Eight-year-old Martin de Porres was not what most people today would call a “normal” child. Living in Lima, Peru, in 1587, the boy was already in training to be a barber, which in his world also meant learning to be a surgeon, pharmacist, and physician. More »

The saints have a special way of moving us whenever we read about the way they prayed, served God, and lived their lives. All these heroes of Christianity, whether canonized or not, are in heaven right now, enjoying the presence of God and communion with him. More »

Let us pray with Pope Benedict XVI and all of our Catholic brothers and sisters: More »

My fingers furiously flipped through a hardcover edition of "Butler’s Lives of the Saints". “Daddy’s original plan” for my kindergartner to be the patron saint of dancers for the All Saints parade had blown up in my face. More »

St. Jude is invoked in desperate or hopeless situations, perhaps because the Letter of Jude in the New Testament encourages the faithful to persevere and protect the faith in an especially difficult situation, in which “certain intruders have stolen in among you” (verse 4). More »

Today Pope Benedict is leading a pilgrimage to Assisi, the home of St. Francis, for “a day of reflection, dialogue, and prayer for peace and justice in the world.” Wherever we are, we can pray along, too. The “peace prayer” of St. Francis, which is probably not by the saint but which expresses his spirit, is especially appropriate today. More »

The theme for World Mission Day—October 23, 2011—is: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Are we willing to be sent? Clearly, the degree to which we are willing to evangelize is linked to the degree to which we have understood the great work that Jesus has done in us and in the church. More »

Sometimes a friendship with a saint begins in a most unlikely way. For me, it started on a Friday afternoon, as I walked the campus of the large state university where I was a freshman. More »