It was an adolescent prank—pears stolen from a neighbor’s tree. But as Augustine looked back on the incident many years later, it seemed reprehensible to him. He had no need of the pears; they were thrown to the pigs. It was the thrill of committing theft with his friends that he had sought. “My feasting was only on the wickedness which I took pleasure in enjoying” (Confessions, Book II, 12). More »

During her first pregnancy, Ortulana di Offreduccio often visited a nearby church to pray for a safe delivery. More »

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) More »

Let’s turn our attention to the saints who accompany us through this week as Fr. Larry Richards offers us a selection of Scripture and a brief reflection for each morning and evening in his desk calendar No Bible, No Breakfast; No Bible, No Bed. More »

“We have some wonderful memories,” I said as Brother Art lay on his deathbed. “Yes, some wonderful memories,” he replied, almost as if singing.
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Stories abound about the extraordinary events coloring the life of St. Anthony of Padua, the “wonder-worker.” Fish are said to have listened to him preach, their heads attentively raised out of the river, when the hard of heart refused to heed his words. More »

Sometimes, the voice of a saint echoes clearly to us down through the centuries. As a young adult, I found myself struggling, in the ordinary way of young people, with feeling alienated from God. More »

Imagine what it must have been like when Jesus ascended into heaven two thousand years ago. More »