Religious Saints

In 1979, 24-year-old Maura O'Halloran moved to Japan and became the first woman ever admitted to Toshoji Temple. Soshin-san (O'Halloran's monastic name) labored through three intense years of work and study in preparation for becoming a dharma teacher. Her life ended abruptly during a trip to Thailand, and today Soshin-san is revered as a Buddhist saint. The material in this program is from her private and heartfelt journals and letters.

The world needs saints to show it the way to true humanity. The church needs saints to show it how to live out its calling. The witness of the lives of the saints is a powerful testimony to the reality of God’s plan and the possibility for truly following it in one’s life. So often, we do not see this witness. We see hypocrisy and mediocrity among Christians. That is why we must look to the saints - the ones who really followed the words of Christ and let them be carried out fully in their lives. The saints also give us a reason to hope.

St. Therese of Lisieux, largely unknown when she died in a Carmelite convent at the age of 24, became, through her posthumously published autobiography, one of the world's most influential religious figures. No less a luminary than Andre Gide modeled one of his characters after her in his novel Strait is the Gate.

Religiosa, mística y escritora, fue considerada uno de los pilares de la iglesia Católica. A través de 10 pasos hacemos un acercamiento a su vida, obra y enseñanzas. Conoce a Santa Teresa de Jesús en 10 pasos es un homenaje a uno de los personajes más notables de la Historia Universal, 500 años después de su nacimiento.

Explore the life and legacy of St. Francis of Assisi, a beloved figure known for his profound humility, love for all creatures, and dedication to a life of poverty and service. This book provides an in-depth look at the life of St. Francis, from his early years and conversion to his establishment of the Franciscan Order and enduring impact on Christianity and the world. St. Francis of Assisi was a man of extraordinary faith, compassion, and simplicity, whose actions and teachings continue to inspire millions. This book delves into his spiritual journey, his relationship with nature, and his...

Of all of the important Catholic men and women who have been venerated over the last 2,000 years, one of the faith's most popular and influential men also lived one of the most unique lives. Like Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) found God about as far away from church as possible; it was during military service that he underwent a remarkable conversion.

St. Teresa stands among the greatest of the mystics. It was her pursuit of Christ, not her pursuit of visions, that set her apart as one of the most notable saints in the history of Christendom. It is her dedication to her Lord, her bridegroom, not her experiences, that render her worthy of imitation.

When 10-year-old Dinah Kirkham saw her father leave their Manchester home in the middle of the night, she asked when he would be back. “Soon,” he replied. But he never came back. On that night in 1829, John Kirkham laid the foundation of his daughter’s certainty that the only person Dinah could ever really trust was herself.

One part biography, one part prayer book, The Life and Prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi is an essential book for any Christian. Saint Francis of Assisi is quite possibly the most popular of all Christian saints. Perhaps it is his adoration for all living things or his unrelenting generosity that has made so many people open their hearts to him.

Saint Patrick was, by his own admission, a controversial figure. Convicted in a trial by his elders in Britain and hounded by rumors that he settled in Ireland for financial gain, the man who was to become Ireland’s patron saint battled against great odds before succeeding as a missionary. Saint Patrick Retold draws on recent research to offer a fresh assessment of Patrick’s travails and achievements. This is the first biography in nearly 50 years to explore Patrick’s career against the background of historical events in late antique Britain and Ireland.

In 1384, a poor and illiterate peasant woman named Ermine moved to the city of Reims with her elderly husband. Her era was troubled by war, plague, and schism within the Catholic Church, and Ermine could easily have slipped unobserved through the cracks of history. After the loss of her husband, however, things took a remarkable but frightening turn. For the last 10 months of her life, Ermine was tormented by nightly visions of angels and demons.

The past is seldom hushed. All that needs to be heard will find a way to reach those willing to listen. After years of roaming, Leta Purviance finds herself on the receiving end of what she feels will satisfy her longing heart. Settling into the slower rhythms of life in Quay, South Carolina, she hopes to find peace for her soul in the fields of a flower farm. A handsome and headstrong neighbor, a wise old woman from up the creek, and a grandmother with a load of regrets, all entangle their lives with each other in the wild beauty of the low country.

In Saint Augustine's Confessions, he writes about how much he regrets having led a sinful and immoral life. He discusses his regrets for following the Manichaean religion and believing in astrology. He writes about Nebridius's role in helping to persuade him that astrology was not only incorrect but evil, and Saint Ambrose's role in his conversion to Christianity.

Considerada por muchos el testamento espiritual de Miguel de Unamuno, esta pequeña obra maestra aborda la dialéctica entre la fe y la duda a través de la vida de un protosanto moderno llamado don Manuel, párroco de un pueblecito de la provincia de Zamora. Quien nos trasmite sus recuerdos de ese hombre excepcional es la última de sus discípulas, y su relato crea una auténtica tensión dramática gracias a la riqueza espiritual de los personajes.

Hear about old favorites, such as Augustine and Luther, and learn about the obscure, though equally influential Christians, such as Cocceius and Olevianus. This collection of short biographies details the lives of fifty-two professing believers who lived and died for Christ. Not sentimental or fictionalized, these accounts tell what Christians actually said and did during difficult times, and they prepare the listener to face opposition today.

The following is a compilation of lessons from the life of Merlin R. Lybbert.

Love like poets, live like saints. This unique exploration of people such as Saint Thérèse, George MacDonald, and C.S. Lewis offers insight into 11 of the world's most thoughtful and authentic Christ followers. Weaving biography and spiritual formation together, Poets and Saints reminds us of the convictions that set us apart as Christians - and the truth that has set us free in every generation.

Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) - also known as Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face - lived a short life. She died at the age of 24 from consumption - what we now call tuberculosis. However, in her short life, she inspired many nuns in the Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and wrote much regarding the path of humility and holiness befitting a Christian.

While all of us are capable of holiness, canonization is the Church’s official recognition that a particular person displayed an extraordinary degree of holiness, or devotion to God, during his or her time on Earth. There is much to be learned from the words, acts, and lives of the saints of the Roman Catholic Church. They provide undeniable examples of the best that humankind is capable of - virtues like kindness, charity, love for each other, especially for the lowest and the least among us, courage in the face of adversity, humility, and selflessness.

Además de Jesús, no hay otro personaje trazado más vívidamente en los evangelios que Pedro. Es en los momentos decisivos, donde se requiere una acción rápida y categórica, donde el líder de los apóstoles brilla; ahí Pedro no tiene rival en el círculo interno de personas que seguían a Jesús de Nazareth.