St. James, the first martyred Apostle
James is one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus; son of Zebedee. He and his brother John were called by Jesus while they were mending their fishing nets on Lake Gennesaret. St. James the Apostle has paved the way for the world to recognize the Blessed Virgin as the “Pillar” of our Church.
“To die with sword in hand against hell”
For St. Leonard of Port Maurice, missionary work was not an obstacle to recollection, but was seen as a campaign against hell, for which he momentarily abandoned the peace of the cloister for the good of souls.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus – Contagious Joy, Even on Her Deathbed!
How was it possible for a young woman of twenty-four, mortally ill and immersed in terrible temptations against faith, to spread so much happiness around her?
St. Pius X – Great Pope of History, Great Saint of the Church
Cardinal Sarto entered the conclave convinced that a great Pontiff would succeed Leo XIII, who would stand out, above all, for his holiness. The idea that he himself would be that Pope was the furthest thought from his mind…
St. Simon Stock – Isthmus between the Past and the Future
Illustrious member of the prophetic line headed by the prophet Elijah, he received the scapular of Carmel from Our Lady’s hands, inaugurating a period of glory for Marian devotion and for the Holy Church.
Fragrance Rising to my Throne
One day in the novitiate, when the Novice Mistress sent me to work in the children’s kitchen, I was very worried, as I couldn’t manage with the cooking pots, because they were huge. The most difficult thing was draining the potatoes; sometimes I dropped half of them. At midday, as I was examining my conscience, […]
Sincere and Religious Love
A letter of St. Francis Xavier to St. Ignatius of Loyola.
St. Bernardine of Siena – The Voice of Mary for a World in Decline
When it seemed that the “wine” of virtue and grace had run out, and decadent Christendom was turning to paganism, a specially chosen figure arose, pointing to the One who can solve everything.
St. Odile of Alsace – Blind to Herself, an Eagle for God
In the time of St. Odile, the splendours of Christian Civilization were just beginning to emerge, but in the soul of this abbess of Carolingian calibre, they already dwelt in their fullness. Blind from birth, she became an eagle: her soul always soared to God!
St. Francis of Assisi – The Joy of Unpretentiousness and Complete Surrender
A living example of genuine detachment and the purest unpretentiousness, St. Francis shone for his poverty of spirit. Convinced that the form of this world is passing away, his heart was free from any attachment.
