Saint Roch: Patron Saint of Bachelors and Dogs

Saint Roch (1295 - 1376?) - also known as Rock, or, in Scotland, Rollox, not to be confused with the luxury watch of similar...

Saint Hyacinth and His Perogies

Saint Hyacinth (1185 - 1257) was one of the earliest members of the Dominicans – the Order of Preachers - clothed in the habit...

Pope Benedict and Saint Bonaventure: Part I

(The young Josef Ratzinger completed his doctorate on the thought of Saint Bonaventure, so these words of his on the great Franciscan strike home...

Sanctus Petrus in Vincula

(Besides being the memorial of the patron saint of moral theologians, Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, this August 1st is also the traditional feast of Saint...

Pope Benedict and Saint Eusebius of Vercelli

This morning I invite you to reflect on St Eusebius of Vercelli, the first Bishop of Northern Italy of whom we have reliable information....

Saint Helen and Pope John Paul II

August 18th is the traditional feast of St Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, the Empress who found the Cross of Christ. In...

The Theologian versus the Rationalist: Bernard and Abelard

BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Saint Peter's Square Wednesday, 4 November 2009 Two Theological Models in Comparison: Bernard and Abelard Dear Brothers and Sisters, In my last Catechesis I presented the main features...

Ad Caeli Reginam: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII Proclaiming the Queenship of Mary

(As mentioned in an accompanying post, the Queenship of Mary used to fall on the last day of May (now the feast of the...

Saint Louis IX: A Most Christian King

St. Louis IX (1214-1270) has been considered by many to be the greatest king of medieval Christendom. As the quintessential Catholic monarch, he ruled...