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.

This prayer service is based on the words of Thomas Merton, whose deepening sense of love for God led him to a dedicated concern for peace and justice and to a celebration of God’s...
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Christopher Kerr2017-12-07 23:55:052022-01-16 14:32:20Thomas Merton on Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy
This artistic photo reflection uses quotes from Pope Francis’s Urbi et Orbi message for Christmas. To view the reflection, click here: http://bit.ly/2zcGeKR.
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Christopher Kerr2017-11-13 16:26:012019-04-08 12:34:39Pope Francis’s 2016 Urbi et Orbi Christmas Message
This resource invites us to learn from the life of Jon Sobrino, S.J., a theologian known for his contributions to liberation theology and a principled leader who inspires us to live the Gospel of...
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Christopher Kerr2017-11-13 16:14:212022-02-02 14:07:00Jon Sobrino, S.J.: A Witness of Mercy in a World of Conflict and Suffering
This artistic photo reflection uses quotes from Pope Francis’s message for November 19, the First World Day of the Poor. To view the reflection, click here: http://bit.ly/2if5mu9.
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Christopher Kerr2017-10-16 17:37:232019-04-08 12:56:01Message of His Holiness Pope Francis: First World Day of the Poor
This month, we remember the deaths and celebrate the lives of two of the Jesuit priest killed in El Salvador in 1989 because they raised their voices for justice.
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Christopher Kerr2017-10-16 17:16:512022-02-02 16:22:41A Blessing and A Challenge to Us: In Memory of Fr. Ignacio Martín-Baró, S.J., and Fr. Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J.
This film tells the true story of the friendship between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malek al-Kamil. Through their interaction, we see that interfaith dialogue can work to foster understanding...
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Anna Misleh2017-10-16 17:13:012019-04-08 13:07:14The Sultan and the Saint
Pope Francis has called the global community to “commit ourselves to a world without nuclear weapons.” To view the artistic reflection based on Pope Francis’ words, click here:...
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Christopher Kerr2017-09-12 02:10:262025-02-24 14:04:41Pope Francis: A World Without Nuclear Weapons
We offer this prayer service which offers Majora Carter as model for participation in our communities through understanding the systems and structures that shape these communities; we are called to...
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Christopher Kerr2017-09-12 02:05:042022-02-02 14:13:16Majora Carter: Addressing Poverty through Environmental Justice and Community Restoration
From the perspective of St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis, this prayer reflects on the sacred nature of every animate being in all eco-systems, all interconnected in the web of God's Creation.
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interns2017-09-12 01:57:172019-04-08 13:12:57And St. Francis Preached to the Birds
Paulo Freire reminds us that to live out our vocation to become more fully human, we must engage in creative discernment and ongoing reflection on the importance of dialogue, community, and the...
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Christopher Kerr2017-08-22 13:20:432022-02-02 14:17:43Paulo Freire: A Capacity to Love Through Social Justice
This prayer honors Jane Addams, an early advocate of the poor and of immigrants: she was also a woman dedicated to peace who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.
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Christopher Kerr2017-08-22 13:15:092022-01-25 13:43:29In Gratitude for Jane Addams
After the recent acts of racism in Charlottesville, Virginia, we pray that we may find ways to move forward towards the light, not back into the the shadows of hatred and violence.
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interns2017-08-15 16:42:262025-02-24 14:26:08Prayer After Charlottesville