John the Baptist reached beyond himself, both backward and forward in time. He represented the history of Israel, waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Messiah. And he pointed to the future, announcing the coming of the Messiah who would establish the reign of God. Continue »

How St. Thomas More—the busiest man of his age—found contentment in his calling Continue »

Everybody loves St. Anthony of Padua, yet few of us know all that much about his life. We know that he is the patron saint to call on when we need help finding our lost keys. Continue »

Burning napalm. Fleeing refugees. Soldiers slogging through rice paddies and jungle trails. Continue »

It is late at night, almost seven hundred years ago, in the lovely central Italian region of Tuscany. Inside a small room, a young woman is speaking animatedly about God. Continue »

The Gospel according to Mark is printed in every Christian Bible, but, even so, it has managed to remain (in many ways) like the pearl of great price buried in a field, waiting to be discovered and able to enrich spiritual treasure seekers with unexpected rewards. Continue »

Theme: Jesus told Sister Faustina that he is “Love and Mercy.” ¹ At the core of Faustina’s spirituality was her awareness of Christ’s invitation to dwell in his merciful love. Continue »

Roman civilization never had much impact in Ireland. The empire had conquered the southern half of Britain, then stopped. Continue »

"I shall instruct you and teach you the way to go; I shall not take my eyes off you" (Psalm 32:8). You may not be aware of it, but God is speaking to you. He is calling you to come to him. Continue »

Who would have thought the old man had so much courage in him? The story you are about to read is the earliest known account of a Christian martyrdom. Written about a.d. 156, within a year of the event it describes, it is an authentic eyewitness report of the heroic death of an elderly man named Polycarp. Continue »