World Religions News

Reconstruction of the face of St. Teresa of Ávila as she would have appeared at approximately age 50. / Credit: Courtesy of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, Iberian Province

Madrid, Spain, Apr 2, 2025 / 12:23 pm (CNA).

A scientific reconstruction of what would have been the face of St. Teresa of Ávila when she was 50 years old was presented recently in Alba de Tormes, the town in Salamanca province in Spain where the Carmelite nun died and where she is buried. 

The reconstruction was based on an anthropomorphic and forensic study, historical evidence, and contemporary descriptions. The work was directed by Professor Ruggero D’Anastasio of D’Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, Italy, and carried out by Professor Jennifer Mann, a specialist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine at Monash University in Australia.

The presentation of the scientifically reconstructed head is the result of the canonical recognition of the tomb of the reformer of the Carmelite order, authorized last August by the Vatican.

Mann explained in a statement released by the Iberian Province of the Discalced Carmelites that, in addition to scientific data, her work was based on other important sources such as “a portrait by Friar Juan de la Miseria and a detailed description of St. Teresa written by Mother Mary of St. Joseph, who lived with the saint.”

To obtain the final result, the skull was first reconstructed with clay, “correctly positioning the jaw,” reconstructing missing teeth, and using “a combination of forensic facial approximation methodologies used in the United States and the United Kingdom.”

The main muscles were molded with soft, oil-based clay, and the soft tissues (eyes, nose, lips) were estimated using formulas based on head measurements and studying the X-rays.

Other formulas allowed for the calculation of the length, width, and angle of the nose as well as a proportional orientation for the placement of the eyes in the sockets of the skull.

“With the consent of the father postulator general of the Discalced Carmelites, I sculpted St. Teresa of Jesus at around the age of 50, reflecting her plump appearance, as described by Mother Mary of St. Joseph,” the specialist explained.

Furthermore, “the veil, headdress, and habit of St. Teresa of Jesus were inspired by specific paintings, following the advice of Father Miguel Ángel González.”

“This sculpture may be the most accurate representation of what St. Teresa of Jesus really looked like during her lifetime,” Mann said.

At the time of the first reformed convent 

St. Teresa turned 50 on March 28, 1565, and the reconstruction work represents her at that age. It was around that time that St. Joseph convent in Ávila was founded, the first of those reformed by the Spanish mystic. She lived there between August 1562 and 1567.

The saint noted in the “Book of My Life,” known as the “Autograph of El Escorial,” that she lived there “the happiest and most restful years of my life, whose peace and quiet my soul often misses sorely.”

In a text by González, Carmelite prior of Alba de Tormes, it is noted that during these times, St. Teresa lived “under high spiritual tension. These were years of ecstatic tension in her mystical life. She was crossing her sixth mansion, with great impetus and a great surge of love, with forebodings of imminent arrival at the port of the other life.”

“Mansions” refers to the stages of spiritual growth detailed in her book “The Interior Castle.” 

During those years, she wrote her well-known “The Way of Perfection” and the constitutions for her new way of understanding of cloistered life, a reform that she quickly extended. On Aug. 13, 1567, she left the monastery of Ávila for Medina del Campo, where she began the second of her 17 foundations throughout Spain, geographically distributed from north to south, from Burgos to Seville.

Mummified remains in an ‘extraordinary state of preservation’

The medical and scientific team that made possible the reconstruction of the saint’s face also submitted a 53-page document to the Order of Discalced Carmelites offering a comprehensive summary of the research conducted by anthropologist Luigi Capasso.

The summary of the report details that all of the saint’s remains examined (distributed between Spain and Italy) have been naturally mummified and are in an “extraordinary state of preservation.”

The report notes that on her face, “the scalp is preserved, with many traces of brown hair, the left auricle, the right eye, which still retains its eyelids, the dark iris, the three-dimensionality of the eyeball, all the soft tissues of the nasal pyramid, including the nostrils and the apex of the nasal cartilages.”

The “relaxed facial muscles still convey the sense of serenity with which the saint shows she faced the moment of her death.”

Anthropometric calculations determine that the probable height of St. Teresa was 156.8 centimeters (a little over 5 feet), and an examination of her bones suggests that she suffered from osteoporosis. 

She also had an anterior curvature of the neck and trunk, which gave her “a forward-leaning appearance, with her head tilted downward, which also made her take a forced and uncomfortable supine position, with her head unable to rest on the pillow when lying down.”

The saint also suffered from bilateral knee osteoarthritis, “very severe on the left and milder on the right,” and a bone condition below both heels associated with pain, according to the study.

Regarding her mouth, of which only three teeth remain, it is deduced that she suffered, among other ailments, from “severe dental caries [advanced tooth decay], severe tooth wear, and obvious tartar deposits.”

