Saints

Lent: Walking the Desert, Climbing Carmel

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Lent is often described as a journey, but most of us imagine the wrong kind of trip.

We picture something orderly and purposeful, like a planned pilgrimage with clear stops and visible progress. In reality, Lent tends to feel less like a guided retreat and more like wandering through harsh terrain. The Church gives us images of deserts and mountains for a reason. Both places are beautiful, but neither is comfortable, and neither can be rushed.

Lately I have been thinking about how perfectly those two landscapes fit together. In a funny way, Antarctica might be one of the best physical analogies for Lent. It contains vast deserts, towering mountains, and long stretches of silence and darkness. It is stark, even unsettling, yet strangely magnificent. You do not go there to be entertained. You go there to be changed.

That is what Lent is meant to do to us.

The Desert Simplifies What We Complicate

Every year I begin Lent with some sort of plan. I imagine what my prayer life will look like, which devotions I will take up, and how disciplined I will be about fasting. Somewhere in the back of my mind there is always the hope that this will be the year I finally “do Lent right.”

Then the desert shows up.

The prayer feels dry. The sacrifices feel small. The daily routine crowds in, and whatever elaborate spiritual blueprint I had imagined starts to crumble. Instead of feeling like a spiritual athlete, I usually feel like someone who packed too much for a hike and now has to carry it through sand.

Part of this comes from how complicated the Catholic world around Lent can feel. There are challenges, book lists, podcasts, and endless suggestions for how to maximize the season. None of those things are bad, but if you are wired like me, it can quickly feel overwhelming. My ADHD brain does not need twenty possible Lenten programs. It needs a path that is clear and walkable.

The Church, in her wisdom, already gave us one.

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Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Theologian Who Taught the Church How to Pray

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By: Austin Habash

When most Catholics hear the name Saint Thomas Aquinas, they think immediately of dense theology, philosophical arguments, and the towering Summa Theologiae. He is often presented as the Church’s greatest intellect, the man who organized doctrine with unmatched clarity.

But this common picture is incomplete.

Aquinas was not only a master of theology. He was also a master of prayer. Some of the most beautiful liturgical and devotional texts in the Church’s life flow directly from his pen. To recover Aquinas as a spiritual guide, not only as a theological authority, is to rediscover a deeply underappreciated dimension of Catholic tradition.

This rediscovery has also affected my own spiritual life. Studying Aquinas daily for Summa in a Year began as an intellectual project. Over time, I found myself drawn not only to his arguments but to his spirit. He was a man who thought precisely because he prayed profoundly.

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The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul Explained

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There are saints whose lives feel instantly approachable. Thérèse with her quiet trust, Joseph with his hidden faithfulness, Martha with her anxious hospitality that still looks suspiciously like my kitchen on a Tuesday night. And then there is Saint Paul, the former persecutor of Christians who needed nothing less than a divine flash of light to turn his life around.

At first glance, celebrating a man literally knocked off a horse by Jesus Himself can feel disconnected from our own slow and ordinary spiritual lives. Most of us do not encounter blinding lights or audible voices from heaven. Our conversions usually happen in coffee-stained prayer journals, in hurried acts of contrition, or in the quiet determination to try again after another failure. Yet the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, celebrated each year on January 25, may be the most reassuring feast on the Church’s calendar precisely because Paul did not begin as a saint. He began as a mess, and God loved him anyway.

Grace Doesn’t Ask Permission

The Acts of the Apostles introduces Saul of Tarsus not as a seeker or skeptic but as a man actively “breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord.” He is not wandering toward God with doubts or half-formed prayers. He is charging in the opposite direction, armed with authority and convinced that he is doing holy work by destroying the Church.

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7 Reasons Why October is an Extra Holy Time

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“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower,” stated Albert Camus the 20th century French Novelist. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Colorful leaves carpet the lawns in my neighborhood. I enjoy seeing the visible transformation occur on trees and watching animals prepare for winter. My wife’s birthday is during October—the middle of fall. I am indebted to God for the gift of my marriage. Without my wife, my fervor for Divine Mercy and St. Maria Faustina—her confirmation saint— may not exist!

Reflecting on autumn, my wife, and the Polish saint allowed for me to have a profound revelation: October contains an all-star line-up for saint feast days!

Five of my personal favorite saints, and historical favorites among Catholics as well, have a feast day in the first part of October. On top of this amazing realization, October is also dedicated to the Holy Rosary and respect for all life. I will be dedicating other posts on these topics so I will focus on the seven feast days of stellar saintly role models:

Guardian Angel meme

Guardian Angels

My children and I ask for the intercession of our guardian angels every night before bedtime. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church number 336, “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202 ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.’203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” God sends his messengers from Heaven to keep us safe and remind us of His Presence.

