Pope Francis is expected to canonise the parents of St Therese of Lisieux during the synod on the family in October. The canonisations of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin were announced by Cardinal Angelo Amato during a conference last month, according to a Catholic News Service report. “Thanks be to God, in October two spouses, Read more
There are many hidden saints: men, women, fathers and mothers of families, sick people, priests who every day put into practice the love of Jesus; and this gives us hope, Pope Francis said Friday morning during Mass at Casa Santa Marta. It is not enough to say that you have faith. The true Christian puts the Read more
I used to have a strange, very naive idea that I would be closely united with my father after his death. I know that we are united with the communion of saints, and that death no longer separates us (Romans 8:38-39). I believe we can pray to the saints, and even pray to and pray Read more
A priest, writing in a 1958 issue of the Catholic Herald, recounts the surprising history behind St. Thérèse’s autobiography, Story of a Soul. It is well-known that St. Thérèse asked her religious superior to make whatever changes and editorial corrections she thought necessary to her autobiography. While her sister, Mother Agnes, certainly had the noblest Read more
New Zealand has a reputation for treating Rugby as the national religion but they have not gone quite as far as a parish in the UK. The parish hall in St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bracknell UK is sporting a painting of recently retired captain of the Irish team, Brian O’Driscoll. He has been included Read more
Stepping over a pig about to be slaughtered while accompanying the relic of a potential saint may seem a somewhat unusual piece of Church business. But for Bishop of Papua New Guinea’s Kimbe province Capuchin Bill Fey such events are not especially unusual. “On that instance, I was part of a procession carrying a relic of Read more
Floribeth Mora Diaz fought back tears on Thursday (April 24) as she claimed that the late Pope John Paul II had saved her from an inoperable brain aneurysm three years ago. Mora will be on hand at Sunday’s historic ceremony in St Peter’s Square as Pope Francis canonizes both John Paul and Pope John XXIII, Read more
St Patrick is one of a handful of Christian saints, along with Mary, Valentine and Francis, that is celebrated in popular culture. His feast day is commemorated with supermarket meat sales, green rivers, green beer, and (my favourite) parades. But who was the real St Patrick? Most people know that the missionary Patrick (Patricius or Pádraig) Read more
The news that Nano Nagle, founder of the Presentation Sisters, has been declared venerable by His Holiness Pope Francis.was celebrated last Thursday by the Presentation Sisters in New Zealand. “For Presentation Sisters, associates and friends of Nano throughout the world, Nano has been and continues to be a source of inspiration and challenge as we Read more
Elevating John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood is political and divisive. It’s time the church closed its dead popes society, says Paul Vallely. The date for the arrival of two more saints within the Catholic church will be announced on 30 September. So what’s two more, given the recent deluge from the Vatican? Read more