Jumping on the "Nun Girl Summer" trend, an expression coined by Cosmopolitan and other publications after the Dominican Sisters Open Mic podcast started trending online over the last few months, the footwear company is showing they're also in for the internet's popular obsession with wholesome nuns.

A video posted on their Instagram on July 11 features an animated, joyful nun who is revealed to be wearing Birkenstock's signature sandals when she slightly lifts her habit to play hopscotch.

In the captions, the company wrote: "From hippies and punks to nuns and monks - some wear a habit, others make it one. Wonder how good Birkenstock is? Just ask the people who wear them."

The campaign was created in partnership with animator Alina Golovlova and was inspired by a 1980s Birkenstock newspaper ad featuring an image of several nuns smiling and walking side by side, along with the pun "Get into the habit!"

Watch the video:

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Known for being practical and modest, Birkenstocks are chosen by many religious men and women for their simple design and aesthetic that suits their habits, which emphasize austerity and poverty. The Birks are considered durable, allowing for years of daily use, and also comfortable—an important quality given that many religious brothers and sisters walk a great deal or are constantly engaged in apostolic activities.

The video rapidly caught the attention of social media users, especially Catholics. Many took the opportunity to highlight the popularity of the sandals among religious people they know.

Kathryn Barush wrote, "When I walked to Montserrat on Camino the Benedictine Sisters and I all had the same Birkenstocks much to everyone’s delight."

"Birks & Nuns. Name a better duo…" declared Daniela Freeman.

Lucy F reassured the truth in the campaign, "This is so funny, I always say Birkenstock needs to sponsor the monks of the monastery I attend Mass at, they’re big fans! Love this ❤️❤️"

Diana Marie Wehbe shared, "I literally started wearing Birkenstocks because of Cistercian Nuns in Massachusetts!!!!!!"

And of course, several religious women also commented, "Been wearing Birkies for 30 years! First week was like walking on rocks, then I never looked back!" said Sr. Birgitte McNulty.

 And Sr. M. Clarita: "I also wear them under the habit 😇."

One nun even saw this as the perfect opportunity to ask the company for a discount. "Actual nun here and I live in the pair that I have, but they’re definitely in need of replacing. @birkenstock any discount for nuns?" wrote Sr. Robbie.

Unfortunately, Birkenstock's response didn't come as expected: "Hi @rfsndr, we cannot offer a coupon or discount code, but feel free to check birkenstock.com to see if there are any sales or promos going on in your region. Alternatively, you may check out authorized BIRKENSTOCK retailers in your area. 🙂"

Which prompted user Julia SanMartin to reply right away, "@birkenstock it was good marketing until it wasn't."

What did you think of the campaign?

Any Catholic with holy intentions can wear the Brown Scapular. It is not a magic charm, but a sign of belonging to Mary, trusting her protection, and striving to live a truly Christian life.

Any Catholic priest can enroll you in the Brown Scapular and formally associate you with the Carmelite family through a special blessing and enrollment rite.

Indulgences for Those Who Wear the Brown Scapular

If you wear the Brown Scapular with sincere devotion, these indulgences are traditionally associated with it:

Plenary indulgence on the day of receiving the Scapular

Conditions: sacramental Confession, Holy Communion, and prayers for the pope.

Plenary indulgence at the moment of death

Conditions: Confession, Communion, prayers for the pope, and a devout invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus — spoken or at least from the heart.

Reciting the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary devoutly

Gain: 100 days indulgence.

Each time the Scapular is reverently kissed

Gain: 500 days indulgence.

These indulgences are not “automatic guarantees,” but invitations to live a life of conversion, trust in Our Lady, and deeper union with Christ.

The Sabbatine Privilege: Our Lady’s Promise for Souls in Purgatory

Closely linked to the scapular is the Sabbatine Privilege, a traditional teaching rooted in a vision reported by Pope John XXII. In a papal letter, he recounted how the Blessed Virgin spoke about those who faithfully wear the Brown Scapular:

“I, the Mother of Grace, shall descend on the Saturday after their death, and whomsoever I shall find in Purgatory, I shall free, so that I may lead them to the holy mountain of life everlasting.”

