Saints

A 747 Word Interview about the Sainthood Video Game

/ chicoinematt

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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A 896 Word Interview with Theresa Ambat from Saint Sprites

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Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Theresa Ambat, Founder of Saint Sprites, via phone call on January 27th, 2024. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. All the images about Saint Sprites, along with the headshot, are provided by Theresa and she allowed usage in this article.

Blessed Carlo Acutis clearly had a profound impact on your work. What aspects of his life and spirituality particularly resonate with you, and how do they continue to influence your artistic choices?

I first heard about him back in October 2020. I was first drawn to him because he played video games. Reading more about his life, he was so young and exemplified the love of Christ in all aspects of his life. He is similar to Saint Therese the Little Flower in how he loved everyone so deeply. 

The way Carlo used these tools (the Internet and digital art) for the good of others was inspiring.  People love games and speak to them really strongly. To point people toward God through video games is a powerful thing. He is the first saint to really use the Internet for evangelization. I found how he channeled the love of Jesus through the Internet inspiring. 

Your work bridges two seemingly different worlds – traditional Catholic spirituality and retro gaming aesthetics. What inspired you to combine these elements, and what do you think this combination offers to modern Catholics?

I think with video games it’s such a different form of media from books for movies. You are in the middle of the story. We see a part of ourselves when we play these games. I think that’s why so many people find video games so impactful. Hopefully, they are pursuing something good in the game.

When Carlo was beatified I thought it would be so cool that there would be an RPG of the life of the disciples. Video games are interactive and immersive. I don’t have the skillset (yet) to make a video game. But I hope that others can make such video games. 

I see that video games can act as a bridge to help people learn about the faith. To have an RPG about Maximilian Kolbe or Joan of Arc would be amazing! 

How did you settle on the name “Saint Sprites”?

Originally, I was going to do Pixel Saints, but I think that name was already taken on Instagram.

A sprite refers to a singular piece of art in a video game. Individual pieces of pixel art. And there’s alliteration with it. 

When you create a new saint sprite, what’s your creative process like? 

Good question! Typically, I’ll look up the sprite on Google, do some research on the saint, seeing if there are any objects associated with them. Working with a 32 x 32 pixelboard limits me, but it pushes my creativity.

For example, a lot of the religious sisters look similar. Both Hildegard and Monica looked similar so I have the former hold a Gregorian chant piece. Trying to figure how to show their character is fun too. I gave Saint Therese rosy cheeks, and St. Paul a wrinkle on his forehead. More modern saints are a bit easier because they had a more standard outfit than more ancient saints. But so far, I feel like I have been able to put enough detail and make it work to distinguish while working within the 32 by 32 board parameters. 

With the Marian devotions, I like to have a bit more pizazz (she is Mary after all!). I have Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Moon. 

What keeps you motivated to grow in your craft as it relates to Saint Sprites?

Well, I think when I see that this is impacting people and reminding them of God it pushes me to keep going. It motivates me to make more saints and improve my products. I love reading my reviews on Etsy (shown below).

These words of encouragement motivate me. 

I find parents and godparents buying these stickers for their children’s First Communion and how it impacts their faith. So something as simple as a piece of paper that sticks on another piece of paper to help people connect to God is humbling. Ultimately, knowing this project is a way to bring people to God is what motivates me. 

Among all the saints you’ve portrayed in your pixel art style, do you have a particular favorite piece or saint that you especially enjoyed creating? What made this one special?

I think I’m coming up on 82 saints. That’s a good and tough question.

Probably Maximlian Kolbe, he is one of my favorite saints, he was one of the first saints I made and was proud I was able to include so many details in that sticker. He is one of my more distinctive looking saints. For similar reasons, Saint Faustina. I was really pleased to include the Divine Mercy symbol. And thirdly probably Saint Therese. She gives me so much joy. When I put the rosy cheeks on her I knew that THIS IS Therese and she is one of my favorite saints. Those three would be my favorite (it’s soooo hard to pick!).

Any last words of advice to any readers who are also artists?

My biggest piece of advice is to invite the Lord into everything you create. He is the Original Creator. Every little sticker I make is God’s gift to me. Creation is so much more of a joy when you involve the Original Creator. This involves a strong prayer life and inviting the Lord into your workspace. Having a collaborative perspective when creating is an important part of being an artist. 

About Theresa

Theresa Ambat is a 26-year-old Catholic entrepreneur based in Seattle, Washington. Theresa, first interested in music and sound design for video games, eventually found herself creating pixel-art drawings of Catholic saints in her free time. She was inspired by the beatification of Carlo Acutis and over the last four years developed a love for evangelization through Catholic pixel-art reminiscent of retro visuals from the NES and Gameboy. Thus, Saint Sprites was born.

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Finding Comfort in the Communion of Saints and Hedgehogs

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Editor’s Note: Post originally published on May 3, 2023.

The Catholic Church has a teaching called the “Communion of Saints,” which is basically a fancy way of saying that all believers are part of one big spiritual family. To put in modern-social-media terms, it’s like a massive WhatsApp group chat, except without any annoying notifications (all the notifications are prayers of intercession!).

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 962, “the communion of saints is “all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church…in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers.” The Communion of Saints is a vital part of Catholic theology because it offers support, guidance, and intercession for all the members of the Church, whether they’re alive or deceased.

Holiness Comes in Many Shapes and Spines

And speaking of devotion and admiration, I’m reminded of my oldest daughter’s (Amelia) obsession with hedgehogs. The girl is absolutely smitten with these spiky little critters. She’s got a hedgehog-themed tape dispenser, hedgehog toys, and even draws pictures of her imaginary pet hedgehog. It’s like she’s a walking, talking hedgehog-encyclopedia.

Goldy the Hedgehog. Medium: Pencil on paper. 🦔🙂

But here’s the thing: Amelia’s love for hedgehogs is a lot like the way Catholics feel about saints. Just like Amelia has a special devotion for hedgehogs, Catholics have a similar devotion to the saints, who are believed to have lived holy lives and to be in the presence of God.

Sacred Objects Prick Your Heart Open to God

Amelia’s hedgehog-themed tape dispenser reminds me of the physical objects Catholics use to help us in our devotion, such as rosaries or holy medals. It’s like a cute and fuzzy version of a saint medal. And just like Amelia’s pretend game of climbing a mountain with her hedgehog toy, Catholics believe that the saints can help us in our spiritual journey towards God.

My daughter loves her hedgehog-shaped tape dispenser. 🙂🦔

Running the Race

The Communion of Saints is like having a group of friends who are always there to support you, like Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends Tails and Knuckles. My kids love the Sonic movie, and we even have a Sonic-themed board game that we can’t wait to play. In Saint Paul’s letter to Timothy, he talks about running the race and finishing strong. He wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 TImothy 4:7). Similarly, the Communion of Saints can give us the encouragement and guidance we need to finish our spiritual race with perseverance, just like Sonic and his friends run through obstacles to reach the finish line. And just as Amelia finds comfort in her love for hedgehogs, the belief in the Communion of Saints can bring comfort and hope to all Catholics.

In conclusion, the Communion of Saints is a significant aspect of Catholic theology that unites all members of the Church, alive or deceased. And while my daughter Amelia’s love for hedgehogs may seem like just a childhood fascination, it’s a reminder of the power of devotion and admiration. So, whether it’s a hedgehog or a saint, let’s all find something that brings us joy and comfort in our spiritual journey.

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Spiritual Surgeons— Clean Out the Wounds of Your Soul with Teresa of Avila

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Saint Teresa of Avila

Editor’s Note: Article originally published in 2017.

Does Your Soul Need a Deep Clean?

My wife and I completed an intense bout of pre-spring cleaning (it was a mere 2 days before the official start of spring J) this past weekend. That coupled with a reference to avoiding desolation and clearing our soul from the “dustiness” of a dry spiritual life during my weekly parish men’s group influenced the title of this post and inspired me to write today.

I am a neat freak. In fact, one of the major three tenets my blog is based on is organization. I am passionate about decluttering, sorting, and cleaning dusty crevices in my house. Yet, when it comes to the spiritual life, why do I occasionally lack the same fervor that I have cleaning my physical house?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 797,

“What the soul is to the human body, the Holy Spirit is to the Body of Christ, which is the Church.”243 “To this Spirit of Christ, as an invisible principle, is to be ascribed the fact that all the parts of the body are joined one with the other and with their exalted head; for the whole Spirit of Christ is in the head, the whole Spirit is in the body, and the whole Spirit is in each of the members.”244 The Holy Spirit makes the Church “the temple of the living God”.

The Cleansing Power of the Holy Spirit

This imagery of the Holy Spirt being housed in the church is not new. St. Paul clearly states this in 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 6:16 to name just a couple verses. However, it was through the intercession of St. Teresa of Avila’s writing that I especially encountered this truth recently.

She begins her greatest work, Interior Castle, with the following divinely inspired words, “ I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal and containing many rooms, just as in heaven there are many mansions.”

Teresa’s description of the soul is easy for me to understand yet at the same time illustrates the complexity of our human condition.

Throughout the Interior Castle the doctor of the Church takes readers on a spiritual journey by examining how in navigating through the castle of our soul we are able to grow in closer union with God.

Saint Teresa of Avila Pray for Us

Without a thorough examination of oneself and spiritual guidance we are not able to recognize the graces God grants us daily and gives ways for us to clear out the “dustiness” of our soul. Just like how my home needs frequent seasonal cleanings, the Church in Her wisdom has seasonal cleanings as well for us to grow in holiness.

My goal is to take a few minutes each week to reflect on St. Teresa of Avila’s words in Interior Castle. I hope you all prayerfully consider to join me in this journey and cleanse your own soul of the “dustiness” of sin and temptation.

spiritual surgeons

Related Links

Spiritual Surgeons—Saint Catherine of Siena

Spiritual Surgeons— Saint Isidore of Seville

Doctors of the Catholic Church: Definition and Complete List

Spiritual Surgeons— Alphonsus Liguori

Spiritual Surgeons—St. Lawrence of Brindisi

 

 

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5 Stunning Facts about Saint Catherine of Siena

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Editor’s Note: Post originally published on September 7, 2022.

Saint Catherine of Siena was one of the greatest followers of Christ. Her ability to articulate the Gospel and her ability to charitably bring 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. Here’s five amazing facts about Catherine.

Catherine of Siena

25 Kids and Counting

While it may seem astronomical to us, having 25 children was not insane back in the Middle Ages. Due to the low infant mortality rate and disease, families gave born to many children but unfortunately few survived to adulthood. Catherine was the 25th child born to her mother, but only half of her siblings survived childhood!

Still, it is incredible to think that if Catherine’s parents lived in today’s society, it would be very likely they would not have been as open to the lives of so many children. It is astounding that God works in miraculous ways to take one of the youngest of such a large family to grace her with the eventual title of Doctor of the Church!

None of the Nunnery

I always believed that Catherine was part of a religious order and lived in a convent similar to spiritual greats like Therese of Lisieux and Teresa of Avila. After reading more about her, I learned that she actually never spent time in a convent. Instead, Catherine joined the Third Order of St. Dominic. This permitted her to associate with a religious society while remaining within the confines of her home.

Gone too Soon

Why do the most innocent and vibrant souls perish too early? From film stars to sports figures that perished at a young age, to maybe someone within your life that died too soon, it is natural to question the purpose of an early death. While I do not have the answer to that question, I found it interesting that Catherine of Siena died at the mere age of 33—the exact age that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, and buried!

Never Let Obstacles Get in Your Way

It would have been easy for Catherine to give up when she wrote the pope but she remained steadfast. Her persistence and charity were instrumental in convincing Pope Gregory XI to return from Avignon to Rome.

Catherine of Siena quote

Unseen Suffering

The stigmata are wounds certain saints received on their hands and/or feet. It is a sign of their closeness to Christ and was given to them as a reminder for Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. In the case of Catherine, the stigmata wounds were visible only to her. She accepted this unique suffering with grace and hope in God’s Providence.

God raises up holy individuals in times of great need. Saint Catherine of Siena is a perfect role model for Catholics in the 21st century in a world where it’s common to be less than enthusiastic about the faith. May we ask for her help to grow in love and devotion to God.

“Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire.”

― St. Catherine of Siena

Related Links

Spiritual Surgeons—Saint Catherine of Siena

Saint Catherine of Siena’s Miracle in My Life

How Saint Catherine of Siena Leads You to God

St. Catherine of Siena: Saint of the Eucharist

Catherine of Siena Novena

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Saint Bonaventure’s Good Venture to Know God

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Editor’s Note: Post originally published on February 23, 2023.

God works in mysterious ways. I truly believe he puts you in specific situations at precise times to allow you to grow in trust and faith in Him. As members of the Church Militant, we are called to be in communion with the saints in Heaven—the Church triumphant. Over the course of the past several months, I believe God called me to learn more about Saint Bonaventure. Having a background in theology, my inclination towards the Seraphic Doctor of the Church makes sense.

Saint Bonaventure

Rarely, does God act in such a plain or shallow sense. Along with being elevated to the status of Doctor of the Catholic Church, St. Bonaventure is also the patron saint of something quite ordinary, yet awkward at the same time—bowel movements. As a young child Bonaventure had a life-threatening sickness affecting his bowels. This sickness almost took his life. The intercession of St. Francis of Assisi cured him. Because of this, the Catholic Church recognized Bonaventure as the patron saint of individuals suffering similar illnesses.

My youngest son struggles with digestive and bowel issues. During a particularly rough evening, my wife and I prayed to St. Bonaventure, as we tried everything else medically to help our son. Our pleas for help to the 13th century saint forged the beginning of what I hope to be a lifelong friendship.

While St Bonaventure wrote on various subjects this article will solely focus on arguably his greatest work—The Journey of the Mind into God. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in St. Bonaventure: Literary Work and Doctrine calls this work, “a manual for mystical contemplation.” Providentially, Bonaventure pondered this work at the same place whereby St. Francis of Assisi received the stigmata—Mount La Verna in Italy!

Stepping up the Ladder of Learning

Ladder to Heaven

As a teacher of theology, St. Bonaventure provides a gradually and steady path, specifically six steps, to grow in awareness and knowledge of God. Bonaventure puts it this way,

For through those six wings there can be rightly understood six suspensions of illumination, by which the soul as if to certain steps or journeys is disposed, to pass over to peace through ecstatic excesses of Christian wisdom.

no 3. The Journey of the Mind Into God

A prerequisite for beginning this journey is praying through Christ crucified. Jesus acts as a bridge; or, to use the imagery of Bonaventure, a ladder connecting us to the Holy Trinity.

Creation as Reflection of God

God and Creation

In Chapter 1 of The Journey of the Mind Into God, the Seraphic Doctor tells us that the first rung of the ladder to God is the created world. When we don the glasses of faith, we see nature pointing to the glory of God. Bonaventure refers to the created world as “the university of things” as a kind of stairway to climb toward God (Chapter 1 no. 2). Later in the chapter he describes the world as “a mirror through which we pass over to God. Plants, animals, mountains, oceans, the moon and stars above point to a Creator—because of the beauty and order within nature.

Bonaventure draws us up the holy ladder in his next chapter.

It must be noted that this world (the universe), which is called the macrocosm, enters our soul, which is called the microcosm, through the gates of the five senses…Man, who is called the microcosm, has five senses like five gates, through which acquaintance with all things, which are in the sensible world, enters into his soul.

(Chapter 2, no. 2)

Catholicism values the created order as not something to be jettisoned. The sacramentals utilize various forms of matter (things) because they hold intrinsic value and point had a higher order of being.

Human Mind—Mirror of the Trinity

Bonaventure brings the reader up another rung on the ladder of mystical contemplation by focusing on the natural powers of the human soul. According to the 13th century saint, the three highest faculties of humanity are memory, intellect, and will. He saws these three powers as a natural reflection of the Holy Trinity.

Holy Trinity Icon

The Seraphic Doctor plainly declares, “According to the order and origin and characteristic of these powers (the soul) leads into the Most Blessed Trinity itself!” (Chapter 3 no. 5). As a perfect spirit, Bonaventure argues, God has memory, intelligence, and will. In the remaining chapters of The Journey of the Mind Into God, Bonaventure details how grace guides the soul in knowing and growing in knowledge of God, seeing God’s unity through His being, and finally viewing God as a communion of Persons in the Holy Trinity.

I had to read this work at least three times before I could write this reflection on St. Bonaventure’s gem of a work. This is not an indictment on his ability to write clearly or my ability to discern (at least I hope not!) Instead, any and all writings on the subject of God, in particularly a Trinitarian understanding of God has to be mysterious. “When you contemplate these, see, that you do not consider yourself able to comprehend the incomprehensible (The Holy Trinity). For in these six conditions (steps) you still have to consider what leads the eye of our mind vehemently into the stupor of admiration (Chapter 6 no. 3).

