Friday, August 22, 2025

Saint Jean Vianney, a Priest for Priests

On this day, August 4th, in 1859 - the same year that Darwin published his specious Origin of Species, and one year after Marx's...

Pope Benedict and the CurĂ© d’Ars

(The holiness of the Church - and hence the salvation of the world - depends much upon the holiness of her priests. Hence, these...

Saints Eusebius of Vercelli and Peter Julian Eymard

The Church commemorates two pastors today, separated by a millennium and a half: The fourth-century Eusebius of Vercelli (+371), the first bishop we know...

Pope Benedict and Saint Alphonsus Ligouri

BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE St. Peter's Square Wednesday, 30 March 2011 Saint Alphonsus Liguori Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today I would like to present to you the figure of a...

Alphonsus of Ligouri, A Moral Teacher for All Ages

Saint Alphonsus Ligouri (1696 - 1787) was a renaissance man, whose kind was a rarity in his post-renaissance era, and even more so now...

Ignatius and the Companions of Jesus

When we read the life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) he at first glance seems to belong more to the early days of...

Saint Peter Chrysologous, Ravenna’s Doctor

Saint Peter Chrysologous (+450) was, as the traditional account has it, chosen bishop of Ravenna in 433 after the then-reigning pontiff, Pope, Sixtus III,...

Martha, Mary and Lazarus: What Makes a Household?

This memorial of Saint Martha, in accord with a decree from the Congregation of Divine Worship, now also includes her brother Lazarus, the one...

Pope Benedict and Martha’s Way

BENEDICT XVI ANGELUS Courtyard of the Papal Residence, Castel Gandolfo Sunday, 18 July 2010   Dear Brothers and Sisters, We are now in the heart of summer, at least in...

Pope Benedict Reflects on Saints Anne and Joachim

On this day in 2009, at the end of his Angelus message, Pope Benedict had these brief words to say on Saints Joachim and...