Fr. Mark reminds us that Advent is not Christmas—it is a penitential season meant to awaken our souls, sharpen our spiritual vision, and prepare us to stand before the Lord. Across the 24 Churches that make up the Catholic Church, Advent (or its equivalent) is lived with deep seriousness: 40-day fasts, vegan disciplines, weeks of total abstinence, and long seasons of preparation. Their witness challenges us in the Roman Rite to rediscover what this season truly is: a call to repentance, renewal, and readiness.

On Oct. 7, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, a feast that reminds us of the power of prayer, especially in times of trial. In fact, it commemorates a naval battle in 1571 that many say was one of the most important in the history of the world and may have saved Western civilization. Father Donald Calloway, MIC, shares that the Rosary is a spiritual weapon and a source of hope, uniting Christians in trust and devotion to Mary, who always leads us to Her Son.

Are you ready to save souls? If you are, then you can join Fr. Mark Baron, MIC in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the dying each Friday LIVE at 3 p.m. EDT starting on June 7!You can have access to this prayer either on our Instagram or Facebook pages, as well as here on DivineMercyPlus.org.