Gospa Missions Blog

Perhaps the most unlikely of patron saints in the Catholic canon is St. Rita of Cascia as the patron saint of baseball. How did a 15th century nun become the intercessor for a 20th century American sport? The answer is...

Since St. Patrick's Day falls during Lent, it seems appropriate to write this year about a lesser known St. Patrick story - his visit to purgatory, the place where those awaiting heaven become cleansed of the effects of sin so...

On February 22, we celebrate the feast of the Chair of St. Peter; no, this does not mean that an inanimate object has been canonized. Rather, this feast day celebrates what the chair, residing in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome...

Of the many supposed Marian apparitions over the centuries, only 16 have been approved by the Vatican. Among these are the most recognizable Marian apparitions, including Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our Lady of Fatima. However,...

One of the early martyrs, about whom we know little, has become one of the most invoked intercessors of our age: St. Agatha. Because her torture included cutting off her breasts, she has long been considered the patron saint of...

On January 20th, we celebrate the feast day of St. Sebastian, an early Christian martyr and most recognized today as the patron saint of athletes. Sebastian was a devout Christian living in Italy during the era of persecutions. He joined...

Right in the middle of Advent, on December 12, we celebrate one of the most beloved iterations of the Blessed Mother—Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe has become one of the most recognized images on the planet, and...

St. Nicholas Day is a revered tradition early in the Advent season, with children setting out stockings or shoes overnight and awaking to them filled with goodies from St. Nick. But who is the historic St. Nicholas, and from where...

We just returned from our first pilgrimage to Medjugorje in many years. I was surprised at the sheer number of stores and vendors selling religious items and how commercialized everything around Medjugorje had become over the years. From the stories...