St. Therese of Liseux quote

Therese of Lisieux

According to St. Therese, “Our Lord does not so much look at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.” Known as the Little Flower, the saint’s words provide a fresh perspective on my daily living and struggles. As a person who focuses on problems as something to be overcome, I sometimes place an emphasis on the amount of effort I have to put forth on a task. I also struggle with desiring recognition toward my works. Instead, if I focus on love as St. Therese teaches us, my life will be more joyful!

Francis of Assisi

Francis serves as an example of holiness, but for me, it is a personal reminder for my college days. I attended Franciscan University graduate schooling. The legacy the Italian saint left on me is truly immeasurable.

His transformation from a wealthy individual to a beggar of Christ is a tangible example of the Gospel lived out. Struggling with envy and greed myself, I am able to look to Francis of Assisi as a role model. Lord make me an instrument of peace like your servant Francis!

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Maria Faustina

No other 20th century saint, besides John Paul II and Maximilian, has impacted me as much as St. Maria Faustina. Known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy, the Polish nun is to the 20th century what St. Paul was to the 1st century Church—the evangelizer of truth to the Gentiles! Sister Faustina helped console my wife after a good friend from high school died suddenly.

The Polish sister led my wife to convert to the Catholic faith as well! She has been instrumental in deepening my relationship with God over the past decade. St. Faustina is probably the biggest influence on viewing God first as a merciful Father as opposed to a vengeful Judge. Through St. Maria Faustina I heard God’s truth in her words, “Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who our true friend is.”

Our Lady of the Rosary

While the entire month of October is dedicated to the Rosary (another reason to love this month!), Catholics celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7th.

Our Lady of the Rosary holds immense importance in the Catholic faith and Christian tradition. This title honors the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven and a powerful intercessor. The rosary, a centuries-old prayer practice, is closely linked to this devotion, believed to have been revealed by Mary to Saint Dominic in the 13th century.

Beyond its historical roots, Our Lady of the Rosary plays a vital role in the daily lives of Catholics. Many turn to Mary for guidance, protection, and assistance. The rosary, a tool for meditation and reflection, deepens the connection with God and fosters unity among believers worldwide. It serves as a symbol of faith, hope, and unity, reminding us of Mary’s enduring grace and mercy.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Teresa of Avila

Another example of heroic holiness in October is Saint Teresa of Avila. Her life differs from Maria and Therese as the Spanish saint lived a much longer life. Teresa also experienced more of a 180°-type of conversion.

As a young adult, Teresa enjoyed the allure of the world. It wasn’t until her entry into the convent that the Spanish nun learned the importance of meditative prayer. Teresa’s The Interior Castle is a profound spiritual work that explores the vastness of our spiritual journey. This spiritual treatise has helped aid me on my journey.

Saint Luke

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Luke on October 18th. As a writer of one of the four Gospels, Luke had a special role in the early Church. He was also a traveling companion to Saint Paul and penned the Acts of the Apostles. Paul makes reference to Luke’s profession as a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and the Lord had even bigger plans for this saint. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Luke provides us with an amazing account of Jesus’ life and shares parables like the Prodigal Son and Lost Sheep.

Saint Luke is an advocate for passing on the faith. Celebrate his feast by reading from his gospel account or from Acts of the Apostles.

While autumn is akin to a second springtime, my communion with the saints during October is like a second spiritual springtime for me. My guardian angel, Therese of Lisieux, Francis of Assisi, Maria Faustina, Luke the Evangelist, Teresa of Avila, and the Blessed Virgin Mary reflect God’s merciful and transforming love.

Through communion with these exemplary role models I am given hope that my personal vices of greed, envy, and pride are able to be overcome! The Church teaches “We worship Christ as God’s Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord’s disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples!” (CCC 957). I pray the communion of saints will continue to guide you in your path toward holiness and ultimately lead us closer to God.

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Related Links

3 Ways St. Maria Faustina Provided Buoyancy in the Overwhelming Ocean of Life

5 Astonishing Facts about Your Guardian Angel

St. Francis of Assisi: Lover of the Eucharist

Why I Absolutely Love Saint Therese Of Lisieux

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Why Saint Pius X is the Eclipser of Errors

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Editor’s Note: Post originally published on August 23, 2017.

Pope Pius X

Pius X was an influential successor of St. Peter at the turn of the 20th century. Born Giuseppe Mechiorre Sarto in 1835, he lived near Venice, Italy. Coming from a poor family of ten children, Giuseppe acquired an education aided through his keen intellect and high moral character. Eventually, he rose the ranks of the Catholic Church and became supreme pontiff in 1903. He led the Church until 1914.

