Catholicism.org » Lives of the Saints

Hildegard Burjan, Wife, Mother, Convert, Foundress To Be Beatified January 29

Brian Kelly — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:41:08 +0000

Zenit: Hildegard Burjan (1883-1933), founder of the Sisters of Social Charity (Caritas Socialis), will be proclaimed blessed in St. Stephen’s cathedral in Vienna on Sunday. Read more here.

Two American Blesseds to Be Canonized

Brother André Marie — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:42:37 +0000

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha will soon be Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Blessed Marianne Cope will undergo a similar name change. On December 19, the Holy Father approved the miracles requisite for these two Beati — both of whom spent some part of their lives in New York State — to be canonized. The Vatican Information Service report ... ...Read More »

Juan Diego, American Saint, December 9

Brian Kelly — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:11:36 +0000

In preparation for the great feast day of Our Lady on December 12, CNA has a brief recap here of the Aztec saint’s encounter with “the true Mother of God” on December 9, 1531.

Have a Lightsome Martinmas!

Brother André Marie — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:37:09 +0000

St. Martin was one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages. His feast was also the last major festival before the fast of Advent, which at time was much more strict. So, on this day known as “Martinmas,” our medieval forebears would feast of roasted goose, St. Martin’s wine, and other sumptuous fare ... ...Read More »

And Speaking of All Saints, Prolific Hagiographer Praised in L’Osservatore Romano

Brian Kelly — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:15:58 +0000

Catholic Culture: L’Osservatore Romano has paid tribute to Angelo Montonati on the occasion of his eightieth birthday. The Italian journalist, who has written nearly 50 biographies of saints, recounted:

Recently, at the press club in Milan, a dear colleague said to me, “What a bore to always talk about saints!” “And you,” I said, “aren’t you ... ...Read More »

Founder of Order and Friend of Two Saints to be Canonized October 23

Brian Kelly — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:37:56 +0000

Zenit: The founder of the Servants of Charity and the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence created a religious family modeled on the family of Nazareth, and called to follow a simple two-part program for sanctity: to pray and suffer. Father Luigi Guanella (1842-1915) will be canonized Oct. 23, the day before his memorial. Read ... ...Read More »

Stigmatist, Venerable Elena Aiello, to Be Beatified September 14

Brian Kelly — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:28:15 +0000

Wednesday, September 14, Venerable Elena Aiello (1895-1961), will be declared a Blessed. She was the Foundress of the Minim Tertiaries of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a mystic, visionary, and stigmatist.

I was delighted to hear this news, especially because my mother, her friends Rita and Anthony Lombardi, and I were privileged to ... ...Read More »

‘The Slave of the Slaves Forever,’ Signed, Pedro Claver

Brian Kelly — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:19:52 +0000

On this day, September 9, the Church honors a Jesuit missioner who was one of the greatest saints of the New World. Saint Peter Claver never left the port city of Cartagena after his ordination there in 1615. His superior in Spain had sent him directives five years before to “make haste” for New Granada ... ...Read More »

The Gentle Air and the Hurricane

Brother André Marie — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:48:13 +0000

The book is written like a novel, but it is not one. It purports to be true history, written in the genre of a novel. Each chapter is a series of tableaux that form a miniature biography of a single family member. If the author set out to undo notions of the drab and colorless Middle Ages, his laudable goal was met with considerable success. For here we find ourselves in the world of chivalry and religious fervor, with personalities as colorful as their knightly heraldry and stained-glass windows.

An Israelite Without Guile

Brian Kelly — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:26:37 +0000

The Gospel for the feast of Saint Bartholomew, August 24, is from Saint John’s account of the first meeting of Our Lord with Nathanael, whom he also names near the end of his Gospel as being with Peter, Thomas, James, John and some other disciples at the apparition of the risen Christ to them on ... ...Read More »