Ron Ash Articles
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12 Things Catholics Should Remind Themselves of Every Day
Discover twelve truths Catholics should remind themselves of every day, including God’s presence, the call to holiness, the Eucharist, prayer, confession, Scripture, vocation, human dignity, suffering, and eternal life. Each reminder includes practical ways to live the faith more fully.
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Catholic Mystic Saints: Encounters with the Living God — A Journey into Union with God
From the dark nights endured by St. John of the Cross to the stigmata of Padre Pio, Catholic mystic saints have borne witness to a faith that is not merely believed but lived at its deepest level. Discover the defining characteristics of Catholic mysticism, the lives of its greatest saints, and what it means to walk a mystical path in the Church today. -
St. Andrew the Apostle: Fisherman, Martyr, and First-Called
St. Andrew was the first of the Twelve Apostles to follow Jesus — and the last to leave Him, dying on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece, after decades of missionary work across the ancient world. His life of quiet zeal, his gift for bringing others to Christ, and his joyful martyrdom make him one of the most compelling figures in the history of the Catholic Church. -
St. Philip Neri: The Apostle of Rome
Born in Renaissance Florence and drawn to Rome by a divine calling, St. Philip Neri transformed a city — not through power or politics, but through friendship, laughter, and an extraordinary love of God. Known as the Apostle of Rome, his life and the religious community he founded continue to shape Catholic spirituality to this day. -
St. Anne: Mother of Mary, Grandmother of God
Though not named in the Gospels, St. Anne — mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus — holds a profound place in Catholic faith and tradition. Her story is inseparable from the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and her legacy as a model of faithful, prayerful parenthood continues to inspire millions of Catholics around the world. -
Saint Jude Thaddaeus: Apostle of the Impossible
He was the apostle history almost forgot — overshadowed by a traitor's name, laboring in lands beyond the edges of the known world. Yet Saint Jude Thaddaeus became one of the most beloved intercessors in the Catholic Church. Discover the life, mission, and martyrdom of the Apostle of the Impossible, his forgotten role in bringing Christianity to Armenia, and why millions still turn to him when all hope seems lost. -
Venerating vs. Worshiping the Saints: What Catholics Actually Believe
Catholics don’t worship the saints — they ask them to intercede, the same way you might ask a friend to pray for you. The difference between latria (worship, due to God alone) and dulia (veneration, given to holy persons) is not a medieval loophole; it’s a distinction rooted in Scripture, affirmed by Aquinas, and supported by Revelation 5:8, where the glorified saints are shown presenting the prayers of the faithful before God. A clear, Biblical explanation of what Catholics actually believe — and what they don’t. -
Do Catholics Worship Statues? A Clear Answer to an Ancient Charge
Introduction Few accusations against the Catholic Church are more persistent — or more sincerely made — than this one: “Catholics worship statues. ...
