How to Venerate a Relic at the Shrine
One of the great blessings of making a pilgrimage to the Shrine is the opportunity to venerate the relics of these and many other saints and to ask for their intercession.
Saints & Relics
The Little-Known Way Saint Clare Helped Saint Francis Receive Papal Approval
No story of the Franciscan family would be complete without Saint Clare (1194–1253), whose feast day we celebrate on August 11. In a sense, she was the beating heart of Saint Francis’s movement.
Plan Your October Pilgrimage
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe rests on over 100 acres of bluff country in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In October, these acres of trees are ablaze with the deep oranges, reds, and yellows of Wisconsin autumn. Plan your pilgrimage to the Shrine this October to witness the Shrine during one of its most beautiful seasons, and also get the chance to venerate the relics of many great saints.
The Seraphic Doctor
God seldom accomplishes a great work through only one person. In establishing the Franciscan Order, Saint Francis had help not only from his many companions during his life, but from holy souls who came after him, passing on and developing his spirituality. Among these, one crucial figure is Saint Bonaventure (1221–1274), “the Seraphic Doctor,” whose feast we celebrate on July 15.
The Missionary Spirit of Saint Junípero Serra
From the beginning, Saint Francis and his brothers were a preaching order, a missionary order, dedicated to proclaiming the Word of God to near and far. Some Franciscans have made great journeys and sacrifices to carry the Gospel to those who have not heard. One such son of Saint Francis was Saint Junípero Serra (1713–1784), who left his native Spain to evangelize in Mexico and California.
Saint Anthony Beyond the Legend
This Holy Year of Saint Francis is a fitting time to show special honor to saints of the Franciscan Order. Among these, Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), whose feast day falls on June 13, deserves special mention. Widely known as the saint invoked when car keys or cell phones go missing, Saint Anthony is one of the beloved holy figures whose life story is sometimes obscured by his legend or popular image.
Saint Norbert and Church Revitalization
Norbert (1080-1134) had an early life similar in many ways to that of Francis: born to wealth and privilege, a youth spent in pursuit of worldly advantage, and a profound interior conversion. The third son of a noble German family, Norbert had great opportunities from an early age.
Joy Amid Suffering
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to […]
True Joy Like St. Francis
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven … Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Mt […]
