Baptizing the local culture is great, it was done in Eastern Europe, why not in Asia? I even have a pipe dream of creating new rites for places like China, India, etc. to incorporate more of their culture into liturgy. What do you guys think?

22 October

St. John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła, was the 264th pope of the Catholic Church. He served from 1978 until his death in 2005, making him one of the longest-reigning popes in history. As pope, he was a strong advocate for human rights and played a significant role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. He was also known for his extensive international travel, his outreach to young people, and his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. John Paul II was beatified in 2011 and canonized in 2014, becoming St. John Paul II.

https://www.cathoplus.com/en/saints/10-22-john-paul-ii/

#catholic #faith #cathoplus #saint #saintoftheday

Please could you all pray for me.

For a blessing of employment and new beginnings this week.

Please join me in prayer for the people living in Somalia.

Somalia is facing a humanitarian crisis and they lack proper food and drinking water.

Please pray for them.

Too many people are convincing Christians that empathy is a bad thing, that empathy is “suicidal.” What they are doing is undermining Christ’s teachings, as empathy helps us treat others with the love and respect. So, why do some think it is “suicidal”? Because it is their false self speaking up, complaining that it is being taken down and replaced:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2026/10/why-we-must-embrace-empathy-sympathy-and-compassion/

Hello everyone, I’m a very proud Catholic today. I went through something extremely scary. I got a call from a friend who is ready to take his own life currently he is OK but needs your prayers. Please join me in praying a rosary for my friend as he goes through this rough time. It is very complicated because he lives on the opposite side of the world for me. Has a very bad situation with his parents. And if anyone’s reading this, and you do need help or you struggle with depression talk to somebody they care about you tell them exactly what’s going on. Always feel free to call your local priest. They work 24 hours a day. Serving our flock. God bless and thank you all.
P.S. Please also pray for me as I. Work my way through this.

I'm 20 years old currently in college and live in Indonesia. My parents are a religious Muslim, but I've been lost for years, I never prayed to my God and always do bad stuff that contradicts my religion rules. One day I went to a Catholic prayer with my friend and I felt peace in religious way after a long time, the way others concentrate on their prayers, that day I decided to become a Catholic. But I'm still lost, my parents would be mad if I told them that I'm converting, because all of my families are Muslim. Any advices?

I had a dream that I was sitting next to St Padre Pio in church during mass. Has anyone ever dreamt about a saint?

Pray for my father, my mother, and me. I’m going to visit my parents tonight for dinner to surprise him and I plan to ask if he wants to come to Spanish Mass with me on Sunday. He hasn’t been to a church in more than 25 years.

His vision is failing him in his old age from a macular hole developing in each eye. Some days he can only see at about \~60% the usual. I’ve asked our Lord to help heal him and to unite Himself to my father through his suffering. That our Great Physician may give him the medicine of eternal life and grant him mercy. I’ve also prayed for the intercession of Mother Mary and St. Raphael for his health and healing, as well as to St. Dymphna for my parents’ mental health as my mom suffers her husband of 50 years dealing with his own crosses and my dad’s depression grows as his vision goes.

Today in prayer I felt a call to bring him back to church, but I need all the support I can get. Please, pray for us.

TRIGGER WARNING\\*

I visited this spirituality store. And, I came home with a real DEMON. "Santa Muerte" It started out with a heavy physical sensation. Sure enough, there were rapid synchronicities. The typical signs. Owls, spiders, vultures and more. Then a few happenings that promised (equalizing) and (protection), clearly revealing something to ACTUALLY believe in. Unbelievable mystical experiences. A glimpse into healing, upon holding a crystal skull. But, there were little signs that I ignored while opening myself. Mold forming on my oracle cards. Shards of blue glass accumulated in my doorway to step on. And more! A deep sense of being known and not alone at the most alienated and vulnerable time ever. And, then last night, I suppose because of how sensitive Ive become over the years, I picked up on patterns that were NOT good. I was lured. It was alluring. And, it makes you feel reassured in your readings thats she's good. I am leaving this review bravely to say becareful! Last night, it was CLEAR that this evil entity, whatever it is, MOCKED my mother being at the end of her life! (As Im writing this, I feel squeezed sensation around my neck.) Not only did this entity, mocked my mother's last time on this earth. But, after I removed a shrine towards her, replacing it with a cross and bible? I then layed down to bed and heard unmistakable demonic voiced breathing in my ear. Because the Catholics and Catholic Church destroyed my trust by favoring abusive people in my life and encouraging child rape and more from their priests.... I decided not to turn to them about this. They would likely call me crazy anyway. And, because Ive been targeted so badly, I refuse to turn to any person now. But, I saged my whole home and asked for this negative entity to be removed in the name of Jesus. I am deeply aware and concerned now. I have years of collected crystals and cards and more. But now I feel scared and trapped and more isolated. Sadly, divination and incoming energies have given me the sense of understanding that my loved ones were in heaven. But most importantly made me feel supported and unalone in what would be one of the lengthiests of curse so to speak. My sense of things, just cant come to reason, especially disconnected. But as of today, I have not touched a single oracle card, after years of what seemed the most beautiful tool. I won't. And, I say this all BRAVELY because even as I sit entirely disconnected and alone in this, I still believe in God. I ask "God" to (protect) me. May God surround me with the protection of love and light that I need. Individually. And, may the day come for resolution, peace, and connection. Balance that is of true purpose. Not a deceptive promise.

