Saints
Pope John Paul II on Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko: Freedom in truth
Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko, a Polish priest, was killed for his anti-communist support and care for workers 40 years ago, and Pope St. John Paul II named him the patron saint of the Polish presence in Europe.
Prayer for Blessed John Paul I
On the occasion of the liturgical memorial of Blessed John Paul I - 26 August, the day he was elected Pope in 1978 - the postulator for his canonization cause shares a prayer for his canonization and for his intercession.
St. Clare of Assisi: Defeating power with poverty and conscience
The Sisters of the St. Clare of Assisi Federation of Poor Clares of Umbria and Sardinia recall Mother Clare's insights on the right to own nothing and the duty to obey only God and one’s conscience.
The heroic sacrifice of the Discalced Carmelites of Compiègne
In November 1792, a small group of Discalced Carmelite nuns of Compiègne began reciting a prayer every day, offering themselves for the salvation of France. Their prayer was answered.
St. Maximilian Kolbe: martyr of supreme sacrifice of life
The Polish priest was killed by the Nazis with a lethal injection on August 14, 80 years ago. The Catholic Church declared Kolbe Blessed in 1971 and canonized him as a martyr in 1982.
Mother Teresa: A Saint for all
On the 4th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Teresa of Kolkata, the postulator of her cause for sainthood tells us why she is so relevant in today’s world.
Who is St. Junipero Serra, anyway?
In Los Angeles and San Francisco over the weekend, protestors tore down two statues of St. Junipero Serra, an 18th-century Franciscan priest and missionary who they accused of contributing to the destruction of Native American culture through his founding of the first nine of California’s mission churches.
Unemployed due to coronavirus? There’s a saint for that.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, at least 26 million people have filed for unemployment. Economists say the U.S. now has levels of unemployment close to those of the Great Depression
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
The great St. Augustine's life is unfolded to us in documents of unrivaled richness, and of no great character of ancient times have we information comparable to that contained in the 'Confessions', which relate the touching story of his soul, the 'Retractations, ...
Pope Recognizes Miracle Attributed to St. Therese of Lisieux’s Parents
The Holy See has announced that Pope Francis has recognized the miracle attributed to Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. The Holy Father approved the decree during a meeting this morning with Cardinal Angelo Amato...
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church, patron of all universities and of students. His feast day is January 28th. He was born toward the end of the year 1226. He was the son of Landulph, Count of Aquino, who, when St. Thomas was five years old ...
Saint Stephen, first martyr
Today is the second day in the octave of Christmas. The Church celebrates the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stoned outside Jerusalem, he died praying for his executioners. He was one of the seven deacons who helped the apostles ...
Martyrs of Vietnam
The Catholic Church in Vietnam was devastated during the Tây Sơn rebellion in the late 18th century. During the turmoil, the missions revived, however, as a result of cooperation between the French Vicar Apostolic Pigneaux de Behaine and Nguyen Anh...
Millions expected to venerate remains of Saint Francis Xavier
Some five million people are expected to venerate the remains of the 16th century Spanish missionary Francis Xavier when they are exhibited for 40 days beginning this weekend in Goa.
Seven facts you didn't know about Paul VI
Cardinal Montini was worried during the conclave, knowing full well what was waiting for for him. During his 15 years as Pope, he fearlessly confronted the challenges of his time through 7 surprising gestures.
Pope Paul VI: of miracle and relics
Pope Paul VI is to be beatified on Sunday October 19 by Pope Francis, thirty-six years after his death. In May this year Pope Francis had signed a decree to confirm that a miracle attributed to the intercession of this twentieth century pope had been recognised ...
St. John XXIII (1881-1963) Oct. 11st
Although few people had as great an impact on the 20th century as Pope John XXIII, he avoided the limelight as much as possible. Indeed, one writer has noted that his “ordinariness” seems one of his most remarkable qualities.
Sant Therese, 'the little flower' (1873-1897)
'My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death,' she said. 'I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.' Roses have been described and experienced as Saint Therese's signature. Countless millions have been touched by ...
St. John Vianney, Patron of Parish Priests (1786-1859)
Saint John Baptist Mary Vianney was born in the village of Dardilly in France on 8 May, 1786 as the son of a poor farmer. He had to take his First Communion in secret when he was 13, because the Church was still being persecuted...
Saint Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori (1696-1787)
Alfonso also spelled Alphonsus, feastday: August 1, Patron of Theologians, Italian doctor of the church, one of the chief 18th-century moral theologians and founder of the Redemptorists, a congregation dedicated primarily to parish and foreign missions...
St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)
Ignatius’s practice of accompanying others on their journey with God was based on his experience of how God first taught and guided him. Ignatius shared his interior readiness and openness to God every day and more specifically at those stages of his journey in which he let go ...
Saint James the Greater Apostle, Patron of Spain
St. James, known as the Greater, in order to distinguish him from the other Apostle St. James, our Lord's cousin, was St. John's brother. With Peter and John he was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration, as later he was also of the agony in...
Saint Mary Magdalene (22nd July)
Mary Magdalene travelled with Jesus as one of his followers. She was was present at the two most important moments in the story of Jesus: the crucifixion and the resurrection. Was she really a prostitute, as the early Church claimed ?
Saint Bonaventure (1221-1274)
St. Bonaventure, known as 'the seraphic doctor,' was born at Bagnorea in Tuscany, in 1221. He received the name of Bonaventure in consequence of an exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when, in response to the pleading of the child's mother...
Saint Benedict of Nursia (480-547)
In our modern world, we talk fast, we travel fast, and we even pray fast. Have you ever attended rosarieswhere people seem to say the words at breakneck speed - apparently more worried about finishing before Mass starts than savoring each word? ...
St. Thomas The Apostle
St. Thomas was a Jew, called to be one of the twelve Apostles. He was a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ. When Jesus said He was returning to Judea to visit His sick friend Lazarus, Thomas immediately exhorted the other Apostles...
Life of St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
St. Boniface, whose baptismal name was Winfrid, was born in the year 680 at Devonshire, England. From the age of seven, he was educated in the Benedictine monastery of Exeter, where he later became a monk. When he turned fourteen, he...
St. Matthias, Apostle (May 14)
How does one qualify to be an apostle? 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 ...
Countdown to canonization
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...
It is only possible to understand him by going back to his diaries-Who was John XXIII?
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 ...