BREAKING NEWS: The Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne are now Saints through Equiopollent Canonization. During the Audience granted to His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Supreme Pontiff approved the favorable votes of the Ordinary Session of the Cardinals and Bishops, Members of the Dicastery, and decided to extend to the universal Church the cult of Blessed Teresa of Saint Augustine (born Maria Maddalena Claudia Lidoine) and 15 companions

July 17 is the feast of the 16 Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne, killed for their faith during the French Revolution. They sang hymns of praise on their way to the guillotine, which shocked the rowdy onlookers into silence. Climbing the scaffold, they renewed their vows and each knelt before her Mother Prioress to ask, "Permission to die, Mother?" Mother Teresa of St. Augustine granted each request. Watch "Blessed: The Martyrs of Compiègne" at 10 p.m. ET, Sat., July 19. | EWTN

[WORLD OPERA DAY] To celebrate this beloved art form, enjoy Handel's exquisite but rarely-performed Theodora! In the Roman Empire, Christians Theodora (soprano Julia Bullock) and Irene (mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato) face a dilemma: obey an order to make a sacrifice to Roman goddesses, or refuse and meet their end as martyrs? Officer Didymus (countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński - Countertenor) comes to their aid... Enjoy DiDonato and Orliński's striking performance of "Unhappy, happy crew". https:/