How Saint Patrick’s Breastplate Will Shield You on Your Spiritual Journey

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Saint Patrick lived in the 5th century and was a Christian missionary. He was instrumental in converting Ireland to Christianity. Known most for his usage of the shamrock to help explain the Trinity, Patrick’s successfully converted the pagans.

Saint Patrick

Several posts on this feast day focus on “little known facts” or about whether Saint Patrick was actually Irish. I’m going to do something a bit different. Saint Patrick’s Breastplate prayer always provided me with great comfort. This article will examine the various aspects of his prayer.

Here’s the short version of the prayer (for the long version check out the link in the related resources at the end of this article):

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A 1019 Word Interview with Kevin Wells about Venerable Aloysius Schwartz

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Kevin Wells, Catholic author, via phone on February 11th, 2026. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Father Al first encountered, around 1939, heroism through comic books like Boy Commandos. How do you think God sometimes uses pop culture as a “gateway drug” to sanctity?

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All Are Welcome to the Well: Where Jesus Is the Source of Life

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on the Gospel of John 4:5-15,19b-26,39a,40-42

Dear friends in Christ,

Let me begin with a story. A few years ago, a young woman named Julia found herself standing in the back of a church, uncertain if she belonged. She had been away from faith and the Church for a long time. Life had been messy—disappointment, guilt, and the nagging feeling that she wasn’t “good enough” for God or anyone else. But one Sunday, driven by a deep thirst for something more, Maria slipped quietly into Mass. As the congregation sang, “Come to the Water,” tears filled her eyes. In that moment, she realized that God didn’t want her to be perfect—He just wanted her to come. Like someone parched in the desert, Julia longed for a love that would not run dry. She understood, maybe for the first time, that the well is for everyone, and Jesus is waiting for each of us there.

Jesus Welcomes the Outsider: The Gift of Living Water for All

Today’s Gospel gives us this same invitation. We find Jesus, tired and dusty, sitting beside Jacob’s well in Samaria. It’s noon—the hottest part of the day—and a Samaritan woman comes to draw water. She’s an outsider, both by her heritage and her personal history. Jews and Samaritans avoided each other. She comes alone, likely because she is unwelcome among her own community. And yet Jesus speaks to her—not with judgment, but with a simple request: “Give me a drink.”

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Following St. Francis: A Pilgrim’s Path Through Italy

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Sponsored: This article is made possible by Follow My Camino, supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.

Most people think they know St. Francis of Assisi.

He’s the bird guy. The nature saint. The gentle medieval mystic who probably floated through fields quoting poetry to wildflowers.

The real Francis would smile at that image and then promptly dismantle it by doing something wildly inconvenient, like renouncing his inheritance in public or embracing a leper out of love for Christ.

Francis didn’t become famous because he was soft. He became famous because he was free. Once you understand that, you begin to see why pilgrims still lace up their boots and follow his footsteps across Italy eight centuries later.

The Saint Everyone Thinks They Know

St. Francis is one of the most beloved saints in history and also one of the most misunderstood.

He’s often portrayed as sentimental or dreamy, but the historical Francis was intense, disciplined, and radically committed. When Jesus said sell what you have, Francis didn’t treat that as a metaphor. He treated it as instructions. When Christ said take up your cross, Francis didn’t write a reflection about it. He obeyed it.

He once said:

“Sanctify yourself, and you will sanctify society.”

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The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies: Episode 28

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Welcome to another The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies! Growing up, one of my favorite parts of Sunday was flipping to the comics section of the newspaper: a little pocket of humor, color, and light-heartedness to start the week.

Now, in that same spirit, I’m excited to share this weekly collection of wholesome, funny Catholic comic strips. Thanks to the incredible talents of artists like Father Alvaro Comics, The Catholic Cartoonist, Sam Estrada, Tomics, and Fr. Michael DeBlanc. These comics bring a joyful twist to our shared faith, reminding us that laughter is one of God’s great gifts.

Enjoy Catholic comics!

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A 1232 Word Interview with the Creator of Father Alvaro Comics

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Joe Burud, creator of Father Alvaro Comics, via phone on February 13th, 2026. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

🎨 On Origin & Calling

What first inspired you to create Father Alvaro Comics?

I have always enjoyed creating comics. When I was a kid my dad was really supportive in sending my comics to newspapers. In eighth grade I shadowed John Kavolic during career day. At the time he worked on the Wild Life comic strip for the Wisconsin State Journal. He later also did the artwork for the boardgame Munchkins. 

I started Father Alvaro because I love the creative process. I wanted to explore my faith, my dad is a deacon. And I also wanted to take a break from the negativities of social media and create something positive. 

When did you first realize that comics could be a way to explore Catholic life—not just entertain it?

Comics for me are almost like a diary. It’s a way for me to convey a point in a very precise way (three frames). Father Alvaro started out as something I would email my brother and my dad. It was a great way for me to reflect on the faith in a small way. 

A few years later, I came across Joshua Masterson’s The Catholic Cartoonist and was inspired to share them with others.

Your bio mentions focusing on “the humor, beauty, and challenges of parish life in the Midwest.” Why parish life? 

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