Beyond the Bulletin

We don't give the "doubt" of Doubting Thomas enough credit. One of the twelve apostles, Thomas was a passionate follower of Jesus - three moments in the Gospel of John show that clearly. But when we dive into the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, it becomes clear what led Thomas to tell the other apostles, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

We can learn so much from the boldness and determination of Thomas in relation to our faith and relationship with Jesus, so join Michael Gormley as we look at Saint Thomas the Apostle, coming soon to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.

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With how much we know about Saint Francis of Assisi, it can be hard to grasp an accurate picture of the great saint. We know more about him than any other medieval saint, but all of the awe-inspiring stories of him – founding the Franciscan Order, preaching to the birds, receiving the stigmata, and becoming one of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity – all flow from one source: living the gospel life demonstrated through the utter and complete charity of Jesus.

The fingerprints of Saint Francis are all over this project - his influence helped form other saints whose relics will be in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, which of course takes its name from the famous chapel he rebuilt in Assisi. In that chapel, the once flamboyant party boy was on the path to seeking sanctity, and he heard the voice of the Lord clearly - "Francis, go and repair My house, which you see is falling down."

What happens next can help us on our path towards sanctity, so join us on this pilgrimage: take 20 minutes this Lent to take a break, be with the Lord, and learn more about this inspiring saint.

The Story of Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at St. Anthony - https://vimeo.com/439579757

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The twelve apostles are some of the most well-known figures in Christianity, but only one woman is known as "the Apostle to the Apostles."

Saint Mary Magdalene, the first person Jesus appeared to after His resurrection, is named in the Bible more than any other woman - including Mary, the mother of Jesus. After having seven demons cast out of her by Jesus, she became a dedicated follower, even remaining with him upon Golgotha.

Time, and the popularity of the name Mary in the Biblical times, have created a confusing reputation for this great saint, so join Michael Gormley as he dives into the live of Mary Magdalene, and how we can follow her example in our path towards holiness.

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Saint Bonaventure was a wise and holy man who devoted his life to the sharing of Christ’s love through mystical and Christian wisdom. His contributions to the Catholic Church – from his writings, teachings, restoration of the Franciscan Order and organization of the Council of Lyon – are immeasurable in their impact, and he is remembered as one of the most brilliant minds of his time.

What sets him apart among the other great minds of his time is how he reinforced that intellectual ability, while good and valid, is inferior to the direction and affections of the heart. One of his most famous quotes is, “If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything.”

Join Michael Gormley as he dives into Saint Bonaventure's life, and the much-needed bright spot in the Catholic Church that he provided with his holiness and love of Jesus Christ.

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The embodiment of 'pure of heart'. A facilitator of countless miracles. The youngest canonized saint in the Catholic Church. The Little Saint of Great Mercy.

There are many ways to describe Saint Maria Goretti, but words can hardly describe the courage, mercy, and sanctity of this 11-year-old virgin martyr. Her story is tragic yet inspirational, and her spirit of sacrifice kept her faithful to God, even to the point of death.

Fr. Carlos Martins, the generous priest who has donated the majority of the relics coming to the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel has said that of all the saint relics he ministers with, St. Maria Goretti has by far produced the most miracles. Join Michael Gormley to find out why that's the case in our latest Relic Reveal video at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church!

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Saint Benedict the Moor lived a life of the Beatitudes. Born to two African slaves and illiterate, he would later possess a knowledge of Sacred Scripture and complex theological questions that astonished priests and scholars alike. Growing in fame for his miracles and teachings, he was meek, and chose to travel at night to avoid recognition. Facing persecution throughout his life due to being “il Moro,” or dark skinned, he chose to be a peacemaker, and is remembered for his racial tolerance.

We have much to learn from this cheerful, dignified saint, and we are excited to honor him during Black History Month. Join Michael Gormley as he dives into the life of Saint Benedict the Moor.

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At the age of 18, young Chiara Offreduccio heard the powerful words of St. Francis of Assisi while he was preaching at a Lenten service in town. She was so moved by the idea of pursuing a life after the Gospel, that she did what any sensible person would do: run away from her wealthy, noble family to join a religious order, cut off her hair, and when her family tried to make her return home, cling desperately to an altar until they give up. After a life filled with a passion for poverty, leading others closer to Christ, and defending her monastery from invading armies, Chiara would become Saint Clare of Assisi, an incredibly inspiring and resilient Italian saint.

As we approach Lent, let us look at the life of Clare, and examine how we might imitate her, as she imitated Christ. Take a break from your busy day and spend 15 minutes learning about this great saint, coming to the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel reliquary at St. Anthony of Padua.

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The life of Saint Thomas Aquinas took place amidst a rapidly-shifting historical time period. The transition from the Dark Ages to the Middle Ages had ushered in a plethora of new changes, but the theological aspects of faith and the philosophical principles of reason were clashing heavily within society. But when a young Thomas Aquinas finally escaped from the castle his family had been holding him captive in (a story which you MUST hear), he set off to bridge the gap between faith and reason, and would go on to become one of the greatest philosophers of the world, a Doctor of the Church, and most importantly, a saint.

Michael Gormley was bursting with excitement about Aquinas so much he could hardly contain himself this week, so we hope you'll join us as we dive into our 18th relic reveal, the great Italian Dominican, the "Universal Teacher", Saint Thomas Aquinas.

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Who is St. Anthony of the Desert? The inspiration for our own St. Anthony of Padua when picking a new name? A wealthy young man who gave away an entire fortune after hearing the Gospel at Mass? A prayerful hermit who scoffed in the face of vicious demon attacks?

The answer, is all of the above. His isolation in the desert and commitment to asceticism may seem hard to imitate, but at the core of his life, there is much to learn. Join Michael Gormley as we continue our pilgrimage to the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel with Saint Anthony of the Desert.

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It can be easy to look at the life of Saint Padre Pio and think "I couldn't possibly imitate this guy, look at all the things he could do!" Sure, you may not have the stigmata, be able to bilocate, have been friends with a future pope or consecrated yourself to Jesus at the age of 5, but answer this- Can you pray? Can you receive the Eucharist? Can you love Jesus Christ? If the answer to those three questions is yes, then you are on your way to following in the footsteps of this luminous Italian friar.

If you haven't listened to any of our Relic Reveal podcasts yet, this is the one to jump on board with! Join Michael Gormley as he explores the life of Saint Padre Pio as we continue our pilgrimage to the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel.

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