St. Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1350. He became a Dominican friar at age 18 despite his family’s disapproval. He was a priest and missionary who taught theology. A great preacher, he converted many people across Europe, including people in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, England and Scotland, among others. He worked to...Read More
WASHINGTON – Torture survivors and advocates implored Congress June 25 to investigate allegations of military torture of war prisoners, saying that the U.S. must be an example for other countries in respect for human rights.Read More
Ss. Nereus and Achilleus were brothers who lived in the first century. They were soldiers in the Roman army. The brothers were converted to Christianity and were baptized by St. Peter. They were exiled because of their faith. Around the year 98, Ss. Nereus and Achilleus were martyred.Read More
WASHINGTON – Despite growing numbers of Iraqi Christians fleeing their country to escape the violence and persecution, an Iraqi Dominican nun says she will remain in her country.Read More
St. Norbert was born circa 1080 in Xanten, Germany. He joined the Benedictines as a career move while working for Emperor Henry V. However, he started taking his vows seriously after a near-death experience. Later, he began a religious order which later became known as the Norbertines. St. Norbert reformed members of the clergy in...Read More
I thought Father Dietzen’s column on salvation (CR, June 4) clearly covered not only the chasm between God and man, but also God’s generous gifts to us. In response, Elaine Ireland (CR, June 18) states “if our focus is on our own salvation and our reason for doing for others is to gain that salvation,...Read More
Ss. Peter and Paul are early leaders of the church. St. Peter, born with the name Simon, was a fisherman and an Apostle of Christ. Jesus named him Peter, which means rock, because Peter would be the foundation or “rock” of the church. St. Peter was a miracle worker who became the first pope. He...Read More
SAN ANTONIO – In one of a series of status reports on ongoing projects of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops June 18, bishops attending their spring meeting in San Antonio were told the rapid pace of legal changes on the status of marriage in the United States has been keeping that concern a top...Read More
Ss. Joachim and Anne are the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ. The two saints were elderly when their only child, Mary, was born. It is believed that Ss. Joachim and Anne gave Mary to the service of the temple when Mary was 3 years old. St. Joachim is...Read More
In a June 15 ceremony at the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Catholic Center, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien honored young people who have shown apostolic action, Christian leadership and moral integrity. Each young person received an Eagle of the Cross award from the Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for their efforts.Read More
St. Maximilian Kolbe was born in Poland Jan. 7, 1894. Although he was a rather mischievous child, his life changed when he had a vision of the Virgin Mary when he was 12. He took his final vows for the Conventual Franciscan Order Nov. 1, 1914. He received a Doctor of Theology in 1922, taught...Read More
NEW ORLEANS – Fifteen years in the Amazon rain forest and a stint on the “Wild Kingdom” television show ultimately brought Stan Brock to a different sort of adventure: providing medical, dental, vision and even veterinary care to hundreds of thousands of people and animals who need it.Read More