Columnist Russell Shaw explores the life and papacy of Pope St. Paul VI, who sensitively and conscientiously led the Church from 1963 to 1978. He is most famously known for his encyclical Humanae Vitae, which met much dissent, but the pope stood
Columnist Russell Shaw explores the life of Dorothy Day, who with Peter Maurin, founded the Catholic Worker, which became “a significant presence in American Catholicism, not only helping the poor and outcast but providing a rallying point for other activists and young
Writer Russell Shaw explores the life of St. Josemaria Escriva, who in 1928 “saw” Opus Dei and realized that founding this work of God was his special assignment in the divine plan. Opus Dei has pioneered in spreading the idea that lay
Writer Russell Shaw explores the faith struggle of C.S. Lewis, an atheist who became a conservative Anglican with traditional theological views. Besides scholarly works, his books include an immensely popular series of children’s stories set in an imaginary land called Narnia, three
Writer Russell Shaw explores the life of Caryll Houselander, whose turning point came when she stopped in Hyde Park to listen to speakers from the Catholic Evidence Guild. Caryll was baptized as a child, educated in Catholic convents, but fell away from
Writer Russell Shaw explores the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose turning point came in her childhood. Following a Christmas tradition of leaving her shoes to be filled with candy and toys, she overheard her father saying that this would be
In his sixth Turning Points feature, Russell Shaw explores the life of St. John Newman, who is considered one of the greatest Catholic theologians of modern times. St. John Newman’s turning point came in 1845 when he was doing research for his
In his fifth Turning Points feature, Russell Shaw explores the life of St. Benedict Joseph Labre. He was born in a town in northern France on March 25, 1748, the eldest of 15 children of prosperous middle-class parents, he grew up a
In his fourth Turning Points feature, Russell Shaw explores the life of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits: “Jesuits established schools, had important roles in the Council of Trent, wrote catechisms (St. Peter Canisius), preached and served
In his third Turning Points feature, Russell Shaw explores the life of St. Thomas More, known as the “man of all seasons.” Refusing to take an oath of supremacy to King Henry VIII, More was jailed and beheaded on July 6, 1535.