A Lying Messiah?

  

Written by Sister Gabriela of the Incarnation, O.C.D.

“At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.’” (Lk 10:21)

I have always appreciated this verse! I am not an intellectual. I would have flunked philosophy if the philosophy teacher believed in giving grades. I tried college but dropped out for financial reasons after a year or so and didn’t miss it. I later entered the Discalced Carmelites, so that the only letters after my name express my religious profession and not my intellectual attainments. Like St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, I identify myself as one of the little ones and most certainly not as among the “wise and the intelligent.” And I have always found it very attractive that God shows Himself to the little ones who are usually overlooked and set aside in this world. In Western culture, at least, knowledge is power, and those who lack knowledge also lack power. A God who favors those who are not clever or powerful is a God worth trusting, someone that it is safe to approach, one who will not manipulate you or use you to attain His own ends.

The DNA of the Shroud of Turin: Surprising Revelations

Blessed the first stone of the Polish chapel at the Shepherds’ Field in Holy Land

ZENIT Staff

The new place of prayer dedicated to St. Joseph enriches the complex of the chapels of the nations with that of one of the countries most deeply rooted in the Catholic faith

The Catholic Faith in Public Life: Bishop Barron Interviews the Vice President of the United States on YouTube

ZENIT Staff

Vance’s political career has made him one of the most prominent Catholic voices in American public life. His interpretation of the faith, however, is not simply a collection of political positions borrowed from Catholic language

Less religion in childhood, poorer mental health in adolescence: what the results of a scientific study show

Jorge Enrique Mújica

This may help explain why the study’s conclusions are particularly relevant to the mental health of the young. Childhood and adolescence are not merely periods in which individuals acquire skills; they are also stages in which they seek a stable answer to the question of who they are and where they belong

When Psychiatry Faces the Inexplicable. Two Doctors Delve Into Exorcisms; Both Confirm What the Church Says: The Devil Exists

Covadonga Asturias

The latest voice to enter this difficult territory is José Miguel Gaona, a Spanish forensic neuropsychiatrist whose recent book, Possession, is the result of five years of research and runs to almost 1,000 pages

Holy See Issues Statement on Current Status of Proceedings Against Ex-Jesuit Amidst Fabricated Reports Regarding the Rupnik Case

ZENIT Staff

The Holy See Press Office issued a statement on Wednesday, July 22.

Holy See Issues Statement on Current Status of Proceedings Against Ex-Jesuit Amidst Fabricated Reports Regarding the Rupnik Case

ZENIT Staff

The Holy See Press Office issued a statement on Wednesday, July 22.

The Christian Presence in the Holy Land Is Being Squeezed from Every Direction

ZENIT Staff

The central question is therefore not simply whether Christianity can survive in the Holy Land. It is whether the international community will accept a future in which the ancient Christian communities of the region remain only as monuments, while the people who gave those places their living meaning are gradually forced to leave

Leo XIV encourages religious to view community life as a source of inspiration and sanctification

ZENIT Staff

Message from Leo XIV to the Conference of Major Superiors of Men’s Religious Orders in the United States

Colombia’s President-elect Appoints a Dominican Friar as Director of the National Learning Service

Enrique Villegas

The new director’s appointment also reflects the incoming government’s intention to raise the status of technical and technological education, which De la Espriella says should no longer be treated as a second-tier alternative to university studies

Research reveals what young Brazilian Catholics are like and what they are looking for: formation, liturgy, and keeping their faith free from politics

Enrique Villegas

Their answers point toward an unexpected conclusion. In an age in which young people are often assumed to be primarily attracted by novelty, many of these Catholics are searching for depth, formation and continuity

Venezuela One Month After the Earthquake: The Scale of the Disaster and the Role of the Church

Enrique Villegas

An analysis by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction estimated direct damage at approximately $24 billion to public and private buildings and another $13 billion to infrastructure

The DNA of the Shroud of Turin: Surprising Revelations About the Cloth Wrapped Around Jesus Published in a Scientific Journal

ZENIT Staff

Published in Scientific Reports, part of the Nature publishing group, the study is the result of a research project conducted between September 2022 and December 2025 by the Universities of Padua and Pavia, together with national and international institutions

International Association of Exorcists Reiterates Warning About the Risks of «Family Constellations»

ZENIT Staff

«This technique is based on a flawed concept and presents strong analogies, regarding both content and worldview, to the spiritism practiced under an animist conception,» states the IAE.

Seven Keys to Spotting a «Monster» Under the Guise of Coaching, Therapy, and Corporate Training.

ZENIT Staff

Jenni Walford has written a guide to detecting coercive persuasion techniques that, beyond traditional cults, are becoming increasingly common in contexts where they are harder to detect, even though they are causing devastating harm to many people.

Under the agreement with China, Leo XIV appoints a new bishop

 

Post-World Cup insults fly between Spaniards and Argentinans: ‘It’s idolatry,’ priest says

Post-World Cup insults fly between Spaniards and Argentinans: ‘It’s idolatry,’ priest says

The priest said “the human heart is made to worship” and warned that if it “does not worship God, it will worship something else: success, the body, money, or a soccer team.”