To obtain this privilege, three conditions are traditionally given:

• Continuously wear the Brown Scapular.
• Observe chastity according to one’s state in life.
• Fulfill one of the following, as directed:
• Recite the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary daily, OR
• Abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays, OR
• With a priest’s permission, pray five decades of the Holy Rosary each day.

The Sabbatine Privilege expresses the Church’s confidence in Our Lady’s special care for those who entrust themselves to her through this devotion.

Who Is Our Lady of Mount Carmel?

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is an ancient Marian title and devotion. She is the patroness of the Carmelite Order and a pillar of Carmelite spirituality. The Brown Scapular is one of the primary ways this devotion is shared throughout the Church, symbolizing belonging to Mary and a commitment to follow Jesus under her protection.

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, commonly called the Brown Scapular, consists of two small pieces of brown wool joined by cords.

On July 16, 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Saint Simon Stock, a Carmelite prior, and given him the scapular with this promise:

“Whoever dies invested with this Scapular shall be preserved from the eternal flames. It is a sign of salvation, a sure safeguard in danger, a pledge of peace and of my special protection until the end of the ages.”

The Church describes the scapular as a reduced form of the Carmelite religious habit, allowing lay faithful to share in the spirit of the order in a simple, sacramental way.

Mount Carmel is a mountain in the plain of Galilee. In the Old Testament, it is the place where the prophet Elijah called down fire from heaven, proving that “The Lord is God” and exposing the prophets of Baal.

In the 12th century, hermits settled on Mount Carmel to live lives of prayer and penance. They became known as the “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel”, and from them grew the Carmelite Order.

Carmel is also understood as a spiritual symbol. The mountain is associated with union with God, especially in the writings of saints like John of the Cross, where “Carmel” becomes a metaphor for the soul’s ascent to God. For Carmelite nuns, Carmel is the name of their contemplative houses, dedicated to prayer, silence, and intimacy with the Lord.

Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

To live this devotion, many Catholics regularly pray:

O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,

Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven,

Blessed Mother of the Son of God,

Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.

(Mention your intention.)

O Star of the Sea,

help me and show me

in this that thou art my Mother.

O holy Mary, Mother of God,

Queen of Heaven and Earth,

I humbly beseech thee,

from the bottom of my heart,

to help me in this necessity;

there are none that can withstand thy power.

O show me in this that thou art my Mother!

O Mary, conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to thee. (Repeat three times)

Sweet Mother,

I place this cause in thy hands. (Repeat three times)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be… (Repeat three times)

Through the Brown Scapular, indulgences, and the Sabbatine Privilege, the Church invites us to entrust our lives — and especially our hour of death — to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, confident that she will lead her children to the “holy mountain of life everlasting.”

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal between Spain and France, a small detail about referee Iván Barton caught the attention of many fans: he had a crucifix attached to his whistle. Did you manage to see it?

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The performance of Salvadoran referee Iván Barton was closely followed during the World Cup semifinal, which ended with Spain’s 2–0 victory over France. Yet beyond his refereeing decisions, one detail stood out in photos and replays of the match: a small silver crucifix hanging from his whistle.

Although it went almost unnoticed during the live broadcast, the symbol began circulating on social media after the game, where many users highlighted the beauty of this discreet gesture of faith.

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While Iván Barton has not made any public statements about the meaning of the crucifix, the small symbol was enough to spark the interest of thousands of people.

A crucifix that recalls a papal ferula

The design of the crucifix attached to Barton’s whistle is reminiscent of a famous papal ferula, the pastoral staff used by popes in liturgical celebrations.

Designed by Italian sculptor Raffaele “Lello” Scorzelli for Saint Paul VI, this ferula features the figure of Christ crucified and a downward-curved crossbeam.

Over time, it became one of the most recognizable symbols of the papacy and was also used by Blessed John Paul I, Saint John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and, more recently, by Pope Leo XIV.

