Catholic spiritual life

5 Stunning Facts about Saint Catherine of Siena

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Sponsored: This article is made possible by Letters From Heaven — Saint Letters for Catholic Kids supporting quality and engaging Catholic content.

Saint Catherine of Siena was one of the greatest followers of Christ. Her ability to articulate the Gospel and her courage to call even the papacy to reform are among the key reasons she is one of my favorite saints. My youngest daughter is even named after this amazing saint, which means her story shows up often in our home in very real and tangible ways.

Read on to learn five amazing facts about Catherine:

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A 709 Word Interview with Sweet Catholic Life

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Katie Luangkhot, Founder of Sweet Catholic Life, via phone on February 20th, 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.

What first inspired you to start Sweet Catholic Life?

I was on Instagram as a mom blogger in 2018 and I was feeling unfulfilled, so I shut down my page. I reopened the page in 2019 and started by praying a Rosary live. I shifted my name from Sweet Momma Life to Sweet Catholic Life. 

Because my kids were getting older I had to shift my prayers to the afternoon from the morning. We pray a live Chapel of Divine Mercy at 3pm. We read a little bit from Maria Faustina’s Diary. And we aim for a weekly Rosary in the evening at 8pm. 

And the community has grown and it’s been incredible.

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Saints Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea: Witnesses to Spiritual Renewal and the Dignity of Life

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The encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, as recounted in the Gospel of John, offers a glimpse into the transformative power of spiritual rebirth through baptism. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, seeks wisdom under the cover of night. This darkness can be seen as symbolic of his initial lack of understanding or hesitation to fully embrace the truth of Jesus’ message. Yet, by approaching Jesus, Nicodemus takes the first step out of this spiritual darkness.

Their conversation centers around the concept of baptism—a second birth that ushers believers into the realm of the spirit. Through baptism, individuals shed their old selves, emerging as adopted children of God, free from the constraints of original sin. Nicodemus’s willingness to engage in dialogue, despite his initial reservations, demonstrates his openness to spiritual growth. He becomes a beacon of hope for all who seek understanding and a deeper connection with divine truth.

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A 1036 Word Interview with Vinny Flynn

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Vinny Flynn via phone on January 23rd, 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.

Your new book, A Year with Divine Mercy, brings together reflections from popes, saints, Scripture, and scholars into a daily devotional. Can you share what inspired you to structure this particular work as a year-long journey?

We kind of inherited the framework because TAN already had a series A Year with the Popes, A Year with Mary, A Year with the Angels. The framework is set-up where it’s not dated (Jan. 1, Jan. 2, etc) because we don’t want people to feel pressured to start at the beginning of the year. This book is not an academic exercise but more of a personal retreat to help them apply Divine Mercy in their own life. 

What do you hope readers’ relationship with God’s mercy will grow through it? 

I hope that people will be able to apply Divine Mercy in your life, and encounter Jesus Christ who is the Divine Mercy. It’s a personal encounter with Mercy. We choose readings intentionally to help people understand that Divine Mercy is a way of life.

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Your First Catholic Pilgrimage: Simple Steps to Prepare Heart, Mind, and Backpack

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By: Darcie Nielsen, Co-founder of CatholicGO

Begin With the Heart: Setting Your Intentions

Going on a pilgrimage for the first time (even locally) is a lot like visiting extended family you haven’t met or seen in years. There’s a sense of anticipation, familiarity, and yet very much unknown. There’s spiritual preparation as much as there is material preparation. 

The material preparation is easy in the sense that you pack the snacks, drinks, a picnic meal, some matches to light candles, and your rosary. It’s the spiritual preparation that takes some deeper thought. A few questions can help guide this process:

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An 1167 Word Interview about the Relic Project

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Anthony Di Mauro via phone call on June 2, 2025. We rearranged and edited some of the questions to provide the best reader experience without compromising the integrity of the answers.

What first drew you personally to the world of relics?

That’s a great question! Honestly, curiosity. The first time I encountered relics on a grand scale was through helping Fr. Carlos Martin. That’s what drove this passion about relics and I have this desire to grow closer to the saints. 

How did that encounter shape The Relic Project?

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