Man who killed Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman receives consecutive life sentences

Vance Boelter was sentenced for the murder of Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Catholic lawmaker who once taught Sunday school and volunteered in her parish’s children’s faith formation program.

Survey assesses impact of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain

Pope Leo XIV’s recent visit to Spain was well received by attendees and volunteers, with 97% reporting a positive or very positive view.

Summer advice from Pope Leo XIV: Don’t forget the less fortunate

“Let us think of the privilege we have when we support the poor,” Pope Leo said.

U.S. Ambassador clarifies view on pope’s role in politics, war after Vatican response

Burch said his recent comments to the New York Times were not meant to imply that Pope Leo’s statements about the Iran war should be seen as simply diplomatic — rather than spiritual — guidance.

Vatican publishes biography of founder of Cuban nationhood, Father Félix Varela

The Vatican’s publication of a book on the life of Father Félix Varela (1788–1853) once again draws attention to Cuban priest’s virtues and accomplishments.

House panel clashes over Delaney Hall conditions amid accounts of detainee mistreatment

Republicans insisted reports of medical neglect, spoiled food, and blocked oversight were “false narratives,” while Democrats pointed to deaths in ICE custody and allegations of substandard care.

5 things to know about St. Bridget of Sweden, mystic and mother

On July 23, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden, a mystic of the Middle Ages who was a wife and mother of eight children.

What religious left?

What religious left?
ARC: Michael Wear on why Democrats can’t afford to abandon religious voters — and why Christianity should resist becoming a tool of either party.

 

These Catholic sisters want to start a new order with a difficult mission: helping survivors of clergy abuse
NPR: Sister Theresa Aletheia and Sister Danielle Lussier call themselves the Sisters of the Little Way of Beauty, Truth and Goodness. They spend most of their time praying for and meeting with people who have experienced abuse of various kinds, including emotional, financial, spiritual or sexual.

 

‘Sanctuary people’ redefine what it means to protect immigrants in uncertain times
The Conversation: In the 1980s, churches in the sanctuary movement prioritized offering physical protection to Central American asylum-seekers. In recent years, however, faith-based advocates’ sense of sanctuary has expanded.

 

An Austin church needs a new building. It’s going to print it.*
Christianity Today: Proponents say 3D printed construction could revolutionize church architecture. One Texas congregation is about to find out.

 

Maryland town countersues Episcopal church seeking to close overnight shelter
Episcopal News Service: The legal battle continues to escalate between a Maryland town and an Episcopal church over the church’s overnight shelter for unhoused people.

 

This Pittsburgh rabbi led the Tree of Life through its darkest days. Now, he says goodbye
The Associated Press: Myers, 70, is retiring this month as spiritual leader of Tree of Life, a position he had assumed just over a year before the shattering events of Oct. 27, 2018.

 

US megachurches grow bigger as smaller churches decline*
Christianity Today: A new study shows larger churches rebounded after the 2020 pandemic drop while others have yet to recover.

 

Nun speaks out for first time about being detained by ICE while walking to Mass in Texas
The Associated Press: Ugboaja, 56, was released several hours after being detained while on her way to church near the U.S.-Mexico border.

 

‘It’s a sin if you do not vote’: Progressive National Baptists urge midterm turnout
Religion News Service: The historically Black denomination made voting a theme of its annual session.

 

Can this far-right Christian militia de-radicalize?*
The Christian Century: The Bratstvo Battalion was once known for its antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. Now it’s fighting alongside diverse Ukrainians to save the country from Russia.

Keiko Fujimori Visits the Peruvian Episcopate

 

Fulani Extremists Kill 25 Christians After Nigerian Army Ignores Early Warnings

Gay man arrested for threatening to kill nuns and children at a Catholic school “just for fun”

ZENIT Staff

According to investigators, the threatening message appeared on the school’s Facebook page on June 26 under the name «Bobby McGee.» Its language left little room for ambiguity, announcing plans to attack the Catholic school and murder members of the governor’s family «for fun.»

Indian Government Orders an Audit of Christian Properties

ZENIT Staff

This sweeping review has heightened concerns among Christian communities. Representatives of Christians have linked the timing of the audit to a broader climate of intimidation, like disruptions at prayer meetings by right-wing groups, hate speeches, etc., which are on the rise in Maharashtra

Special “León XIV” Award for Sustainability Established: It Will Be Presented in Rome in October 2026

ZENIT Staff

Created by Villanova University, the new international honor will recognize outstanding leadership in sustainability and integral human development. It will debut at the 2026 Villanova International Sustainability Conference in Rome and be presented by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.

From the World Cup to the Family: Knights of Columbus Call Men to Be Captains

ZENIT Staff

At official FIFA Fan Fests and on social media, a single invitation stood out: every man is called to lead his family, strengthen his community, and live out his faith.

