The feast of St. Monica and St. Augustine may be one of the most relatable mother‑and‑son stories in Christian history. Monica was a devoted Christian mother known for her patience, perseverance and legendary life of prayer. Augustine, her son, was…
We celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola on July 31. This soldier-turned-saint has had a profound influence on the Catholic Church since his death in 1556, during the Catholic response to the Reformation, through his founding of the…
“Will you have a Martha or a Mary Christmas?” This was the title of an article I wrote a few years ago about two of the siblings we remember on this day. In the article, I was questioning all the…
We live in a world of information overload. Data flies at us from every direction at an exponential rate. At Christmas dinner, when Uncle You-Know-Who makes a statement, Auntie I-Have-a-Smart-Phone can correct his mistakes with confidence and launch a quick…
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, also known as doubting Thomas. I certainly identify with him in my struggles to understand our faith. How can I believe in a resurrection when my biology tells me that…
“Compare and contrast.…” Recalling essay assignments and exam questions from our student days, we might remember these words. The process of comparing and contrasting two different persons, events or circumstances invited us to think, to reflect and often to draw…
St. Joseph is the Swiss army knife of saints. Over the centuries he has accumulated many duties as patron of various people and things: Canada, unborn children, fathers, travellers, immigrants, even real estate agents, and the Universal Church, to name…
St. Catherine of Siena is one of my favourite saints. She was born in 1347, in a world shaken by war, plague and deep division. Yet from this uncertain beginning came a woman whose life still speaks to us in…
St. Patrick, though the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Britain when the Roman rule of the land was coming to an end – around the end of the 4th century. At the age of 16 he was captured…
February 14. Is it the feast day of a saint? A throwback to pagan gods? A holiday for romance? A commercial opportunity for chocolate and candy makers, florists, card designers and fancy restaurants? And what about the little Valentine cards…