Although there is no confirmation that the referee’s crucifix is directly inspired by this ferula, the resemblance between the two caught the attention of many social media users.

Beyond the result of the match or the usual soccer controversies, this small detail reminded many that faith can also be present on the world’s biggest sporting stages.

Did you also happen to notice the crucifix Iván Barton was wearing during the World Cup semifinal? Tell us in the comments.

“I pray every day, but not because I’m at a World Cup or because I’m trying to get a result,” he told reporters according to ACI Prensa. For him, prayer is not a charm to win matches, but a habit of constant gratitude.

“I give thanks every day, every day that I get up and I’m well,” he continued. “I look at myself and I say: another day that I can enjoy life. I give thanks for those details. I pray because I pray every day, not so that He will help me more.”

De la Fuente also showed a strong sense of justice and charity when speaking about asking God for help before such an important match. “It would be unfair to ask Him to help me and not help our opponent,” he said.

Instead, he entrusts other intentions to God: “I ask for other things: health, especially, and the rest, that He may give me the chance to keep fighting. That’s what I want. With health I have no problem fighting. I’m a warrior and I fight everything, but with health. If I didn’t have health, then there would be some problem.”

As ACI Prensa notes, the coach is widely known for living his Catholic faith visibly and unapologetically. Although he received a religious upbringing as a child, he has shared that he freely and consciously embraced the faith as an adult.

He also clarified that making the sign of the cross before a match is not superstition. It’s a simple, natural expression of what he believes.

De la Fuente has strong devotions as well: he is devoted to Christ of the Expiration, known as “El Cachorro” in Seville, and to Our Lady of the Vega, patroness of Haro, his hometown, ACI Prensa reports.

The series tells the story of King David and his rise from shepherd boy to king after King Saul falls victim to his own pride and the prophet Samuel has no choice but to anoint a new king.

On July 10, Prime Video announced the renewal of “House of David” for Season Three. 

“We are incredibly grateful to fans around the world who have embraced ‘House of David,’” Jon Gunn and Jon Erwin, creators of the show, said in a press release. “Season Three follows David through one of the most defining chapters of his life, and we’re honored to share this next chapter alongside our partners at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.” 

“Whether audiences have known David through Scripture or are encountering him from a fresh perspective, we hope the series continues to reveal why his story has resonated across generations,” the creators added. 

Michael Iskander, the 24-year-old Catholic actor who portrays King David, has also won the hearts of many with his portrayal of Israel’s famous king.

Here are 7 things to know about this young actor:

1. He is an Egyptian-born American actor

Iskander was born in Egypt before immigrating to the United States with his family at the age of nine. He has spoken about the bullying he received in school when he first arrived and having to learn English. 

2. He performed on Broadway

Before becoming known to television audiences, Iskander performed on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo,” where he played Aaron Puckett. The production went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2023.

His interest in performing began almost by accident during high school when a friend asked him if he would audition for choir because she would get $10 if she could get a boy to audition. The choir director immediately saw Iskander’s talent and put him in the school choir. That experience eventually led him to school musicals and ultimately Broadway.

3. “House of David” is his first on-camera role

Iskander has spoken about being a fan of the hit series “The Chosen.” While watching the series with his family, they would ask him if he could portray any character in the show, who would he portray. His answer? A young King David. 

While on Broadway, Iskander was told about a series being made about King David. He immediately felt called to audition. Despite initially being told ‘no,’ he was then asked to re-audition. His mother encouraged him to pray and fast ahead of his second audition. After a 3-hour meeting with the creator of the show, he received the call that he got the role. This series was his first experience acting on-camera. 

4. He is a convert to Catholicism

Before becoming Catholic, Iskander was raised in the Coptic Orthodox Church. Iskander’s journey toward Catholicism started several years ago when he happened to stumble into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. Although tourists filled the historic cathedral, Iskander went in, sat down in a pew, put his head down, and felt “as if nothing existed,” he told EWTN News.

“I looked at the altar knowing that’s where the Eucharist lies and I’m like, ‘I want the Eucharist.’ And I remember feeling this moment of extreme holiness,” he recalled.

