WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - ASH WEDNESDAY

HOUSE IMPEACHES HHS SEC MAYORKAS The House on Tuesday evening impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by a single-vote margin. The 214-213 vote comes amid widespread criticism of Mayorkas’ Department of Homeland Security for its role in the Biden administration’s unprecedented crisis at the nation’s southern border. READ

DEMS PICK UP SANTOS HOUSE SEAT The House GOP’s narrow majority is poised to get even smaller with the result of Tuesday’s special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District to replace freshman Rep. George Santos, R-NY, following his ouster. Democrat Tom Suozzi beat out his GOP rival, Mazi Pilip, in the race to finish out the 11 months left in the two-year term for the Long Island seat. READ

‘SUPER BOWL AD THEY SHOULD HAVE RUN’ A Christian pastor from Northern Ireland posted a now-viral video he said would have been more effective than the “He Gets Us” ad that played Sunday during Super Bowl LVIII. “Here's my take on what they should have done,” he wrote, introducing a one-minute video he had made, titled “He Saves Us.” READ

TRUMP ENDORSES WHATLEY FOR RNC CHAIR Former President Donald Trump endorsed North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley to succeed Ronna McDaniel as chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). He endorsed daughter-in-law Lara Trump for co-chair. The RNC “must do the work we expect from the national Party and do it flawlessly,” Trump stated. READ

BIDEN FACES MOUNTING BIPARTISAN CRITICISM OVER BORDER A chorus of critics from across the political spectrum have slammed the border crisis still unfolding under the leadership of President Joe Biden. “The opening of the border and the influx that’s coming in is an existential threat to our country and to our values,” said independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. READ

BIDEN ADMIN FORGES AHEAD WITH TRANS RULE This month, the Biden administration’s Department of Education submitted the final touches to its new Title IX rule, which is expected to receive the president’s approval. The rule would force K-12 schools and colleges to enact policies that specifically cover sexual orientations and gender identities of all kinds. READ

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PEDIATRICIANS SAYS ‘NO’ TO TRANS A report released Wednesday by the American College of Pediatricians states that so-called “gender-affirming care” provides “no demonstrable, long-term benefit” for the mental health and well-being of adolescents who claim a gender identity incongruent with their true sex. READ

EDIFY Should Christians support open border policy? Former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Mark Morgan explains why our compassion is being hijacked to hide the dark truth surrounding the border crisis. WATCH

BISHOP BARRON REFLECTS ON LENT In a commentary written on the occasion of the beginning of Lent, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, warned against contemporary tendencies to diminish the true meaning of Lent: penance and conversion. READ

SHOP SELLS ‘SACRILIGIOUS’ TAYLOR SWIFT CANDLES Catholics blasted a gift shop in a Milwaukee suburb that has been selling “votive candles” featuring pop singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce dressed as Mary and Jesus. Faced with backlash from Catholics, the owner of Mixed Bag MKE doubled down: “I will still sell these candles and I don’t care if you think it’s sacrilegious.” READ

ROMAN vs. BYZANTINE LENT The Byzantine Catholic Rite is in full communion with Rome, but since it’s much smaller, many Roman Catholics don’t know much about the differences. Here are six ways Byzantine Catholics do Lent differently. READ

CATHOLIC 101 Today we will hear “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words remind us of our beginning and our eventual end; the price of the fall entwined with the hope of something new and eternal. The ashes tell a story. Learn more here. READ

SAINT OF THE DAY St. Valentine is often top-of-mind for Americans on February 14, but the Church calendar commemorates two brothers often overlooked! Sts. Cyril and Methodius. READ

DAILY PSALM “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” (Psalm 51:3) READ

DAILY READINGS Today's Mass readings READ

BEAUTY “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Rembrandt van Rijn (1668) is a timeless image of the great spiritual victory that unfolds when divine mercy overcomes the shadow of sin. LEARN