Why are there no snakes in Ireland?
Legend says Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, but scientists say snakes never got there after the last Ice Age because the island was cut off by the sea.
Is Mary mentioned in the Quran?
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the only woman named in the Quran, and she's mentioned there more often than in the entire New Testament. A whole chapter, Surah Maryam, is named after her.
What is the Immaculate Conception?
Many people think the Immaculate Conception refers to Jesus's birth, but the Catholic doctrine, defined in 1854, actually says Mary herself was conceived without original sin.
What is the Assumption of Mary?
In 1950, Pope Pius XII officially declared the Assumption, the Catholic belief that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven at the end of her life.
What happened at Lourdes?
In 1858, a 14-year-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous reported visions of Mary at Lourdes, France, which became one of the world's most popular pilgrimage sites.
What happened at Fátima?
In 1917, three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal, reported seeing visions of Mary, and the site now draws millions of pilgrims.
What is Our Lady of Guadalupe?
Our Lady of Guadalupe refers to visions of Mary reported by Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, and her basilica in Mexico City is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world.
What is the rosary?
The rosary is a string of prayer beads Catholics use to pray a series of prayers, many of them devoted to Mary.
When are Mary's major feast days?
Two of Mary's major Catholic feast days are the Assumption on August 15 and the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
What was Mary's name in Hebrew?
Mary's name in Hebrew was Miriam.
Was Schubert's "Ave Maria" originally a prayer?
Franz Schubert's famous "Ave Maria" was originally a setting of a poem by Sir Walter Scott, not the Latin prayer it's now sung with.
What was Saint Peter's original name?
Saint Peter's original name was Simon. Jesus gave him the name Cephas, or Peter, which means "rock."
What was Saint Peter's job?
Before becoming a disciple of Jesus, Saint Peter was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee.
Who was the first pope?
The Catholic Church considers Saint Peter the first pope.
Is Saint Peter buried under St. Peter's Basilica?
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is built over what Catholic tradition holds to be Saint Peter's tomb, and in 1968 Pope Paul VI announced that bones found there were believed to be his.
How many times did Peter deny Jesus?
According to the Gospels, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.
Why are keys a symbol of Saint Peter?
Saint Peter is often shown holding keys, and crossed keys appear on the Vatican's coat of arms.
Why is Saint Peter shown at the gates of heaven?
In popular culture, Saint Peter is often pictured as the gatekeeper at the pearly gates of heaven.
When is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul?
Saints Peter and Paul share a feast day on June 29.
Which Russian city is named after Saint Peter?
St. Petersburg, Russia, is named after Saint Peter, the patron saint of its founder, Peter the Great.
Who is the patron saint of fishermen?
Saint Peter is the patron saint of fishermen.
What happened to Saint Paul on the road to Damascus?
Saint Paul, originally named Saul of Tarsus, persecuted early Christians until a dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus.
How many books of the Bible did Saint Paul write?
Thirteen letters in the New Testament are attributed to Saint Paul, and scholars generally agree that at least seven were written by him.
Did Saint Paul ever meet Jesus?
Saint Paul never met Jesus during Jesus's lifetime.
What was Saint Paul's job?
Saint Paul supported himself as a tentmaker.
Was Saint Paul a Roman citizen?
Saint Paul was a Roman citizen.
How far did Saint Paul travel?
Saint Paul's missionary journeys are often estimated to have covered about 10,000 miles.
Was Saint Paul shipwrecked?
Saint Paul was shipwrecked on Malta.
Where is Saint Paul buried?
Saint Paul is traditionally believed to be buried at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.
What is a "Damascus moment"?
A "Damascus moment" means a sudden change of heart, and it comes from Saint Paul's conversion.
Which Brazilian city is named after Saint Paul?
São Paulo, Brazil, was founded on January 25, 1554, the feast of Saint Paul's conversion, and is named after him.
What was Saint Joseph's job?
Saint Joseph is traditionally described as a carpenter, though the Greek word used in the Bible could also mean a builder or craftsman.
Does Saint Joseph speak in the Gospels?
Saint Joseph never speaks a single word in the Gospels.
When was Saint Joseph named patron of the Catholic Church?
Saint Joseph was named patron of the Universal Church in 1870.
Why do people bury Saint Joseph statues to sell houses?
Some people bury a small Saint Joseph statue in the yard as a folk tradition to help sell their house.
How is Saint Joseph's Day celebrated?
Saint Joseph's Day on March 19 is celebrated with food altars called St. Joseph's tables, especially in Sicilian traditions.
What is the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker?