He credited that day with planting the seed of his interest in Catholicism. From then on, he began attending Mass. As he learned more about King David in preparation for the show, that interest, which became a calling, kept growing.

After he finished filming Season 2 of “House of David,” Iskander got in contact with a priest in his area to go over questions he had about Catholicism. After a nearly two-hour conversation, he told the priest he wanted to convert.

Because the Catholic Church recognizes sacraments from the Coptic Orthodox church as valid, Iskander took part in a profession of faith during a Mass for him held on Aug. 21, 2025. 

“It was just a beautiful day and I felt like I was home … It felt like the prodigal son who returned and his father accepted him with open arms,” Iskander said.

5. He underwent unusual training for the role

Preparing to portray the shepherd-turned-king involved more than memorizing lines. Iskander trained with shepherds, learned to care for sheep, practiced ancient-style movement, and underwent extensive physical conditioning. He has joked that the sheep wanted nothing to do with him at first.

6. He's also a singer 

Music has always been a significant part of Iskander's life. In addition to releasing original music, he contributed vocals to the “House of David” soundtrack, including "Lead Me to the Water" with country artist Gabby Barrett. He also released a 6-track EP entitled “The Songs of David,” which features several Psalms sung by Iskander like he does in the show. 

7. He hopes his work points people toward God

Rather than simply entertaining audiences, Iskander has expressed a desire for his performances to inspire viewers to explore Scripture and deepen their relationship with God. He has said playing David has given him opportunities to evangelize through storytelling. 

The Church celebrates the feast day of this incredible saint on July 15.

Here are a few things to know about Saint Bonaventure, followed by a powerful prayer written by him:

1) Saint Bonaventure was given the title of “Seraphic Doctor” due to his incredible theological influence and spiritual wisdom. He is a Doctor of the Church.

According to Franciscan Media,

“Bonaventure experienced God’s love as revealed in the humility and suffering of Christ, whose cross enables us to experience God’s companionship and the power to change our lives. Bonaventure wanted to share the Franciscan experience of intimacy with God not only with monks and priests but with “ordinary” people who can embody this same love in the spiritual integration of head, heart, and hands.”

“If you do not know your own dignity and condition, you cannot value anything at its proper worth.” – Saint Bonaventure, Holiness of Life

2) Saint Bonaventure had a deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother.

He frequently wrote of her role in salvation history. In his work, “Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Bonaventure described her unique relationship with God, her divine grace, and her powerful role as an intercessor for all humanity.

“Thy beauty astonishes the sun and the moon; the angelic powers serve and obey thee. By thy gentle touch the sick are healed: by thy rose-sweet fragrance the dead revive.” – Saint Bonaventure, The Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary

3) Saint Bonaventure was friends with both Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Louis, King of France.

He met them while completing his studies in Paris.

4) Saint Bonaventure wrote the official biography of Saint Francis of Assisi!

According to Catholic News Agency, 

“Wishing to present an authentic image of the life and teaching of their founder, he zealously collected documents about Saint Francis of Assisi and heard testimonies of those who had actually known him. From this information, he compiled a biography of the saint that was adopted as his official biography by the General Chapter of the Friars Minor in 1263.”

“The proud demons flee before the lofty virtues of the humble.” – Saint Bonaventure, The Life of Saint Francis

It is also said that as an infant, he was healed by the intercessory prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Below you will find a beautiful prayer written by Saint Bonaventure:

"Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.

Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.

May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;

May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.

Prayer Source: EWTN

July 14 is the feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Church’s first Native American saint.

Back in 2020, Dominican priest Fr. Patrick Hyde, OP, explained how this 17th-century saint led him to the priesthood. He explained how she was “orphaned at a young age, and under immense pressure to do otherwise, she gave her life to Christ.”

“Her life was totally different from my own, but her complete desire to give all things to Jesus resounded in my heart.”

Here’s his full story below:

Here’s the text of his Twitter thread:

“My devotion to St. Kateri Tekakwitha, or “How a Random Encounter with a Saint Changed My Life and Forced Me to Discern My Vocation Seriously:” A thread.

