Commentary: On May 15, the pope will canonize Devasahayam Pillai, India's first lay saint and the first recognized martyr of Indian origin. His life and death challenge the church to turn away from clericalism and casteism.
Perspective: As much as mental instability ought to be recognized and treated for what it is, God can indeed work through and use us as we are, before we even get around to seeking healing or treatment.
Faith Seeking Understanding: St. Angela of Foligno was someone that women and men, lay and religious, sought out for insight — both spiritual and practical. She makes for a great wisdom figure in our own time, too.
Burning Question: Beyond the birdbaths and the blessing of pets on his Oct. 4 feast day, Francis of Assisi is also known as the patron saint of ecology. What does that mean? Who made that decision? And why?
Commentary: Should Michael McGivney, a humble parish priest, become the first native-born Irish American male saint? Maybe. But U.S. Catholics might be more inclined to rally behind another St. Mychal.
The saintly designation tends to obscure the saint's ordinary flesh-and-blood reality. It is a tendency to resist at all costs when commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of St. Óscar Romero.
Young Voices: Then again, who really makes a saint? After my very small role in the canonization process, the best answer I have is that, responding to the grace of God, we can make ourselves into saints.
Pope Francis declared last month that Fr. Augustus Tolton lived a life of virtue; Tolton's cause has joined a number of U.S.-based causes that deal with racial issues in the country. Postulators see timely significance in the causes of these men and women.
