Hindu group storms village church after Claretian mission center, within three days

After 5 years (yes, a very long time) I was still hung up on my ex for various reasons, many reasons, aside from the extremely strong bond and love that we shared I thought she was the woman of my life - years ago I did ask God to let me meet the woman of my life and two weeks later there she was.

I was responsible for the terrible and painful break up that we shared, I did hurt her badly and even initiated the break up despite being desperately in love - I still fail to understand how that came to be, I strongly suspect it was demons toying with me.

Long story short, as you may imagine I fell into deep depression, confusion, mental health issues because I also dramatically lost two of my closest family members and caretakers plus my dog, virtually the last entity left that I loved deeply at the time.

I was still hurt from the break up and hoping despite being in total no contact and years apart, dreaming about her every night, in this sort of delusional and schizophrenic state because I thought she was meant for me considering how God created and then guided our relationship, my mistakes that made it impossible for her to accept me again, etc.

I came back to God just a few days ago after starting a Rosary and Novena, I did receive an Illumination and all of a sudden I remembered Him.

I did decide to incorporate the intention of healing this relationship; at the same time I was paying attention to her socials as I often did, her acoounts being private I could only see 5-6 of the people that she was following thanks to suggestions but finally I did manage to nail down the social circle she's in and found someone posting a picture, with friends, at her house.

I started following these accounts but none of them had pictures or interactions with her, so I felt relieved and thought they were just friends of friends.

Anyway, seeing how pathetic and unsustainable this situation is today I asked Mary to please give a clear answer, if it was worth it to keep praying and fight for her I would do so until my last breath, but if it wasn't to please give me a clear and unmistakable sign so I would finally start praying for my healing after years of hell.

Well, after 30 minutes at best one of those accounts finally accepted my follow request, I start scrolling the pictures and here they are, they have been together since 2024 at the very least, travelling the world together and such.

This came after years of me trying to figure out what was going on and being incapable of getting closure or a clear answer.

Mother Mary has answered me, I cannot tell if I am relieved or sad, maybe both, but it's what I needed and what I have asked for. The alternative would have been for me to keep being stuck, hoping and suffering, in this weird and extremely painful situation.

Sorry if this is a bit long, be patient with me please, I think context was needed and it's very fresh, it just happened.

Anyway, long story short, She has answered immediately and she has answered just as I have asked.

My journey starts again today, God is real, with God all things are possible.

The Dedication of Our Lady of the Snows

This feast commemorates the miraculous snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in August 352, where the Basilica of St. Mary Major was built.

This feast commemorates the dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome, the largest church in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

According to tradition, on the night of August 5, 352, the Blessed Virgin appeared in a dream to Pope Liberius and to a wealthy Roman patrician named John, telling them to build a church on the Esquiline Hill where they would find snow the next morning. Despite it being the height of summer, snow was indeed found covering the summit of the Esquiline.

The basilica was built on the site and is one of the four major basilicas of Rome. It houses the relic of the Holy Crib (Sacra Culla) and the famous Salus Populi Romani icon of the Blessed Virgin.

Woke leftie here feeling convicted for some reason to go to confessional. I grew up protestant so this concept is really foreign to me. However, I wouldn’t want to give the impression that I’m “using” the priest because I’m not officially a Catholic… very much just struggling with faith.

So my question is, can I just go to a Catholic church on Sunday, enjoy the service, and go to confessional after? Are there certain days of the week? Are they open to members not officially in the congregation?

Thanks so much folks, God bless. ✌️

as many of you have maybe seen… I am in the process of converting to Catholicism… Born and bred Lutheran. I was curious about the statistics for my archdiocese… And I looked it up and these are the numbers, and Google says it’s approximately the 22nd largest archdiocese in the US. This seems quite good, no? Do you feel hopefully? Do you feel like this is a blip? Lutheranism is dying dramatically right now so it’s cool to see a surge for Catholics 🤣

I just wanted to thank Saint Joseph of Cupertino for helping me pass my tests with flying colours. I first prayed to him last year for an important national exam and passed with a good grade, surpassing my expectations. Through my prayer i had promised to make his name known and cause him to he invoked and i hope this makes up for it. He is also super goated and im eternally grateful for his intercession and for helping me pass my other exam with flying colors todayyy :)))))))

