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 As the world watches its greatest athletes swim laps and nail landings, we’ll look at some gold medal winners in their own right. Each day of the Olympics we’ll feature a spiritual great and some advice for staying fit on your own spiritual journey.
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August 10th, 2012
Country: Italy
Born: 1181/1182
Died: October 3, 1226
Religion: Roman Catholic
St. Francis was the founder of the Franciscan Order and is the Patron Saint of Ecology. Following the example of Christ, he lived in poverty and preached the Gospel to all around him.
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August 9th, 2012
Country: United States/Brazil
Born: July 7, 1931
Died: February 12, 2005
Religion: Catholic, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Sr. Dorothy Stang worked tirelessly for poor farmers’ rights and preservation of the Brazilian rainforest. Confronted by assassins on a deserted road, she opened her Bible and read the Beatitudes to them. She was shot six times.
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August 8th, 2012
Country: South Africa
Born: October 7, 1931
Religion: Anglican
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, Desmond Tutu helped end apartheid and heal the wounds it left behind. His peace and reconciliation work is deeply rooted in his faith and daily spiritual practices.
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August 7th, 2012
Country: United States
Born: March 24, 1820
Died: February 12, 1915
Religion: Methodist
Fanny Crosby was a prominent American lyricist, composer, poet, and advocate for the urban poor. She wrote approximately 8,000 sacred songs and is considered one of the mothers of American gospel music.
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August 6th, 2012
Country: United States
Born: January 31, 1915
Died: December 10, 1968
Religion: Roman Catholic
Writer, poet, anti-war activist and Trappist monk Thomas Merton helped make Catholicism relevant for a new generation and introduced many to contemplation.
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August 3rd, 2012
Country: United States
Born: December 29, 1937
Died: March 30, 1990
Religion: Roman Catholic, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Sister Thea Bowman was an esteemed educator, talented singer, gifted leader, powerful preacher, and a passionate bridge-builder across racial divides within the Christian community.
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August 2nd, 2012
Country: England
Born: June 17, 1703
Died: March 2, 1791
Religion: Methodist
John Wesley was an Anglican minister and founder of the Methodist Movement. Wesley emphasized the need for faith to be focused on both personal piety and social justice; he believed there was “no holiness, but social holiness” and that our faith could not be lived in isolation.
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August 1st, 2012
Country: Germany
Born: 1098
Died: September 17, 1179
Religion: Roman Catholic
Beloved by both Pope Benedict XVI and feminist theologians, found in the lists of both Catholic saints and New Age heroes, Hildegard of Bingen transcends categories.
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July 31st, 2012
Country: Germany
Born: February 4, 1906
Died: April 9, 1945
Religion: Lutheran
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor and theologian, was outspoken in opposition to the Nazi regime and its practice of genocide. He was arrested for crimes of sedition and executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp.
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July 30th, 2012
Country: United States
Born: January 3, 1793
Died: November 11, 1880
Religion: Quaker
An influential abolitionist and suffragist, Lucretia Mott spoke out at a time when she was forbidden to do so, inspiring generations of leaders through her commitment and love demonstrated in action.
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July 27th, 2012
Country: United States
Born: December 18, 1819
Died: December 22, 1888
Religion: Roman Catholic
Isaac Thomas Hecker was a 19th century writer, mystic, theologian and priest who saw a perfect spiritual combination in the Catholic focus on community and the American focus on individuality.
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