Saints, Martyrs, and Heroes
Saints, Martyrs, and Heroes are ordinary individuals who provide us with role models and examples of how to live as disciples in a complex world. By learning about their lives and paying attention to their example, we can draw strength for our journey of faith as we strive to bring about the vision of love, justice, and peace.
Discover inspiring resources that highlight the lives of saints, martyrs, and heroes who embodied the values of Catholic Social Teaching. These extraordinary individuals serve as role models of faith, justice, and compassion, offering profound examples of how to live out the Gospel in service to others and the common good.
On this page, you’ll find:
- Profiles of Saints and Martyrs: Stories of holy men and women who championed human dignity, social justice, and peace in their lives and missions.
- Faith-Based Reflections: Prayers and meditations inspired by the actions and legacies of saints who upheld the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
- Educational Resources: Lesson plans and activities exploring the connection between the lives of these saints and the Church’s call to promote justice, solidarity, and care for creation.
- Multimedia Content: Videos, articles, and infographics that bring to life the enduring impact of saints and holy people who worked tirelessly for the poor, marginalized, and oppressed.
- Advocacy Inspiration: Tools and examples of how the lives of saints can inspire modern acts of faith-based advocacy and justice.
These resources offer a meaningful way to explore the practical application of Catholic Social Teaching through the lives of those who have gone before us. Perfect for educators, faith leaders, and advocates, they serve as powerful tools for fostering a deeper understanding of the Catholic Church’s social tradition and a call to action in today’s world.

Sister Dorothy Stang’s words weave with her legacy of courageous advocacy on behalf of indigenous people, workers, and the vast beauty of the rainforest. This reflection calls us to look at her...
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Anna Misleh
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Anna Misleh2014-02-15 23:24:422022-02-08 14:23:34Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN: A Life for the People and All Creation
Martin Niemöller, whose birth we celebrate Jan. 14, is best known for his haunting “First they came…” reflection on complicity in the Holocaust. His story of conversion reminds us that as we...
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Christopher Kerr
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Christopher Kerr2014-01-10 23:45:382021-12-09 16:44:10“No one left to speak” – The Life of Martin Niemöller
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler tells the story of a woman who saved 2,500 children from likely death during the Holocaust. This discussion guide draws out key themes of Catholic social...
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Anna Misleh
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Anna Misleh2014-01-10 23:38:272021-12-09 16:44:25The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler
Eleanor Roosevelt played a key role in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As we celebrate its 65th anniversary, explore her legacy in promoting the values of human dignity and solidarity that...
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Christopher Kerr
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Christopher Kerr2013-12-06 20:06:182025-06-18 13:19:49Eleanor Roosevelt: A Champion of Human Rights and Dignity
Examining the life of Dorothy Day provides opportunities to explore our own journey to justice. Discussion questions unpack the meaning of her amazing life.
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Anna Misleh
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Anna Misleh2013-12-06 16:54:472025-06-25 11:23:51Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story
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Christopher Kerr
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Christopher Kerr2013-12-06 16:36:492019-04-11 14:33:14The Long Walk: In Memory of Nelson Mandela
Pope Francis concludes “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel) with a prayer for the intercession of Mary as the church evangelizes. He writes of her presence at the stable in Bethlehem and...
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Christopher Kerr
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Christopher Kerr2013-11-27 23:51:362019-04-11 14:33:35Mother of the Living Gospel
St. Frances Cabrini is the patron of immigrants. Her feast day is November 13th. This prayer celebrates her labors of love as the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.
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Christopher Kerr
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Christopher Kerr2013-11-06 16:01:542021-12-09 16:10:05To Labor and To Love: A prayer on the Feast of Saint Frances Cabrini
Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith) is the first encyclical signed by Pope Francis. Jim Hug, S.J., former Center of Concern president, provides a precis, and we've added a few summary questions to help...
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Anna Misleh
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Anna Misleh2013-07-26 20:28:112019-04-11 14:40:38Lumen Fidei: A Summary of Francis' First Encyclical
In his recent World Environment Day address, Pope Francis blamed our culture of waste for our failure to care for creation. His challenge echoes the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
Posted...
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Christopher Kerr
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Christopher Kerr2013-06-20 01:39:512019-04-11 14:42:56Challenging Our Culture of Waste
Explore the insights of Pope Francis from his time as a church leader in Latin America to today. His positions on poverty and human dignity, environmental justice and human trafficking provide good...
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Christopher Kerr
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Christopher Kerr2013-03-26 16:51:152024-04-05 16:31:01Pope Francis on Catholic Social Teaching
NOTE: In his first Easter message, Pope Francis declared "Peace to our Earth."
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an...
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JoshGroban
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JoshGroban2013-03-26 15:40:462025-02-24 15:16:54PRAYER: Peace to Our Earth