The lives of the saints and heroes of Catholic history are not relics of the past — they are models for the present. In an age that celebrates mediocrity and avoids sacrifice, these men and women stand as proof that heroic virtue is possible, that faith can move armies, and that the Church has always raised up champions in her darkest hours.
From the Crusader knights who defended the Holy Land to the martyrs who gave their lives for the Faith, from the great doctors of the Church to the humble souls canonized for their hidden holiness — their stories inspire, instruct, and challenge us to aim higher.
Explore our articles on the saints, blessed, and Catholic heroes who shaped Christian civilization.
The world is suffering from a terrible crisis of masculinity. Many young men go through life adrift, unsure of themselves and their role in society. In the United States and the United Kingdom, fewer and fewer men are reaching the traditional milestones of adulthood, such as graduating high school and college, entering … Read more
Saint Katharine Drexel, the second American canonized saint, was born into a wealthy family in Philadelphia in 1858. Her father was an international banker and philanthropist accustomed to spending each evening in prayerful vigil. Although her mother passed away a few weeks after Katharine’s birth, her stepmother Emma Bouvier, wealthy in her … Read more
This article is the third part of a series about Purgatory, a topic that is rarely discussed today. A knowledge of Purgatory is essential if souls are to avoid the pains of this place of expiation. The first article can be found here. * * * Even during her lifetime, … Read more
Bartolo Longo was born in 1841 in the Italian village of Latiano. His parents were devout Catholics and prayed the Rosary every day. A Young Radical However, the sympathy of the young Bartolo lay with the revolutionary Italian nationalists. This radical group advocated atheism and Masonic practices. They viewed the Catholic Church … Read more
Saint Thérèse of the Infant Jesus introduced a spirituality that she called the Little Way. It called for offering up small sacrifices in a big way. However, the core of the Little Way is the idea that the soul possesses a childhood innocence. It consists of a sense of wonder that gives … Read more
For some time now, I had heard about a tour of the relics of Saint Therese circulating in the United States. The relics have been received by crowds of pilgrims wherever they have travelled. They are the occasions of many graces. I had always had a devotion to Saint Therese. She has … Read more
All Saints Day is too often neglected or misunderstood. In recent times, it serves mostly as the pretext for the modern world’s growing fascination with witchcraft and the occult, the day before on Halloween (“All Hallows Eve” or the Eve of All Saints). In fact, All Saints Day is one of … Read more
Saint Catherine was born in Genoa, Italy, on April 5, 1447, the youngest of five children. Her father was Giacomo Fieschi, a member of an illustrious family that gave the Church two Popes, Innocent IV and Adrian V. Catherine’s deep inner life blossomed at the age of thirteen. She felt attracted to … Read more
In 1782, during the five months preceding his priestly ordination, Venerable Pio Brunone Lanteri composed a Spiritual Directory. It was found among the papers left after his death. Monsignor Frutaz included it in the Positio, introducing the Servant of God’s cause of beatification in Rome. This remarkable document shows the essential aspects … Read more
The head of the Catholic Church has many titles. He is most commonly known simply as “the Pope,” but another designation is “Supreme Pontiff.” This latter title conveys an idea of authority that those of an egalitarian mindset despise. They see those who possess it as living a decadent life without any … Read more