Showing results by author "Wyatt North" in All Categories

A Reader's Study of the Gospels: The Gospel of John assists the listener to understand the fourth gospel's theology and symbolism in presenting Jesus as God’s eternal word, the light of the world, the bread of life, the good shepherd, and much more.

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.

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.

The office of bishop of Rome is one of the most powerful positions in the world. As an ancient institution stretching back for centuries, the papacy has a history that is marked by archaic and modern customs alike. The history of the men who have held this position is fraught with villainous and heroic actions that have left a profound impact on the development of civilization as we know it, both in the West and East.

Martin Luther is arguably one of the most influential people in the past millennium. He is perhaps most notably recognized for nailing the 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church, effectively initiating what is now Christian Protestantism. Luther was radical, wittily sarcastic, and rebellious against the traditional establishments of the Church. Whatever Luther could do to progress and defend Scripture, he did, even at the risk of his life. He is often referred to as the "Great Reformer" and the father of Lutheranism.

It has become a cliche to say that one person can make a difference, but the life of Mahatma Gandhi confronts us with the enduring truth of that statement. It is impossible to say exactly what moved people to revere and follow him and be imprisoned and beaten on his behalf by the thousands. No doubt his ever-gentle demeanor had a hand in that. His perpetual grace and joy, even in the face of terrible hardship, surely won some hearts and minds.

The New Testament speaks of repentance as a gift from God. Yet, out of pride, many of us cling to our sins and justify our misdeeds to ourselves. Out of shame, many of us will cover up or ignore our sins as if we could simply pretend they were not a burden. This audiobook offers many meditations and prayers on repentance. God willing, it can help draw you closer to an attitude of the heart befitting of penance - that is, confession, repentance, satisfaction, and forgiveness.

St. Catherine of Siena was born during an outbreak of the Plague in Siena in 1347. She was brought up in the faith, and especially after her own sister died at the age of 16, found herself committed to pursuits of piety. She joined the Dominican order, and, at the age of 21, had what she described as her "mystical marriage" to Christ.

Joan of Arc was declared a saint in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV, who called her a “most brilliantly shining light of God.” From her story emerges a persona that millions, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, have come to regard as the embodiment of courage and faith.

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.

A lo largo de su vida, la Madre Teresa trabajó para transformar nuestras ideas de hogar, amor y familia. Como figura del siglo XX, vio los rápidos cambios que se estaban produciendo en el mundo y entre su gente, y fue lo suficientemente intuitiva como para saber que el Catolicismo, así como su trabajo misionero, necesitaría re-dibujarse para poder satisfacer las nuevas y diversas necesidades.

Few Christians in history are more revered when it comes to prayer and contemplation than St. Teresa of Ávila. Known for her piety and rapturous mystical experiences, many have sought to pursue her path or a path like it. While some have done this formally in the Carmelite orders she established, countless others have grown in their faith and experiences of intimacy with God through her writings and prayers.

Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) was a major reformer of the Carmelite Order. He was canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. What he accomplished in the monasteries paralleled what Saint Theresa of Avila did in the convents. Together, these two saints are considered the founders of the Discalced Carmelites. In fact, the two saints were friends and corresponded regularly.

It is difficult in this day and age to imagine Christianity without the beneficent presence of the Blessed Virgin.

Next to Christ, of all those who grace the pages of the New Testament, Mary is perhaps the one who touches us the most.

There are a great many men and women who have forever influenced and changed the course of Christian history, but one might ask whether any have made such a profound impact as Saint Paul the Apostle. It is through the ardent work of Paul that we know the path to Salvation, one which leads us and binds us to God through the love of Christ. When Jesus revealed himself directly to Paul and called Paul into his service that set Paul apart from other disciples who had come into the faith since the crucifixion.

Nelson Mandela's legacy is known worldwide, and his life has been widely documented. His memory is preserved in statues, paintings, feature films, history books, and biographies. Yet to many Americans, Mandela may be somewhat unknown. Many people around the world consider Mandela one of the greatest leaders of the twentieth century.

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a Burgundian abbot who was credited with the revitalization of the Benedictine order through the nascent Order of the Cistercians. He lived during the time of schism, when the head of the church was in contention. Benedict was chosen to help decide between the claims on the papacy - ultimately siding with Pope Innocent II rather than the Antipope Anacletus II. Benedict played a significant role in unifying the church and protecting its unity against the threat that this dispute signified.

Let’s live a life of love. Let’s reflect on and learn from the lives of saints. The word saint comes from the Latin word sanctus, a translation of the Greek word hagios, which means “holy”. 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.

Praying with the Saints: Prayers for the Sick and Dying is a collection of 20 days' meditations and prayers. The prospect of one's mortality can be intimidating - the experience of loss when those whom we love die can cause immense pain and sorrow. For Christians, however, we have an answer to these problems that allows us to persist through sickness and death in hope.

Take a 180-day journey with St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. John of the Cross. Each day includes a meditation, a prayer, and further Biblical references for study.