On her right arm, an injury can be seen that could be a result of her writing habits.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.” –Dr. Edith Eger, The Choice: Embrace the Possible

The loss of an unrealized dream sent me spiraling down, down into the darkness. A darkness filled with a despair and hopelessness that I had not known before.

It was safer and more comfortable for me to attribute all my grief to losing a loving mother-in-law suddenly in the beginning of 2023. Her abrupt absence not only in my life but also in my husband’s and daughter’s lives …

The Basilica of the Holy Trinity at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima in Portugal. / Credit: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rome Newsroom, Apr 2, 2025 / 10:52 am (CNA).

While a Catholic shrine in Lourdes, France, announced on Monday it is covering mosaics by alleged abuser Father Marko Rupnik on the doors to one of its basilicas, another of the world’s most popular sites of Marian devotion said it is not considering removing its own Rupnik artwork.

A spokesperson for the Fátima shrine in Portugal told the Portuguese news outlet 7Margens via email this week that the international shrine is not taking down the mosaic installation but has stopped using its image in any distributed materials.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, which receives over 6 million visitors a year, is located on the site of the Virgin Mary’s apparitions to three shepherd children in 1917.

The back wall of the shrine’s largest and most modern worship space, the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, is covered in an enormous, floor-to-ceiling work by Rupnik and several of his artist collaborators.

The approximately 33-by-164-foot gold mosaic was installed in 2007 and features the paschal lamb at the center flanked by saints and angels.

“We are not considering removing it. However, since we became aware of the accusations against Father [Marko Ivan] Rupnik, we have suspended the use of the image, the entire work, and its details in our dissemination of materials,” the shrine’s communications department told 7Margens.

Echoing a similar statement made to OSV News in July 2024, the shrine said it “strongly repudiates the acts committed by Father [Marko Ivan] Rupnik,” and it “has already expressed its solidarity with the victims.”

Rupnik, a native of Slovenia, was expelled from the Jesuits in June 2023 for disobedience following the public revelation that he was accused of the sexual and psychological abuse of dozens of women under his spiritual care in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The priest is currently under canonical investigation by the Vatican.

The abuse accusations sparked an enormous debate about whether to remove the hundreds of religious artworks created by Rupnik and his collaborators through his Rome-based art and theology center, the Centro Aletti.

At least 230 religious sites around the world feature Rupnik’s distinctive mosaics, from some of the biggest international shrines to smaller chapels and churches, including the Redemptoris Mater chapel in the Vatican.

Victims of sexual abuse and organizations that support them have called for the works to be removed or covered, especially since some of the accusations against Rupnik allege he committed abuse in the context of the creation of his art.

In July 2024, the bishop who oversees the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France said he had received opposition to the idea of removing the Rupnik mosaics on the facade of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary but that, as a first step, they would no longer be lit up at night.

On March 31, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes announced a further step — the covering of the main entrances to the basilica, which also feature mosaics by Rupnik.

In the United States, the Knights of Columbus announced July 10, 2024, that it would cover the Rupnik mosaics located in the two chapels of the National Shrine of St. John Paul II in Washington, D.C., and in the chapel in the Knights’ headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut.

Inspiring new film to premiere in theatres June 9-11, 2025, ahead of America’s 250th anniversary

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. and DENVER, Colo. — Heroic Pictures, in partnership with Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor of content to theatrical partners worldwide, is proud to announce the nationwide release of The American Miracle – Our Nation is No Accident on June 9, 10, and 11, 2025. In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this groundbreaking docudrama, inspired by the New York Times bestselling book by Michael Medved, explores the Divine Hand in America’s founding and its remarkable journey to becoming a beacon of freedom.

“Many of the Founding Fathers were not conventionally religious, but they deeply believed in what Washington, in his first inaugural address called, ‘The Invisible Hand,’” stated Medved, “which was the hand of God in human affairs.”

The American Miracle takes audiences on a compelling journey through some of the most pivotal moments in early U.S. history. From the seemingly impossible victories of the Revolutionary War to the extraordinary protection surrounding key figures like George Washington, the film unveils the undeniable thread of providence woven throughout America’s past.“This film is a story about the birth of our nation, our foundational years, and the men and women who were instrumental during those years,” said Executive Producer, Ralf W. Augstroze. “They all believed deeply in the divine hand of providence in America’s creation, and we are bringing that history back to the forefront.”

With a star-studded cast including Pat Boone, Kevin Sorbo, Nicole C. Mullen, Cameron Arnett, James Arnold Taylor, and Libby Smallbone, along with esteemed historians and scholars such as Joseph Ellis, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert P. George, Akhil Reed Amar, Paul Kengor, and Jana Novak, The American Miracle blends expert insights with cinematic storytelling to create a powerful, thought-provoking experience. Filmed on location across the United States and the United Kingdom, the film brings history to life like never before.

