Stories of Hope
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, around 70% of all people have or will face some form of trauma in their lifetime (1).
These statistics mean that the majority of people are affected by trauma, and that many people are seeking healing from their experiences.
For Catholics walking this healing journey, heavenly intercessors who have faced a similar experience and found healing and resilience can be a source of hope and important lessons.
The problem is that the traumatic experiences and healing journeys of many saints are rarely discussed.
Where Tria Corda Ministry Comes In
On Stories of Hope, Tria Corda Ministry aims to tell the stories of saints who faced various types of trauma and to draw out the lessons we can learn from them for our own healing journeys.
Our goal: That you will discover one saint who faced something similar to you and find in that saint an example and intercessor for your own healing journey.
Below, you will find many blog posts telling these Stories of Hope. Additionally, you can discover more Stories of Hope by subscribing to our weekly newsletter and our Healing With the Saints retreat.
Recent Blog Posts
Blessed Teresa Grillo Michel: From Despair to Foundress
Blessed Teresa Grillo Michel was born in Alessandria, Italy, on September 25, 1855. She was the fifth and youngest child of her parents.
St. Agostina Pietrantoni: Seeing How God is Working in the Darkest Situations
St. Agostina Pietrantoni was born Olivia Pietrantoni in a small town in Italy. She was the second of her parents’ eleven children.
St. Margaret of Cortona: Lessons in Reshaping False Images of God
St. Margaret of Cortona was born into a peasant farming family in Italy. When she was seven years old, her mother died.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal: Discovering a New Mission Following Intense Grief
St. Jane Frances de Chantal was born into a rich and powerful family in France.
When she was 18 months old, her mother died, which left a deep mark on her.
St. Mary of Edessa: Breaking the Cycle of Sin and Shame Through a Father’s Love
St. Mary of Edessa was born into a noble family in the fourth century. She was an orphan by the age of 7.
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi: An Everyday Mystic
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi was born in Siena, Italy, in 1769. Her family was poor and religious, and they had her baptized the next day.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary: Facing Outward in the Face of Trauma
St. Elizabeth of Hungary was born in 1207 to a noble family.
In 1213, her mother was murdered due to conflicts between German and Hungarian nobles. In her grief, Elizabeth was drawn even deeper into prayer and came to understand the importance of staying focused on eternal life.
St. Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception: A Life Conformed to the Cross
From the beginning of her life, St. Alphonsa Muttathupadathu (or St. Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception carried many heavy crosses, so much so that later in life, she would reflect, “I feel the Lord has destined me to be an oblation, a sacrifice of suffering..I consider a day in which I have not suffered as a day lost to me”.
The Three Fatima Visionaries: Suffering as an Offering to Jesus and Mary
The Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, are some of the most well-known Marian apparitions. Mary appeared to the three Fatima visionaries once a month between May 13 and October 13, 1917.
St. Louise de Marillac: The Healing Power of Marian Devotion
St. Louise de Marillac was born in France. She was born out of wedlock. Her father was from a prominent family, and she never knew her mother. Her father eventually married, but her new stepmother refused to accept Louise into her home. So, Louise was cared for by family members and the Dominican nuns who educated her throughout her childhood. On top of it all, she then lost her father when she was only 15.