Weekly Insight
Saint Thomas of Villnova
Saint Thomas of Villanova (1488 - 1555) is in some regions still a very popular saints, with novenas preceding his traditional feast day on September 22nd. A large town and university is named after...
International Hobbit Day
In the midst of all the bad news swirling around us, it may provide some small comfort to commemorate in some way International Hobbit Day, which falls on this 22nd day of September, the...
Matthew’s Marvelous Metanoia
Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, presents Christ as the new Moses, leading His people from the darkness and slavery of sin into the light and freedom of salvation. Matthew was of the same...
Pope Benedict and Saint Matthew
BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Paul VI Audience Hall
Wednesday, 30 August 2006
Matthew
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Continuing the series of portraits of the Twelve Apostles that we began a few weeks ago, let us reflect today on Matthew. To...
The Indomitable Faith of Saint Andrew Kim-Taegon and the Martyrs of Korea
Today -Â in muted form, since this year it falls on a Sunday - we commemorate the feast of the countless martyrs of Korea, led by the indomitable convert priest, Father Andrew Kim Taegon,...
25th Sunday: Laboring in the Lord’s Vineyard for the Kingdom of God
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. (Is 55:9)
The parable of the workers in the vineyard which the sacred liturgy presents to us for our instruction...
Saint Januarius’ Blood
Saint Januarius was bishop of Benevuento, in the south-west of Italy, about whom a number of legends are told - that he survived unscathed being burnt in a furnace, that wild bears refused to...
Todd Beamer, Our Lady and God’s Perfect Will
Precision and clarity are requisite in theology, a theme developed by the great Josef Pieper. One of the reasons for this, besides the great importance of understanding revelation correctly, is that the object of...
Saint Joseph of Cupertino’s Joyful Levity
According to the laws of physics, a man should not be able to fly, at least without technological help. But are not the 'laws of physics', as Chesterton posits, themselves miracles? Why should trees...
Saint Hildegarde von Bingen, a Renaissance Woman Before the Renaissance
Hildegarde von Bingen (+1179)Â is one of the newest saints in the liturgical calendar, canonized 'equipollently' by Pope Benedict XVI on May 12, 2012 (since she had always been regarded as a saint, but...
Pope Benedict and Robert Bellarmine
BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Paul VI Audience Hall
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Saint Robert Bellarmine
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Born on 4 October 1542 in Montepulciano near Siena, he was the nephew, on his mother’s side, of Pope Marcellus II....
Saint Robert Bellarmine’s Clarity of Mind and Soul
In the midst of the theological and cultural confusion in which our Church is mired, we could use a few more men with the clear, disciplined, Thomistic mind of Robert Bellarmine (+1621), bishop, cardinal,...
Pope Benedict and Saint Hildegarde of Bingen
BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Papal Summer Residence, Castel Gandolfo
Wednesday, 1st September 2010
 Saint Hildegard of Bingen
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In 1988, on the occasion of the Marian Year, Venerable John Paul II wrote an Apostolic Letter entitled Mulieris Dignitatem on...
Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, Shepherds for Christ and Martyrs for His Truth
Saint Cornelius was Pope for a scant two years in the middle of the third century, elected in 251 and put to death in 253 in the persecution under Emperor Decius. During his short...
Mater Dolorosa, Mother of Sorrows, and the Stabat Mater
A blessed memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows to all. This feast was first celebrated in the year 1233 - in the youth of that greatest of centuries, when Thomas Aquinas was but a...
