We are inching closer to the Saintly Sixteen, and yesterday’s matchup delivered a holy heavyweight bout. In the end, Fr. Damien of Molokai punched his ticket to the next round, edging out Brother Roger of Taizé with 55.22% to 44.78% of the vote. Caring for those with leprosy clearly still packs a saintly punch. 🥊

But today’s matchup gives us a completely different kind of showdown.

In one corner stands Julie Billiart, the joyful founder of the Sisters of Notre Dame, who spent her life teaching the faith, and forming young people. If holiness had a motto, hers might be: Trust in God… and maybe start a school while you’re at it.

In the other corner is Blessed Gerard, the founder of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, the medieval order that cared for sick and weary Christian pilgrims making the dangerous journey to the Holy Land. His legacy lives on today through the Roman Catholic Order of Malta, the primarily Anglican, Order of St John, as well as the St John’s Eye Hospital Group serving those throughout the Holy Land today. Hospitals, hospitality, and a little bit of crusader-era grit? Not a bad résumé.

So what will it be today? The joyful teacher of faith or the founder of the original pilgrim ER?

Read the blogs. Watch the video. Cast your vote. Only one will move one step closer to the Saintly Sixteen. 🏆

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We’ve reached the final week of the Round of 32, and we’re starting it with two of our favs✨

First up is Brother Roger of Taizé, martyred just 25 years ago. He founded the community of Taizé where Christians from every denomination could join in community, pray, and worship together as brothers & pilgrims! You’ve likely heard their form of chant and worship, and if you haven’t, give it a listen on Spotify today! What began with Brother Roger using this as a refuge for people fleeing Nazi persecution has grown into a global pilgrimage site welcoming tens of thousands of young people every year. In fact, Fr. Michael and youth from NYC made the journey themselves… and rumor has it a video might be dropping soon. 👀🎥

In the other corner stands Fr. Damien of Molokai, the priest who didn’t just care for people suffering from leprosy, he chose to live among them. Eventually he even bore the disease himself. Damien didn’t simply admire Jesus’ call to love the outcast, he lived it in the most radical way imaginable. 💛

Two extraordinary witnesses. Two very different ministries. One impossible choice.

Read the blogs. Then cast your vote. 🗳️

P.S. Marina the Monk give it everything she had, but the knight proved too strong. Joan of Arc marches on to the Saintly Sixteen. ⚔️

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