“With the upcoming 250th Anniversary of America, this is the perfect time to release this film,” said Producer, Douglas B. Maddox. “We’re inviting Americans to rediscover their roots and the true history of our nation. We hope viewers of the film will be surprised and deeply moved by what they see. Join us in celebrating this milestone by watching and supporting this film. Spread the word and help us share this important story with everyone.”

The film explores the fundamental truth that America’s founding was not a mere series of chance events, but a miraculous unfolding of divine purpose. It highlights the nation’s responsibility to uphold justice, freedom, and biblical principles, while reminding viewers that when America aligns with its founding ideals, it thrives.

“A strong theme in the film is gratitude for God and His divine providence, which we  should never take for granted,” said Timothy P. Mahoney, Director and Executive Producer. “A lot of other nations look to America and wonder, ‘what is it that makes America what it is?’ The American Miracle clearly communicates that our freedoms and liberties don’t come from a government or person; they come from a higher power – they come from God. It is in God that we trust.”

Distributed by Fathom Entertainment, The American Miracle – Our Nation is No Accident will be in theatres nationwide on June 9, 10, and 11. Tickets will be available beginning May 2 at fathomentertainment.com and participating theatre box offices. For more information please visit: AmericanMiracleMovie.com

###

For media inquiries, interview requests or additional information, please contact:

Heidi McDow, A. Larry Ross Communications

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

214-679-3409

Or

Eric Becker, Fathom Entertainment

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Heroic Pictures
Heroic Pictures is a motion picture studio telling true stories of God acting in history, shedding light on the lives of heroic people and events that have shaped our past and inspire our future.

About Fathom Entertainment
Fathom Entertainment is the leading global specialty distributor of live and pre-recorded content to theatres. For more than 20 years, Fathom has pioneered theatrical distribution of events and special engagements, including performing arts, movies, episodic content, and other special event programming across various genres and formats. Fathom offers content creators a worldwide cinema distribution network by operating in 45 countries and boasts a live digital broadcast network of more than 1,100 locations. Fathom is owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), and Regal Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L). For more information, visit FathomEntertainment.com.

###

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.

(RNS) — President Donald Trump loves tariffs. He uses them to bully countries into accepting his policies — for example, to get Mexico to stop migrants from coming across the border and to crack down on gangs shipping drugs into the United States.

He labeled drug cartels as terrorist organizations and his administration has threatened to use the U.S. military to attack them in Mexico.

Trump’s critics need to acknowledge that his efforts against Mexico have been somewhat successful. Fewer migrants are at our border because Mexico has stopped them at points farther south. This crackdown started under former President Joe Biden and has continued under Trump.

The Mexican government has also been more aggressive in going after drug gangs who make and ship drugs to the U.S. This has been difficult historically in Mexico because the drug lords have bought protection from police and politicians, and those they cannot bribe they threaten with violence.

But every time a gang leader or member is killed or arrested, there are others to take their places. In any case, Mexico will eventually tire of the war on drugs, as it has in the past, and will return to business as usual. And in anticipation of an American military attack, the gangs can easily disperse their drug facilities to make them more difficult to find and destroy.

I am not saying we should give up on trying to stop drugs from entering the U.S., but these attempts will never be very successful.

To deal with drugs, the U.S. needs to acknowledge its role in this crisis. That means dealing with guns and drug addiction in this country. 

The sale of guns is severely restricted in Mexico, with only one gun store in Mexico City, which is controlled by the army. Guns purchased in America and smuggled across the border are helping the very gangs the Trump administration has labeled terrorists.

Data shows anywhere from 68% to 90% of guns traced in Mexico were passed through the U.S., and most were also produced here. Thousands of guns are trafficked to Mexico each year.

If the Trump administration truly believes Mexican gangs are terrorists, then we must stop allowing them to get American-made guns. It could be considered granting material support to a terrorist organization, which is illegal. American gun dealers who sell guns that end up in Mexico are a greater threat to the U.S. than student protesters at Columbia University.

The Trump administration also falsely links drug trafficking with migrants crossing our borders. In truth, most drugs come through government checkpoints at the border in vehicles driven by American citizens. More agents, equipment, drug-sniffing dogs and intelligence are needed at these checkpoints if we are to put a dent in drug trafficking. But the drug traffickers’ response to seized drugs would be to simply ship more.

So, ultimately, the only way to stop the drug crisis is to cut demand. If there were no demand for drugs in the U.S., drug cartels would collapse. It is simple economics: Every addict in recovery is a lost customer for the cartels.

The pain of withdrawal from drugs is excruciating, and few addicts can do it on their own. Methadone and other alternatives to drugs can often help wean a person from drugs by reducing cravings.

