Category Archives: Saints: Stories & Symbols

Who was St. Francis of Assisi? Check out a great new biography.

Fr. Augustine Thompson, OP, who posts here now and then, fairly recently published a new biography about St. Francis of Assisi.  This might be a good book for your parish priest or for seminarians or for yourself, as we watch … Read More

Posted in Francis, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
19 Comments

Plus ça change…

From the Martyrologium Romanum for today, 10 January, for the predecessor of Pope Sylvester: 1. Romae in coemeterio Callisti via Appia, santi Miltiadis, papae, qui, ex Africa oriundus, pacem Ecclesiae a Constantino imperatore redditam expertus est, sed a sectatoribus Donati … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
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Faithful Chinese Bishops dies – forgave his enemies

From Fides: The death of Mgr. Chen Shizhong: during forced labor he had received the gift of forgiving his enemies Yibin (Agenzia Fides) – On December 16, 2012, His Exc. Mgr. John Chen Shizhong, Bishop of the Diocese of Yibin … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Cri de Coeur, Modern Martyrs, Pò sì jiù, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , ,
6 Comments

Will 2013 bring some relief for Chinese Catholics?

I regularly think about times when the Church has been persecuted.  Has been? Nay, rather… is being persecuted.  I think it is a good idea to reflect on these matters frequently and even try to get your head around the real … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , ,
13 Comments

18 Dec: St. Malachi, Prophet

Some people may not know that Holy Church considers many Old Testament figures to be saints. The liturgical book called the Roman Martyrology contains brief “bios” of saints and blessed celebrated on each day of the year. Some of these … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols |
6 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can girls choose male saints’ names at Confirmation?

From a reader: My younger sister is going through Confirmation classes and, God-willing, will be confirmed next year. She seem to have her heart set on Maximilian Kolbe as her Confirmation Saint/name. Interestingly enough, the Confirmation class teacher (of 25 … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , ,
53 Comments

Did you get coal and sticks?

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas! Did Black Peter come to visit? A reader sent this.  Fun! You well-informed readers can fill in the blanks for those who might not know what is going on here. In the meantime here is … Read More

Posted in Lighter fare, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
27 Comments

“Tell me now if it is possible for you to have faith in your heart and not tremble.” – St. Leonard of Port Maurice

Today in the Novus Ordo calendar is the feast of St. Leonard of Port Maurice (+1751). In one place, St. Leonard expounds on the number of those who make it to heaven. He is not optimistic. And he gives reasons. … Read More

Posted in Four Last Things, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
125 Comments

Happy Birthday St. Augustine!

Today is the birthday of St. Augustine of Hippo (354).  We actually know his birthday because he tells us in one of his Cassiciacum dialogues (De beata vita 6). It is therefore also the feast of all the saints of the … Read More

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , ,
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A picture worth a thousand warnings

A tip of the biretta to the best Catholic weekly in the UK, for a link to a piece by a priest friend, Fr. George Rutler at New Advent. This must be the first photograph of two saints together… By … Read More

Posted in New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
6 Comments