To be honest, my initial knowledge about Pius X was overshadowed by his predecessor and later successor bearing the same appellation—Pius IX and Pius XII. However, the more I read and learned about the sainted bishop the more I gained an appreciation for what he offered the Church.

Marian devotion

Following the tradition of his predecessor, Pius IX, Pius X held a strong devotion to Mary. He dedicated an entire encyclical on the Mystery of the Immaculate Conception. The Italian pope definitively declared the significance of Mary in Ad Dieum Illum Laetissimum,

His Mother most holy should be recognized as participating in the divine mysteries and as being in a manner the guardian of them, and that upon her as upon a foundation, the noblest after Christ, rises the edifice of the faith of all centuries (no. 5).

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Pius X lauded the intercessory nature and power of Mary throughout this encyclical letter. Safeguarding and passing on the teaching of the Church, the Italian pope cited his predecessor’s clear and definitive language on the importance of Mary. “By this companionship in sorrow and suffering already mentioned between the Mother and the Son, it has been allowed to the august Virgin to be the most powerful mediatrix and advocate of the whole world with her Divine Son (Pius IX. Ineffabilis) (no. 13), wrote Pius X.

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Emphasis on the Eucharist

Pius X’s love and admiration for the Blessed Mother ultimately helped him grow in closeness with Jesus. As a result, it should not be a surprise that the saint held a deep reverence and adoration for the Sacrament of the Eucharist. If Pius X’s pontificate could be summed up in a single theme it would be the promotion of Holy Communion to young people.

In his encyclical letter, Quam Singulari the Italian pope lowered the minimum age to receive the Eucharist to seven years old. The ancient church allowed for children to receive the sacraments of initiation at a young age. Pius X condemned the error that delayed children from receiving the body and blood of Jesus until age ten or sometimes not until the adolescent years.

On Holy Communion for Youth

Over time this practice dissipated and the age to receive the Eucharist was increased. The pope wasted no time in chastising the error which distinguished the age of reason between receiving Confession and Holy Communion. He boldly proclaimed in his encyclical,

The abuses which we are condemning are due to the fact that they who distinguished one age of discretion for Penance and another for the Eucharist did so in error. The Lateran Council required one and the same age for reception of either Sacrament when it imposed the one obligation of Confession and Communion.

Therefore, the age of discretion for Confession is the time when one can distinguish between right and wrong, that is, when one arrives at a certain use of reason, and so similarly, for Holy Communion is required the age when one can distinguish between the Bread of the Holy Eucharist and ordinary bread-again the age at which a child attains the use of reason (Quam Singulari).

Pius X unified the Catholic Church by lowering the age to seven for Holy Communion. Children acquire countless graces from this sacrament to ward off evil.

Today’s world is as challenging to raise a family in the faith perhaps as any time in history. I am grateful I will have the weapon of the Eucharist to help my children fight the spiritual battles they will face daily.

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Clarity of Truth

This year’s feast day of St. Pius X coincided with the epic solar eclipse. This saint and stellar event both elicit curiosity and awe. Truth has a penchant for grabbing people’s attention. Pope Pius X’s encyclicals are loaded with truth as the Italian pope acted as a guardian of Christ’s teaching. He wrote in Ascendi Dominici Gregis a lengthy refutation of the various errors and heresies surrounding his time. Pius X found the root cause of the prevalent heresy of his time—Modernism. He detailed this in his encyclical letter,

According to this teaching Modernism]…it is inferred that God can never be the direct object of science, and that, as regards history, He must not be considered as an historical subject (Ascendi Dominici Gregis no. 6).

In other words, the Enlightened Man never intends for faith and science to intermingle or coexist. According to the Modernist, a harmony between the two sources of man’s knowledge of God is simply a moral machination on the part of the Catholic Church.

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From my experiences, the error of Modernity certainly eclipses truth [no pun intended!]. Creation is a revelation of God’s divine providence. Christianity is insistent that Christ became man. Knowledge through the senses is a path toward which God elects to reveal His grandeur. Amid cosmic events like the August 21st solar eclipse, humans grasp their small place in the universe. Despite our apparent insignificance, I’ve noticed that encountering God’s august nature can draw me closer to Him.

Wisdom from Pius to Guide Your Week

I discovered two concise quotes from St. Pius X to close my reflections on his life. The first concerns Mary [fun fact—the symbol of the Moon is traditionally associated with Her!] and the second relates to Christ—the true sun!

Of Mary he proclaimed, “ Let the storm rage and the sky darken — not for that shall we be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent.”

