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A video of a Catholic priest breaking down in tears and struggling to raise the chalice above his head while saying the consecration prayers during Mass spread across social media this week, prompting the priest to issue a statement through his diocese. “Take this all of you and drink from it: For this is the chalice…” Father Brent Bowman prayed at the altar, followed by a six-second pause while celebrating Mass for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Sept. 14. He continued the consecration prayer through tears and then sobbed for nearly one minute at the altar, struggling to raise the chalice. He continued to cry as he raised the chalice and was weeping as he knelt before the blood of Christ after the consecration. Bowman’s emotional response to the consecration was captured on video because the parish livestreams its daily Masses on YouTube and it spread across social media platforms, with many viewers wondering what prompted the reaction. In his statement, he explained that he did not witness what the Church considers a “Eucharistic miracle,” such as when the accidents of the bread and wine apparently change in some way along with the substance. Rather, he said, “I had a private spiritual experience” during the Mass. “During the consecration prayer over the wine at the altar, as I spoke the words, I was given what I believe to be internal knowledge of the power of these words being spoken and the reality of their effect to the point that I had difficulty speaking,” Bowman said in his statement. “With each word, I became more physically overwhelmed as seen in the video,” he said. “At the same time, I was given sensory knowledge of the weight of God’s power coming down upon the altar, and I felt the heaviness of Jesus’s substantial presence in the chalice in my hands.” “The chalice became too heavy to hold as I felt it pulled down to rest upon the altar,” Bowman said. “I felt my hands fixed to the chalice of the Precious Blood, and I could not physically move it. Attempting to elevate the Precious Blood, which I was not able to do for a period of time, I believe I was given grace to understand more deeply the bittersweetness of Our Lord’s Passion and how much blood Christ shed for the immense weight of all our sins.” “I believe I experienced this weight in the chalice,” he said. “This spiritual experience emotionally and physically overwhelmed me as evident in the Mass recording.” Bowman noted that spiritual experiences are “completely unmerited gifts and signs of God’s abundant love for all his people” but “not necessarily signs of any person’s holiness.” “I pray this brief testimony moves all our hearts to contemplate more deeply the mysteries of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and the Precious Blood,” he said. Although Bowman did not experience a “Eucharistic miracle” in the sense of the bread or the wine altering its appearance, God does perform a miracle at every Mass during consecration, known as transubstantiation. When the priest consecrates the Eucharist, the “substance” of bread and wine does not remain, but instead the bread and wine are transubstantiated into the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ even though it maintains the physical appearance and chemical structure of bread and wine. “The presence of Christʼs true body and blood in this sacrament cannot be detected by sense, nor understanding, but by faith alone, which rests upon Divine authority,” St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the “Summa Theologica.” More:

A video of a Catholic priest breaking down in tears and struggling to raise the chalice above his head while saying the consecration prayers during Mass spread across social media this week, prompting the priest to issue a statement through his diocese. “Take this all of you and drink from it: For this is the chalice…” Father Brent Bowman prayed at the altar, followed by a six-second pause while celebrating Mass for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Sept. 14. He continued the consecration prayer through tears and then sobbed for nearly one minute at the altar, struggling to raise the chalice. He continued to cry as he raised the chalice and was weeping as he knelt before the blood of Christ after the consecration. Bowman’s emotional response to the consecration was captured on video because the parish livestreams its daily Masses on YouTube and it spread across social media platforms, with many viewers wondering what prompted the reaction. In his statement, he explained that he did not witness what the Church considers a “Eucharistic miracle,” such as when the accidents of the bread and wine apparently change in some way along with the substance. Rather, he said, “I had a private spiritual experience” during the Mass. “During the consecration prayer over the wine at the altar, as I spoke the words, I was given what I believe to be internal knowledge of the power of these words being spoken and the reality of their effect to the point that I had difficulty speaking,” Bowman said in his statement. “With each word, I became more physically overwhelmed as seen in the video,” he said. “At the same time, I was given sensory knowledge of the weight of God’s power coming down upon the altar, and I felt the heaviness of Jesus’s substantial presence in the chalice in my hands.” “The chalice became too heavy to hold as I felt it pulled down to rest upon the altar,” Bowman said. “I felt my hands fixed to the chalice of the Precious Blood, and I could not physically move it. Attempting to elevate the Precious Blood, which I was not able to do for a period of time, I believe I was given grace to understand more deeply the bittersweetness of Our Lord’s Passion and how much blood Christ shed for the immense weight of all our sins.” “I believe I experienced this weight in the chalice,” he said. “This spiritual experience emotionally and physically overwhelmed me as evident in the Mass recording.” Bowman noted that spiritual experiences are “completely unmerited gifts and signs of God’s abundant love for all his people” but “not necessarily signs of any person’s holiness.” “I pray this brief testimony moves all our hearts to contemplate more deeply the mysteries of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and the Precious Blood,” he said. Although Bowman did not experience a “Eucharistic miracle” in the sense of the bread or the wine altering its appearance, God does perform a miracle at every Mass during consecration, known as transubstantiation. When the priest consecrates the Eucharist, the “substance” of bread and wine does not remain, but instead the bread and wine are transubstantiated into the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ even though it maintains the physical appearance and chemical structure of bread and wine. “The presence of Christʼs true body and blood in this sacrament cannot be detected by sense, nor understanding, but by faith alone, which rests upon Divine authority,” St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the “Summa Theologica.” More:

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Pope John Paul II died 19 years ago. This was the last time he appeared in St. Peter's Square. Pray for us, Saint John Paul II the Great!

Pope John Paul II died 19 years ago. This was the last time he appeared in St. Peter's Square. Pray for us, Saint John Paul II the Great!

3,431,351 Aufrufe

Pope Leo’s run‑in with a rogue fly during his trip to Equatorial Guinea was an unexpected comedy break — a light reminder that the man who leads the Catholic Church is still just human and wonderfully, hilariously relatable.

Pope Leo’s run‑in with a rogue fly during his trip to Equatorial Guinea was an unexpected comedy break — a light reminder that the man who leads the Catholic Church is still just human and wonderfully, hilariously relatable.

184,588 Aufrufe

A visibly moved Pope Leo, who calls himself “a son of Saint Augustine,” prayed among the ruins of Hippo in Annaba, Algeria, where the great Doctor of the Church served as bishop and shepherd for more than 30 years until his death. This may be one of the pope’s most personal moments in Africa, a quiet encounter with the roots of his own spiritual father.

A visibly moved Pope Leo, who calls himself “a son of Saint Augustine,” prayed among the ruins of Hippo in Annaba, Algeria, where the great Doctor of the Church served as bishop and shepherd for more than 30 years until his death. This may be one of the pope’s most personal moments in Africa, a quiet encounter with the roots of his own spiritual father.

161,421 Aufrufe

Join us in praying for Pope Francis' swift recovery and his intentions. The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, the community of friars founded in 1987 by Mother Angelica, offered this prayer for Pope Francis: Heavenly Father, We thank you for the loving service of Pope Francis and the hope he has inspired in so many in your great mercy. Have mercy on him in his illness now, we pray, and guide the medical staff in his care. Grant him peace and healing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Join us in praying for Pope Francis' swift recovery and his intentions. The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, the community of friars founded in 1987 by Mother Angelica, offered this prayer for Pope Francis: Heavenly Father, We thank you for the loving service of Pope Francis and the hope he has inspired in so many in your great mercy. Have mercy on him in his illness now, we pray, and guide the medical staff in his care. Grant him peace and healing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

317,727 Aufrufe

21 years ago today, our beloved Pope St. John Paul II entered into eternal life. On March 30, 2005, he made his final public appearance at the window of St. Peter’s, uniting his suffering to Christ as he prepared to go to the Father.

21 years ago today, our beloved Pope St. John Paul II entered into eternal life. On March 30, 2005, he made his final public appearance at the window of St. Peter’s, uniting his suffering to Christ as he prepared to go to the Father.

103,072 Aufrufe

In an emotional moment, Pope Leo XIV breaks protocol to share an embrace with his older brother Louis after his inaugural Mass. Right after seeing Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the pontiff saw his brother among the delegations in attendance.

In an emotional moment, Pope Leo XIV breaks protocol to share an embrace with his older brother Louis after his inaugural Mass. Right after seeing Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the pontiff saw his brother among the delegations in attendance.

232,647 Aufrufe

What a kickoff for the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress! Jesus just arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Over 50,000 people are expected to attend this historic event. #eucharisticcongress #eucharisticrevival

What a kickoff for the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress! Jesus just arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Over 50,000 people are expected to attend this historic event. #eucharisticcongress #eucharisticrevival

268,785 Aufrufe

Pope Leo XIV gives a shout out to pilgrims from New Jersey, the Catholic Music Awards group and the EWTN Global Catholic Network Summer Academy! Thank you Holy Father!