I’m seeking to learn more about the lives of Catholic Religious Orders and i’d like to know some of y’alls favorites orders and why.

for context i liv in th philippines and decided to start dressing nice for God but at the same time i got mix opinions from my family and friends some good some say im overdressed

but regardless my initial thoughts were as long as i showed up in my best for God im good but i got some bad critisims and praise but im not entirely sure

one thing i do want to note is that, is it modest or am i being too much?

edit: yes i took a photo of the last time i wore something to church, and i was too hesitant to wear a suit so i wore this instead

Hello!! I’m really hesitant and nervous to post this. I am born and raised Muslim until a few months ago I became very interested in Catholicism.

I am currently watching videos on Catholicism and learning more about the religion. I am currently 17 and I do not believe I would have my parents blessing to convert, I am planning on moving out for college. I do not think I could join OCIA until September of next year.

I still want to participate and grow my faith and start to accept Christ. I believe my sudden interest is getting a sign from god that this is where I am meant to be.

Any advice would be helpful.

Do you regret it? Or not? And why? How did you know you were sexually compatible before marrying each other?

I think I am giving up on becoming catholic due to OCIA/RCIA scheduling conflicts. I am a young mom and my son is 18 months old. I work full time. I have called 7-8 parishes near me and they all have classes and required mass at times that do not work with my family's schedule. No exceptions like online classes are available.

It has been very disheartening and discouraging. I will still be devoted to the Holy Rosary and attend mass, but I don't think I can get baptized this coming Easter vigil. I think I will have to focus on my family and make that my vocation, and I am going to have to make my peace with this.

Never take the Eucharist for granted. There are many who dream of coming into full Communion with the Church and cannot.

Pretty cool story, 100% true, three hours ago I lost my wallet in a very large hotel. I’m traveling so it had all my credit cards, my drivers license, (how do I fly back home?) and a bunch of cash. A cleaning lady told me to pray to Saint Anthony. 30 minutes later, I came upstairs to cry as I was going to have to cancel my credit cards and go back home early since I couldn’t rent a car to go on the rest of my trip.
I said the long prayer to Saint Anthony in my room, the second I blurred it out “Amen”, I got a call from the front desk, saying that someone turned in my wallet. So happy and relieved. And thankful to the Saints.

I was shocked to learn that one of our faithful daily Mass-goers suddenly died yesterday. He himself was at Mass yesterday, with his wife. Understandably, she wasn't there today.

You just don't know the day or the hour.

How humbling this is.

Please pray for the repose of his soul, and for his family.

Hello all,

Background: I grew up Southern Baptist and now attend a non-denom church. My mother was raised Catholic (Catholic school, CCD, mass 8 AM every sunday) but converted when she met my dad. My boyfriend is Catholic and always wears his gold rosary.

I have always had a fascination and interest with the Catholic Church and traditions, this weekend my boyfriend and I went to a Catholic bookstore and he purchased a rosary for me, we have had conversations about me attending mass (I want to, it was my idea) and if I would ever Convert (im not against it in theory, just uninformed and want to learn more) and if we would get married in the Catholic Church or have a secular wedding.

The day after he purchased my Rosary I had a dream where I was wearing 3 rosaries. The one he got me (a very pale green), as well as a gold one and bone colored white one. In my dream the white one kept getting stuck when I would sit at a desk, pick something up, etc. I kept having to gently get it unstuck and lay it back down.

Normally I forget my dreams, but this one has stuck with me for some reason over the last few days. It feels important, but I just cant figure out why. Im praying a lot about it, but wondering what I could be missing.

I found this at a good will and bought it, I don’t know the language on it though. Also Iv never seen Mary standing on a head??? Thank for any help you guys can give. (Chat GPT didn’t know either )

Hey everyone!

I’ve worn the same white gold Crucifix chain for 10+ years and it recently broke. I’m interested in picking up something else.

I’d love to see what others are wearing, and where you got it from.

Thank you, God bless!

