saints
Saint names dropped from 12 Midwest hospitals
By Lauren Markoe — September 7, 2016
(RNS) Goodbye, St. Anthony.
Mother Teresa now officially ‘St. Teresa’
By Josephine McKenna — September 4, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff said the tiny nun 'made her voice heard before the powers of this world so that they might recognize their guilt for the crime of poverty they created.'
Mother Teresa’s keys to sainthood: sharing poverty and showing mercy
By Josephine McKenna — September 2, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The priest who championed her canonization -- set for Sunday -- also said the late nun was in such demand that she could wind up as the patron saint of frequent flyers.
Who was Mary Magdalene? New book explores the life of the saint
By Emily McFarlan Miller — July 21, 2016
(RNS) The biblical figure of Mary Magdalene has been 'interpreted and misinterpreted, just as Jesus has been interpreted and misinterpreted,' according to historian Michael Haag.
Scientists bring saints back to life with imaging technology
By Janet Tappin Coelho — July 18, 2016
RIO DE JANEIRO (RNS) The scientists, both members of the Brazilian Team of Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Odontology, have discovered that the religious images of saints are generally inaccurate.
The ‘Splainer: Who was St. Patrick, and would he drink green beer?
By Kimberly Winston — March 17, 2016
(RNS) March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. But was there a real St. Patrick? Did he drive the snakes out of Ireland or use the shamrock to explain the Trinity? Why should this fifth-century priest be remembered at all? Let us 'Splain.
Pope Francis tries to clean up costly saint-making process
By Rosie Scammell — March 10, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) After leaks pegged the cost of canonization at $500,000 on average, the pontiff moved to rein in abuses and improve accountability.
Padre Pio’s body leaves the Vatican after drawing thousands of pilgrims
By Rosie Scammell — February 11, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The body of one of Italy’s favorite saints spent nearly a week on display inside St. Peter’s Basilica as part of the Jubilee of Mercy.
Thousands visit human remains of youngest Catholic saint near Chicago
By Reuters — October 15, 2015
ORLAND PARK, Ill. (Reuters) The skeleton of Maria Goretti, an 11-year-old girl who was stabbed to death during an attempted rape in 1902, was encased in a wax statue lying inside a clear glass coffin. Viewers waited for hours to approach the display, and many were moved to tears.
Why hipster pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber thinks the church is for losers
By Jesse James DeConto — September 29, 2015
(RNS) Her newest book, “Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People," expands on her trademark exploration of finding God in the unexpected.
Pope Francis canonizes, and defends, controversial Spanish missionary Junipero Serra
By David Gibson — September 23, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) But in his homily at the Mass, the first on his historic visit to the U.S., the pontiff made scant mention of the new saint. He instead blasted the church's "frozen elites" and said Catholics need to get out of their comfort zones and serve others.
Did Pope Francis preview his argument for making Junipero Serra a saint? (ANALYSIS)
By David Gibson — July 10, 2015
(RNS) Are Americans ready for a nuanced view of the Spanish missionary's history in California -- and his sanctity -- when Pope Francis arrives in the U.S. with the canonization of Serra on his agenda?
Former rebels, devout cheer as Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero beatified
By Reuters — May 26, 2015
A right-wing death squad murdered Romero, a staunch critic of the military government and advocate for peasants and workers' rights, 35 years ago.
Pope Francis declares Oscar Romero a martyr, moves slain archbishop toward sainthood
By David Gibson — February 3, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has often said he thought the slain archbishop was a martyr worthy of consideration for sainthood.
Some see Junipero Serra, Pope Francis’ next American saint, as less than holy
By David Gibson — February 2, 2015
(RNS) Some of Junipero Serra’s sharpest critics say he was part of an imperial conquest that beat and enslaved Native Americans, raped their women, and destroyed their culture.
