History

The Latest

A Syriac manuscript from the Monastery of St. Catherine, Mt. Sinai.

This priest preserves Iraqi culture found in historic manuscripts

Aug 9, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

As Iraq and surrounding areas face the destruction of many of the region’s archaeological treasures, one priest and his fellow... Read more

Antonio Vivaldi at the International Museum and Library of Music of Bologna. Public Domain.

What makes Vivaldi unique among composers? He was a priest.

Aug 6, 2017

By Elise Harris

While Antonio Vivaldi's “Four Seasons” echoes in concert halls and elevators around the world, for some, his greatest masterpieces are... Read more

Julia Greeley.

Former slave Julia Greeley first to be buried at Denver’s cathedral

Jun 12, 2017

By Aaron Lambert

In what was a historic first for the Archdiocese of Denver, the exhumed remains of a potential saint were laid... Read more

Julia Greeley.

For the ex-slave who blessed Denver, a path to sainthood opens

Dec 18, 2016

Julia Greeley was born into slavery in Hannibal, Missouri. But her cause for sainthood was opened on Sunday in Denver,... Read more

Hitler.

The astonishing secret history of the Pope who fought Hitler

Dec 18, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

Pope Pius XII's secret support for the attempted overthrow of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler is the subject of a new... Read more

        Our Lady of Cze?stochowa.

Who is 'the Black Madonna' and why is she so important?

Jul 19, 2016

By Elise Harris

Our Lady of Czestochowa, also known as the “Black Madonna,” will be one of Pope Francis' primary stops during his... Read more

The Gammarelli store-front after the announcement of a consistory of cardinals in October, 2010.

Gammarelli legacy passes to sixth generation of papal tailors

Jul 15, 2016

By Elise Harris

For five generations the Gammarellis have dressed and shod the Vicar of Christ through their family business, Rome’s historic Ditta... Read more

St. Rose of Lima.

Is this what Saint Rose of Lima looked like?

Aug 28, 2015

The face of the first saint of the New World may be better known than ever, thanks to a team... Read more

A statue of Bl. Junipero Serra outside Mission San Antonio de Padua in Monterey County, Calif.

How Junipero Serra fought the death penalty for a California native

Aug 5, 2015

Blessed Junipero Serra’s love for the natives of California extended even to those who killed one of his friends and... Read more

The statue of Bl. Junipero Serra inside the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.

California legislators renew push against Junipero Serra, saint and Hispanic 'founding father'

Jun 25, 2015

A statue of Franciscan missionary and saint-to-be Father Junipero Serra has stood in the U.S. Capitol since 1931, but its... Read more

The statue of Bl. Junipero Serra at the Mission San Miguel in California.

History, truth, and politics: Researcher seeks to clear the record on Junipero Serra

Mar 29, 2015

By Kevin J. Jones

California missionary Father Junipero Serra’s canonization is “long overdue,” says a university professor concerned that the priest’s history has been... Read more

Dante portrait by Domenico di Michelino.

Dante's biggest fans? The 'poet of popes' and his legacy at the Vatican

Mar 20, 2015

By Ann Schneible

With this year marking the 750th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s birth, the Vatican is taking a closer look the author... Read more

Dr. Geraldine Kelley, a translator of entries in the

The USSR's Catholic martyrs suffered, but they suffered for God

Oct 22, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic victims of the Soviet Union’s cruel anti-Christian persecutions faced execution, exile and arbitrary imprisonment for their faith – and... Read more

A historical faith – studying history through a Catholic lens

Oct 17, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

The study of history is an opportunity to unite faith and reason and to recover a distinctly Catholic perspective that... Read more

Christmas letter from an American girl to Enver Hoxha at the

Girl's Christmas letter to atheist dictator shows plea for peace

Sep 20, 2014

By Andrea Gagliarducci

A little girl’s Christmas letter asking Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha to pray for peace, not knowing of his repressive and... Read more

The liturgical reform, as seen by one of its protagonists

Sep 19, 2014

The newly published memoirs of Fr. Louis Bouyer, who was intimately involved in the reform of the Roman liturgy following... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to pilgrims during his Wednesday General Audience on April 23, 2014

A Christian without the Church is purely idealistic, Pope says

May 15, 2014

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis reflected in his daily Mass on how the apostles evangelized by first telling the history of God’s people,... Read more

Ancient Biblical texts from the Verbum Domini II Bible exhibit

New Bible exhibit evangelizes through history of scripture

Apr 3, 2014

By Elise Harris

Featuring ancient biblical artifacts from all over the world, the Verbum Domini II exhibition has officially opened at the Vatican,... Read more

History of the Catholic Church by James Hitchcock, Ph.D.

Knowledge of Catholic past deepens faith, historian finds

Jan 8, 2013

By Carl Bunderson

A new book authored by Dr. James Hitchcock, professor of history at St. Louis University, is aimed at helping Catholics... Read more

Fr. Matthew Muñoz

My 'granddaddy' John Wayne, actor and Catholic convert

Oct 1, 2011

John Wayne for many was a Hollywood legend who symbolized true masculinity and American values. To Fr. Matthew Muñoz, though,... Read more