By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The saints are not unreachable “exceptions of humanity” but ordinary people who worked diligently to grow in virtue, Pope Francis said. It is wrong to think of the saints as “a kind of small circle of champions who live beyond the limits of our species,” […]
Canonization too expensive for many American ‘saints’
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News “Don’t call me a saint,” admonished Dorothy Day, journalist, activist and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. “I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.” While Day fiercely sought to avoid holy titles during her lifetime, there are many Catholics who hope she will one day have “saint” attached to […]
Patron saints: Match or no match?
By Guy Lee Special to the Herald Embracing the Communion of Saints, we Catholics traditionally favor those offering specific protection, assistance or guidance. How well do the backgrounds, traits and interests of these patron saints match our prayers? For the most popular patron saints the reason we seek their help is obvious. Fishermen pray to […]
Sainthood a reachable goal
Saints’ lives prove the power of God’s love to transfigure all, Pope Francis says at canonization Mass By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The lives of the saints prove that holiness is not an unreachable goal accomplished by a select few but comes from acknowledging and sharing God’s love, Pope Francis […]
St. Bernadette’s relics to begin first U.S. tour in April
By Toni Pallatto Catholic News Service MIAMI — The relics of St. Bernadette, the Marian visionary of Lourdes, France, will tour the United States for the first time. The visit will begin in South Florida at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Miami, with a morning welcome Mass April 7. The next day the relics […]
Bishops affirm sainthood causes for Dutton, two others
By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops agreed Nov. 17 that the sainthood causes for three laypeople from the United States should be advanced by their respective dioceses. Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of Lafayette, Louisiana, presented the causes of Auguste Robert “Nonco” Pelafigue and Charlene Richard. Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu […]
Child saints: Religious education students learn about their holy peers and their relics
By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald Some were only in elementary school. Others never went to school. One was a computer whiz. Another befriended sheep and lived in a barn. All these are young people who became saints or are on the path to sainthood. Hagiographer and St. Anthony, Kailua, parishioner Peter Cruz highlighted them […]
There is no better model of priesthood than Father Kapaun, bishop says
By Christopher Riggs Catholic News Service PILSEN, Kan. (CNS) — God put the desire to be a priest in Father Emil J. Kapaun’s heart at an early age, Bishop Carl A. Kemme of Wichita, Kansas, said during a homily Sept. 26 in Pilsen, the hometown of the war-hero priest and sainthood candidate. “That thought was no […]
August: month of comedian-martyrs
The Romans were a tough audience By Guy Lee Special to the Herald You can Google it. Comedians have a patron saint. He is Genesius of Rome, a comedian and actor. His feast day is Aug. 25. He was martyred because, although details vary, he refused to renounce his faith after a performance. He is […]
Relic of pope ordained by St. Peter found, given to London cathedral
By Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service LONDON — A relic of bones of an early pope was given to the Catholic Church after it was stolen from a car and recovered by a waste disposal company. Three fragments of a bone said to belong to St. Clement I, a first-century martyr who was ordained […]