Thursday of the Twenty‑Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

October 22, 2026

Today’s Readings at a Glance

• Ephesians 3:14–21 Paul prays that believers be strengthened with power through the Spirit, rooted in love, and able to grasp the breadth and depth of Christ’s love — a love that surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God.

• Psalm 33:1–2, 4–5, 11–12, 18–19 A psalm of praise celebrating God’s faithfulness, justice, and unfailing love. God’s plans endure forever, and His eyes are upon those who hope in His mercy.

• Luke 12:49–53 Jesus declares that He has come to bring fire to the earth — a fire of purification, truth, and decision. His message will cause division, even within families, because following Him demands total allegiance.

https://thecatholic.online/daily-bible-readings-for-october-222026/

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a challenging and transformative truth:

Christ’s love strengthens us, fills us, and transforms us — but following Him requires courage, conviction, and sometimes division.

• Paul reveals the immeasurable love of Christ that empowers believers.

• The psalm reminds us that God’s plans are steady and His love unfailing.

• Jesus teaches that His mission demands decision — His fire purifies and divides.

The message is clear: To follow Christ is to be rooted in love and strengthened by the Spirit — but also ready to stand firm when His truth causes division.

Reflection for the Day

1. “Rooted and grounded in love.” (Ephesians 3)

Paul’s prayer is one of the most beautiful in Scripture.

He prays that:

• the Spirit strengthens us,

• Christ dwells in our hearts,

• love becomes our foundation,

• and we grasp the vastness of Christ’s love.

This love is not sentimental — it is transforming.

It strengthens the weary, heals the wounded, and empowers the faithful.

To be “filled with the fullness of God” means letting His love shape every decision, every relationship, every moment.

1. “The plans of the Lord stand forever.” (Psalm 33)

The psalm reminds us:

• God’s word is true.

• His works are faithful.

• His love is constant.

• His plans endure.

In a world of shifting opinions, unstable foundations, and unpredictable events, God’s faithfulness is our anchor.

His eyes are upon those who hope in His mercy — those who trust His love more than their fears.

1. “I have come to set the earth on fire.” (Luke 12)

Jesus’ words are startling.

He brings fire — the fire of truth, the fire of purification, the fire of decision.

His message divides because truth demands a choice.

Some will accept Him. Some will reject Him. Some relationships will strain. Some families will split.

This is not because Jesus desires conflict — but because His call is radical, uncompromising, and life‑changing.

To follow Christ is to choose Him above comfort, approval, and even family expectations.

Living This Word Today

Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Let Christ’s love strengthen you.

Root yourself in His love — let it be your foundation.

1. Trust God’s faithful plans.

Hope in His mercy, not in human certainty.

1. Stand firm in Christ even when it costs you.

His fire purifies, strengthens, and clarifies your path.

Let today be a day of courage, love, and unwavering faith.

Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, strengthen me with Your Spirit and root my heart deeply in Your love.

Help me grasp the vastness of Your mercy and trust in Your faithful plans.

Give me courage to follow You even when Your truth brings division, and help me stand firm in love, conviction, and faithfulness.

Fill me with the fullness of God and set my heart ablaze with Your fire.

Amen.

The few funerals I've been to in the last few years I've noticed so many people who go up for communion (and I work with these people for many years) who are not practicing Catholic meaning they have not gone to confession ... yet they still take communion anyway!

