alfoz, from Spain to Paris

One of the dogs who helped provide security during Leo XIV’s visit was Alfoz, who traveled from Spain with his fellow officers from the Civil Guard’s K-9 Unit.

But the mission also included a more relaxed moment. Since it was Alfoz’s first time in Paris, after completing his work, he could not return to Spain without a souvenir photo at one of the French capital’s most iconic locations: the Champs-Élysées.

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“There is no better way to end the week than with the happiness of Alfoz 🐾 and his fellow Civil Guard K-9 Unit officers in Paris, supporting the security operation for the Pope’s visit,” the Civil Guard said in sharing the images.

Thank you for your efforts to help keep Pope Leo XIV safe!

The moment took place on Friday, September 25, when Pope Leo arrived at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. That day, the Holy Father presided over Vespers and became the first pontiff to visit the church after its reconstruction following the 2019 fire.

The video shows that, amid the crowd gathered outside the cathedral, Pope Leo spotted a group of Augustinians. Seeing them, he opened his arms in surprise and, visibly delighted, walked over to greet them.

The spontaneous encounter was recorded by Father Martin Davakan, Assistant General of the Order of Saint Augustine, and was later shared by the order on its Instagram account.

“What happens when you see your friends, your family, in the crowd? You smile! A happy moment with the Augustinian sisters and brothers at Notre-Dame, Paris,” the Augustinians wrote when sharing the footage.

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The moment carried special meaning because Pope Leo XIV belongs to the Order of Saint Augustine. With his election as pontiff on May 8, 2025, he became the first Augustinian pope in the history of the Church.

The Holy Father’s spontaneous reaction did not go unnoticed by viewers of the video shared by the Augustinians, who highlighted the joy and warmth he showed upon reconnecting with members of his religious family.

“Oh my God!!! Our beloved Pope Leo XIV is so sweet! That smile of his was so genuine, spontaneous, and truly happy when he saw his Augustinian brothers and sisters! It is exactly the reaction we have when we unexpectedly run into someone from our family! May God bless him endlessly! 🙏🕊️🌹✨️”

“Our Pope’s joy ♥️”

“LONG LIVE THE AUGUSTINIAN SISTERS, AND LONG LIVE THE POPE! 🖤🖤🖤🖤❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥😍😍😍😍”

This is the joy of someone reuniting with their own family.

At just 13 years old, Eva Molenmaker had the opportunity to portray St. Bernadette and sing before Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Lourdes. The young girl described the moment as a “unique experience.”

Eva is from Fuveau, a town near Aix-en-Provence, France, and is part of the cast of the musical Bernadette de Lourdes, in which she portrays the young saint to whom the Virgin Mary appeared at the Grotto of Massabielle in 1858.

To mark Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the musical returned to the city where it was created. Eva performed two songs from the show for the Holy Father during his meeting with the sick, their caregivers, and volunteers from the Accueil Notre-Dame in Lourdes.

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“It Was Simply Incredible”

In an interview with EWTN News, the young artist described what it was like to sing before Pope Leo XIV.

“It’s incredible. It’s a unique experience. There’s nothing like it. Being able to sing in front of him was simply incredible,” she said.

Portraying St. Bernadette also meant balancing rehearsals with her studies. Eva explained that she sometimes had to miss classes to fulfill her commitments, but she had the support of her friends.

“Sometimes I had to study and miss some classes, but my friends helped me catch up. I studied every day and received a lot of help,” she recounted.

“I Want to Touch People’s Hearts”

Despite her young age, Eva already knows what she would like to do in the future. When asked what she hopes to do later on, she expressed her desire to continue singing.

“I hope to sing for people and touch their hearts,” she said.

For the talented young performer, the encounter with Leo XIV will remain one of the most special moments of her portrayal of St. Bernadette.

The Emmy-winning actor says the name on his passport and birth certificate has never changed. But when he arrived in New York in 1959 to pursue acting, he faced a painful reality: anti-Hispanic prejudice could make a Spanish last name a barrier to getting work.

So, as he tried to find his place in the industry, Ramon Estévez became “Martin Sheen.”

The name was not chosen at random. It was a tribute to two men who had profoundly shaped him: an encouraging CBS casting director named Robert Dale Martin and the celebrated Catholic bishop, television evangelist and now Blessed Fulton J. Sheen.

And years later, the actor had a chance to meet the holy man whose name he had borrowed… an encounter that ended with an archbishop on his hands and knees, helping collect Juicy Fruit candy from the floor for a screaming five year old.

Commanding an Audience: Growing Up Watching Fulton Sheen

As a boy, Martin Sheen watched Fulton J. Sheen’s groundbreaking Catholic television broadcasts. The future bishop was a familiar face in American homes, delivering talks on faith, morality and Catholic teaching with a striking presence that captured the young actor’s imagination.

“He was a TV star. Go figure,” Martin Sheen recalled. “He had prime time, half hour every Tuesday night on one of the major networks.”

The actor admitted he did not always grasp every theological point in the archbishop’s presentations. But he understood that Fulton Sheen had something rare: the ability to command an audience.

“His manner, his whole person — he was like a Shakespearean actor,” Martin Sheen said. “He was very powerful. These eyes, you know, just burned through the camera.”

For Sheen, Bl. Fulton J. Sheen was proof that conviction and communication could go together, that a man speaking about God could also be captivating.

“I didn’t always understand what he was saying, but I loved hearing him and watching him do it,” he said. “I thought that I’ll just grab that name as an inspiration.”

The Name That Opened a Door

There was, of course, one practical problem.

After booking a job as “Martin Sheen,” the young actor received a check but could not cash it. His legal identification still said Ramon Estévez.

