Saint Catherine of Siena, writing in the 13th century. The above quote, attributed to Saint Catherine of Siena by Pope Saint John Paul II at World Youth Day 2000, is a paraphrase of Catherine’s words to Stefano Maconi, a young man who was considering entering a monastery. Saint Catherine urgedContinue Reading
Santo subito Saint John Paul the Great, pray for us. Continue Reading
“Nothing great was ever done without much enduring.” -Saint Catherine of Siena Continue Reading
“Daughter of a Christian Algonquin woman captured by Iroquois and married to a non-Christian Mohawk chief. Orphaned during a smallpox epidemic, which left her with a scarred face and impaired eyesight. Converted and baptized in 1676 by Father Jacques de Lamberville, a Jesuit missionary. Shunned and abused by relatives forContinue Reading
Tradition holds that Saints Peter and Paul were martyred on the same day. Before they were led to their separate fates, Peter on the cross and Paul by the sword, they met and exchanged a “holy kiss.” This meeting of Peter and Paul, the “Concord of the Apostles,” is consideredContinue Reading
Clock wise from the top left are St. Nicholas of Tavelic, St. Deodato, St. Stephen of Cuneo, and St. Peter of Narbonne. In 1384 Nicholas and Deodat volunteered for a mission to the Holy Land where they became custodians of the holy places, aided pilgrims, and studied Arabic. For manyContinue Reading
St Dymphna of Gheel was the was the daughter of a pagan Irish chieftain and a Christian woman. When her mother died, her father searched for a woman who could replace her. Finding noe he returned home and noted how much Dymphna had grown to resemble her mother. Driven madContinue Reading
Saint John the Silent was ordained Bishop of Colonia at the age of 28. After ten years as bishop his brother-in-law was appointed governor of Armenia and began to meddle in church matters. Overwhelmed by problems he was not prepared for, John secretly fled to Jerusalem where he was acceptedContinue Reading
Saint Sebastian was an officer in the Roman army, some say the emperor’s personal Praetorian guard. When deacon Marcus and his twin brother deacon Marcellianus were arrested for being Christian, Sebastian encouraged them to stay strong and hold fast to the faith. Accused of being Christian himself, Sebastian was tiedContinue Reading
“After Philip had preached in Scythia for twenty years, the pagans laid hold of him and thrust him before a statute of Mars, intending to force him to make a sacrifice. Suddenly a huge dragon emerged from the base of the statute and killed the pagan priest along with theContinue Reading