Pope Leo XIV gives a shout out to pilgrims from New Jersey, the Catholic Music Awards group and the EWTN Global Catholic Network Summer Academy! Thank you Holy Father!

122,431 Aufrufe

Immediately following Mass, Pope Leo XIV got visibly emotional after being met with cheers and a long ovation for his presence among the faithful. Moments earlier, he had delivered his powerful call to the youth of the Church: “Dear young people, today Europe and the whole world are looking to you to be new saints.” That was Pope Leo's charge to thousands gathered at the Portiuncula in Assisi. Celebrating Mass for 2,500 participants of the GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting, the Holy Father urged young people to follow the example of St. Francis and St. Clare, who embraced the Gospel sine glossa—"we could say, in its simplicity"—letting Christ completely reshape their lives.

Immediately following Mass, Pope Leo XIV got visibly emotional after being met with cheers and a long ovation for his presence among the faithful. Moments earlier, he had delivered his powerful call to the youth of the Church: “Dear young people, today Europe and the whole world are looking to you to be new saints.” That was Pope Leo's charge to thousands gathered at the Portiuncula in Assisi. Celebrating Mass for 2,500 participants of the GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting, the Holy Father urged young people to follow the example of St. Francis and St. Clare, who embraced the Gospel sine glossa—"we could say, in its simplicity"—letting Christ completely reshape their lives.

20,782 Aufrufe

Cardinal Robert Prevost entered the conclave as a cardinal and left as Pope Leo XIV - the 267th pope of the Catholic Church and the first Pope in history from the United States of America. #Conclave2025

Cardinal Robert Prevost entered the conclave as a cardinal and left as Pope Leo XIV - the 267th pope of the Catholic Church and the first Pope in history from the United States of America. #Conclave2025

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Pope Leo XIV told EWTN News he “cannot comment” on Jimmy Lai, the Catholic founder and publisher of the outspoken pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, who was sentenced Feb. 9 on charges Chinese authorities say violate national security laws. The pope instead urged for peace, telling reporters: “Let’s pray for less hatred and more peace, and work for authentic dialogue.”

Pope Leo XIV told EWTN News he “cannot comment” on Jimmy Lai, the Catholic founder and publisher of the outspoken pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, who was sentenced Feb. 9 on charges Chinese authorities say violate national security laws. The pope instead urged for peace, telling reporters: “Let’s pray for less hatred and more peace, and work for authentic dialogue.”

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Pope Leo XIV thrilled the young crowds with a surprise ride on the popemobile after the Welcome Mass of the Jubilee of Youth! He went beyond St. Peter's Square and greeted the pilgrims by continuing down Via della Conciliazione.

Pope Leo XIV thrilled the young crowds with a surprise ride on the popemobile after the Welcome Mass of the Jubilee of Youth! He went beyond St. Peter's Square and greeted the pilgrims by continuing down Via della Conciliazione.

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On March 13, 2013, the conclave elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pontiff and the world came to know Pope Francis. A little over 12 years later, on April 20, 2025, from the same balcony where he first appeared to lead the Church, he came out one last time to say farewell to us and impart his final urbi et orbi blessing. The next day, he entered eternal life.

On March 13, 2013, the conclave elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pontiff and the world came to know Pope Francis. A little over 12 years later, on April 20, 2025, from the same balcony where he first appeared to lead the Church, he came out one last time to say farewell to us and impart his final urbi et orbi blessing. The next day, he entered eternal life.

31,980 Aufrufe

We don't know how he does it, but Pope Leo has surpassed all levels of tenderness in Spain. These images come to us from the Gran Canaria stadium, during the Mass he celebrated tonight. Video: Álvaro de Juana / EWTN News

We don't know how he does it, but Pope Leo has surpassed all levels of tenderness in Spain. These images come to us from the Gran Canaria stadium, during the Mass he celebrated tonight. Video: Álvaro de Juana / EWTN News

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It’s 2 a.m., and this pilgrim is still praying at the Vigil of the Jubilee of Youth. Tonight, in Tor Vergata, the hope of the world and the future of the Church shine brightly.

It’s 2 a.m., and this pilgrim is still praying at the Vigil of the Jubilee of Youth. Tonight, in Tor Vergata, the hope of the world and the future of the Church shine brightly.

51,776 Aufrufe

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