Recovering from drug addiction is not easy. Anyone who wants treatment should be able to get into a program immediately and not be delayed because they have no insurance or there is no room. Depending on where you live, whether you have insurance and what type of program you are trying to get into, it can take weeks to get treatment — lots of time to relapse or change your mind.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Trump administration announced it was cutting about $11.4 billion in funding for grants for addiction treatment, mental health and other services, as well as staffing.

Dropping bombs and killing drug dealers may look good on television, but the real war on drugs occurs in treatment programs, which are terribly underfunded. Every addict, regardless of their income or where they live, should be able to get quality treatment. This is the only way we will win the war.

Every person, including a drug addict, is a child of God. They come from every race, every income bracket and every part of the country. They are Democrats and Republicans, believers and unbelievers, urban and rural, rich and poor. It doesn’t matter how they became addicted. They deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.

The only way to win the war on drugs is to provide good treatment and support to addicts.

Truth, love, and justice constitute the building blocks of any lasting civilization. Without those foundational realities, our cultures not only fail to hold us together, but drive us apart.  When...

The post Truth, Love, Justice, and the Unification of Humankind appeared first on BahaiTeachings.org.

The documentation of Mary’s case was submitted to the Solanus Casey Center. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Diocese of Lansing

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 2, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Many Catholics credit prayers of intercession to Blessed Solanus Casey for curing and helping people who suffer from illnesses. Mary Bartold of DeWitt, Michigan, is now among the many who do so after her two tumors vanished with no medical intervention but after continuous prayers to Casey, whose ministry was built upon healing and compassion.

Mary’s unexpected health issues began almost a year ago in late April 2024, the Detroit Free Press reported. Mary was a sophomore at Lansing Catholic High School in Michigan when she began to experience severe abdominal pain while at school. Mary and her family could not pinpoint what the problem was.

Mary’s parents, Susan and Rick Bartold, took her for a CT scan and ultrasound of her abdomen. The images revealed two masses on each of her ovaries: one was 7.3 centimeters large and the other was 1.5 centimeters. At just 16 years old, Mary began to worry about losing the potential to have children and all the implications the tumors could have on her health.

The Bartolds subsequently took their daughter to University of Michigan Health to work with Catholic physicians and determine a course of treatment. Susan said they chose Catholic practitioners specifically to ensure that they “understood what was happening” and “were making moral decisions that weren’t led by secular belief.”

The doctors determined the masses were tumors, both teratomas that needed to be surgically removed. The doctors scheduled the surgery for Aug. 2.

As the date approached, Susan and Rick decided to go on a pilgrimage to Blessed Solanus Casey’s tomb in Detroit to pray for their daughter. Susan even put together a novena, a nine-day period of prayers, in Blessed Solanus Casey’s name that her family, friends, and church community participated in.

Susan said she had longed prayed to Casey. She felt a sense of familiarity with him since he also resided in Michigan, where he became a Capuchin friar and worked as a porter at St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit.

He also helped start the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit to help those in need. Susan and Rick shared that they often wonder if Casey ever directly helped their own fathers who lived just down the street from the kitchen during a time they were both facing poverty. 

Susan told the Diocese of Lansing that Casey’s life “is an inspiration” to her, which led her to also ask others to pray to him for her daughter’s healing. 

After weeks of prayer and anticipation, Mary went to the doctor on July 30 for a pre-surgery MRI scan to get updated images. The date coincidentally happened to be Casey’s feast day. 

On the drive there, Susan prayed: “Solanus, this is your feast day. I am doing this for you. I know you have big news.”

The day after the scan, Mary and her parents received a call from her doctors that the surgery could be canceled. It was determined there was no sign of the tumors after multiple radiologists and doctors looked over the images. They were completely gone.

Mary said her first thought was that “it was a mistake,” but six months later, follow-up scans continued to reveal no evidence of any masses or tumors. 

“We forget about the power of prayer,” Susan said, “and this is just a testimony to the power of prayer.”

On the day Mary’s surgery was supposed to take place, she and her parents traveled back to Casey’s tomb, this time to give thanks for their answered prayers. 

While the family was there, they submitted documentation of Mary’s case to the Solanus Casey Center so it can be considered as a miracle to help further Casey’s path to sainthood.

Pope Francis acknowledged a previous miracle by Casey in 2017. A woman with a genetic skin condition prayed at Casey’s tomb in Detroit and was miraculously healed. If another miracle is recognized by the Vatican, it would further propel Casey to canonization. 

Mary’s family strongly advocates that he receives that standing. Mary told the Diocese of Lansing that she would be “honored” if her story was what led Casey to become a saint. “He deserves to be canonized,” she said.