Francis Xavier, the patron saint of missionaries, sailors, Japan, and the East Indies. With Ignatius of Loyola and companions, founded the Society of Jesus.

by Tara Brelinsky | Inspired by the Spirit's prompting, I felt called to tailor the prayer so that it resonated all the more with weary and tired parents.

by John Clark | As we Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, here are Catholics statements on these inalienable...

Everyone has heard of Marine Biologists (look up the career of Eugene Sledge after his time in the Corps!) but few have had the idea that Marines might be effective ...

During Lent, we want to stop and prepare our hearts for a penitential time of fasting, alms-giving, and prayer. Lent does not have to be just a time of personal ...

by John Clark | How do we develop a sense of detachment? How do we get started? I propose one answer that might seem odd. Here it is: give up marshmallows. For the rest of your life.

by Kevin Clark | St. Francis de Sales, a Bishop and spiritual writer, is best known for 'Introduction to the Devout Life'. Here are five of the things we can learn from him about virtue...

by John Clark | According to recent reports, Pope Francis will be releasing an encyclical about the environment later this year.

The process of Pope Francis being misunderstood is so common it could easily keep me busy day and night as an apologist. I wrote a book about it and compiled ...

by John Clark | Pope Francis has been criticized by some Catholics for being liked by the world. Admittedly, he seems to be liked in unusual venues such as GQ, Time Magazine, and Elton John concerts.

It could be said, without exaggeration, that the family is the engine of the world and of history.

by Dave Armstrong | When the Church has referred to Muslims worshiping the one God, it is meant in the sense of both Christians and Muslims being monotheists.

by Pope Francis | The transmission of the faith not only brings light to men and women in every place; it travels through time, passing from one generation to another. Because faith is born of an encounter which takes place in history and lights up our journey through time, it must be passed on in every age.

Some of the best adventures for family field trips are the Catholic shrines located all around the country. These shrines are sometimes tucked into the smallest slivers of land in the middle of cities, surrounded on all sides by soaring skyscrapers. Sometimes they are just off the main highway and millions pass by unknowing each day. And sometimes they are so far down abandoned and forgotten roads that having but a quarter tank of gas seems a potential hazard.

by Pope Francis | In the family, faith accompanies every age of life, beginning with childhood: children learn to trust in the love of their parents. This is why it is so important that within their families parents encourage shared expressions of faith which can help children gradually to mature in their own faith.

by Pope Francis | Children are not capable of accepting the faith by a free act, nor are they yet able to profess that faith on their own; therefore the faith is professed by their parents and godparents in their name. Since faith is a reality lived within the community of the Church

by Kevin Clark | The legislature of Arizona recently passed a law which allows a business to assert a free exercise defense if it is accused of discrimination for refusing to provide a service to a customer. The Arizona law, which has gone to Governor Jan Brewer to sign or veto, closely tracks the wording of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Pope Francis: "There is another form of poverty! It is the spiritual poverty of our time, which afflicts the so-called richer countries particularly seriously. It is what my much-loved predecessor, Benedict XVI, called the ‘tyranny of relativism,’ which allows everyone to create his own criterion and endangers the coexistence of peoples. But there is no true peace without truth.”

The Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, is composed of those of us still on Earth, those in Purgatory, and those in Heaven. We on Earth are encouraged by the Church to pray for those in Purgatory, and to ask those in Heaven to pray for us. Those we prayed for when they were in Purgatory will certainly pray for us when they reach Heaven.

Download this 'Saints and Sacred' Word Puzzle! A fun activity to for all ages! Search for these words: Rosary, Fatima, saints, Francis, Dominic, Kateri, Thomas, Therese, Luke, Elizabeth, Isaac, Agnes, Rose