Among the most well-known early Church leaders are Sts. Peter and Paul. These two remarkable men had very different beginnings, yet would go on to become Jesus’ foremost apostles and would eventually be martyred for their faith. Peter, a…

One biblical event that has always astonished me is the Ascension. I remember when I first learned about it when I was young, I couldn’t help being struck by how sad it made me feel. Jesus, who had died a horrible death, had just returned…

St. Anselm (circa 1033–1109) was a Benedictine monk, archbishop, abbot, philosopher, and theologian. Pope Clement XI named St. Anselm a doctor of the church in 1720. Be inspired by these short reflections from this great saint. St. Anselm,…

John the Baptist may be one of the most important figures to appear before Christ’s actual ministry. In the Gospels, it is John who presages the ministry of Christ. He is in his very essence a fulfillment of the prophecy in the Book of…

St. James holds an important role in the Catholic faith. Not only was he one of Jesus’ original Twelve Apostles who was present at the Transfiguration, he is believed to have carried out Jesus’ ministry to the far reaches of Europe,…

Pentecost is one of the most important feast days in the liturgical year. It is the day where, 50 days after Easter and 10 days after Jesus’ ascension, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Twelve Apostles and the Virgin Mary, appearing as…

The painting, Annunciazione di Cestello by Sandro Botticelli, or the Cestello Annunciation, has always struck me. I first saw it in 2014 at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, as a sophomore in college spending my spring semester…

For Americans, the signing of the Declaration of Independence is one of the best-known events in the history of our country. Various signers have gone on to become national heroes and champions of democracy worldwide, such as Thomas…

by Geoffrey LaForce 1. Q You mention that when you were young, having a strong personal relationship with Jesus didn’t factor much into your decision to become a priest, and instead it was a desire to make a difference in the world. After…

At a recent meeting with young Catholic men this past Mardi Gras, we talked about the upcoming Lent season, why it is so important to us as Catholics, and why we should try to give something up in preparation for Easter. We then went around…