Saint Gregory Grassi and Companions' Story Christian missionaries have often gotten caught in the crossfire of wars against their own...

Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions' Story Not much is known of the early life of Emmanuel Ruiz, but details of his heroic death in...

Saint Maria Goretti's Story One of the largest crowds ever assembled for a canonization—250,000—symbolized the reaction of millions...

Saint Anthony Zaccaria's Story At the same time that Martin Luther was attacking abuses in the Church, a reformation within the Church...

Saint Elizabeth of Portugal's Story Elizabeth is usually depicted in royal garb with a dove or an olive branch. At her birth in 1271, her...

Saint Thomas' Story Poor Thomas! He made one remark and has been branded as “Doubting Thomas” ever since. But if he doubted, he also...

Saint Oliver Plunkett's Story The name of today’s saint is especially familiar to the Irish and the English—and with good reason. The...

Saint Junipero Serra's Story In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east, another part of the future United States...

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome’s Story There were Christians in Rome within a dozen or so years after the death of Jesus, though...

Saints Peter and Paul’s Story Peter (d. 64?) Saint Mark ends the first half of his Gospel with a triumphant climax. He has recorded...

Saint Irenaeus’ Story The Church is fortunate that Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a...

Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s Story Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the Church,...

Blessed Raymond Lull’s Story Raymond worked all his life to promote the missions and died a missionary to North Africa. Raymond was born...

Blessed Jutta of Thuringia’s Story Today’s patroness of Prussia began her life amidst luxury and power but died the death of a simple...

Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded him: “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John….”...

Saint John Fisher’s Story John Fisher is usually associated with Erasmus, Thomas More, and other Renaissance humanists. His life...

Saint Thomas More’s Story His belief that no lay ruler has jurisdiction over the Church of Christ cost Thomas More his life. Beheaded on...

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga’s Story The Lord can make saints anywhere, even amid the brutality and license of Renaissance life. Florence was...

Saint Paulinus of Nola’s Story Anyone who is praised in the letters of six or seven saints undoubtedly must be of extraordinary...

Saint Romuald’s Story In the midst of a wasted youth, Romuald watched his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he...