Tattoos, Dumbbells & the Gospel: Meet Priest Influencers
In a remarkable sign of the times, the Catholic Church is witnessing a digital Pentecost as over 1,000 priests and friars prepare to gather in Rome for the first-ever global summit of Catholic influencers—missionaries of mercy armed not with pulpits, but with smartphones and social media. Just months before his passing in April, Pope Francis underscored the urgency of evangelizing through modern means, calling faithful clergy to enter the digital areopagus and speak Christ into the hearts scrolling through confusion and despair. Among these rising digital apostles is Father Cosimo Schena, the “poet of God’s love,” whose spiritual poetry and reels—featuring everything from beloved dogs to messages of healing—have brought thousands, including unbelievers, back to the pews. He’s not alone; tattooed bodybuilding priest Giuseppe Fusari, gospel-YouTuber FraStefano, and guitar-strumming Father Ambrogio Mazzai are part of this quiet revolution—one that swaps long sermons for soul-stirring reels and replaces approval ratings with conversions. This upcoming July event, under the light of the Jubilee Year, shows that the Church is not retreating, but charging boldly into the digital coliseum to proclaim the same eternal
đź“° Via Theguardian
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This Day in History
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H. L. Hunley Becomes First Submarine to Sink an Enemy Warship (1864)February 17, 2026
The US Civil War-era submarine Hunley required an eight-man crew—seven to power the propeller with a hand-crank and one to steer. Within months of its launch, the Confederate sub had sunk and been salvaged twice, taking the lives of five crewmen the first time and the entire crew the second. Manned with a new crew, Hunley became the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, yet the achievement was marred when the sub itself sank, killing all aboard yet again. When was it recovered?
The US Civil War-era submarine Hunley required an eight-man crew—seven to power the propeller with a hand-crank and one to steer. Within months of its launch, the Confederate sub had sunk and been salvaged twice, taking the lives of five crewmen the first time and the entire crew the second. Manned with a new crew, Hunley became the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, yet the achievement was marred when the sub itself sank, killing all aboard yet again. When was it recovered?Today’s Birthday
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Isabelle Eberhardt (1877)February 17, 2026
As a Swiss explorer traveling in North Africa, Eberhardt often dressed as a man to move more freely through Arab society. Intensely independent, she took the side of Algerians fighting against colonial French rule. She converted to Islam, was initiated into a Sufi brotherhood, and married an Algerian soldier. She wrote about her travels in books and newspapers. She survived a murder attempt—in which her arm was badly injured by a saber—only to die at the age of 27 in what unlikely fashion?
As a Swiss explorer traveling in North Africa, Eberhardt often dressed as a man to move more freely through Arab society. Intensely independent, she took the side of Algerians fighting against colonial French rule. She converted to Islam, was initiated into a Sufi brotherhood, and married an Algerian soldier. She wrote about her travels in books and newspapers. She survived a murder attempt—in which her arm was badly injured by a saber—only to die at the age of 27 in what unlikely fashion?Today’s Holiday
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QuirinaliaFebruary 17, 2026
Quirinus was an ancient Roman deity who closely resembled Mars, the god of war. His name is associated with that of the Quirinal, one of the seven hills on which Rome was built. Eventually, Quirinus was identified with Romulus, one of the legendary founders of Rome, and his festival on February 17 coincided with the date on which Romulus was believed to have been deified. This festival was also associated with the advent of spring warfare, when the shields and weapons of the army, which had been purified and retired for the winter, were brought out.
Article of the Day
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Fatal HilarityFebruary 17, 2026
People can and do die of laughter. The 3rd century BCE philosopher Chrysippus, for example, is said to have laughed himself to death while watching the antics of a drunken donkey. In 1410, Martin I of Aragon succumbed to a combination of indigestion and uncontrollable laughter. More recently, a UK man died of heart failure after laughing for 25 minutes at a TV show featuring a Scotsman in a kilt battling a vicious black pudding. What other historical figures have died from laughter?
People can and do die of laughter. The 3rd century BCE philosopher Chrysippus, for example, is said to have laughed himself to death while watching the antics of a drunken donkey. In 1410, Martin I of Aragon succumbed to a combination of indigestion and uncontrollable laughter. More recently, a UK man died of heart failure after laughing for 25 minutes at a TV show featuring a Scotsman in a kilt battling a vicious black pudding. What other historical figures have died from laughter?
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