The LOOP
The Monday Loop - October 20, 2025
POPE LEO CANONIZES 7 NEW CATHOLIC SAINTS
Pope Leo yesterday canonized seven new saints in St. Peter’s Square, including Saint Bartolo Longo, a former satanic priest who repented, became a third-order Dominican, and championed the Rosary. Here is the full list of new saints.
HUNTING STAND SET UP IN SIGHT OF TRUMP'S AF1 EXIT FBI
Director Kash Patel confirmed Sunday that the Secret Service had discovered a hunting stand set up to overlook the spot where President Donald Trump exits Air Force One when it arrives at Palm Beach International Airport.
ISRAEL RESUMES CEASEFIRE AFTER US SCRAMBLES TO RESCUE DEAL
The Israeli military "announced the resumption of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Sunday evening after a deadly attack on troops in the southern Gaza Strip in the morning, and a subsequent wave of retaliatory Israeli strikes had threatened to shatter the fragile truce," the Times of Israel reports. Trump administration officials reportedly contacted Israeli counterparts asking them to "show restraint.”
TRUMP ENVOYS: ISRAEL 'OUT OF CONTROL' AHEAD OF GAZA DEAL
Trump's top negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, told 60 Minutes they felt “betrayed” when Israel struck Qatar in the middle of peace talks with Hamas. Kushner said Trump “felt like the Israelis were getting a little bit out of control" and "it was time to be very strong and stop them from doing things that he felt were not in their long-term interests.”
VANCE MARKS MARINES' 250th ANNIVERSARY
“When officials try to shift focus to mandating diversity quotas or they try to inject partisan politics into the American armed forces, they impede the Marine Corps’ ability to do its best work,” said Vice President JD Vance in a Saturday speech marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. Vance is himself a Marine veteran.
JOHN PAUL II SHRINE HOLDS EVENTS LEADING UP TO FEAST DAY
The Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., is in the midst of a week-long celebration for pilgrims that began Oct. 16, the anniversary of its namesake’s election to the papacy, and will conclude on the late Pope’s feast day, Oct. 22.
GOVERNOR DEFENDS PRO-LIFE STANCE AFTER DEATH PENALTY DECISION
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, is defending his pro-life beliefs after he denied clemency to a convicted murderer and is facing criticism from activists who oppose the death penalty.
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KISS ME GOODNIGHT
Experience the innocent love of a family with this wonderful story rooted in Sacred Scripture and Tradition from the EWTN Catalogue.
HOW KNOXVILLE DIOCESE IS IMPLEMENTING TRADITIONIS CUSTODES
The Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, will transition all of its celebrations of the Traditional Latin Mass from the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal to the 2002 Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal by the end of 2025, according to a recent statement from Saints Peter and Paul Basilica in Chattanooga.
MALL OF AMERICA TO HOST MASSIVE PAPAL EXHIBIT
Next year, the Mall of America will welcome visitors from all around the country for “Vatican Unveiled,” hosted by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in celebration of the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary. The 19,000-square-foot exhibit is the largest collection of papal artifacts outside of Rome.
NOT TO BE MISSED
Here are the stories we couldn’t fit in today’s LOOP: • Pope Leo yesterday spoke on the importance of World Mission Day. • Christian parents are taking Sweden to court after three years of separation from their daughters. • The ongoing government shutdown has stalled the Archdiocese of Baltimore's bankruptcy case.
'BE TRUE TO YOURSELF'
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Polonius advises his son: “This above all — to thine own self be true.” This was spoken hundreds of years ago, but we hear the same thing today — be true to yourself. What does this mean? Is it good or bad advice? It depends on what we mean by "self." Here at Dominicana, Br. John Metilly explains healthy and unhealthy ways to interpret this age-old idea.
CATHOLIC 101
Some claim to be “Christian atheists,” living by Christian values without being able to muster belief in God. It may sound silly, but Dr. Richard Clements suggests this “as if” approach can actually offer meaning to people when they need it most, particularly in moments of doubt or struggle.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Today the Church remembers Saint Irene of Tomar, a Portuguese maiden who died when her suitor had her killed in retaliation for her refusal to marry him. Hagiographical accounts say that her body was thrown into the nearby river and recovered downriver in an incorrupt state many days later. Many miracles were later reported at her tomb.
DAILY PSALM
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people." (Luke 1)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
SPECIAL MAHA LOOP EDITION COMING LATER TODAY
Where do things stand in the mission to "Make America Healthy Again?" Catholics should care deeply about the effort. But what are we to think of the Trump administration's promotion of grave evils – the FDA's approval of a new abortion pill, or Trump pushing in vitro fertilization (IVF)? The LOOP has the answers. Stand by for a special MAHA edition of the LOOP later today!