A saint of the desert: Charles de Foucauld’s witness
When Pope Francis canonized him on May 15, 2022, thousands gathered to honor “Brother Charles,” the saint who chose silence, simplicity, and solidarity.
Alice Alech
Alice Alech is based in Provence, France and is co-author of 7 Wonders of Olive Oil.
Latest articles by Alice Alech
Where to visit St. Thérèse, canonized 100 years ago (Photos)
Celebrate the centenary of the canonization of the Little Flower by traveling to the sanctuary of Lisieux, the second-most visited pilgrimage site in France.
Where to go in France to know St. Joan of Arc (Photos)
Here are three key locations to visit if you want to know the young saint who led an army to victory and proved steadfast in her faith.
Explore Leonardo da Vinci’s last home in France (Photos)
For the last years of his life, Leonardo da Vinci – artist, engineer, and visionary – lived in a manor house in France. It is definitely worth a visit.
If you love food and roses, here’s a perfect saint for you
On January 17th celebrate the feast of St. Rosaline, a French nun, by learning some facts about her life and cooking a dish from the region where she lived.
5 Essential historical sites in Catholic Corsica (Photos)
Pope Francis’s visit to the capital, Ajaccio, will be a historic first papal visit to the French island. Here are some key Catholic sites to know.
Is the tomb of Mary Magdalene in this small town?
Saint-Maximin-La Baume is a small town in Provence, France, surrounded by hills dotted with olive groves and vineyards. It also holds a holy treasure.
3 North American saints who should not be forgotten
Of the eight Jesuits who went to New France from 1634 to 1649 to spread the faith, these three martyrs are lesser known, but their stories are no less compelling.
St. Noêl Chabanel: North American martyr, silent hero
The last of the Jesuits who died spreading the Gospel in North America, Fr. Noêl Chabanel found his missionary life frustrating and difficult.
St. Gabriel Lalemant: Bold, brilliant North American martyr
Fr. Gabriel Lalemant set out for New France in June 1646; frail, but full of optimism and zeal, his years as a missionary were short. He died in March 1649.
St. Charles Garnier: North American missionary and martyr
Charles Garnier was one of the 8 Jesuit priests who left France for North America. Martyred on December 7, 1649, Charles Garnier was only 44 years old.
Corsican town has 5 churches and 5 “brotherhoods” (Photos)
This town boasts five churches, which host the five confréries (confraternities or brotherhoods) that form the fabric of spiritual life for people here.
St. Julie, the beloved saint of the Corsican people
Each year on Corsica, Catholics honor St. Julie. Called Santa Ghjulia in the Corsican tongue, her spirit and humility have become part of the island's culture.
What do this saint and salad from France have in common?
Here's a hint: The amphitheater where this holy woman was martyred also happens to be France's third-largest city and its culinary capital.
St. Isaac Jogues: A man of faith and courage
Fr. Jogues eagerly set out for North America to join his fellow Jesuits. Tortured and martyred in 1646, his courage and passion for the Gospel were exemplary.
Cannes: Glitz, glamor, and a Catholic heritage (Photos)
The 77th Cannes Film Festival has just opened, which makes it a good time to stop and appreciate the city’s Catholic heritage and architecture.
St. Jean de Brébeuf: One of the first North American martyrs
The first Jesuit missionaries to New France (Canada) suffered torture and death as they sought to uphold the spiritual values of their order.
“Love one another”: a brief look at Carmelite nuns in France
Just as in St. Theresa of Avila’s day, Carmelite nuns follow the Lord’s command to “love one another" in prayer, solitude, and silence.
See how Mardi Gras is celebrated in parts of France (Photos)
The day before Ash Wednesday is a time for celebration for many Catholics. Festivities in Northern France and Nice are particularly colorful.
The restoration of a Catholic refuge (Photo gallery)
After centuries of disruption, destruction, and deterioration, a rare fortified Catholic tower monastery is being restored in the South of France