I’m excited to introduce you to today’s WYD Rio patron. He is a remarkable figure, known as a bringer of Christ’s peace and love. Meet:  Saint Anthony from Santana Galvão Fr. Anthony from Santana Galvão, is the first Brazilian-born saint. Anthony was born in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo in 1739 to a deeply religious family of ...read more

With World Youth Day around the corner, I thought I’d share (over the course of the next few weeks) some of my favourite images from Brazil. Hopefully, this will give you a sense of how Brazilians practice their faith (and that you’ll find these images as intriguing as I did). Today’s image depicts pilgrims following ...read more

Next in our series of blogs reviewing the patron saints and intercessors for this year’s World Youth Day, we take a look at: St. Sebastian Although nothing can be certain about the history of St. Sebastian, it is said that he was an officer in the imperial guard, known for the good works that he ...read more

As World Youth Day draws near, the Vatican today released statistics about the Church in Brazil. For your reference we’ve included the published bulletin below:   Vatican City, 20 June 2013 (VIS) For the occasion of Francis’ upcoming apostolic trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to preside at the 38th World Youth Day, statistics have ...read more

In the lead-up to World Youth Day Rio I thought we’d get acquainted with the patron saints and intercessors for this year, as there are 18 in total. Now, that’s some serious intercession! Some of these saints you’ll recognize immediately like St. Therese of Lisieux, others will be completely new – isn’t it great how ...read more

Brazil has been a fascinating experience: in spite of being Portuguese and speaking the same language as the locals, there is a cultural difference. I arrived in Rio a week ago and right away I could feel the energy of the people, who are always ready to help you. The first Mass I attended on ...read more

A reflection on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Year B Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 Psalm 33 “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage” Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20 “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” That has got to be one of my favourite passages of scripture. God ...read more

The month of May is traditionally the month of Mary in the Catholic Church. To celebrate this month we’ll be bringing you a series of posts about obscure Marian devotions. The first devotion we’ll be examining is Our Lady Untier of Knots. The year is 1612, the place is Augsburg, Germany. A nobleman named Wolfgang ...read more

   Below is the full text of Pope Francis’ catechesis talk at this week’s General Audience. Transcription and translation provided by Vatican Radio. Dear brothers and sisters, good day. The season of Easter that we are living with joy, guided by the liturgy of the Church, is par excellence the time of the Holy Spirit, ...read more

The Easter season continues with yet another episode of Lectio Divina. On this month’s edition, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto continues his series of reflections on the Year of Faith by looking at St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. In that very letter, St. Paul writes, “So faith comes from what is heard; and what ...read more