For the first time, a “practicing Catholic” has become the prime minister of the United Kingdom

ZENIT Staff

Unlike Tony Blair, who entered the Catholic Church only after leaving office, or Boris Johnson, who was baptized Catholic but later embraced Anglicanism, Burnham has consistently acknowledged that Catholicism shaped his upbringing and continues to influence his political outlook, even while admitting that he no longer considers himself particularly religious in terms of personal practice

Nicaragua: A Missing Bishop, a Report on Persecution of the Church, and a Dictator Who Announces There Will Be No More Elections

Enrique Villegas

His disappearance comes as a newly published Global Persecution Index by International Christian Concern portrays Nicaragua as one of the countries where conditions for Christians have deteriorated most significantly.

Fulani Extremists Kill 25 Christians After Nigerian Army Ignores Early Warnings

ZENIT Staff

Among those killed was the village’s leader. The local said the Fulani planned to kill their leader, occupy the land for grazing, and establish an Islamic caliphate in the region.

U.S., Catholic Relief Services send first Cuba aid flight

Caritas Venezuela adds recovery component to ongoing relief efforts

The Catholic Church’s social services arm in the country reports that its operations are in a transitional phase, as it shifts from immediate assistance to the recovery of those who lost everything.

Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel sees a resurgence with new shrine in Mexico City

Formerly served by the Discalced Carmelites, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been elevated to an archdiocesan shrine and has seen an increase in the number of pilgrims.

U.S., Catholic Relief Services send first Cuba aid flight under Rubio plan

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) will deliver kits of prepackaged food and hygiene kits for up to 700 Cuban families.

St. Mary Magdalene: The first witness to the Resurrection

Once known as a sinful woman, Mary Magdalene became the Apostle to the Apostles and the first witness to the Resurrection.

New study shows that fewer churches aim for racial diversity

Inside a Brooklyn church where immigration activism is the gospel
Religion News Service: From encrypted apps to legal clinics, how an immigrant-majority church is responding to protect its congregation.

 

New study shows that fewer churches aim for racial diversity
Religion Unplugged: A Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors finds churches have seemingly grown more diverse, while pastors have grown less likely to see that diversity as a goal and preach about racial reconciliation.

 

SBC leaders called an abuse crisis a hoax. Abuse survivors want an apology.
Religion News Service: In an open letter, a group of survivors and advocates say that comments by SBC President Willy Rice and Texas pastor Jack Graham make it harder to address the issue of abuse in churches.

 

White House admits it used keywords to kill billions worth of California research grants
The Associated Press: Federal agencies that terminated more than a thousand research grants at the University of California last year admitted that they used keywords related to diversity, gender, vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 to screen for projects that ran afoul of the Trump administration’s priorities.

 

Takeaways from the AP-NORC poll of more than 1,000 Jewish Americans
The Associated Press: The survey of 1,022 Jewish adults offers a rare detailed accounting of a key demographic that sits at the very center of some of the nation’s most divisive political debates.

A Word of Joyful News: My First Book Is on the Way

 

Dear friends,

With a full and grateful heart, I am overjoyed to announce the forthcoming publication of my first book — and I confess there is a particular delight in arriving at this milestone at the ripe old age of seventy-eight!

The Right Pope at the Right Time: An American Catholic Response to Pope Leo XIV will be published by ACTA Publications of Chicago, with publication anticipated this September.

I am moved, and not a little humbled, that ACTA has chosen to gather a selection of essays first written here at Liturgy and Truth and give them a more lasting home between two covers. Together we felt these pieces speak to precisely the moment we find ourselves in. Written across the first year of the pontificate of Robert Prevost of Chicago — our Pope Leo XIV — they take up his summons that no Catholic may stand absent from the great public questions of the day: artificial intelligence, refugees and immigration, race and gender, poverty and inequality, war and peace, and the sanctity of both human work and human life. To those already insisting that the Holy Father should “stay in his own lane,” the book offers a different and, I hope, more hopeful word.

I am especially grateful for the early and generous praise the manuscript has received:

“Careful, earnest, well-considered words… People of goodwill everywhere, please read what he has to say, especially if you don’t think you’ll agree. We cannot afford to be absent from this conversation.” — Alice Camille, author of God’s Word Is Alive and Invitation to Catholicism

“Holquin is, you might say, ‘the right priest at the right time.’ … A model for teaching and learning about the signs of the times — engaging and critical without demonizing.” — David Gibson, Director, Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University

“His typically lucid, well-informed, and faithful observations on our beloved new pope and what he means, and will mean, for our Church and our world.” — James Martin, SJ, author of Learning to Pray

The book, a 260-page paperback, will retail for $19.95 and is available now at the pre-publication price of $15 each at www.actapublications.com or 800-397-2282. If you buy two or more copies you’ll receive free shipping as well. This offer is good through August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption.

For now, I simply want to say thank you — to ACTA, to those who lent their kind words, and above all to you, the readers of this Substack, whose engagement made this book possible. What began as a series of posts has become something I never quite imagined at seventy-eight. Deo gratias.

Blessings!

Monsignor Arthur Holquin, S.T.L.