AmericanCatholic.org
 
Skip Navigation Links
Home
Catholic News
Seasonal Features
Video
Audio
Entertainment
Saints
Shopping
Donate
RSS Feeds  RSS Feeds  
Daily Features
St. Anthony Messenger
Books
Catholic e-Greetings
Parish Newsletters/Services
E-Newsletters
Shopping
Franciscan Radio
Living Your Faith
Update Your Faith
Español
Contact Us
About Us
Donate
Advertise
Site Map

advertisement

The Church has venerated Catholic saints since the beginning. Who are the saints? Who decides who is and is not a saint? How many are there? Do saints hear our prayers? Find the answers to these questions and articles on saints. Click here to receive Saint of the Day in your email.

Questions and Answers on Catholic Saints
 from St. Anthony Messenger

Why isn't there a saint for every day
Why so few lay saints?
What is the process for canonizing someone
How many saints are there?
Do saints hear our prayers?
Are saints' names required for Baptism?
Are statues idols?
What's a Seraphic saint?

Real Women, Real Saints
The saints are our spiritual guides, our companions on life's journey. Their experiences show us the path we are to take in our own lives. In Real Women, Real Saints: Friends for Your Spiritual Journey, Gina Loehr profiles a hundred women—saints, the blessed, servants of God—we can use as models of holiness. See a sample chapter and then purchase the book, Real Women, Real Saints, from our catalog.

Saints in the News
The Catholic Church's veneration of saints dates back to the beginnings of Christianity. Yet Catholic saints are not just figures from ancient history, but have lived during our lifetimes and their example and the process toward beatification continue to make news today.

Lourdes 150th anniversary
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Mary's appearance to St. Bernadette Soubirous near Lourdes, France. See our special Lourdes 150th anniversary area for the latest on the observance.

Year of St. Paul
The Catholic Church celebrates a special jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul through June 29, 2009, to mark the approximately 2,000th anniversary of the saint’s birth. Our "Year of St. Paul" feature offers coverage of the Pauline year and focuses on the apostle’s courageous missionary efforts and inspiration to Catholics today.

Introducing St. Paul the Apostle: His Life and Mission
Catholic Update explores his call and mission, his work as an evangelizer, his teaching through letter writing, his conversion, his Roman citizenship and his role in shaping our Catholic culture.

A Visit to Padre Pio's Tomb
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the death of St. Padre Pio. St. Anthony Messenger magazine senior editor, Father Jack Wintz, O.F.M., reflects on his recent pilgrimage to and guides readers through the saint’s shrine in Italy.

St. Joan of Arc's Message for Today
This 19-year-old peasant from 15th-century France has much to teach us about listening to our hearts, trusting in God and confounding the odds, according to St. Anthony Messenger magazine managing editor, Barbara Beckwith.

Saint of the Day
Read about the life of today's Catholic saint and browse a list of patron saints as well as a calendar of feast days. Learn about the Feast of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls.

Franciscan Radio
Listen to or download program #08-44 of American Catholic Radio. Topics include the communion of saints, a portrait of St. Paul and an interview with the author of Saints at the Dinner Table.

Prayer Requests
Post an online prayer request. All prayer requests are displayed at StAnthony.org and on a large, scrolling screen next to St. Anthony's relic at the National Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua in Cincinnati, Ohio. View current prayers.

Saint Features
Explore the lives of St. Anthony, St. Francis, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Padre Pio, St. Patrick and Mother Teresa.

More About All Saints and All Souls

Did Saints Fall From Favor After Vatican II?
 from Friar Jack's E-spirations

I'd Like to Say: We're All Called to Be Saints
 from St. Anthony Messenger

The Where, Who and How of Heaven
 from Friar Jack's E-spirations

Patron Saints for Modern Challenges
 from St. Anthony Messenger

What Makes a Saint?
 from St. Anthony Messenger

Celebrating the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls
 from Friar Jack's E-spirations

The Communion of Saints
 from Scripture From Scratch

Faith-Filled Family: Halloween and Its Christian Roots
 from St. Anthony Messenger

All Saints
 from Friar Jack's E-spirations

Ten Great Catholics of the Second Millennium
 from St. Anthony Messenger

How Halloween Can Be Redeemed
 from Catholic Update

Saints: Holy and Human
 from Catholic Update

Six Saints for the New Millennium
 from Catholic Update

Send a Saint e-Greeting

Celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day with a Catholic e-card. Also, choose from our selection of e-greetings depicting Catholic saints.



Tell a friend about this page!

Didacus: Didacus is living proof that God "chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27).<p>As a young man in Spain, Didacus joined the Secular Franciscan Order and lived for some time as a hermit. After Didacus became a Franciscan brother, he developed a reputation for great insight into God&#146;s ways. His penances were heroic. He was so generous with the poor that the friars sometimes grew uneasy about his charity.<p>Didacus volunteered for the missions in the Canary Islands and labored there energetically and profitably. He was also the superior of a friary there.<p>In 1450 he was sent to Rome to attend the canonization of St. Bernardine of Siena. When many friars gathered for that celebration fell sick, Didacus stayed in Rome for three months to nurse them. After he returned to Spain, he pursued a life of contemplation full-time. He showed the friars the wisdom of God&#146;s ways.<p>As he was dying, Didacus looked at a crucifix and said: "O faithful wood, O precious nails! You have borne an exceedingly sweet burden, for you have been judged worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven" (Marion A. Habig, O.F.M., <I>The Franciscan Book of Saints</I>, p. 834).<p>San Diego, California, is named for this Franciscan, who was canonized in 1588. What does hosanna mean? When we pray, we make ourselves aware of God’s presence and express the intimacy we share with one who knows us completely. We acknowledge that we, of all nature and the cosmos are hemmed, in by God. God surrounds us on all sides.

 
PICK OF THE DAY
Dawn of the Messiah
In this book, author Edward Sri articulates in clear and exciting terms the mystery of Christ’s birth.

 
CATHOLIC GREETINGS
All Saints Day

Who's your patron? Send a Catholic Greetings e-card and share your devotion to him or her.



American Catholic is for Catholics, all Christians and seekers. Find Roman Catholic Saints, Catholic Church Questions and Catholic News. Post Prayer Requests and send Catholic e-cards. Discover Catholic Books, Catholic Audio Books, Catholic Videos, and a leading Catholic Magazine.

An AmericanCatholic.org Site from the Franciscans and St.Anthony Messenger Press Copyright © 1996-2009