🕊️ #OnThisDay in Catholic History | July 9, 2025
One year ago today, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the very first Mass "for the care of creation" — and the vestments he wore were handmade in his hometown of Chicago.
The historic liturgy took place at the Laudato Si' Village (Borgo Laudato Si') in Castel Gandolfo, Italy — an ecological education center established by Pope Francis and named for his 2015 encyclical on environmental stewardship.
Pope Leo wore a deep green brocade chasuble crafted by the House of Hansen, a Chicago institution since 1908. Owner Gerard Arens had the pope's measurements on file — the then-Cardinal Prevost had visited the shop about a year and a half before his election, mentioning he was headed to Rome to be made a cardinal.
"I couldn't believe when he walked out on the balcony," Arens told OSV News. "He's a customer of ours. We've known him."
The vestments were hand-sewn by a team of 10 seamstresses and tailors, Vatican-approved, and personally couriered to Rome by a priest — because, as Arens quipped, "I wouldn't want to rely on FedEx for that."
🌿 Faith. Creation. Chicago craftsmanship. All woven together.
📖 Read the full story: https://catholicreview.org/pope-leo-wears-chicago-made-vestments-to-july-9-care-of-creation-mass/
#PopeLeoXIV #CareOfCreation #LaudatoSi #CatholicHistory #OnThisDay #HouseOfHansen #Chicago #CatholicFaith

Archbishop William E. Lori will offer a funeral Mass for Father Logue July 20 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows, with a viewing preceding the liturgy at 10 a.m. A reception will be held in the parish hall.

Hundreds of faithful came. And they left changed. 🙏❤️

More than 700 people streamed into the Baltimore Basilica - America's First Cathedral on July 5 alone to venerate the major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — the 17th-century French nun known as the Apostle of the Sacred Heart.

For some, like Ruth Dawkins, it was a second chance — she had missed the saint's incorrupt body years ago in France. For others, like Ulrich Bakouane, it was a first encounter with a saint who quickly captured his heart: "When you approach the relic, you feel like the spirit is really there."

Archbishop William E. Lori, who celebrated Mass to welcome the relics, reminded the faithful that as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, all roads lead to Maryland — "and all those roads ultimately lead somewhere even greater: to Jesus Christ."

Read the full story at the link. 🔗 https://catholicreview.org/major-relics-of-st-margaret-mary-alacoque-attract-throngs-of-faithful-to-the-baltimore-basilica/

#StMargaretMaryAlacoque #BaltimoreBasilica #ArchdioceseOfBaltimore #America250 #CatholicFaith #LocalNews #Saints