St. Christopher, my patron, was booted from the worldwide calendar of saints in 1970. Even though this happened years before I was born, I’m bitter. He deserves better. Many weary travelers, after all, have carried their trusty St. Christopher medals in their cars, purses, or pockets! But I’m digressing: Our special issue this month on saints isn’t about lamentation; it’s about celebration.
The saints are easy to love, aren’t they? Who doesn’t admire St. Josephine Bakhita‘s capacity for mercy? St. Maximilian Kolbe‘s unimaginable sacrifice? St. Elizabeth Ann Seton‘s courage under crisis? These holy women and men are our compasses and our companions. We’d be lost without them.
This month, to commemorate the feast of All Saints, we are offering a lineup of articles that acknowledge and celebrate a handful of these holy people. Some we present here are familiar, such as Oscar Romero and Francis of Assisi; others are less known, such as Julia Greeley and Carlo Acutis. Time, culture, and language separate them, but they each model a pure surrender to God that can inspire our own faith. We hope you enjoy this issue.
And to all the saints (even Christopher): Pray for us!
