The LOOP
The Tuesday Loop - February 11, 2025
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 – FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
VATICAN AID OFFICIAL CONDEMNS USAID FUNDING PAUSES
The head of the Vatican’s global aid network Caritas Internationalis stated that the Trump administration’s USAID funding pauses “will kill millions of people.” CI Secretary General Alistair Dutton added: “This is an inhumane affront to people’s God-given human dignity, that will cause immense suffering.”
TRUMP THREATENS TO NIX ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE
After Hamas suspended hostage releases and accused Israel of violating the ceasefire deal negotiated last month, President Donald Trump threatened to end the deal unless all hostages are released by noon Saturday. If they are not released, “I would say cancel the ceasefire,” Trump said. “Let all hell break loose; Israel can override it.”
MEN BEREAVED BY ABORTION
Kat Rosenfield, a self-described “pro-choice” journalist, recently interviewed men left grieving after their unborn children died in abortions. Men “are sidelined from conversations about pregnancy and childbirth, even when their emotional stake should be obvious,” Rosenfield wrote, calling the situation “real and heartbreaking.”
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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRIST’S LENT & YOURS?
Answer: He offered His prayers and sacrifices only to benefit others. More closely imitate Our Lord by offering each day this Lent for a specific person. Then give that person a gorgeous Lenten postcard from Holy Heroes. LOOPers get first dibs on sets of 40 Prayer & Sacrifice Cards plus a FREE Lent calendar. Sets sold out twice already (!) so act now.
SCHUMER CALLS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES TO REPORT ON TRUMP ADMIN
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, yesterday announced the creation of an online portal for “whistleblowers” to report to Senate Democrats on the Trump administration. Critics lambasted the move as an attempt to fend off Trump-backed efforts to root out government corruption and waste.
TRANSPORTATION SEC VISITS STORM VICTIMS, PLEDGES REPAIRS
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy toured the damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Tennessee yesterday, coordinating with local officials to begin massive repairs. Duffy said many storm victims “feel forgotten” after Helene destroyed their communities and a major section of I-40. “We have not forgotten about them….”
TRUMP DIRECTS TREASURY TO STOP MINTING PENNIES
Trump announced Sunday that he had ordered his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt the minting of new U.S. pennies, calling the production of the copper-colored coins “wasteful.” “For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents” each, Trump stated.
SO MUCH NEWS
Here are the stories we couldn’t fit it today’s LOOP: • A Baltimore jury found a man guilty of violently assaulting elderly pro-lifers. • After an exiled bishop spoke out, Nicaragua’s dictatorship insulted the Vatican. • Non-Catholic faith groups rally behind Wisconsin Catholic Charities’ lawsuit.
LOOPcast
We talk about Trump at the Super Bowl, the president’s ban on pennies, and a judge’s reaction to DOGE. PEPFAR is on pause, the Vances are adorable, and a Carlo Acutis statue is turning heads across the internet. All this and more on the!
WISCONSIN MAN ARRESTED, CHARGED FOR DISTURBANCE AT CHURCH
A man was arrested in Fennimore, Wisconsin, after causing a disturbance last week at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The man shouted profanities and threw metal candle holders at a deputy before being tased. The arrestee now faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting/obstructing an officer.
IRELAND TO BE RECONSECRATED TO THE SACRED HEART
Ireland will be reconsecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus June 22 in a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin at the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine in Knock. Ireland’s bishops first consecrated the country to the Sacred Heart in June 1873.
SUPPORTING CATHOLIC ECONOMY
“I do nothing but shop all day,” wrote St. Zélie Martin. “Your father says, amusingly, that it is a passion with me! It is no use explaining to him that I have no choice; he finds it hard to believe.” Yes, making purchases is an inescapable part of daily life, so it’s worth considering where you’re putting your money. Here’s how to support Catholic-owned businesses and grow the Catholic economy.
CATHOLIC 101
Many saints were priests or monks, but some were “regular old” grandpas. They weren’t, of course, too regular. Here are five grandpa/papa/pops/gwampy (or however they call you in your family) saints, and their tips to help you become an extraordinary Catholic grandfather.
SAINT OF THE DAY
During an apparition in 1858, Our Lady of Lourdes told St. Bernadette, a 14-year-old peasant girl, to drink from a muddy spring in a grotto. Bernadette obeyed and, two days later, the spring miraculously became clear and healed a paralyzed woman. To this day, Lourdes and its holy waters continue to heal pilgrims from around the world.
DAILY PSALM “O
Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:2)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
DEVOTION
Watch a crowd of thousands raise their voices in song to honor Our Lady of Lourdes! This is how the culture is brought back to God.