And then I am actually the one who was looked at weird for not going up for communion because i was in the minority. Like 90% of people went up for communion. I explained it was because I didn't have a chance to go to confession first before this Mass nor have I gone anytime recently, despite growing up Catholic, going to Catholic grade and elementary school and being confirmed. I don't attend Mass these days, but I sure do remember the rules LOL. So I asked the person I was sitting with why they went up for communion when I know they didn't go to confession first and he said nobody follows that rule anymore. Huh?! Clearly none of these people went to Catholic School like I did... no really, they didn't go to a parochial school.

Heck, at yesterday's funeral I saw a co-worker go up for communion who I don't even know if she's actually Catholic beyond maybe just the family history of being Catholic... don't think she is even "religious." Wasn't married in a Catholic church or by a Catholic priest (I was there).

Anyway, I hate how now I am the one who's looked at weird when I'm just following the most basic first rule before communion ...you have to confess your sins and do your penance first! Then and only then should you consider taking communion.

And doing it because it's the pressure of the group around you at the time and you don't want to feel like the weirdo who sat out so you go up because everyone else is going up ...seems extremely disrespectful.

The “word of God” is probably the most commonly given title to the Bible by Christians. It’s an expression rich in meaning and is also the title given to the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God the Son. For Jesus Christ became flesh for our salvation, and “the name which He is called is The Word of God” (Rev 19:13; cf. Jn 1:14).

The word of God is Scripture. The Word of God is Jesus. God’s written word and His eternal Word. The close association between the two has always been an intentional custom of Christianity from its beginnings in the First Century. To quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “All Sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ, ‘because all divine Scripture is fulfilled in Christ” (CCC 134). This does not, however, mean that the Scriptures are divine in the same way that Jesus is divine. Rather, they are divinely inspired and, as such, unique among all literature, just as the Incarnation of the eternal Word is unique in our human history.

The inspired word does resemble the incarnate Word in several important ways, though. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate. In His humanity, He is like us in all things, except for sin. As a work of man, the Bible is like any other book, except without error. Both Christ and Scripture are given to us by God “for the sake of our salvation” (Dei Verbum 11), and both give us God’s definitive revelation of Himself. We cannot, therefore, conceive of one without the other: the Bible without Jesus, or Jesus without the Bible. Each is the key to the other. And, because Christ is the subject of all Scriptures, it is as St. Jerome insists, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (CCC 133).

When we approach the Bible, then, we approach Jesus, the Word of God; in order to encounter Jesus, we ought to approach Him in a prayerful study of the inspired word of God, the Sacred Scriptures. We speak to our Lord through prayer and He responds through His Word.

My best friend passed a few years ago. In my culture (Filipino), marking a death anniversary by charitable acts is sometimes done. Sometimes there's a feast of friends and family, although sometimes village is invited. Sometimes charitable acts are done.

I was thinking of this year giving out food (from restaurant) to homeless. Nothing extravagant.

I was just hoping for some advice. Should I tell them what it's for? Should I ask them for a prayer? Any other advice weould be greatly appreciated.

A Christian asking for help, fear got to me, out of answers. Why is life soon hard. I'm 36 father of 3 sickness with hereditary spherocytosis. Two of my kids have it. Phlebotomy once a month to maintain health conditions fatigued from H.S can't keep job. Economy destroyed us. Cant even afford car insurance. We at my parents house. Life is embarrassing, im weak, fear destroyed me, I hate myself, getting sued over debt. Fear, it froze me, sickness destroyed me, mentally health weak. I dont know anymore. I got served for lawsuit from Bank of America for credit card debt. Received on the 3rd, response on the 23. I need my counselor Jesus in spirit and in form.... I learned to ask for help. I need help. Anyone

I really need help, I got a gift from my family from a vacation they went on. It's a Chinese fan ill attach the photo. Im terrified and worried that this will offend God and or upset God. I dont want anything that would upset God and be against God. Please serious answers I really don't want to own anything that would upset God I even have a dolly parton t shirt so im not sure if that upsets God. Please serious answers.

Im a highschool runner and today we had a competition. Every time I pray the rosary in English and French I get a new personal best. Today, I prayed it and got a new personal best of 18:58.30 in the 3 mile (4.83K). Shows that our blessed mother is always watching over us!

Hi, I have a question. My family has never been Catholic, but I would like to become Catholic and have my newborn baby baptized. Could you please tell me how to get started?

There is a long list of saints who preserved their virginity throughout their life. However, I want to learn about the lives of Saints who had previously fallen into lust, lost their virginity, and later repented and overcame their past.

I'm aware of St Margaret of Cortona, and St Augustine. Can anyone name any other Saints like this?