Pope Pius XII created the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker on May 1 in 1955.
What was the Year of Saint Joseph?
Pope Francis declared a Year of Saint Joseph from 2020 to 2021.
Which California city is named after Saint Joseph?
San Jose, California, is named after Saint Joseph.
Who is the patron saint of a happy death?
Saint Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death.
When do the swallows return to San Juan Capistrano?
The swallows are said to return to Mission San Juan Capistrano in California on Saint Joseph's Day.
What was Saint Francis of Assisi's real name?
Saint Francis of Assisi was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone around 1181, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant.
Who is the patron saint of animals?
Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and ecology.
Who created the first live nativity scene?
Saint Francis of Assisi created the first live nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, in 1223.
Did Saint Francis preach to birds?
A famous story says Saint Francis of Assisi preached a sermon to birds.
What are stigmata?
Saint Francis of Assisi is the first person recorded to have received the stigmata, wounds matching those of Jesus's crucifixion.
When were the Franciscans founded?
Saint Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order in 1209.
What is the Canticle of the Sun?
Saint Francis of Assisi's "Canticle of the Sun" is one of the earliest works of Italian literature.
Which pope first took the name Francis?
Pope Francis was the first pope to take the name Francis, choosing it in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Which US city is named after Saint Francis?
San Francisco is named after Saint Francis of Assisi.
Why do churches bless animals on October 4?
Many churches hold blessings of animals on October 4, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Was Saint Patrick Irish?
Saint Patrick wasn't Irish. He was born in Roman Britain.
How did Saint Patrick first come to Ireland?
Saint Patrick was kidnapped by pirates at about age 16 and enslaved in Ireland as a shepherd for about six years.
Why is the shamrock linked to Saint Patrick?
Legend says Saint Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Christian Trinity.
Was Saint Patrick's color originally green?
Saint Patrick was originally associated with blue, a shade known as "St. Patrick's blue."
Where was the first Saint Patrick's Day parade in America?
The first recorded Saint Patrick's Day parade in America was held in 1601 in St. Augustine, Florida, then a Spanish colony.
Was Saint Patrick ever officially canonized?
Saint Patrick was never formally canonized, because he lived before the Catholic Church's official canonization process existed.
Why is Saint Patrick's Day on March 17?
Saint Patrick's Day is held on March 17, the traditional date of Saint Patrick's death.
Did Saint Patrick write an autobiography?
Saint Patrick wrote the "Confessio," a short account of his life.
Were pubs closed on Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland?
Irish law kept pubs closed on Saint Patrick's Day until 1961.
Who is the patron saint of Ireland?
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Where was Saint Nicholas from?
Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra, in what is now Turkey.
How did Saint Nicholas become Santa Claus?
Saint Nicholas inspired Santa Claus, through the Dutch figure Sinterklaas.
Why do people hang Christmas stockings?
A legend says Saint Nicholas threw gold through a window to pay for three poor sisters' dowries, and the gold landed in stockings drying by the fire.
Why are Saint Nicholas's bones in Italy?
Sailors from Bari, Italy, took Saint Nicholas's bones from Myra in 1087.
What is the "manna" of Saint Nicholas?
A liquid called "manna" is collected from Saint Nicholas's tomb in Bari.
When is Saint Nicholas Day?
Saint Nicholas Day is December 6, when children in some countries leave out their shoes for treats.
Who is the patron saint of children and sailors?
Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children and sailors.
Why do pawnbrokers use three gold balls?
The three gold balls on pawnshop signs are linked to the bags of gold in the Saint Nicholas legend.
Who is the patron saint of Russia?
Saint Nicholas is a patron saint of Russia.
What did Saint Nicholas look like?
A 2018 facial reconstruction suggested that Saint Nicholas had a broken nose.
How many Saint Valentines were there?
There were several early saints named Valentine, and little is known about them.
Was Saint Valentine removed from the calendar?
In 1969, the Catholic Church removed Saint Valentine's feast from its general calendar because so little is known about him.
Who first linked Valentine's Day to romance?
Geoffrey Chaucer may have been the first to link Valentine's Day to romance, in his 1380s poem "Parlement of Foules."
Where are Saint Valentine's relics?
Relics said to be Saint Valentine's are kept at Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin.
What is the legend of Saint Valentine and marriage?
A legend says Saint Valentine secretly married couples against the orders of Roman Emperor Claudius II.
What is Saint Valentine the patron saint of?
Saint Valentine is the patron saint of beekeepers and people with epilepsy.
Who popularized Valentine's cards in the US?
Esther Howland popularized mass-produced Valentine's cards in the US in the 1840s.
