Religion

The Oldest Confraternities: History and Curiosities

The Oldest Confraternities: History and Curiosities

Contents1 How a Confraternity Works2 Difference Between a Confraternity and an Archconfraternity3 Confraternity of the Gonfalone4 Archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament5 Confraternity of the Holy Crucifix6 Confraternity of Mercy For centuries, confraternities have formed a connective tissue within Italian society, balancing devotional spirit, religion, and…

Marian symbols: what they are and their meaning

Marian symbols: what they are and their meaning

Contents1 The Mirror of Justice (Speculum iustitiae)2 The Moon3 The Rose4 The Ivory Tower5 The Ark of the Covenant6 The Gate of Heaven7 The Seat of Wisdom8 The Burning Bush9 Gideon’s Fleece The rose, the moon, but also the Gate of Heaven and the Ivory…

Miracles: what they are and how they are classified

Miracles: what they are and how they are classified

Contents1 What miracles are2 Miracles in the Bible3 The first miracle of Jesus Healings and exorcisms, apparitions, mastery over nature, even the resurrection of the dead. Jesus and his miracles, a legacy of history and Faith that remains ever relevant. For the Catholic Church, miracles…

The History of the Dogmas of the Catholic Church

The History of the Dogmas of the Catholic Church

Contents1 Dogma: the Etymology of the Word2 The Dogmas of the Catholic Church in History3 What Are the Principal Catholic Dogmas? Dogmas are absolute and essential truths to which every Christian must adhere by virtue of their faith. Here is how they have been defined…

The Holy Shroud: What We Know So Far

The Holy Shroud: What We Know So Far

Contents1 Where the Holy Shroud Is Kept2 The History of the Holy Shroud3 Dating the Holy Shroud It is said to be the cloth that wrapped the body of Christ after His burial. Between faith and science, the Holy Shroud divides and fascinates people of…

Bartolo Longo: His Spiritual Legacy and Canonisation in the Jubilee 2025

Bartolo Longo: His Spiritual Legacy and Canonisation in the Jubilee 2025

Contents1 Who is Blessed Bartolo Longo?2 Bartolo Longo and the Sanctuary of Pompeii3 The Supplica to Our Lady of the Rosary: The Heart of Devotion4 Bartolo Longo, Saint in the Jubilee 20255 Prayer to Bartolo Longo Bartolo Longo: The man who rose again in Pompeii.…

Thun and its Limited Edition Nativity Dedicated to the 2025 Jubilee

Thun and its Limited Edition Nativity Dedicated to the 2025 Jubilee

Contents1 A nativity that welcomes humanity on its journey2 THUN: when art becomes a caress for the soul3 When beauty becomes a gift: art that heals, art that unites THUN Nativity Jubilee 2025: when faith takes shape in the hands of angels In the silence…

2 October: Feast of the Guardian Angels

2 October: Feast of the Guardian Angels

Contents1 The Feast of the Guardian Angels and Grandparents’ Day2 Who Are the Guardian Angels in Christian Tradition?3 Prayer to the Guardian Angel Guardian Angels have always accompanied the existence of human beings, acting as messengers, counsellors in everyday life, and protectors against temptations and…

The Story of Saint Vincent de Paul and His Work of Charity

The Story of Saint Vincent de Paul and His Work of Charity

Contents1 Saint Vincent de Paul and the Fight Against the Divide Between Rich and Poor2 The Daughters of Charity3 The Regulae of Saint Vincent Saint Vincent de Paul made charity his mission, preaching the model of Christ, equality among men, and greater social justice. Today,…

Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups: A Strong Devotion to the Saint in England

Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups: A Strong Devotion to the Saint in England

Contents1 Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups: What They Are and What They Do2 Padre Pio in the World3 The Padre Pio Prayer Group in the United Kingdom Padre Pio’s Prayer Groups are widespread in Italy and across the world. In the United Kingdom in particular, they…

How to apply for the Pope’s Apostolic Blessing

How to apply for the Pope’s Apostolic Blessing

The Papal Blessing, also known as the Apostolic Blessing, is a special blessing bestowed for specific occasions. It is often associated with plenary indulgence, the remission of all temporal penalties due to sins. The Apostolic Blessing, also known as the Papal Blessing, is a special blessing recognised…

History and Meaning of the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

History and Meaning of the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

Invoked by every believer in the sweetest and most terrible moments of life, the Most Holy Name of Mary carries within its very sound a symbol of sweetness and hope Each year, on 12th September, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Holy…

The Madonna’s Birthday: Was She Born on 5 August or 8 September?

The Madonna’s Birthday: Was She Born on 5 August or 8 September?

Contents1 The Madonna’s Birthday in Medjugorje2 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary According to the Church3 Prayer to the Child Mary The birthday of the Madonna: 5 August or 8 September? Let’s discover when and why the Church celebrates the Nativity of Mary, Mother…

The Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta

The Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Contents1 The History of the Missionaries of Charity2 The Attire of the Missionaries of Charity3 The Missionaries of Charity Around the World The Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta live daily the legacy of love and compassion promoted by their foundress, Mother Teresa…

Saint Corbinian, the Saint Who Travelled to Rome with a Bear

Saint Corbinian, the Saint Who Travelled to Rome with a Bear

Contents1 Who Was Saint Corbinian2 The Bear of Saint Corbinian3 The Bond Between Pope Benedict XVI and Saint Corbinian Much beloved by Pope Benedict XVI, Saint Corbinian was a monk, hermit, and Bishop of Freising. At the Pope’s request, he evangelised Bavaria and even convinced…

Acutis and Frassati: the first canonisations of Pope Leo XIV

Acutis and Frassati: the first canonisations of Pope Leo XIV

Contents1 A Pope for young people and the future2 Carlo Acutis: The Saint of the Net and the Eucharist3 Pier Giorgio Frassati: The Saint who came down from the peaks to serve Pope Leo XIV chose his first Saints. They are Carlo Acutis and Piergiorgio…

What is the most frequently used name by popes?

What is the most frequently used name by popes?

Contents1 The names that wrote the legend of the popes2 The names of the first popes in history3 How many popes have there been4 Names of popes from 1900 to the present What is the most frequently used name by popes? A journey through the…

Our Lady of the Snow and the miracle of 5 August

Our Lady of the Snow and the miracle of 5 August

On 5 August in Rome, Our Lady of the Snow is commemorated, marked by a spectacular snowfall on the square of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, dedicated to her. This is how the cult was born Our Lady of the Snow and the miracle of…