Saints
« Previous EntriesCelebrating St. Kateri: Updated
Friday, October 19th, 2012This weekend, as Kateri Tekakwitha is elevated to sainthood, the Church in America has a wonderful opportunity to ask for the intercession of “one of our very own.” Longtime CUF member Marlene McCauley has launched a site dedicated to this powerful patroness, found here. The website includes biographical information and additional resources. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, [...]
St. Isidore, Pray for Us!
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012From the Liturgy of the Hours: “Lord God, all creation is yours, and you call us to serve you by caring for the gifts that surround us. May the example of Saint Isidore urge us to share our food with the hungry and to work for the salvation of mankind. We ask this through your [...]
Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry
Friday, September 23rd, 2011Prayer of Bl. John Paul II to St. Pio of Pietrelcina Teach us, we pray, humility of heart, so that we may be counted among the little ones of the Gospel to whom the Father promised to reveal the mysteries of His Kingdom. Help us to pray without ceasing, certain that God knows what we need [...]
Sts. Anne and Joachim, pray for us!
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011On the feast of Sts. Joachim and Ann, the parents of the Blessed Mother and grandparents of Jesus, we pray with the whole Church: “God of our fathers, you gave Saints Joachim and Ann the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your Incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain [...]
From the Angelic Doctor
Friday, January 28th, 2011“Down in adoration falling this great Sacrament we hail. Over ancient forms departing, newer rites of grace prevail. Faith for all defects supplying where the feeble senses fail. To the everlasting Father and the Son who reigns on high, with the Spirit blessed proceeding forth, from each eternally: Be salvation, honor, blessing, might and endless majesty. Amen.”
Getting Off our High Horse
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011Today, as we commemorate the Conversion of St. Paul, it’s difficult to author any constructive commentary without copiously quoting from the Apostle to the Gentiles. Where would we even begin? I’ve heard at least one Catholic writer refer to the epistles of St. Paul as “above scrutiny,” both in terms of literary perfection and spiritual [...]
What’s in a Name?
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010Over at Catholic Hour, Leon Suprenant looks at some uncommon possibilities for confirmation names. Leon was president of CUF during my first couple years here, and I heard some of his suggestions for baby names (“Lwanga,” after St. Charles Lwanga, comes to mind). His “top ten” list definitely lives up to my expectations. Here’s just [...]
Pope John XXIII on St. John Mary Vianney
Friday, June 19th, 2009In 1959, for the 100th anniversary of St. John Mary Vianney’s death, Pope John XXIII gave the Church this encyclical, Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia. It is addressed to priests, but it provides all the faithful both insights on St. John Vianney’s life and wisdom for the spiritual life. Pope John XXIII describes how St. John Vianney [...]
Are angels “saints”?
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008A CUF member asks… Isn’t sainthood for human beings that led extraordinary lives of faith? Then why do we call Michael the Archangel St. Michael the Archangel? He is an angel, a strictly spiritual being. The word “saint” derives from the Latin “sancta,” which means “holy” one. Thus, by definition all of God’s holy angels [...]
Martha, Martha
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008As Catholics, we try to balance in our lives of faith the active Martha and the contemplative Mary. Sometimes in the process Martha gets a bad rap. She’s anxious and worried about many things (Lk. 10:41), so at times we might picture her as a frantic busybody flitting around doing 101 things, while the serene Mary sits at the feet [...]
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