Note: Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 20, Big Pulpit will be getting a complete overhaul. The Page Builder (Elementor) will be replaced and also the theme (Astra). The website may experience wonkiness, may not load when you want it, or may not post the Tuesday Edition.
This is my first time doing this, so bear with me. Big Pulpit will return to normal on Wednesday, in the meantime, I will be tinkering around during the week. There will be no disruptions after Tuesday. Then this Saturday afternoon, October 24, Big Pulpit may experience similar disruptions as I permanently change the theme to ‘GeneratePress Theme’ and the Page Builder to ‘GeneratePress Blocks’, the CMS will remain the same (WordPress.org).
By Saturday evening, Big Pulpit will be leaner, with a slight change in formatting. The upside is Big Pulpit will download on your browser faster than before and more secure. Plus, it will be significantly inexpensive for Little Vatican to run and operate.
MORNING UPDATE, 9:39 A.M. U.S. CENTRAL TIME:
Leo to Resume Wednesday General Audience This Week, Skips Castel Gandolfo – EWTN News
As the World Burns – Robert Royal, Ph.D., at The Catholic Thing
October 19, 1984: Martyrdom of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko – D. McClarey at The American Catholic
Feast of St. Peter of Alcantara, Spiritual Director of Teresa of Avila, October 19 – Mary O’Regan
French Riots & the European Doldrums – John at Bensozia
North American Martyrs – October 19 – Amy Welborn at Charlotte Was Both
French Bishops Condemn ‘Unacceptable Violence’ as Riots Sweep France – OSV News
Top-Ten News Stories from this mornings Monday Edition:
1. Cardinal Parolin Faces Scrutiny for Remarks on Pope Leo XIV’s Pontificate – Diane Montagna
2. Those Dreaded Post-Mass Prayers. . . – Fr. Allan J. McDonald at Southern Orders
3. When the Church Loses the Plot: Ecclesiastical Silly Season from Bish. Beckman – K.M. Tierney
4. Church Problems Stem Directly f/Poor Episcopal Leadership: Knoxville’s Bishop – D. McClarey
5. Pope Leo XIV: A Pontificate in the Balance – Andrea Gagliarducci at Monday Vatican
6. How to Read Biblical Weirdness – J. Budziszewski, Ph.D., at The Underground Thomist
7. Benedictine’s New Medical School Takes Step Forward – Tom Hoopes at Aleteia
8. Cardinal Tagle, Parolin & the Quiet Politics of Leo’s Vatican – M. Lambert at Catholic Unscripted
9. France’s Intifada – Rod Dreher at Rod Dreher’s Diary
10. Soot & Sanctification: Inside College of St. Joseph the Worker’s Bold Higher Ed Trial – Zeale
Honorable Mentioned:
Rome Defends What It Can Afford To – Boniface at Unam Sanctam Catholicam
Fr. James Martin’s Deceptions – Leila M. Lawler at Happy Despite Them
Why Help Make Fr. James Martin Respectable? – Philip F. Lawler, Ph.D., at Phil Lawler’s Substack
. . .scroll down to read more Catholic news stories. . .
MORNING ROUNDUP, 12:01 A.M. U.S. CENTRAL TIME:
Illumined Analysis, Punditry, and News:
St. Jean Brébeuf, St. Isaac Jogues, & Companions – Fr. Christopher G. Phillips at A Pilgrim’s Journey
Benedictine’s New Medical School Takes Step Forward – Tom Hoopes at Aleteia
Soot & Sanctification: Inside Coll. of St. Joseph the Worker’s Bold Higher Ed Experiment – Zeale
Leo XIV Embraces Serene Order’s Reign:
Full Text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus Address Given October 18, 2026 – OSV News
General Analysis, Punditry, and News from Around the Catholic Blogosphere:
Cardinal Cupich Proclaims the Sacrament of Immigration – Christopher E. Manion, K.M., Ph.D.
