Catholic Saints

Why Are These Symbols Connected With Saints?

I have noticed that many paintings of Saint Jerome include a lion lying at his feet. In other paintings there is a skull. I have noticed similar images in paintings of other saints. I am intrigued by these symbols. What do they mean?

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man praising God with hands raised.

Hymn of Praise

Each path Francis took on his journey to God led him to a single action: praise of God.
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Young child living in poverty.

Rich in Poverty

“Rich by reason of its poverty.” That phrase was as difficult to understand in Francis’s day as it is in ours. Celano was not pulling this expression out of thin air.
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hands open | Photo by Thérèse Westby on Unsplash

Sister Death

Throughout this canticle, we have seen how Francis saw God’s goodness, radiance and beauty in all creatures. He saw them indeed as benevolent friends, as brothers and sisters—as family. And now even the reality of death itself becomes “Sister Death” ...
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Too Many Clergy Among Canonized Saints?

Who was the last saint canonized who was not a member of the clergy? Are only Catholics recognized as saints? Can a non-Christian become a saint?
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Group of multicultural people

A Church of Many Cultures

Today, Christian Native Americans seek ways of being equal participants in the life and mission of the Church—as indigenous people.
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multiple hands touching, connecting with each other.

Love Heals, Builds, and Binds

When the realities of life hit, and you have lost everything, what is left is the stunning beauty of our relationships with one another, with this world, and with God. 
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