Journey with Bonaventure Today

Journeying into God is not an easy task, but it will certainly end with both wonder and awe. St. Bonaventure’s closeness to the God is quite evident in this spiritual treatise. If you are a parent of young children, such as myself, perhaps you may not have time now to read this holy book. Bonaventure can still help you on your spiritual and parental journey, because at some point your kid will get severely constipated. Ask the Seraphic Doctor for help. Believe me, it arrives.

If you have more time available for spiritual reading, I strongly recommend you add The Journey of the Mind Into God to your top ten list!

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Why Saint Ambrose’s Sweet Life Can Combat the Saltiness of the World

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on December 7, 2020.

Living in the 4th century A.D., St. Ambrose was bishop of Milan during a tumultuous era of Church history. His road to ordination was an interesting journey. The sudden death of the current bishop of Milan in 374 A.D. left the bishop’s seat open amid the climate of the Arian heresy. Ambrose, an unbaptized believer in Christ and charismatic figure, appealed to all sides of the Arian debate.

Saint Ambrose of Milan

Baptized as a Christian in his mid-thirties, Ambrose soon after received the Sacrament of Holy Orders and shepherded the peoples of Milan of the reminder of his life. Today I wish to highlight 3 reasons why I believe St. Ambrose is still relevant to Christians in the 21st century.

“You catch more flies with Honey than you do with vinegar”

There exists a legend within the hagiography of Ambrose which tells of a bizarre encounter with bees. As an infant, it is purported that several bees hovered over the head of the saint as an infant. The bees left Ambrose unharmed with honey atop his head. His parents interpreted this an a divine sign and foretelling of his ability to eloquently speak and unite differing factions. For this reason, Ambrose became known as the patron saint of beekeepers and bees.

According to Mike Aquilina in The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers, “He was unanimously elected bishop, winning the votes of both Arians and the Catholics…an intellectual, he could move the movers and shakers of Latin culture. It was he who finally persuaded the stubborn Augustine to proceed to Baptism” (p. 166). Sweetness and kindness of speech is equally important to proclaiming truth. Ambrose found a balance between charity and truth. As result he was an effective teacher and administrator of the Catholic Church.

honey.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Model of the Episcopate

Along with Ambrose’s ability to teach truth in a charitable manner, he remained steadfast as a guardian of the teaching of the Catholic Church—one of the most important functions of a bishop! Because of his sweetness of speech, Ambrose built up enough rapport with the secular leaders of his time that when the time came to stand his ground his words packed clout.

Ambrose graciously, but sternly, declined Emperor Valentinian’s invitation to a Church Council that the bishop believed the secular leader had no authority convening. The sainted bishop stated,

And how, O Emperor, are we to settle a matter on which you have already declared your judgment, and have even promulgated laws, so that it is not open to anyone to judge otherwise?…if anything has to be discussed I have learned to discuss it in Church, as those before he did. If a conference is to be held concerning the faith, there ought to be a gathering of bishops, as was done under Constantine, the prince of august memory, who did not promulgate any laws beforehand, but left the decision to the bishops…

st. ambrose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master of the Master

According to R. Thornton in St. Ambrose: His Life, Times, and Teaching, St. Ambrose had a significant impact on arguably the most influential theologian in the history of the Catholic Church—St. Augustine of Hippo.

In fact, Augustine talks of Ambrose’s influence in Confessions Book VI Chapters 1-8. “The bishop of Milan was at least the guide of the guide of the theology of the West,” stated Thornton (St. Ambrose: His Life, Times, and Teaching p. 125). To put it in modern lingo, St. Ambrose was the Qui-Gon Jinn to Augustine’s Obi-Wan Kenobi!!

Qui-Gon-Jinn-and-Obi-Wan-Kenobi-qui-gon-jinn-4207917-350-384.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the age of social media, our world needs holy men and women to demonstrate truth in a charitable way. Proclaiming truth without kindness will never convert unbelievers’ hearts. St. Ambrose is a reminder and role model for our society that charitable dialogue is possible.

For me personally, I need daily reminders to wed truth with charity. Remembering St. Ambrose’s life provides me with a guide on how to interact peacefully in a secular world. The sainted bishop’s ability to network with a myriad of people is another example of how he is still applicable to our society of marketing, social media, and age of internet. The next time I notice a buzzing bee on a summer’s day, I will be reminded of the sweetness of truth exemplified by Ambrose!

Honey Bee

Related Links

Prayer of St. Ambrose

Saint Ambrose— Catholic

St. Ambrose’s impact on St. Augustine: Excerpts from The Confessions

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