Regarding Jesus’ body and blood, the pope said, “Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven.”

Sadly, I did not get to experience the fullness of the solar eclipse of 2017. Darkness did cover the earth in my location, but clouds and storms prevented me from actually seeing the unique event of the moon aligning with the sun. I am blessed that I had an increased encounter with the true Sun—the Son of God. I am grateful for the gift of St. Pius X the Eclipser of Error who made Eucharist a priority for young people.

total-solar-eclipse

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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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A 747 Word Interview about the Sainthood Video Game

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Bisong Taiwo via phone call on June 21st, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. 

“Sainthood” is such a unique blend of cozy gameplay and Catholic spirituality. What inspired you to create a strategy game rooted in faith and virtue?

Well, I looked around and I couldn’t find anything that I could be proud of my faith in the game industry. The games I found where Christianity was present was either a parody or present as a conquering mechanic in those games.

I wanted to create a game that helped people pray and serve their community. And to remind the players the core tenets of Christianity.

The game invites players to grow in both Faith and Charity. How did you decide which Catholic practices and values to weave into the core mechanics of gameplay?

In the game, you pray the Rosary, attend Mass, and unlock Saints from all over the world. The game takes place in my home continent of Africa, and the way Christianity got brought to Africa was a bit unique. The game takes place in the 1500s in the Kingdom of Kongo (not to be confused with present-day Congo), so I tried to stay true to the historicity of Catholicism of that era. 

You’ve included 25 real-life saints from across the globe. How did you choose which saints to feature, and what do you hope players take away from learning about them?

That was interesting! I wanted to tackle it. Due to Catholic media, I was mostly familiar with European saints. I went to each continent and picked a few unique stories that I found interesting. The Church is global and I thought it was cool to take saints from around the world to represent the catholicity/universality of our faith. 

The game hints at mystery and spiritual discovery—uncovering the island’s past and the player’s purpose. How does that narrative tie into Catholic themes of vocation, discernment, or the universal call to holiness?

There is a very hidden story, which I can’t spoil. The prioress in the convent who you talk to every day in the game gives you speeches about how to grow your faith in times of hardship. There’s a lot of hardship on this island. I constructed this prioress to give you life lessons, who journeys with you, but also gives you these funny stories. She’s an interesting character who I have never seen on television and definitely not in video games.

Many Catholic parents and educators are always on the lookout for faithful digital media. How do you see Sainthood fitting into the broader conversation about wholesome, mission-driven entertainment?

The reality of the situation is that video games are the dominant form of entertainment for this generation. A lot of kids are playing Fortnite or Roblox. For me it’s an opportunity to bring the faith to this generation. The game has to be entertaining, beautiful, and has to have great graphics. This game is a way to make the faith more compelling to the youth. Video games are part of the culture. Sainthood was created to be a part of this culture and to bring the Gospel to this generation through this type of entertainment.

What’s been the most surprising or rewarding feedback you’ve received from Catholic (or even non-Catholic) players?

I love reading reviews! That’s the primary source of knowing how it’s doing. Some people have purchased the games on multiple platforms. Some people aren’t Catholic but they mentioned how they love Christian games. And some reviewers aren’t even Christians and still say they value the concept of service within the game. 

Any plans for expansions or future Catholic games?

This is always a tricky one, it’s a good question. It depends on what the Lord has in store for me. I would say that if there are any business partners to be made (schools for example) that would be the way to go for expansions. 

I do have a prayer mode in the game. It is separate from the main story, but I have wanted to add more prayers in this mode. Currently, I have the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. 

I think it would make more sense to branch out to different genres of games. Sainthood is a strategy game. There’s many different genres and thousands of Saints to feature in different games. 

Saints are a big part of our Catholic tradition and there’s so many I would love to bring to the forefront. 

Where is the best place for my readers to find Sainthood and learn more? 

Sainthoodgame.com

About Bisong:

Bisong Taiwo is a filmmaker, software developer, and game designer. Born in Nigeria and currently based in Canada, he has worked across the mobile games, indie film, and tech industries, contributing to a range of projects either as a solo director or as part of a collaborative team. At his core, Bisong is a passionate gamer with a deep love for all kinds of games.

While most strategy games emphasize combat, Bisong is drawn to designing altruistic strategy experiences that focus on helping and serving others rather than conquering or controlling them. His most recent game, Sainthood, exemplifies this vision. As Director, Designer, Writer, and Programmer on the project, he led a small team of contractors to bring the game to life. Sainthood was partially funded by the Xbox Developer Acceleration Program and has received strong reviews and ratings on both the Steam and Xbox stores, resonating with religious and secular audiences alike.

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