CNA-Rome, Italy—The Italian Parliament this week took a major step toward making the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi a national holiday. The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Italy’s Parliament, voted to pass the bill on Sept. 23, with 247 votes in favor of the proposal and two against. Eight people…
CNA, ed. CBJ—Most people think of St. Maximilian Kolbe as the heroic martyr who traded places with another prisoner in the Nazi’s horrific Auschwitz prison, resulting in a painful death by starvation, but there is much more of the story to tell. What would give someone the courage to do such a thing? And, why…
VNS—On 15 June, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy, will witness the beatification of Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a young Congolese member of the Community of Sant’Egidio, a martyr who stood up against corruption. The ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for…
December 11, 2024
CNA—updated 12/12/24—Researcher and physicist Dr. Aldofo Orozco told participants at the International Marian Congress on Our Lady of Guadalupe, held August 7, 2009, that there is no scientific explanation for the then-478 years of high quality-preservation of the Tilma or for the miracles that have occurred to ensure its preservation. Today, in 2024, the miraculous…
CNA/NCR—St. Andrew, whose feast day is Nov. 30, was one of the two initial disciples of John the Baptist who encountered Jesus at the beginning of John’s Gospel. He was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, but many people know little about him. St. Andrew was the brother of St. Peter, also known as Simon bar-Jonah.…
CNA—As Germany marks the 35th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall this year, key witnesses are highlighting the crucial role played by St. John Paul II in bringing about the peaceful revolution that transformed Europe. “I am absolutely convinced that without Pope John Paul II, German reunification would not have been possible,” Martin Rothweiler, director…
Now 32 years after his death, Fr. Peyton’s legacy for promoting the Rosary, especially the family Rosary, is arguably unparalleled in modern times. He is known for relentlessly pursuing every mass media avenue available in his day—from radio to television to holding massive Rosary Rallies in various countries and locations in the U.S. and around…
CNA—One of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. His tomb can be found in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. Padre Pio is known for his deep…
CNA—Sister Agnes Sasagawa, a Japanese nun whose purported visions of the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Akita included stark warnings for humanity and instructions to pray the rosary and repent of sin, died Aug. 15 at age 93. A parish priest in Akita, Japan, confirmed to CNA by phone that Sasagawa…
July 13 marks the feast day of a dynamic, enthusiastic Catholic layman from the Caribbean who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001. Known as “Charlie” — abbreviated to just “Chali” in his most intimate circle — from childhood Carlos Manuel “Charlie” Rodríguez exuded a gift and zeal for communicating the tremendous value…
As a boy, St. Irenaeus of Lyon sat at the feet of St. Polycarp, eagerly listening to the sermons of the early Christian bishop and disciple of the apostle John. Irenaeus grew up to write vastly influential documents that witnessed to the early Church’s understanding of topics ranging from the Old Testament to the Eucharist.…
CNA—A 20th-century Polish Catholic priest killed by communist authorities was beatified on Saturday at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow-Łagiewniki, Poland. Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of Father Michał Rapacz in January. The 41-year-old priest was shot twice by communist authorities on the night of May 10-11, 1946, after being taken from his village parish…
ACI Prensa—March 7 marks the 750th anniversary of the death of St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of Catholic education, who uttered a last prophecy and an emotional prayer before his departure to heaven. In addition, the saint reportedly spoke the lyrics of a beautiful hymn of his that is sung to this day throughout…
In case you did not know, we are so blessed to celebrate a triple jubilee of St. Thomas Aquinas in the years 2023-2025. July 18, 2023 marked the 700th anniversary of St. Thomas’ canonization by Pope John XXII in 1323. March 7, 2024, today, marks the 750th anniversary of his death at Fossanova, Italy in…
CNA—After a long journey to the Catholic faith, Hilary (born in 310) was baptized in 345 and elected bishop of Poitiers in 353. His first work, “Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew,” (the link is to an English translation) is the oldest surviving Latin commentary on that Gospel. Pope Pius IX formally recognized him as…
Faith at Work: This is such an eye-opening story. Not only does it showcase the vibrant integration of our Catholic faith and monasteries into the very heart of human history and communities throughout history — FOR CENTURIES UPON CENTURIES. It also showcases the intention and purpose-driven mission of Catholic-founded enterprises, masterfully founded and managed to…
CNA—Many are familiar with the story of St. Juan Diego, whose feast is celebrated on Dec. 9 in the worldwide Church. However, the story of the Franciscan friar who baptized this beloved saint is less well known. In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortes defeated the Aztec empire, tore down the pagan temples, and in their…
“Why not become a missionary yourself, my child?” With these words, Pope Leo XIII challenged an ardent, young, American woman, Katharine Drexel. The year was 1887, and Drexel had been granted a private audience with the pope. Drexel had come to Rome to tell Pope Leo XIII of the need for religious—men and women—to staff…
Sponsored by the Catholic Textbook Project—Junípero Serra was born on the island of Mallorca off the Mediterranean coast of Spain on November 24, 1713. At the age of 16, he decided to become a priest, and a year later he entered the Franciscan order. For the first 19 years of his life as a Franciscan,…
August 23 we celebrate the Feast of St. Rose of Lima, a great saint and intercessor for the Order of Preachers (Dominicans)! Isabella Flores was born in Peru in 1586, and received the name Rose at her confirmation. To earn money for her struggling family, Rose spent her days working in the gardens and her…
