Pedro Ballester’s Canonisation Cause Opens
Pedro died in Manchester in 2018 at the age of 21, after three years living with an aggressive cancer. He was an engineering student, and his cause for canonisation has just been opened. His birthday is 22nd May.
Connected to What Counts
You already know that your phone and social media accounts affect your life, but how are you affecting the digital world? Are you a force for good?
Cardinal Roche: Selflessness of Pedro Ballester is a witness for today’s youth
From OSV News: Cardinal Arthur Roche recalls how Pedro Ballester, a young Manchester student being considered for sainthood, faced cancer with constant joy and selfless concern for others.
The Usefulness Trap
"To be useful, serve," Saint Josemaria wrote. What does that mean for Christians who want to make a difference in the world? How do we avoid the danger of perfectionism?
Alex: “I’d like to thank Pedro”
What does it mean to live so close to God that not even pain and illness shake your faith? A guide for discussion or personal reflection.
BBC: “‘Extraordinary’ student could be first Gen Z saint”
This is the headline of a recent BBC News article about Pedro Ballester. His story continues to inspire young people around the world, who recognize their own lives in Pedro's university studies, friendships, and dreams for the future. None of that is extraordinary in itself... except for the way Pedro lived his ordinary life.
DYA: More Than an Academy
People came to DYA Academy for different reasons, but they stayed for the friendships they formed. They stayed for the joyful atmosphere, together with the intriguing call to take their Christianity seriously. They stayed because they discovered something greater than a place to studying or hang out with friends.
"For me, hope is a conversation with God"
Jennifer came to Rome from Finland, where she has lived for the last 13 years. Experiencing the Jubilee of Youth helped strengthen her trust in God.
"Our people have always been armed with faith and hope"
Noemie went to the Jubilee of Youth in Rome in August. Four months later, she got to share the experience of being with the Pope with her family, when Pope Leo XIV came to Lebanon.
“I found the unity of the Church deeply moving”
Gaby, from Mexico, came to the Jubilee of Youth with a group from Universidad Panamericana. They traveled with a simple but powerful conviction: “We’ve received so much; we want to get to the meeting with the Pope having given a lot too.” That spirit led them to volunteer at a nursing home, where they witnessed a striking juxtaposition between the reality of loneliness and the surprising strength of charity.