Lent

One of the things I like about the stories of more contemporary Saints is that we see how they were, in fact, real human beings, just like you and me. The old hagiographies tend to smooth over rough edges, presenting an idealized image of holy men and women that seem impossible to ever match. But … Continue reading St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Way of Rising to the Occasion

Very few people can say they have single-handedly changed the course of an entire religious tradition without being considered a founder themselves. But one person who can say that is St. Athanasius of Alexandria, a theologian and churchman who famously faced off against an entire Church teetering into the Arian controversy to defend the faith … Continue reading St. Athanasius of Alexandria and the Way of Telling the Bigger Story

You may have noticed that most of the Saints discussed in this series so far began their lives in at least modest if not extreme comfort and wealth. In this we see the importance of privilege in providing people with the kinds of opportunities that can lead to becoming known and remembered, even if what … Continue reading St. Josephine Bakhita and the Way of Freedom in Suffering

My feelings about the Church’s general marginalization of the Holy Spirit are at this point well-documented. I even did a whole series last year outlining the history of ideas about the Spirit of God and why they should be brought closer to the heart of our experiences and expectations today. I’ve also written about why … Continue reading St. Seraphim of Sarov and the Way of the Holy Spirit

Yesterday in this series on the Ways of the Saints, we looked at St. Ignatius of Loyola and his way of transformation in Christ. One of the things I love so much about him is how he insists we bring our whole selves to God, including our desires, dreams, passions, and bodies. Today I’d like … Continue reading Howard Thurman and the Way of Specificity