Where does "from your Valentine" come from?
A legend says Saint Valentine signed a letter "from your Valentine."
Which Italian city has Saint Valentine as its patron?
Terni, Italy, claims Saint Valentine as its patron saint.
How many Valentine's cards are exchanged?
About 145 million Valentine's cards are exchanged in the US each year, not counting classroom valentines.
What was Mother Teresa's real name?
Mother Teresa was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje in 1910.
When did Mother Teresa found the Missionaries of Charity?
Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India, in 1950.
What did Mother Teresa do with her Nobel Prize banquet?
Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and asked that the banquet be canceled and the money given to the poor.
When was Mother Teresa made a saint?
Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa in 2016.
Did Mother Teresa struggle with doubt?
Mother Teresa's letters revealed she felt spiritual darkness for decades.
Was Mother Teresa an honorary US citizen?
Mother Teresa was made an honorary US citizen in 1996.
Is Mother Teresa's sari design protected?
The Missionaries of Charity registered the blue-bordered sari design as intellectual property.
Did India give Mother Teresa a state funeral?
India gave Mother Teresa a state funeral in 1997.
When did Mother Teresa die?
Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997.
Was Mother Teresa criticized?
Mother Teresa was also criticized, including for the quality of care in her homes for the dying.
Who is the patron saint of lost things?
Saint Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of lost things.
Where was Saint Anthony of Padua born?
Saint Anthony of Padua was born in Lisbon, Portugal.
How quickly was Saint Anthony made a saint?
Saint Anthony of Padua was canonized less than a year after his death.
Did Saint Anthony preach to fish?
A legend says Saint Anthony of Padua preached to fish.
What relic of Saint Anthony is kept in Padua?
Saint Anthony's tongue is kept as a relic in Padua.
When was Saint Anthony named a Doctor of the Church?
Saint Anthony of Padua was named a Doctor of the Church in 1946.
How does Lisbon celebrate Saint Anthony?
Lisbon celebrates Saint Anthony on June 13 with festivals and sardines.
Who is the patron saint of Portugal?
Saint Anthony of Padua is a patron saint of Portugal.
What is Saint Anthony's bread?
"Saint Anthony's bread" is a charity tradition of giving to the poor.
Which Texas city is named after Saint Anthony?
San Antonio, Texas, is named after Saint Anthony of Padua.
Where was Saint Augustine born?
Saint Augustine was born in North Africa in 354.
What is Saint Augustine's "Confessions"?
Saint Augustine's "Confessions" is often called the first Western autobiography.
What famous prayer did Saint Augustine write about chastity?
In "Confessions," Augustine wrote that as a young man he prayed to be made chaste, "but not yet."
Who was Saint Augustine's mother?
Saint Augustine's mother was Saint Monica.
What did Saint Augustine steal as a boy?
As a boy, Saint Augustine stole pears.
Why did Saint Augustine write "City of God"?
Saint Augustine wrote "City of God" after the sack of Rome in 410.
Where was Saint Augustine a bishop?
Saint Augustine was bishop of Hippo, in North Africa.
Who is the patron saint of brewers?
Saint Augustine is a patron saint of brewers.
Is Saint Augustine a Doctor of the Church?
Saint Augustine is a Doctor of the Church.
Which pope belongs to Saint Augustine's order?
Pope Leo XIV, elected in 2025, is a member of the Order of Saint Augustine.
Which country has Saint George as its patron saint?
Saint George is the patron saint of England.
Did Saint George slay a dragon?
Saint George is famous for slaying a dragon, but the story is a legend.
Who was Saint George?
According to tradition, Saint George was a Roman soldier.
How is Saint George's Day celebrated in Catalonia?
In Catalonia, people give books and roses on Saint George's Day, April 23.
What is the St. George's Cross?
England's flag is the St. George's Cross.
What is the George Cross?
The George Cross is a British award for bravery.
Who is the patron of the Order of the Garter?
Saint George is the patron of the Order of the Garter.
Is Saint George on Moscow's coat of arms?
Moscow's coat of arms shows Saint George.
What does Shakespeare have to do with Saint George's Day?
William Shakespeare is traditionally said to have been born and to have died on Saint George's Day.
Where is Saint George's tomb?
Saint George's tomb is traditionally located in Lod, Israel.
Where did Van Gogh paint "The Starry Night"?
Vincent van Gogh painted "The Starry Night" in 1889, based on the view from his window at an asylum in Saint-Rémy, France.
Why are chrysanthemums linked to death in Europe?
In many European countries, chrysanthemums are placed on graves for All Saints' Day.