John Hudson Dilgen | Great Rosary Campaign

Feb 1, 2026

They discuss a viral story of a young man living with a devastating skin disease and the urgent call to prayer for his welfare. The conversation explains the condition’s effects and highlights living with dignity amid suffering. They outline focused prayer intentions for leaders and sinners, recommend a concrete penance, and reflect on redemptive suffering and spiritual hope.

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ANECDOTE

John Hudson Dilgin's Life Of Suffering

Joshua Charles recounts John Hudson Dilgin's lifelong struggle with Epidermolysis Bullosa and how a viral clip highlighted his dignity in suffering.
The story moved Charles and prompted renewed prayer when an update showed John's health declining.

ANECDOTE

Viral Clip Shows Family's Care

Joshua Charles plays and references an earlier viral clip showing John's family care and attitude toward his illness.
The clip and John's demeanor exemplified courage and the family's devoted response to suffering.

INSIGHT

Suffering Has Redemptive Purpose

Joshua Charles highlights Catholic doctrine of redemptive suffering as giving purpose to pain when offered to God through Christ.
He frames suffering as capable of producing spiritual fruits for oneself and the world when united to Christ's cross.

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The Great Rosary Campaign is an ongoing prayer and penance campaign for the conversion and strengthening of both Catholic and non-Catholic leaders.

THIS WEEK of the Great Rosary Campaign, we will pray for John Hudson Dilgen, a young man suffering from the horrible disease of Epidermolysis Bullosa, which causes the skin all over his body to break out into sores and wounds. John's moving story went viral several years ago, but it now sounds as if his health may be taking a turn for the worse. He has been an incredible example of suffering with dignity, grace, and hope. Let us pray, especially if he is nearing the end of his life, that he has all the graces necessary to spend eternity with Christ.

The SUGGESTED PENANCE this week is a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist.

In these dark times, we must fight evil with the most powerful weapons we have. The Rosary is foremost among them. Join the Great Rosary Campaign today at: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com.

Countless Saints and Popes have told us that the Rosary is incredibly powerful for three things in particular:

Keeping the Faith
Moral renovation
Conversions of non-Catholics

The Great Rosary Campaign is also based on several biblical themes and principles.

First, PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN. “Pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

Second, PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:43-44).

Third, PRAY FOR ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY LEADERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, or kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Fourth, GOING INTO BATTLE WITH THE ARK. When the ancient Israelites came to Jericho, God didn't tell them to besiege the city. Instead, He told them to march around it with the Ark of the Covenant seven times, and on the seventh the walls would fall. We will now "march" in prayer for seven days with the New Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady, through the Rosary. We pray in hope that on the seventh day, a day especially devoted to Our Lady (Saturday), extraordinary graces of conversion will be given to those we are praying for.

Fifth, EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS = LOVE + ARGUMENTS + PRAYER + PENANCE. Ultimately it is God who reveals Himself to a soul, and empowers them to say "yes" to Him by His grace. He chooses to use us, but He does not have to. We must remember that as we evangelize and defend the Faith, our arguments will be fruitless unless informed by love (charity), and reinforced by prayer and penance.

Sixth, RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. “Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9).