So he wrote to the Social Security office and explained that he was beginning to work under a professional name. He said the agency ultimately issued him a Social Security card under the name Martin Sheen, using the same number as his Ramon Estévez card.

“I have two Social Security cards,” Sheen said. “So I work as an actor under Sheen, and any other job I do, I go as Estévez.”

The stage name helped him navigate an industry that was too often hostile to Hispanic performers. Yet he never surrendered the name given to him by his family.

The Day He Met Archbishop Sheen

Years later, while appearing in a Broadway play, Martin Sheen received a message from an unexpected visitor backstage: Fulton Sheen’s secretary.

She had heard that the actor had taken the archbishop’s last name.

“She said, ‘I understand you took his name. Would you like to meet him?’” Sheen recalled.

His answer was immediate.

“I said, ‘I would.’”

Sheen went to meet Archbishop Sheen at his office in the Empire State Building. Feeling nervous, he brought along his young son, Emilio, about 5 years old at the time.

But Emilio was not a fan of the noisy New York subway. To make the trip easier, his father bought him a little box of Juicy Fruit gum.

That small gesture created a moment Martin Sheen never forgot.

During the visit, Emilio dropped the box. The gum scattered across the floor, and the young boy became upset.

Martin Sheen tried to reassure his son. Then Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen joined in.

“The bishop and I are down on our hands and knees,” Sheen said. “It’s all right. We’re picking up the Juicy Fruits.”

For a young father who had admired Fulton Sheen from afar, the moment revealed the humility behind the famous television presence. The man whose eyes had seemed to “burn through the camera” was willing to get down on the floor to comfort a frightened child.

“That’s my first image of Fulton Sheen,” Martin Sheen said. “I said, ‘I think I made a good choice taking this guy’s name.’”

A Name, an Influence, and a Witness

Bl. Fulton J. Sheen’s influence extended far beyond the thousands (and eventually millions) who watched him preach through the new medium of television. For one young aspiring actor, he represented something unforgettable: faith spoken with clarity, confidence and a compelling sense of mission.

Martin Sheen’s story offers a warm reminder of why the archbishop’s legacy endures and was shared at Fulton J. Sheen’s beatification in St. Louis on September 24th to those in attendance.

The newly Blessed’s words drew people in. His television presence inspired an actor. And in a quiet office in the Empire State Building, his kindness was shown not in a homily or a broadcast, but in the simple act of picking up pieces of candy beside a nervous young father and his son.

This is the amazing story of how one Catholic Emmy winning “TV star” inspired the life of yet another Catholic Emmy winning TV star, and a reminder that when we follow the calling and vocation God places before us, we never know the extraordinary things He may have in store.

The elderly Capuchin friar was in declining health. Still, thousands had come to the town for the 50th anniversary of his stigmata and the gathering of his Prayer Groups.

His Final Mass

Rare footage captures Padre Pio’s final public Mass. Visibly frail, he required the assistance of fellow friars throughout the celebration.

At the end of Mass, he collapsed at the altar and Br. Bill Martin, an American Capuchin friar, supported him.

Later that day, at approximately 6 p.m., Padre Pio gave what would be his final blessing to the faithful gathered at the church before returning to his cell.

His Final Hours

In the early hours of Sept. 23, Padre Pio called for his superior, made his final confession, and renewed his vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

He received the last sacraments and held his rosary. According to accounts of those who were with him, the names of Jesus and Mary were on his lips:

“Gesù, Maria.” (Jesus, Mary)

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio died in his cell at the Capuchin monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo. He was 81 years old.

His Stigmata

For decades, Padre Pio bore the wounds of Christ. Accounts from those close to him state that, in the days before and at the time of his death, the visible marks faded and disappeared. Reports say that doctors who examined his body found no scars where the wounds had been.

Padre Pio’s final day reflected the heart of his priestly life: the Mass, prayer, the rosary, sacrifice, and a final blessing for the people entrusted to his care.

Dressed in blue-and-white vestments he brought from home, Greyson joined the parish team for a full day of parish life alongside Fr. Matt, learning about Mass, office work and the many day-to-day responsibilities that come with serving a Catholic community.

“Welcome to the team, Greyson,” the parish shared. “We are so glad you came. Thanks for your service!”

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A silent-auction surprise

The Social Media Ministry Lead for Saint Katharine Drexel, Rashely Rodrigo, explained that Greyson received the special opportunity through a silent auction hosted by St. John’s Regional Catholic School in spring 2026. Fr. Matt, pastor at Saint Katharine Drexel in Frederick, Maryland, sponsored the “Pastor for a Day” experience as an auction prize.

For Greyson, the prize carried particular meaning as he dreams of one day becoming a priest and often dresses up as a priest at home. His vestments in the video posted to the school’s Instagram account, a blue-and-white set, were brought from his own collection.

A day as “Fr. Greyson”

With the guidance of Fr. Matt, Greyson got a behind-the-scenes look at parish ministry. The day included an introduction to the “nuts and bolts” of the Mass, time learning about parish office work and opportunities to take part in the everyday activities that keep a parish community running.

Greyson brought enthusiasm and a sense of fun to each part of the day. He was joined during lunch by friends closer to his age, including Nina Franzone and Sabrina Owens, who also appear in the video.

Sharing a joyful moment

The project offered a lighthearted look at parish life while celebrating a young person’s faith-filled imagination and the support of a community willing to help make his dream feel real, after all the famous saying is “it takes a village to raise a kid!”

From the St. John’s Regional Catholic School auction to a day spent learning beside Fr. Matt and the Saint Katharine Drexel staff, Greyson’s “Pastor for a Day” experience became a memorable reminder of how encouragement, faith and community can make a lasting difference.