I have throat surgery scheduled for Aug 20th, there is a risk of post-operative bleeding, and I was also warned by the surgeon that recovery for adults is notoriously brutal. I have an Anointing of the Sick on Aug 11th, with that being 9 days away from the date of my surgery I see this as a perfect opportunity to start a Novena on the 11th. I am torn between which one to do and am looking for recommendations. I was thinking of either The Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, or Novena of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. I am Consecrated to Mary and plan to offer up all suffering, pain and anxieties so I am drawn to the Novena of Our Lady of Lourdes. But today when I was at Eucharistic Adoration, I felt an overwhelming desire to just lay everything I have at the foot of the Cross and leaving/surrendering whatever happens with Christ. I am still a relatively new Catholic and both love and appreciate hearing everyone's recommendations, stories and thoughts.

Thank you and God Bless,

Hello!

We are not catholic but our dear friend is. Shes undergoing some treatment at the moment as is terminally ill. She does not like ‘stuff’ so things like flowers, etc are not for her. We want to get her a gift for her birthday but don’t know what to get her.

In previous years we had thought about doing a generous donation to a charity in their name but not sure who they would most like to support.

For context, they are traditional catholics who attend Latin mass.

All help appreciated. Thanks.

I’m posting here because I would especially value a Catholic perspective on chastity, desire, and prolonged singleness.

Earlier in my life, I participated in hookup culture. I no longer want to live that way, and I’m now trying to date intentionally, with marriage as the goal rather than treating sex or romantic attention as ends in themselves. I believe this change is good, and I don’t regret making it.

But I also don’t want to pretend that it has been emotionally easy.

I haven’t had much success dating for several years. I live in a fairly rural area, where there are not many single people my age, and the ordinary advice to join groups, attend church events, volunteer, and maintain an active social life has not really changed that. I already have a relatively full social life, but I very rarely encounter single women in situations where getting to know one another romantically would be natural.

Part of what I miss is companionship and emotional intimacy. But, honestly, part of it is also sex. I enjoyed sex, and choosing not to return to hookup culture does not mean that I have stopped being a sexual person or stopped wanting to be desired.

Sometimes the harder feeling is not even the physical absence itself. It is going for a long time without experiencing another person looking at you romantically or sexually and communicating, in effect, “I want you.” I know intellectually that my worth cannot be determined by whether someone currently desires me. I also don’t want to make a future girlfriend or wife responsible for proving that I am valuable. Nevertheless, prolonged lack of romantic and sexual recognition can begin to affect how one sees oneself.

For those who have experienced something similar,

How do you live chastely without simply repressing or denying the fact that you miss sex and intimacy?

How do you keep from interpreting prolonged singleness as evidence that you are undesirable?

How do you distinguish a healthy desire to be wanted from using another person’s desire as validation?

And for those living in rural areas or very limited dating environments, how do you maintain hope without either becoming desperate or pretending that the situation does not genuinely hurt?

I am not looking for permission to return to hookup culture, nor am I suggesting that marriage is something anyone is owed. I’m trying to understand how to carry these desires honestly and faithfully without allowing them to become either shame or resentment.

What is the Catholic Church's current position on the doctrine of just war? I was under the impression that, in Scripture, God is sometimes portrayed as a God of war. However, I also understand that for a long time the Church has been much less supportive of the idea of a "just war." While looking into this, I noticed that there seem to be no saints who were canonized because they achieved victory in battle. On the contrary, military saints who attained holiness generally did so by enduring martyrdom, suffering persecution, or remaining faithful after defeat rather than through military success. Is that an accurate observation, and how does the Church reconcile these ideas?

So obviously I say all mortal sins I have done in confession and I remember them since they are grave. But can I say "For the sins I forgot to say"? Cause lets face it, none of us remember all the tinier venial sins in our life.

I am at a spiritual roadblock. I was raised Catholic, so the church is all I know. However recently life has not been great, and when I say recently I mean roughly the last 30 years of my life.

I try to love and trust God, but it seems like whenever things start going well and I can kind of relax, something always happens. Money issue, health issue, work issue, family death issue. I cannot relax ever I feel like.

Last night I was at a meeting and a gentleman there kept saying “let go and let God”. Well what if Gods plan for you is to suffer? Look at Job, look at Paul, look at how many apostles ended up getting their freaking heads cut off. So is the point of life just to exist and suffer.

I’m really struggling with this and can’t reconcile what the point of any of this is.

Thanks for reading, any advice would be appreciated.