Father Magallanes’ Mexican Martyrdom

The twentieth century saw the rise of various vicious anti-Catholic regimes, totalitarian and ruthless in their demonic fury to stamp out the Church. Ecrasez...

Saint Rita’s Mission Impossible

A fitting thought on this vigil day of Pentecost is that nothing is impossible with God. Did not Christ promise that He would grant...

Eugène de Mazenod’s Oblation

Fittingly, in this month of Mary, we celebrate on this May 21st Saint Eugène de Mazenod (+1861), the 19th century founder of the Missionaries...

Philip Neri’s Cheerful Spirit

We celebrate today one of the most joyful and idiosyncratic – the two are not unrelated - of saints, Philip Neri, (+1595), the founder...

Three Saints for One

There are many saints in the Church's history - there are, by one estimate, about 6000 at least quasi-officially canonized - too many ever...

Canterbury’s Augustine, Who Made Britain Catholic

There are two Saints Augustine - the bishop of Hippo, and author of the Confessions and numerous other theological masterpieces, and, today's saint, Augustine first...

Finding Sanctity in a Controversial Papacy: Paul VI

I realized this morning during the sermon at Mass that this is the optional memorial of Pope Saint Paul VI, celebrated on the day...

Justin, the Philosopher’s Martyr

Saint Justin (+165) who is called the 'martyr', was born around the time the last Apostle, John, departed this life for heaven. Justin was...

Saint Boniface and Laying the Axe to the Root of Evil

Saint Boniface, bishop, missionary and martyr was hacked to death by a band of Frisian idol-worshippers on this  day, June 5, 754, along with 52...

The Hope and Courage of Charles Lwanga and Companion Martyrs

If the Church seems moribund in North America, there is hope in the vast continent of Africa, where there are untold millions of Catholics,...