Did You Know?

Of the numerous entries we received in our recent Faith Solutions Contest, we thought this entry from Michael L. of Illinois was the best. It’s longer than any of the others, but well worth the time and full of good examples and advice for all us at this difficult time.

In these challenging times, it's wise to "get back to the basics" and reflect on what a great gift we as Christians have been given in the examples and the living intercession of the saints. Let's consider just seven of the many, many reasons why the saints are important in our lives.

Inspiring and personal reflections and stories about the important place of icons in their lives, in response to our contest "What Icons Mean to Me."

From apostolic times to the present day, Christians throughout the world have experienced for themselves the blessing, protection, and presence of Christ that can be found through repeated invocation of Holy Name of Jesus.

A popular book and award-winning film, "The Song of Bernadette" was originally a song of thanks by a Czech Jew who was saved from the Nazis.

The following is an account of the visit of Count de Bruissard to Saint Bernadette made just before the last apparition at Lourdes.

In these trying times, it's wise to reflect on the great gifts we have received in our Faith, and how they can help us to meet the challenge of maintaining our religious life and inner peace. Let's consider five points about the importance of one of these gifts: our heavenly helpers, the Holy Angels.

Watch this video about the history of Iconography, which is the original tradition of Christian sacred art, and has been an integral part of the worship and mystical life of Christians since the times of the Apostles.

This video tells the story of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ told through Christian iconography, including icons from the Monastery Icons collection (http://monasteryicons.com), as well as icons, frescoes , illuminations and mosaics from the Byzantine churches on Mt. Athos, in Serbia, and medieval churches in Italy and other classical sacred art. The narration is an abridged harmony of the Gospels, read by actor and narrator Alexander Scourby.

This seventh-century Coptic icon eloquently presents Christ in a unique light - not as king, teacher, or even the beloved, but as our friend.