When a Priest Read My Soul & Told Me I’d Write a Book on Angel Raphael – Mary O’Regan
The Dangers of Gradual Accommodation (Winking at Sin): Amoris Lætitia – The Latin Right
Of Litanies in Old England – Robert W. Keim, Ph.D., at Poetic Knowledge
I.V.F. Pioneer Says His Own Industry Is Lying: After 6 Attempts Only 34% have a Baby – CCD
“Mystic Rose in God’s Fair Garden Growing”: Dr. Kwasniewski’s New Book on Mary – NLM
What Do We Mean By the Word “Mystery”? – Msgr. Charles Pope at Catholic Spiritual Direction
Living the Promises of God – Dr. Pamela Mandela at Catholic Stand Magazine
Video: The Greatest Saint You Never Knew: St. Gabriel Possenti – Gabi After Hours
Cardinal Parolin Faces Scrutiny for Remarks on Pope Leo XIV’s Pontificate – Diane Montagna
Those Dreaded Post-Mass Prayers. . . – Fr. Allan J. McDonald at Southern Orders
When the Church Loses the Plot: Ecclesiastical Silly Season from Bish. Beckman – K.M. Tierney
Church Problems Stem Directly f/Poor Episcopal Leadership: Knoxville’s Bishop – Don McClarey
Pope Leo XIV: A Pontificate in the Balance – Andrea Gagliarducci at Monday Vatican
How to Read Biblical Weirdness – J. Budziszewski, Ph.D., at The Underground Thomist
Cardinal Tagle, Parolin & the Quiet Politics of Leo’s Vatican – Mk. Lambert at Catholic Unscripted
Rome Defends What It Can Afford To – Boniface at Unam Sanctam Catholicam
General Analysis, Punditry, and News from Catholic Media:
Meet T.E.S.C.R.E.A.L., Silicon Valley’s New Faith – Eric Sammons at Crisis Magazine
Leo’s Official Vatican News Praises Cardinal Bernardin, McCarrick’s “Dear Friend” – Info Vaticana
Unique Depictions of the Holy Family Featured in New Getty Center Exhibit – Angelus News
General Analysis, Punditry, and News from Everywhere Else:
How to Fix Dating: Good Guys Are Out There, You Just Keep Turning Them Down – Katy Faust
Catholic Charities & the $62M Gospel of Somali Resettlement – S.A. McCarthy at Americ Spectat
Why International Surrogacy Is Flourishing in China – Cassy Cooke at Live Action
France’s Intifada – Rod Dreher at Rod Dreher’s Diary
Top-Ten News Stories from the Sunday Edition:
1. Why Help Make Fr. James Martin Respectable? – Philip F. Lawler, Ph.D., at Phil Lawler’s Substack
2. Carlos, Ripperger, & Rossetti Exorcism Business Worth $35M a Year – David L. Gray, Th.M.
3. Fr. James Martin’s Deceptions – Leila M. Lawler at Happy Despite Them
4. Caryll Houselander, Patron of Artists, Mystics, Neurotics, &. . . – The Catholic World Report
5. Works in Progress: Iconographic Draughtsmanship – Shawn R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal
6. Let’s Kill the Four-Chord Song – Ted Gioia at The Honest Broker
7. An American Pope Brings American-Style Governance to the Vatican in a Health Crisis – Crux
8. Is Mary Our Co-Redemptrix? – Gene M. Van Son at Catholic Stand Magazine
9. Elizabeth Holmes: Not So Much Alice in Wonderland as Cheshire Cat – Mary O’Regan
10. The A.I. Image Death Spiral: What Happens When Images Lose Their Meaning? – Hilary White
Honorable Mentioned:
Bishops’ Immigration Campaign Intensifies – Christopher E. Manion, K.M., Ph.D., at Shenand Sodb
Bishop of Knoxville Bans the St. Michael Prayer after Mass in Diocese – Fr. Z’s Blog
Rich Raho – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic
Catholic References:
Ask Me Anything About the Catholic Faith – Catholic Questions
How to be Catholic: A Step-by-Step Guide – EWTN News via National Catholic Register
Mass Times for Travel – MassTimes.org
Reverent Catholic Mass – ReverentCatholicMass.com
Douay-Rheims Bible – Douay-Rheims Bible Online
Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition Bible – EWTN
Haydock Bible Commentary – Haydock Commentary Online
Find a Catholic Charity Anywhere in the World – Catholic Charity Finder
Find a Relic Anywhere in the World – The Relic Project
Continuous Updates of Attacks Worldwide Against Christians – Christianophobie.fr
Catholic Prophecy Encyclopedia – Prophetical.org
Need Professional Fundraising Advice? – Brice Sokolowski at CatholicFundraiser.net
Helping You Build a Better Wardrobe – Meghan Ashley Styling, A Catholic Stylist
Follow on X, BIG PVLPIT’s Editor-in-Chief – Robert “Tito” Edwards
Daily Readings:
Novus Ordo Mass (America) – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Traditional Latin Mass – Latin Mass Helper
Novus Ordo Mass (Australia) – Diocese of Parramatta
Novus Ordo Mass (Canada) – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Novus Ordo Mass (Ireland) – Church Support Group
Western Civ Defender. . . Geopolitical & Political Analysis, Punditry, and News:
Cavemen Issues Dire Warning That Wheel Is Going To Eliminate Countless Jobs – Don McClarey
Mass Shootings & Blue Cities – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic
Historical Amnesia – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic
Et Cætera. . . Other Analysis, Punditry, News, and Anecdotes:
Three Perfect Films – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic
