Super Saints Podcast

Send us a text We trace the apparitions of Our Lady of Akita through the life of Sister Agnes Sasagawa and the Handmaids of the Eucharist, set against postwar Japan. We unpack the three messages, the Eucharistic focus, the weeping statue, healings, and the link to Fatima, then invite concrete steps of prayer and penance. • Postwar Japan context and Catholic minority • Sister Agnes’s conversion, deafness and vocation • Founding and charism of the Handmaids of the Eucharist • First apparition and call to reparation • Three messages of Akita and their urgency • Parallels with Fatima and shared themes • Centrality of the Eucharist and reverence • Reported healings and investigated cures • The weeping statue’s signs and symbolism • Stigmata as participation in Christ’s Passion • Practical response through rosary, confession and adoration • Our ministry’s resources, pilgrimages and media Take the next step on your pilgrimage of faith with these transformative opportunities... Explore our resources... Join a pilgrimage... Shop devotional treasures... Let’s journey together, visit Journeys of Faith today, and let the messages of Akita ignite your faith anew. Be sure to click the link in the description for special news items Browse our Virgin Mary Shop Collections Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace Saint Michael the Archangel from Scripture to shrines and into everyday life, showing how his mission guards the Eucharist and strengthens the faithful against real spiritual battles. We share practical ways to invoke his protection for families, homes, and parishes and invite you to stand with us under his shield. • Michael’s identity as defender and guardian • Scriptural roots in Daniel and Revelation • Meaning of Quis Ut Deus as a battle cry • Pope Leo XIII’s vision and the Saint Michael prayer • Apparitions and shrines at Gargano, Mont Saint Michel, and Rome • Spiritual warfare and concrete practices of vigilance • Protection of families, homes, and parishes • Invoking Michael during personal and communal crises • Insights from Origen, Basil, and Gregory the Great • Our mission to defend the Eucharist and deepen devotion Join us in honoring Saint Michael the Archangel. Explore our resources, shop with purpose, join a pilgrimage, and connect online. Let’s stand under Saint Michael’s shield together; visit Journeys of Faith today and take the next step on your path to sanctification. Browse our Saint Michael CollectionOpen by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace the Supplica to Our Lady of Pompeii from ash-covered streets to living rooms, and show how a simple, bold prayer can steady families facing heavy burdens. Bartolo Longo’s fierce conversion, practical steps, Scripture, and the Rosary converge into a clear path of deliverance and hope. • origins of the supplica in nineteenth century Pompeii • the conversion and mission of Blessed Bartolo Longo • why Marian intercession matters for families • how to prepare heart and space before praying • step-by-step guide to reciting the supplica • full text highlights and core petitions • Scripture passages to anchor your prayer • timing on May 8 and first Sunday in October • building a sacred space at home • pairing the Rosary and Eucharist with the supplica • FAQs on when, how often, and where to pray Visit Journeys of Faith Today to learn more about our pilgrimages and resources Download our App Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace Pope Pius X’s path from humble village roots to a papacy defined by Eucharistic renewal, liturgical clarity, and pastoral courage. Along the way we share practical steps to live a simpler, stronger faith and invite you into community and prayer. • early life shaped by poverty and grit • priestly service grounded in presence and mercy • 1903 conclave and a reluctant shepherd • restoring all things in Christ as a lived plan • frequent communion and lowering First Communion age • liturgical renewal and the primacy of sacred music • clear catechesis through the Pius X catechism • firm response to modernism with pastoral charity • Marian devotion linked to surrender and trust • care for immigrants and national parishes in the US • practical ways to deepen prayer and community Visit our website today and let's journey toward healing and hope together Explore the Surrender Novena Join the Divine Intimacy Guild Dive into our Gospel Reflections Support our mission Browse our Popes Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace how an ordinary Belgian village became a sanctuary of healing through the eight apparitions to 11-year-old Mariette Beco in 1933. From historical context to Church approval and reported cures at the spring, we explore why the “Virgin of the Poor” still calls us to prayer and compassion. • Belgium’s 1933 crisis shaping a hunger for hope • Mariette’s humble life and quiet courage • Eight apparitions and their core messages • Meaning of the title Virgin of the Poor • Church investigation and 1949 recognition • Reports of healing at the Banneux spring • Pilgrimage, retreats, and ways to engage Join a pilgrimage, experience Banneux firsthand with our guided tours to the sacred shrine, steeped in the presence of our Lady Explore our media, Journeys of Faith media Attend a retreat Connect with us, follow our mission to stay inspired by Catholic tradition and upcoming journeys Visit Journeys of Faith today and let the miracles of Banu ignite your devotion Be sure to click the link in the description for special news items Journeys of Faith Online Media Gallery Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace John Paul II’s Eucharistic devotion from hidden wartime chapels to stadium altars, showing how a boy from Wadowice became a pilgrim who carried Christ to the margins. Along the way, we explore his documents, World Youth Days, Marian heart, and the public witness of processions and adoration. • early life in Poland and Eucharistic awakening • clandestine wartime Masses and priestly formation • pilgrim papacy across 129 countries • Dominicae Cenae and Ecclesia de Eucharistia explained • World Youth Day as Eucharistic mission • Marian devotion guiding Eucharistic focus • Eucharistic miracles as signs that awaken awe • reviving Corpus Christi processions worldwide • suffering, forgiveness, and the altar as strength • promoting perpetual adoration chapels • lasting legacy and how to take the next step Visit our website today and discover how Journeys of Faith can inspire your own pilgrimage of the heart Browse our Saint Pope John II Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text A scarred face, a steadfast gaze, and a nation that refused to bow—this is the living story of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. We travel from the mist of legend to the grit of history, tracing how a single icon at Jasna Gora became a fortress of faith and a compass for Poland’s identity. You’ll hear how the 1655 siege transformed a monastery into a rallying cry, why a king vowed Mary as Queen of Poland, and how coronations, crowns, and countless pilgrim offerings turned devotion into a public vow that survived partitions, world wars, and communist pressure. Along the way, we unpack the icon’s arresting symbolism: Mary’s hand pointing to Christ, the Hodegetria pose that centers the way forward; the two slashes on her cheek that restorers could not erase; and the darkened hue that countless candles and centuries deepened into a sign of universal motherhood. We then step into the twentieth century, where clandestine prayers bloomed into the Solidarity movement, workers wore the Black Madonna close to their hearts, and a young Karol Wojtyla—later Saint John Paul II—returned again and again to entrust his homeland and papacy to her care. This is a pilgrimage of memory and meaning: footsteps on hot roads, whispered rosaries under watchful eyes, tears of gratitude before a mother who stands with her children. If stories of faith, courage, and national renewal speak to you, press play and walk with us to Bright Mountain. Subscribe for more journeys into Catholic history and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that hope can outlast any siege. Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text A burning vision turned into a rule, a retreat, and a mission that kept the memory of Christ’s Passion alive. We trace Saint Paul of the Cross from family sorrow to mystical fire, from public preaching to tender letters, and the hard-won recognition of the Passionists. • early life in Ovada and family grief • youthful asceticism and vivid mystical visions • Marian mandate to found a congregation • drafting a demanding rule on Mount Argentario • founding the first Passionist retreat and its rhythm • parish missions, vivid preaching, and public penance • hours in confession as a hospital for souls • pushback from church authorities and secular skeptics • letters of consolation to the sick and sorrowing • final years in Rome and papal recognition of the order Be sure to look at the description for special information of interest to you Explore our media, grab our books, DVDs, and digital content on saints and Eucharistic miracles Join a pilgrimage, walk the sacred paths of Catholic shrines worldwide with us Attend a retreat, recharge at Holy Family Mission in Arkansas Stay connected Reach out to Journeys of Faith today and start your next chapter of devotion Be sure to click the link in the description for special news items Browse Journeys of Faith Passionist Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text A fallen seeker becomes a builder of hope as we trace Blessed Bartolo Longo’s path from occult rites to a life consecrated to Mary and the rosary. We share how prayer, confession, and community rebuilt a soul and revived Pompeii with a living devotion. • early life in Brindisi and the loss that shaped him • university restlessness and the pull of secularism • descent into spiritism and satanic priesthood • a mother’s rosary and hidden intercession • meeting Fr Alberto Radente and the counsel to return • confession, Eucharist, and a slow, steady conversion • consecration to Mary and the rosary promise • founding the Rosary brotherhood and restoring a chapel • miracles at Pompeii and documented testimonies • schools, orphan care, and a culture of prayer • lasting legacy and why no soul is beyond mercy Be sure to look at the description for special offer Visit our site and start your own story of faith today Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace Catherine Labouré’s hidden path from Burgundy to Rue du Bac, where a midnight summons became a global devotion. Through history, symbols, miracles, and mission, we show why a small medal still carries big grace. • early life and formation of Catherine Labouré • 1830 France as context for the apparitions • July 18 encounter and personal commissioning • November 27 vision and the medal design • December confirmation of mission and promises • theology of the medal and Church approval • spread of devotion amid cholera and upheaval • documented miracles and conversions • the Vincentian charism and service to the poor • practical invitation to deepen Marian devotion Visit our website today and let Journeys of Faith guide you to a deeper devotion. Don’t just read about faith, live it. Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We explore how Catholic litanies can revive family spirituality and turn the home into a domestic church, weaving prayer into meals, bedtime, and the liturgical year. History, Church teaching, and practical tools guide parents and kids toward a stable, shared faith life. • reclaiming the domestic church as daily practice • why litanies work for busy families • links to saints and the universal church • Vatican II and catechism on family mission • choosing litanies for seasons and needs • mealtime and bedtime prayer routines • Sacred Heart and Marian litanies for healing • practical tips for parents and kids Call to action, embark on a journey of faith with us. Ready to join us? Explore our resources… Join a pilgrimage… Connect with our community… Visit our website now and start your journey with Journeys of Faith. Be sure to click the link in the description for special news items Catholic Litanies Collection at Journeys of Faith Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text A Marian encounter in Tlaxcala brings burning trees that do not consume and a spring that heals, set amid conquest, epidemic, and a people searching for hope. We trace witness accounts, early Franciscan discernment, the rise of a shrine and basilica, and the enduring call to mercy and conversion. • Tlaxcala’s turbulent context after the Spanish conquest • Juan Diego Bernardino’s vision and guidance to a hidden spring • Burning ocote trees as a sign of purification and hope • Reports of healing and the spread of pilgrimage • Franciscan investigation and prudential discernment • Construction of the first shrine and later Baroque basilica • Legends of the statue and its role in devotion • Ecclesial approval and papal recognition anchoring the devotion • Invitation to deepen faith through pilgrimage and resources Visit our website today and let Journeys of Faith guide you to a deeper connection with the divine Marian Apparitions Collection at Journeys of Faith Online Shop Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace the Sacred Heart from Scripture and early mystics to Saint Margaret Mary and papal teaching, then make it practical with consecration, First Fridays, the Holy Hour, and home enthronement. Stories, symbols, and promises show how this ancient devotion brings peace, courage, and community today. • scriptural roots in John 19:34 and early Church interpretation • medieval mystics preparing the ground for personal devotion • Saint Margaret Mary’s revelations amid Jansenism and resistance • papal endorsements from Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius XII • theology and symbols of the Heart, from flames to thorns • the twelve promises applied to modern family and work life • consecration steps, renewal, and daily practices • First Fridays and the Holy Hour as rhythms of reparation • enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the home • sacred heart art and iconography across cultures • practical ways to begin and sustain the devotion Visit Journeys of Faith today and take the first step on a pilgrimage, physical or spiritual, that could change everything Sacred Heart Devotion Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace the hidden life of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and how her visions of the Sacred Heart moved from a cloister to a global feast day. From illness and loss to alliances and opposition, we show how mercy became a movement and offer concrete ways to live it now. • early losses, childhood prayer, private vows • entry to the Visitation, discipline and scrutiny • core revelations of 1673–1675 and their meaning • the Twelve Promises and practical devotion • doubts, desolation, and steady obedience • partnership with Claude de la Colombière • spread of First Fridays, Holy Hour, and the feast • miracles, favors, and canonization milestones • how to begin: image, enthronement, Eucharist, community Start your journey today at Journeys of Faith. Explore our resources, join a pilgrimage, visit Holy Family Mission, and connect with community. Journeys of Faith Sacred Heart Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace Teresa of Avila’s move from lukewarm routine to fierce friendship with God, and how that interior shift powered a barefoot reform that reshaped the Carmelite Order. Mysticism meets practicality as we unpack the transverberation, the Interior Castle, and a simple path to deeper prayer. • Spain’s social pressures and Teresa’s early zeal • Grief, vanity, and the first stirrings of reform • A hard-won conversion sparked by the wounded Christ • Prayer as friendship rather than obligation • Visions discerned with humility and obedience • Founding the Discalced Carmelites amid opposition • Partnership with John of the Cross • The seven mansions of the Interior Castle • The Way of Perfection as a practical guide • Enduring legacy through pilgrimages, retreats, and resources Subscribe to our updates for inspiring stories, upcoming events, and exclusive content to fuel your faith Saint Teresa of Avila Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace Carmel from Elijah’s fire on Mount Carmel to Teresa, John, and Thérèse, showing how silence, detachment, and love shape a steady allegiance to Christ. Along the way we share how Our Lady’s scapular, community life, and simple daily prayer can anchor an ordinary life in God. • origins on Mount Carmel and the Rule of Saint Albert • Elijah as spiritual father and model of zeal • Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the brown scapular • allegiance to Jesus through contemplative prayer • Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle and perseverance • John of the Cross and purification in the dark night • Thérèse’s Little Way and holiness in small acts • community shaped by silence, charity, and intercession • practical steps to begin a Carmelite practice • resources, retreats, and pilgrimages with Journeys of Faith Visit our website today and take the first step on this journey of faith Browse our Brown Scapular Collection Browse our Carmelite Spirituality Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace a clear path from spiritual restlessness to practical devotion, using trusted Catholic books that turn doctrine into a lived encounter with Christ. Along the way, we share why Eucharistic faith, Marian guidance, and the wisdom of the saints still remake hearts in a noisy age. • mission and legacy of Journeys of Faith since 1980 • why spiritual direction matters in a skeptical, distracted culture • essential classics for growth humility, prayer, surrender • Eucharistic miracles, adoration, and lived encounter • Marian apparitions and the school of trust and fiat • saints’ lives as gritty, practical roadmaps • discernment frameworks Ignatius, Cloud of Unknowing, de Sales • advanced reading for deeper contemplation and courage • short works for busy Catholics with real impact • starter library for aspiring spiritual directors • pilgrimage on the page to shrines and holy places • invitation to deepen faith with books, media, retreats, and pilgrimages Visit Journeys of Faith Today and uncover trustworthy Catholic teaching and experiences rooted in tradition Be sure to click the link in the description for special news items Visit our website today and take the first step Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text In the rolling hills of central Portugal, a tiny village named Fatima became the epicenter of one of the most profound and enduring mysteries of the Catholic faith. It was here, in 1917, that three young shepherd children—Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto—claimed to have witnessed a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary, later venerated as Our Lady of Fatima. These encounters, shrouded in both celestial wonder and earthly scrutiny, would go on to captivate millions, shaping Marian devotion and leaving an indelible mark on the 20th century. For believers, the messages delivered at Fatima are not just historical curiosities but urgent calls to prayer, penance, and peace—messages that resonate as powerfully today as they did over a century ago. At Journeys of Faith, we are committed to bringing the transformative power of these sacred moments to life. Founded in 1980 by Bob and Penny Lord, our ministry has spent decades guiding the faithful on pilgrimages to holy sites like Fatima, producing faith-centered resources, and sharing the stories of saints and miracles through books, multimedia, and retreats. Our mission is to make the mysteries of the Catholic faith—such as the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima—accessible for education, inspiration, and spiritual growth. Whether you’ve walked the hallowed grounds of the Sanctuary of Fatima or are encountering this story for the first time, we invite you to journey with us into the heart of this divine encounter, to uncover its historical roots, its spiritual significance, and the enduring call it places on our lives. Let’s step back to that fateful spring of 1917, when the world was at war, and a heavenly vision offered hope to a weary humanity. Historical Context of Portugal in 1917 Dive into the tumultuous backdrop of Portugal in 1917, and you’ll find a nation grappling with the aftershocks of political upheaval and the grinding weight of global conflict. Just seven years prior, the country had overthrown its monarchy in the 1910 Revolution, ushering in the First Republic—a regime marked by instability, anticlerical sentiment, and a fierce push for secularization. The Catholic Church, once a bedrock of Portuguese society, found itself under siege, with religious orders banned, church properties confiscated, and clergy marginalized. For the faithful, especially in rural areas like Fatima, this was a time of quiet resistance, where devotion to Our Lady and the traditions of the Church became a refuge from a world seemingly intent on erasing them. Layer on top of that the shadow of World War I. Though Portugal had joined the Allies in 1916, the war’s toll was felt deeply—soldiers sent to the trenches of Europe, families fractured, and a pervasive sense of uncertainty gripping the nation. Economic hardship bit hard, especially in the countryside, where subsistence farming was the norm, and the specter of loss loomed large. It’s no coincidence that the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, reported by three shepherd children in this unassuming village, struck a chord so profound. In a time of chaos, both national and global, the message of peace, prayer, and penance delivered by the Virgin Mary offered a lifeline—a divine promise that transcended the turmoil of the era. This was Portugal in 1917: a land caught between its past and an uncertain future, where faith became both a shield and a beacon. Link to the Rest of the Article Our Lady of Fatima Store Items Collection Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text A quiet yes can reorder a life. We explore how the imitation of Mary moved from early Church whispers to a lived roadmap for modern believers, weaving history, Scripture, and a practical daily rhythm that fits between coffee and carpool. Along the way, we sit with Thomas à Kempis’s Marian spirituality, unpack the four-part arc of the Imitation of Mary, and reflect on why the Annunciation, Cana, and the Cross define real discipleship: honest questions, steady trust, generous intercession, and fidelity when everything shakes. We start with the roots—Ambrose, Augustine, and a devotion that grew through monastic practice and lay hunger for something tangible. Then we trace how apparitions, the Rosary, and accessible guides turned admiration into apprenticeship. Thomas’s approach keeps Mary close: not a distant ideal, but a companion who teaches humility in ambition, patience in suffering, and focus when prayer is dry. The four-book structure becomes a path: virtues that ground us, sorrows that join us to Christ, intercession that deepens prayer, and a heavenly horizon that strengthens courage for daily faith. You’ll also get a simple five-minute routine: choose one short line, talk to Mary honestly, carry a single word into your day, and, when possible, pair it with a decade of the Rosary. It’s small, repeatable, and surprisingly steadying. If you’re curious about authorship, dates, or how this devotion relates to The Imitation of Christ, we address those questions too, keeping the focus on how to live the insights now. If this conversation helps you take one concrete step toward a more grounded prayer life, share it with a friend who needs hope, subscribe for more thoughtful journeys, and leave a review so others can find it. Click here for rest of this post Link to Imitation of Mary Book Open by Steve Bailey Support the show

Send us a text We trace how Leo XIII led through upheaval with prayer, intellect, and courage, shaping Catholic social teaching while renewing devotion to the Sacred Heart, the rosary, and the power of Scripture. His vision shows a path where justice, reason, and worship move as one. • early life, Jesuit formation, discernment of priesthood • election after loss of Papal States and rise of secularism • Rerum Novarum on workers’ rights and just wages • revival of Thomistic philosophy for faith and reason • Providentissimus Deus and responsible biblical scholarship • consecration to the Sacred Heart and home enthronement • Marian devotion, October as the month of the rosary • Saint Michael Prayer’s origin and spiritual warfare • practical resources from our ministry and pilgrimages Visit our website today and take the first step Open by Steve Bailey Support the show