September 10, http://www.tribtimes.com
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William Zambrano MD
Sep 9, 2025, 3:28:08 PMSep 9
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(1Pe 4:12-14) Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you: as if some new thing happened to you. But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory and power of God, and that which is his Spirit resteth upon you.
AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED: Persecution Outlook
ASIANEWS.IT: The names of 1,600 new martyrs of the 21st century
An ecumenical celebration will be held this Sunday, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, to commemorate the martyrs and witnesses to the faith of the 21st century. Led by Pope Leo XIV, it will include representatives from various Churches and Christian Communions.
In 2023 Pope Francis set up the Commission for New Martyrs – Witnesses to the Faith at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to continue the previous work by looking back over the first quarter of this century. For Archbishop Fabio Fabene, who chairs the Commission, the aim was “to record for our time all Christians who shed their blood for the love of Christ and to bear witness to his Gospel,” as well as update the list of martyrs prepared under Pope John Paul II ahead of this year’s Jubilee. Paying particular attention to the martyrs offers "a sign of hope" for "all Christian confessions,” in the spirit of the "ecumenism of blood," as John Paul II described it, which is realised in "Christians who have given their lives."
The total number of martyrs killed worldwide between 2000 and 2025 stands at 1,624, but this represents the "tip of the iceberg" of the problem. Riccardi noted the difficulties that the Commission for New Martyrs - Witnesses to the Faith faced in its research, which is slated to continue beyond 2025. This was primarily due to the impossibility of collecting reliable data in "remote areas" of Africa, and elsewhere. Yet, despite the obstacles, it is sadly clear that "Christians continue to die," he lamented. Indeed, many martyrs remain unrecognised, but their stories are nonetheless "touching" and "emblematic of [. . .] tormented areas in today’s world," he said. "One is about the young Chaldean priest, Fr Ragheed Ganni, killed in Mosul (Iraq) in 2007 with three deacons.” “Speaking at a Eucharistic conference in Bari, the clergyman said: ‘I am full of fear, but when I hold the Eucharist in my hand [. . .] I feel its strength within me. This makes us resist and hope.’”
ZENIT.ORG: A Global Surge in Anti-Christian Hostility Raises Alarms Across Churches
From the quiet suburbs of the United States to the contested streets of Jerusalem and the cathedrals of Europe, a troubling pattern is emerging: attacks against Christian communities and their sacred spaces are not only rising, but in some places multiplying at an alarming pace. A recent report by the Family Research Council, released on August 11, documented 1,384 hostile incidents against Christian churches in the United States between 2018 and 2024. What began with fewer than 100 incidents annually ballooned after the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. That year alone, 198 attacks were reported. By 2023, the number had nearly doubled again, reaching 485 cases before settling slightly lower at 415 in 2024. Most cases were acts of vandalism, but the list also included arson, gunfire, bomb threats, and deliberate interruptions of worship. CatholicVote, a U.S. advocacy group, has independently tracked at least 521 assaults on Catholic churches since 2020, ranging from smashed statues and satanic graffiti to fires that destroyed historic sanctuaries. The group notes that many attacks carried explicit pro-abortion slogans, suggesting a direct link between political anger and acts of sacrilege. Observers warn that these are not isolated acts of theft or vandalism but signs of a broader cultural hostility toward Christianity. While some perpetrators may be motivated by ideology, others seem emboldened by what faith leaders describe as an increasingly permissive climate toward anti-Christian sentiment.
Taken together, these reports draw a sobering picture. Attacks on Christian churches are becoming not just more frequent, but more organized, ideologically charged, and international in scope. For believers, the numbers represent not mere statistics but wounds to communities, sacred spaces, and a sense of security in the public square. For pastors and bishops, the challenge now lies in addressing not only the physical repair of damaged sanctuaries but also the deeper spiritual and cultural fractures that fuel such hostilities. The trend may differ in its local expressions—graffiti in New York, harassment in Jerusalem, or church burnings in rural France—but the trajectory is unmistakable. Across continents, Christian communities are facing a rising tide of aggression, one that touches the heart of their worship and the fabric of their public witness.
RELATED HEADLINES
Parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Church in Kenema murdered in his home
Armed Men Attack and Rob Assyrian Catholic Prelate in Syria
Seven Catholic churches attacked in Spain last month
Ancient Assyrian Church Desecrated in Turkey
"Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfmin...@roadrunner.com
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: https://bibleinayearonline.com/september-oyb/?version=63&startmmdd=0101
September 10, 2025(1Pe 4:12-14) Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you: as if some new thing happened to you. But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory and power of God, and that which is his Spirit resteth upon you.
AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED: Persecution Outlook
ASIANEWS.IT: The names of 1,600 new martyrs of the 21st century
An ecumenical celebration will be held this Sunday, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, to commemorate the martyrs and witnesses to the faith of the 21st century. Led by Pope Leo XIV, it will include representatives from various Churches and Christian Communions.
In 2023 Pope Francis set up the Commission for New Martyrs – Witnesses to the Faith at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to continue the previous work by looking back over the first quarter of this century. For Archbishop Fabio Fabene, who chairs the Commission, the aim was “to record for our time all Christians who shed their blood for the love of Christ and to bear witness to his Gospel,” as well as update the list of martyrs prepared under Pope John Paul II ahead of this year’s Jubilee. Paying particular attention to the martyrs offers "a sign of hope" for "all Christian confessions,” in the spirit of the "ecumenism of blood," as John Paul II described it, which is realised in "Christians who have given their lives."
The total number of martyrs killed worldwide between 2000 and 2025 stands at 1,624, but this represents the "tip of the iceberg" of the problem. Riccardi noted the difficulties that the Commission for New Martyrs - Witnesses to the Faith faced in its research, which is slated to continue beyond 2025. This was primarily due to the impossibility of collecting reliable data in "remote areas" of Africa, and elsewhere. Yet, despite the obstacles, it is sadly clear that "Christians continue to die," he lamented. Indeed, many martyrs remain unrecognised, but their stories are nonetheless "touching" and "emblematic of [. . .] tormented areas in today’s world," he said. "One is about the young Chaldean priest, Fr Ragheed Ganni, killed in Mosul (Iraq) in 2007 with three deacons.” “Speaking at a Eucharistic conference in Bari, the clergyman said: ‘I am full of fear, but when I hold the Eucharist in my hand [. . .] I feel its strength within me. This makes us resist and hope.’”
ZENIT.ORG: A Global Surge in Anti-Christian Hostility Raises Alarms Across Churches
From the quiet suburbs of the United States to the contested streets of Jerusalem and the cathedrals of Europe, a troubling pattern is emerging: attacks against Christian communities and their sacred spaces are not only rising, but in some places multiplying at an alarming pace. A recent report by the Family Research Council, released on August 11, documented 1,384 hostile incidents against Christian churches in the United States between 2018 and 2024. What began with fewer than 100 incidents annually ballooned after the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. That year alone, 198 attacks were reported. By 2023, the number had nearly doubled again, reaching 485 cases before settling slightly lower at 415 in 2024. Most cases were acts of vandalism, but the list also included arson, gunfire, bomb threats, and deliberate interruptions of worship. CatholicVote, a U.S. advocacy group, has independently tracked at least 521 assaults on Catholic churches since 2020, ranging from smashed statues and satanic graffiti to fires that destroyed historic sanctuaries. The group notes that many attacks carried explicit pro-abortion slogans, suggesting a direct link between political anger and acts of sacrilege. Observers warn that these are not isolated acts of theft or vandalism but signs of a broader cultural hostility toward Christianity. While some perpetrators may be motivated by ideology, others seem emboldened by what faith leaders describe as an increasingly permissive climate toward anti-Christian sentiment.
Taken together, these reports draw a sobering picture. Attacks on Christian churches are becoming not just more frequent, but more organized, ideologically charged, and international in scope. For believers, the numbers represent not mere statistics but wounds to communities, sacred spaces, and a sense of security in the public square. For pastors and bishops, the challenge now lies in addressing not only the physical repair of damaged sanctuaries but also the deeper spiritual and cultural fractures that fuel such hostilities. The trend may differ in its local expressions—graffiti in New York, harassment in Jerusalem, or church burnings in rural France—but the trajectory is unmistakable. Across continents, Christian communities are facing a rising tide of aggression, one that touches the heart of their worship and the fabric of their public witness.
RELATED HEADLINES
Parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Church in Kenema murdered in his home
Armed Men Attack and Rob Assyrian Catholic Prelate in Syria
Seven Catholic churches attacked in Spain last month
Ancient Assyrian Church Desecrated in Turkey
Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 3- "On Exile or Pilgrimage"
4. In hastening to solitude and exile, do not wait for world-loving souls, because the thief comes unexpectedly. In trying to save the careless and indolent along with themselves, many perish with them, because in course of time the soul's fire goes out. As soon as the flame is burning within you, run; for you do not know when it will go out and leave you in darkness. Not all of us are required to save others. The divine Apostle says: 'Everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.' And again he says: 'Thou therefore that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself?' This is like saying: I do not know whether we must all teach others; but we must most certainly teach ourselves.Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerR...@aol.com
"Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfmin...@roadrunner.com
This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.
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