love is in the air

plus non-fish Lent recipes - From the trending to the timeless, Refine offers inspiring articles and the best advice in style, health, food, culture, relationships, and more. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

Olympic first for mother and son … and a parenting lesson Sarah Schleper and her 18-year-old son Lasse Gaxiola, representing Team Mexico at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, are the first-ever mother-son Olympic duo. Read Here Cold that reveals what endures February, a beekeeper from New England writes, asks us to be faithful to our duties while we wait for the relief of spring. By Ryan B. Anderson Read More How Did I Get Here? As he and his classmates prepare to make their solemn profession as Dominican brothers, Br. Samuel Trecost, O.P. reflects on the path that brought him to this moment. By Br. Samuel Trecost, O.P. Read More Rekindle love in your marriage with 8 transformative date nights If you've been longing to rekindle, reassess, or strengthen your bond with your spouse, this guide breaks down 8 dates to help you recommit to building a future together full of joy and companionship. By Johanna Duncan Read More 35 Lent dinner recipes – that aren't fish Catholics are asked to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, but not all families like fish! Here's some meat- and fish-free alternatives. From Taste of Home Read More New app helps teens, adults break free from phone addiction The Canary Challenge guides users through a phone detox, and then a 'grow' phase to inspire full engagement with life, free from tech addiction. By Emily Mangiaracina Read More I tried Emily Wilson's dating app SacredSpark, here's what happened Zeale author Ava Cilento offers an honest review of a new dating app created for Catholics. About us Refine celebrates authentic, human flourishing through truth, beauty, and good living. From the trending to the timeless, Refine offers inspiring articles and the best advice in style, health, food, culture, relationships, and more. Refine your life. Refresh your soul. PO Box 3310, Carmel, IN 46082, (317) 669-6127, refinelife.co Unsubscribe Manage preferences

LOOP: DOJ releases 300 names from Epstein files

The LOOP MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 DOJ LISTS 300 PROMINENT NAMES FOUND IN EPSTEIN FILES  Attorney General Pam Bondi over the weekend issued a list of 300 major figures named in the Epstein files, stating that the Department of Justice has now released "all" of the Epstein files. Some of the names on the list include President Donald Trump, Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Nancy Pelosi, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. The names appearing in the files does not necessarily indicate direct involvement in any crime, or even acquaintance with Jeffrey Epstein. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

View in browser MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 DOJ LISTS 300 PROMINENT NAMES FOUND IN EPSTEIN FILES  Attorney General Pam Bondi over the weekend issued a list of 300 major figures named in the Epstein files, stating that the Department of Justice has now released "all" of the Epstein files. Some of the names on the list include President Donald Trump, Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Nancy Pelosi, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. The names appearing in the files does not necessarily indicate direct involvement in any crime, or even acquaintance with Jeffrey Epstein.  READ HILLARY CLINTON: MASS MIGRATION 'WENT TOO FAR'  Hillary Clinton said during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference that there is "legitimate" reason to debate mass migration. "It went too far," she said, "it's been disruptive and destabilizing, and it needs to be fixed in a humane way with secure borders that don't torture and kill people and how we're going to have a strong family structure because it is at the base of civilization."  READ FBI GIVES UPDATE ON GUTHRIE KIDNAPPING  Federal investigators said Sunday that the FBI now has new DNA evidence taken from a glove found near the home of Nancy Guthrie, the kidnapped 84-year-old mother of "Today" co-hostess Savannah Guthrie. "According to the FBI, the glove, found about 2 miles from Guthrie's residence, appeared to match those worn by a masked man who was seen on doorbell video at the home the night she disappeared," Newsweek reports.  READ  ISRAELI CABINET DEFIES TRUMP, MOVES TO ANNEX WEST BANK  Israel's cabinet decided Feb. 15 to begin land registration in West Bank Area C, which includes part of the State of Palestine, prompting concerns over what critics call a "de-facto annexation." President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Israeli officials not to annex the West Bank.  READ FORMER NOTRE DAME PROFESSOR CALLS OUT MISSION DRIFT  Retired professor Christian Smith recently weighed in on the controversy dogging Notre Dame in an essay claiming the university's leadership has long been sacrificing Catholic identity for the pursuit of elite status. Choosing to avoid the sorts of controversies that can stem from asserting Catholic teachings, he argued, Notre Dame has aimed many of its recent marketing, hiring, and administrative decisions at becoming a respected research school on secular terms.  READ POPE LEO OFFERS GUIDANCE FOR A GOOD LENT  In his Lenten message delivered shortly before Ash Wednesday, Pope Leo pointed out that in "the midst of the many voices present in our personal lives and in society, Sacred Scripture helps us to recognize and respond to the cry of those who are anguished and suffering."  READ CORTES: IT IS NOT CHRISTIAN TO SUPPORT OPEN BORDERS  "As Americans insist on law and order and a restoration of sovereignty, a concerted effort unfolds among prominent church leaders and theologians," writes CatholicVote Senior Political Advisor Steve Cortes. "These church officials quite brazenly seek to 'guilt' believers into accepting a lax immigration agenda—and even the lunacy of porous borders."  READ AD: JOIN BIBLE ACROSS AMERICA  This Lent, join Catholics across the country as we gather for Bible Across America's Lenten Bible study. Together with Shane Owens, John Bergsma, Fr. Dave Pivonka, and other leading Catholic voices, we'll dive into the biblical roots of Lenten spirituality and prepare to celebrate the Lord's resurrection. Encounter Christ. Share Christ.  LEARN MORE CHARLOTTE BISHOP'S VIDEO MESSAGE CALLS FOR EVANGELIZATION  Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte delivered a highly anticipated pastoral message via video over the weekend. He had distributed the video to clergy with instructions to play it at weekend Masses. The video presented a "pastoral vision" centering on Catholics in the diocese loving Jesus so much that they share Him with others. The message did not address the controversies surrounding his recent liturgical policies.  READ BROOKLYN DIOCES TO CLOSE 7 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS  Seven elementary schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn will close down at the end of the 2025–26 academic year due to enrollment decline and financial struggles, the diocese announced this week. "The decision to close them was made only after careful consideration and with great sorrow," said Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools.  READ FEBRUARY LAUGH THERAPY  They say that laughter is the best medicine, so here are seven clean comedy routines to stream this month. They're guaranteed to get you giggling!  READ CATHOLIC 101  "Saint Therese of Lisieux teaches us to be confident in God to the point of audacity," writes Fr. James Brent, OP. "We should expect the Lord Jesus to light things up for us – especially the mysteries of faith and the decisions of our lives – just as Solomon answered all the questions of the Queen of Sheba."  READ SAINT OF THE DAY  Today the Church honors St. Onesimus, a slave whose master was converted after hearing the preaching of St. Paul the Apostle. In his letter to Philemon, St. Paul asked for Onesimus' freedom. Onesimus went on to become a bishop and was eventually martyred for his faith.  READ DAILY PSALM  "Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live." (Psalm 119)  READ DAILY READINGS  Today's Mass readings.  READ SAVE THE DATE  Can Catholics pursue holiness without retreating from public life? Renowned Biblical scholar Dr. Scott Hahn joins Erika Ahern on The Deep for a timely conversation about faith, civic responsibility, and the future of our nation. Join us Thursday, February 26 at 4PM ET for this exclusive interview you won't want to miss. 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