Five Things To Remember On May 21

1. Pope Francis prayed for the people of Oklahoma today during his daily Mass and sent a tweet, saying, "I am close to the families of all who died in the Oklahoma tornado, especially those who lost young children. Join me in praying for them."

2. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has encouraged people to give to the Oklahoma City Catholic Charities, which is accepting donations for disaster relief. He also said, “Our first concern is for the victims who have lost their lives or loved ones and suffered injury or loss of property. We are moved by the efforts of the first responders who have put their own lives on hold to help in this time of need. We owe them a debt of gratitude and assure them of our prayers."

3. The U.S. is sending the third largest contingent of any country in the world to World Youth Day this summer in Rio with 7,000 pilgrims. More than 40 bishops are also expected to attend, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap. of Boston; Cardinal Theodore McCarrick , archbishop emeritus of Washington; Cardinal William Levada, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver; Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. of Philadelphia; Archbishop Gustavo García-Sillar, M.Sp.S. of San Antonio; and Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee.

4. Cardinal O’Malley, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, warned of an “alarming trend nationwide” after Vermont legalized physician-assisted suicide, May 20. He called for “all people of good will to fight the future passage of such laws.”

5. God loves you.