Xt3

Do Catholics Worship Saints?

Fr. Mike Schmitz wants to straighten out some confusion regarding Catholics' veneration of saints. In this video he explains how - far from being icons to worship - statues and paintings of the saints are reminders of what God can do in someone’s life, so honoring the saints doesn’t take away from the glory we give God. It actually brings him greater glory.

……

The Meaning Behind the Names of the 12 Apostles (Catholic-Link)

Names matter. For the Catholic Christian, who sees all of reality as replete with meaning, all the more so!

……

Francisco and Jacinta Have Officially Been Declared Saints!

Pope Francis on Saturday officially declared Francisco and Jacinta Marto saints of the Catholic Church in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at Fatima, Portugal – teaching us that even young children can become saints.

……

Authors Share Stories of the East-Central Europe Martyrs of Communism

In the years following the second World War, communism was widely spreading throughout East-Central Europe. The communist regime was greatly affecting those in the area, especially Catholics, many of whom died fighting for their faith. Now, many Catholics from these countries have collaborated to share their memories and expertise on this difficult time in history.

……

Obscure Saint: St. Teresa of Los Andes | Encounter

A great animated video from the Catholic TV Network on a saint that is not as well-known as others.

……

St Faustina | Chris Stefanick

A saint of Mercy from Krakow, Poland. Chris Stefanick from Real Life Catholic shares about her powerful story and the 'Divine Mercy' message.

Pope Francis Will Canonise Two of the Shepherd's of Fatima

Siblings Jacinta and Francisco Marto were illiterate. Their life was typical of humble families in the rural areas of Portugal in the first part of the twentieth century: they spent their days in the fields, taking care of their herds. Their lives changed, however, with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary which took place between May and October, 1917. At the time they were seven and nine years of age, respectively.

……

A Young Husband and Father's Reflection on St Joseph

by Tomasz Juszczak

……

Fatima Nun has 15,000 Pages of Evidence for Beatification Cause

As the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions approaches, Portuguese Catholic Church officials announced on Monday that thousands of pages have been gathered to testify to the holiness of Sister Lucia dos Santos – one of the original three children who were witnesses to the famous Marian apparition.

……

Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Cyril and Methodius must have often wondered, as we do today, how God could bring spiritual meaning out of worldly concerns. Every mission they went on, every struggle they fought was a result of political battles, not spiritual, and yet the political battles are forgotten and their work lives on in the Slavic peoples and their literature.

……