“In 2008, I started teaching seventh grade at St. Michael Indian School on the Navajo Reservation. Fresh out of college, untrained to be a teacher, moving to a new place, struggling deeply with sin, and desiring to give my life to Christ, I arrived on the Rez with a lot on my plate.

“I went to the Reservation because I made a deal with God: I would give Him one year of service to the poor and daily prayer. In exchange, at the end of the year, unless led otherwise, I will stop discerning priesthood, get married, have five kids, and live an upper, middle-class life.

“My first day on campus, I saw this beautiful statue of a Native American woman named ‘Blessed Kateri.’ I had never heard of her. As a Catholic, I figured it was good to have saints interceding on my behalf, so, knowing nothing about her, I began praying for her intercession.

“Within a few weeks of being on the Reservation, teaching, and praying everyday — simple prayer life really, back then, Rosary and Scripture in the morning, examination of conscience & bedtime prayers in the evening — my life began to unravel in the most delightful ways.

“The sins which had so enamored me became less attractive, even repugnant. The desire to be a priest, which I had rejected & resisted for years, was increasingly the only thing that made sense. Mass, which was something I always did, now became the absolute center of my life.

“Everyday I prayed for the intercession of this saint I hardly knew: Blessed Kateri. Finally, I relented and started to research her life. What I discovered me inspires me to this day. Orphaned at a young age & under immense pressure to do otherwise, she gave her life to Christ.

“Her life was totally different from my own, but her complete desire to give all things to Jesus resounded in my heart. She was praying for me and challenging me to imitate her total gift of self and everyday she watched over me as I walked into and out of school under her statue.

“I still pray with St. Kateri each day. Now, I pray for those on the Navajo Reservation who struggle with poverty and all of the ill effects that systemic poverty brings on a community. I have especially prayed for the Navajo as they’ve been wracked by COVID-19.

“In the end, the saints are our advocates, our friends, our brothers and sisters whose prayers echo eternally in the presence of God. I hope you will find a saint like St. Kateri who can help lead you from where you are to where God wants you to be next.

“St. Kateri, pray for us.”

A group of young people in Argentina is inspiring thousands online with a stunning mosaic of Jesus—made entirely from plastic bottle caps.

The massive artwork recreates the iconic face of Christ inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, using thousands of carefully arranged caps to bring the image to life.

The project was shared on Instagram by art teacher Sebastián Ramírez, who accompanied the post with the phrase “Soli Deo Gloria”—Latin for “Glory to God alone.”

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The mosaic was created by students from Instituto Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Buenos Aires. Their dedication and attention to detail transformed simple recycled materials into a powerful image of faith.

Ramírez expressed his gratitude and awe at the students’ work:

“Art [made] with bottle caps representing the most iconic face in the history of humanity, the face of Jesus at the Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci. Very blessed to see so many young people creating a work of art of this magnitude.
Thanks be to God, thank You, thank You, thank You. Amen.”

This isn’t the students’ first creative project. In previous years, they’ve also produced impressive mosaics honoring Pope Francis, Salvador Dalí, and Lionel Messi.

The video of the mosaic’s creation—and its breathtaking final result—has already drawn over 122,000 views and more than 15,000 likes on social media, with many viewers praising both the artistry and the faith behind it.

Some commenters wrote:

“How beautiful my Jesus… what an inspired work by young believers.”

“It moves me deeply to see our kids creating this marvel… an offering of faith and love.”

“Congratulations! So beautiful—faith in action!”

It’s a simple yet powerful reminder: even the smallest things can come together to reflect the face of Christ.

Saint Kateri lived in the 17th century. Today, she is revered as a symbol of indigenous spirituality, resilience, and the transformative power of faith!

The Church celebrates her feast day on July 14.

Here are nine things to know and share about Saint Kateri Tekakwitha:

1. Kateri was born in 1656 in the Kanienkehaka (“Mohawk”) village of Ossernenon. She lived most of her life in present-day New York.

