Heart to Heart

On Sunday, Pope Francis makes history yet again. He makes two Popes saints in a single ceremony--John Paul II and John XXIII, the man who convened the Second Vatican Council in 1959...

John XXIII is often called, in an endearing yet somewhat simplistic manner, “the Good Pope”. The title suggests a certain naive and lighthearted goodness. His diaries, on the other hand, make an important contribution to revealing to history a more complete ...

Why are Popes John XXIII and John Paul II saints? That was the key question being asked at a briefing in the Vatican’s Press Hall on Tuesday that was attended by the postulators for the two Popes’ sainthood causes. The briefing kicked off a week of...

In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. "Watch, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" (Mt 24: 42) - these words remind me of the last call that will come at whatever time the Lord desires. I want to follow Him and I want all...

John Paul II and Inter-religious Dialogue. The Church’s journey towards inter-religious dialogue took a definitive turn during the Pontificate of John Paul II. Ever since that unique encounter of Assisi on 27 October 1986 with the leaders...

A man named Valentinus was martyred on February 14 late in the third century A.D.—this much we know. But when it comes to details about the life of St. Valentine, legend often supersedes fact. As you celebrate this Valentine’s Day, find out the truth about the man for whom ...

1831 Paul Loc was born in Chi Hoa, near Saigon in Annamese Cochin China. His father was a Christian doctor while his mother was a new convert.

Antonius, reputed as amongst the earliest of anchorets, and commonly called the Patriarch of Monks, was a native of Egypt, born about the year 251. After leading an ascetic life for some time in his native village, he withdrew from human society and took up his abode in a cave.

The world this year marks the 450th anniversary of the birth of Galileo Galilei, who died on January 8th, 1642. The famous Italian scientist was tried by the Holy Office of the Catholic Church for his defense of a heliocentric universe. The case has often been used to demonstrate a ...

Rappler compiles 10 of the Pope's most memorable quotes in the form of New Year's resolutions. This is the Pope Francis list.

Patronage: against in-law problems, against the death of children, against the death of parents, Apostleship of the Sea (two of her sons worked on the sea), opposition of Church authorities, people ridiculed for their piety, ...

Displaced Christian families in Syria who have lost loved ones in acts of persecution and other violence are to receive a special offering this Christmas – thanks to the benefactors of the charity Aid to the Church in Need.

FRANCIS XAVIER, ST. (1506-1552). Born in the family castle of Xavier, near Pamplona in the Basque area of SpanishNavarre on Apr. 7, he was sent to the University of Paris1525, secured his licentiate in 1528, met Ignatius Loyola and became one of the seven who in 1534,...

Most references to Andrew in the New Testament simply include him on a list of the Twelve Apostles, or group him with his brother, Simon Peter. But he appears acting as an individual three times in the Gospel of John. When a number of Greeks ...

In the fourth century appeared a Greek religious romance on the Loves of Cecilia and Valerian, written, like those of Chrysanthus and Daria, Julian and Basilissa, in glorification of the virginal life, and with the purpose of taking the place of the sensual romances of Daphnis and Chloe, Chereas and Callirhoe, etc., which were then popular.

St Teresa of Avila (Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada) was born in Avila, Spain on 28th March 1515. Her parents were both pious Catholics and in some ways inspired their daughter to take up a life of prayer. As a young child Teresa showed signs of a deeply religious nature; she would often retreat into...

Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a mite of self-importance...

The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, "Story of a Soul". She described her life as a "little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with an unshakable confidence in God's love. "What matters in life," she wrote, "is not great deeds, but great love."

Vincent, was born in a town in Southwest France and was the son of poor French peasants. Today the town is called Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Landes, France. When he grew up and became famous, he ...

"With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood," he said. The day will come "when all God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be

St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspirationto many who struggle with a ...

Today, with Internet searches, e-mail shopping, text messages, tweets and instant credit, we have little patience for things that take time. Likewise, we want instant answers to our prayers. Monica is a model of patience. Her long years of prayer, coupled with ...

Why Faith Is Positive for Society? Events in Egypt may well raise concerns again about the role of religion in society. While extremism or violence in the name of religion ...

Pope Francis met with members of the Italian and Argentinian national football squads on Tuesday morning. They are in Rome for a Wednesday night friendly that has been organised in honour of Pope Francis’ pontificate.

On 15 August, since the 8th century, all of Christianity has celebrated the event of Mary's the Assumption into Heaven. The Mother of the Crucified and Risen One is a symbol of those who accept in faith God's promise of a future and a "dwelling" of...

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, was born in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland), on 12 October 1891, the youngest of 11, as her family was celebrating Yom Kippur, that most important Jewish festival...

She is called "the Penitent". St. Mary was given the name 'Magdalen' because, though a Jewish girl, she lived in a Gentile town called Magdale, in northern Galilee, and her culture and manners were those of a Gentile. St. Luke records that she was a notorious sinner ...

Les quatre évangélistes nous parlent de Marie Madeleine à plusieurs reprises. En réalité, ils nous parlent d'une Marie de Magdala (en grec : Magdaléné). Magdala est le nom de la ville où était née Marie qu'on surnomme Madeleine.

Journalists in the Holy See Press Office busy getting to grips with Pope Francis’ first encyclical the Light of Faith, were somewhat surprised Friday lunchtime when Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. called them back for a second announcement ...

The first act of the apostles after the Ascension of Jesus was to find a replacement for Judas. With all the questions, doubts, and dangers facing them, they chose to focus their attention on finding a twelfth apostle. Why was this important? Twelve was a very important number to the Chosen People...