I was fourteen years old and mad at my parents. They were wasting a whole day of our French vacation driving a four hour round trip to the Basilica of St. Therese of Lisieux. The car was uncomfortable, it was a perfect hot sunny day and I didn’t want to go. All I knew...
Born May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, Padre Pio has been and continues to be one of the most fascinating and sought-after saints of our times. Deeply pious as a child, at age 15, he took the Habit of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin on January 22, 1903. He took...
Have you ever wanted to talk to someone who has been through some of the same trials, struggles and situations in life that you are currently facing? It always seems to help to speak with a person who “gets” it. The advice and empathy they give is unlike anyone else’s...
Mother Teresa was declared a saint on September 4, 2016. In all aspects of her life, Pope Francis said in his homily, she was a "generous dispenser of divine mercy, make herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and...
The life of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta was extraordinary: her generosity, her tireless struggle for justice, her love and care for the poorest of the poor, and the simplicity of her words and deeds. But what is most moving about her life was not only her capacity...
Many of us anticipated the day in which we could call our beloved Mother Teresa, Saint Teresa of Calcutta. She lived her life as a witness to this generation of Catholics and was canonized by Pope Francis on September 4th, 2016. Because of modern technology, we are...
On a purely practical level, the intercession of the saints makes perfect sense to me. Yes, God is everything to me, but he's not the only thing. In other words, I cannot navigate life without the assistance of God's creatures (both living and dead). Whether it is the...
The main characteristic that distinguishes a Christian from a person of a different religious denomination is true love. This consists of feeling deeply loved by God and loving Him in return, above all things. From this conception of life derive other characteristics,...
Most Catholics are very familiar with the beloved Mother Angelica, but few know the story behind her vocation. Best known as the founder of Eternal Word Television Network, Mother Angelica impacted millions of lives with her quick-witted humor and profound love...
Just a couple of weeks ago, I attended my friend Sean’s ordination to the priesthood. I was overwhelmed by just how beautiful the whole experience was, and I was struck by the eternal nature of the whole ceremony. They say that when you’re ordained a priest,...
These days, the most popular movies often involve superheroes (Iron Man, Captain America, etc.). They exemplify admirable values such as nobility, courage, and integrity. We watch as hundreds of thousands of children fill the movie theaters to watch their idols beat...
Though there may not be a perfect formula for obtaining the holiness required to become a Saint, there are a few common characteristics that many of the Saints seem to share. As you study the lives of the Saints, it becomes very clear that most had a true...
In a society that doesn't bat an eyelash when it comes to inaugurating "halls of fame" for the heroes of our age (musicians, actors, sports players, etc), why are Catholics looked upon with suspicion and ridicule when it comes to the veneration of the saints? Why is...
I'm one of those Catholics who is obsessed with Saint quotes. I have them scribbled on my planner, saved as the background on the my phone, and written in my Bible. I love to listen to the wisdom of the Saints and learn from their experiences because I know that...
If you are in need of reclaiming the spirit of joy, we suggest that you spend time in prayer thinking about Heaven. The promise of Heaven allows the power of the Victory of Christ's resurrection to come alive in our hearts. Jesus opened the doors for...
While we often hear a lot about the popular culture that surrounds St. Patrick's Day, many of us are quite ignorant when it comes to the man himself. To put it simply, we do not call him "Saint" for nothing; the man's faith was truly impressive: “For by decent I was a...
"We live in a world where love itself is condemned: people call it weakness, something to grow out of. Some are saying: «Love is of no importance, we should rather develop our strength; let each one become as strong as he can and let the weak perish!» Again, they say...
“Let your prayer be entirely simple. One word was enough for the publican and for the prodigal son to obtain God’s forgiveness (cf. Lk 15,21)… No pretentiousness in the words of your prayers; how often it is that the simple and unadorned stammerings of children sway...
Over the years, there have been many films about Mary. Most of them focus on Mary during the life of Jesus, or maybe one of her apparitions. Full of Grace covers a time period that is not frequently seen in films, taking place ten years after the resurrection of...
“Brethren, let no disagreement remain amongst you seeing that these are the holy days [of Lent]… Maybe you begin to say to yourselves in thought: “I want to make peace but my brother is the one who has offended me… and doesn’t want to come to terms”. What then?… In...
“Let us not be consumed with haste, as if time dedicated to Christ in silent prayer were time wasted. On the contrary, it is precisely then that the most wonderful fruits of pastoral service come to birth. There is no need to be discouraged on account of the fact that...
“The modern mind will accept nothing on authority, but will accept anything on no authority. Say that the Bible or the Pope says so and it will be dismissed without further examination. But preface your remark with ‘I think I heard somewhere,’ or, try but fail to...
“Remember then how our fathers worked out their salvation; remember the sufferings through which the Church has grown, and the storms the ship of Peter has weathered because it has Christ on board. Remember how the crown was attained by those whose sufferings gave new...
“The cheerful person always sees in any present evil some prospective good; in pain he sees a Cross from which will issue a Resurrection; in trial, he finds correction and discipline and an opportunity to grow in wisdom; in sorrow, he gathers patience and resignation...
“It is good for us to have trials and troubles at times, for they often remind us that we are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradiction, to be misjudged by men even though we do well and mean well....