2. Her mother was an Algonquin Catholic, and her father was a Kanienkehaka chief. Her mother's faith left a lasting impression on her.

3. Although weakened, partially blinded, and scarred, she was the only member of her family to survive the smallpox epidemic.

4. She was baptized on Easter in 1676 at age 20. She later moved to the Catholic mission of Saint Francis Xavier at Sault Saint-Louis near Montreal.

5. Saint Kateri spent much of her time before the Blessed Sacrament and always carried a Rosary with her.

6. Saint Kateri died at age 24. Her last words were, “Jesus, I love You.”

7. The priests at Kateri’s deathbed said her facial scars from smallpox miraculously cleared.

8. Saint Kateri is the first canonized indigenous woman from North America.

9. She is the patron saint of indigenous peoples, ecology, and the environment.

Here is a prayer for Saint Kateri Tekakwitha's intercession:

Loving God, we celebrate Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, “Lily of the Mohawks,” as one of Your Son’s most faithful followers. Help us to turn away all evil and walk in her footsteps, sharing our love and concern with others.

Let us revere Your mystical presence in the poor and suffering as did she. Through Kateri’s powerful intercession, we confidently ask You to grant us this special favor we ask for in her name (mention your intentions).

Share Your healing and peace, especially with family, friends, and the sick, whom we commend to Your loving care. We ask this through Your Crucified and Risen Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, Who lives with You forever and ever.

Amen.

Pray the full litany to this incredible saint on EWTN's website.

Despite facing personal hardships, their unwavering faith and trust in God serve as an inspiration to families and couples worldwide

Here are 10 things to know about Saints Louis and Zelie Martin:

1) Louis was a watchmaker, and Zélie was a talented lacemaker, running a lace‑making business from home.

2) They both discerned religious life before they met. According to family testimony, when Zélie first saw Louis, she heard Our Lady’s voice interiorly say, “He is the one I have prepared for you.”

3) They married on July 12, 1858, in Alençon, France. Their wedding anniversary is also kept as their liturgical feast day in many places on July 12.

4) Zélie bore nine children, four of whom died very young in infancy or childhood. In the midst of their grief, she wrote in one of her letters, “…life is short and full of miseries, and we shall find our little ones again up above.”

5) They overcame many crosses on their path to sainthood. Louis faced emotional and health struggles, and Zélie endured the demands of being a working mother while managing the lace business and the household. Yet, together, they prioritized family and faith while raising their children.

6) The couple attended daily Mass whenever possible and faithfully received Holy Communion, especially on First Fridays, nurturing a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart.

7) Their five surviving daughters all became religious sisters. Their youngest, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, was later proclaimed a Doctor of the Church, and their third daughter, Léonie Martin, is a Servant of God whose cause for canonization is underway.

8) Zélie died of breast cancer at the age of 45, leaving Louis a widower with their five daughters. He then dedicated himself to raising them and teaching them the faith by his holy example, even amid his own serious illness and trials.

9) The Martins were canonized together by Pope Francis on Oct. 18, 2015, in St. Peter’s Square, becoming the first married couple in history to be canonized together as spouses.

10) Through their intercession, God continues to bless families today. Two miracles involving gravely ill children were officially recognized for their beatification and canonization, and many couples and parents now turn to Saints Louis and Zélie as powerful patrons of marriage, parenting, and family life.

Prayer for Spouses to Louis and Zelie Martin:

Saints Louis and Zelie Martin,
today we ask you to intercede for us.
You are the first canonized married couple,
and we look to you as a holy example
and model for our own marriages.

We ask you to bless all marriages.
Help us to live out our married life with joy and virtue
and for those of us who have children,
please help us to be virtuous parents.  

You have modeled for us an exemplary Christian life;
may the example of your unwavering trust in God
and your constant willingness to surrender
all the joys, the trials, the sorrows
and the sufferings that filled your life.
Encourage us to persevere in our daily challenges
and to remain in joy and Christian hope.

Prayer Source: Marriages of Grace

Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, pray for us!