Dear friends,
Welcome to a quiet corner of reflection. As we look back upon the grand and often turbulent tapestry of the 20th and 21st centuries, it is easy for our hearts to be troubled. These were eras marked by the thunder of world wars, the shifting sands of ideologies, and the rapid acceleration of technology that sometimes threatens to drown out the still, small voice of God. Yet, as St. Paul reminds us, where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20). It is in the darkest nights that the stars shine with the most piercing clarity.
The men, women, and children we gather to contemplate today are not distant figures from a dusty antiquity. They are our contemporaries in the grand scheme of history. Some wore jeans; others survived concentration camps. Some preached to millions; others served in quiet obscurity. They faced the very same anxieties, political upheavals, and doubts that we face today. Yet, they allowed the Holy Spirit to transform their ordinary lives into extraordinary vessels of divine love.
In compiling this list for Christian Way, my hope is not merely to provide you with historical facts, but to offer you companions for your own journey. We look to them not to worship them, but to see more clearly the Christ who lived within them. They remind us that holiness is not reserved for the stained-glass windows of the past, but is a living, breathing possibility for you and me, right here, right now.
Let us walk together and meet these friends of God.
Table of The Top 10 Modern Saints of the 20th and 21st Centuries
| Rank | Saint / Blessed | Primary Charism | Feast Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Blessed Carlo Acutis | Eucharistic Devotion & Digital Evangelization | October 12 |
| 9 | St. Josephine Bakhita | Forgiveness & Freedom from Slavery | February 8 |
| 8 | St. Gianna Beretta Molla | Sacrificial Motherhood & Pro-Life Witness | April 28 |
| 7 | St. Óscar Romero | Justice for the Poor & Martyrdom | March 24 |
| 6 | St. Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta) | Intellectual Truth & Jewish Heritage | August 9 |
| 5 | St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) | Mysticism, Confession & Suffering | September 23 |
| 4 | St. Maximilian Kolbe | Self-Sacrifice & Love of Neighbor | August 14 |
| 3 | St. John Paul II | Human Dignity & Courage | October 22 |
| 2 | St. Maria Goretti | Radical Forgiveness & Purity | July 6 |
| 1 | St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta | Service to the Poorest of the Poor | September 5 |
Top 10. Blessed Carlo Acutis: The Saint in Sneakers
We begin our journey with a young man who feels remarkably familiar. Born in the age of the internet and passing away at the tender age of fifteen, Carlo Acutis bridges the gap between ancient faith and the digital frontier. Picture a teenager in jeans and a polo shirt, loving soccer and video games, yet harboring a burning fire within his chest that no screen could extinguish. He did not flee the modern world; he sanctified it.
Theologically, Carlo teaches us that the Incarnation reaches into every corner of human existence, including the World Wide Web. He famously stated, “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven,” illustrating that the source of his joy was not virtual, but substantial. He used his computer programming skills not for self-aggrandizement, but to catalog Eucharistic miracles, pointing the world back to the Real Presence of Christ. In him, we see that holiness is compatible with youth and technology.
For us today, especially for parents worrying about their children in a digital age, Carlo is a beacon of hope. He reminds us that gadgets are merely tools, and our true orientation must always be toward the Divine. He challenges the young—and the young at heart—to not be “photocopies” of the world, but “originals” created by God.
Spiritual Highlights
- Key Quote: “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.”
- Scripture: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
Top 9. St. Josephine Bakhita: The Flower of Freedom
From the digital age, we travel back to a life marked by profound suffering and even more profound liberation. St. Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped into slavery in Sudan as a child, an experience so traumatic she forgot her own birth name. “Bakhita”—meaning “fortunate”—was the name given by her captors. Yet, in a twist of divine providence, she eventually found freedom in Italy, not just legally, but spiritually, through an encounter with the Crucifix.
The theology of Josephine’s life is a testament to the transformative power of the Cross. When she saw Jesus, she did not see a distant God, but a fellow sufferer who loved her. Her conversion was not a rejection of her past pain but a transfiguration of it. She once said that if she met her slave traders, she would kneel and kiss their hands, for without them, she would not have come to know Christ. This is the radical, scandalous nature of Christian forgiveness.
Pastoral care often involves dealing with deep wounds and trauma. St. Josephine stands as a gentle sister to anyone who has been abused, trafficked, or marginalized. She whispers to the weary soul that no human chain is stronger than the love of God, and that our identity is not defined by what has been done to us, but by to Whom we belong.
Spiritual Highlights
- Patronage: Victims of human trafficking and Sudan.
- Scripture: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
Top 8. St. Gianna Beretta Molla: The Martyrdom of Motherhood
Often, we imagine saints as cloistered monks or nuns, yet St. Gianna brings the aroma of sanctity into the pediatric clinic and the family home. A vibrant Italian pediatrician, wife, and mother who enjoyed skiing and the opera, Gianna faced an impossible choice when a tumor was discovered in her uterus during pregnancy. To save her own life would mean ending the life of her unborn child. She chose the child.
Here we see the theology of the body and the sanctity of life lived out in its most heroic form. Gianna did not have a “death wish”; she loved life passionately. But she understood the words of Jesus, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Her sacrifice was not a moment of madness, but the culmination of a life of daily self-giving. She mirrors the sacrificial love of Christ for the Church, placing the other before the self.
To every mother feeling the exhaustion of daily care, and to a world that often treats life as disposable, Gianna offers a challenging yet beautiful witness. She sanctifies the domestic church, reminding us that changing diapers, treating patients, and loving our spouses are profound avenues of grace.
Spiritual Highlights
- Legacy: Her husband and children attended her canonization, a rare and beautiful event in Church history.
- Scripture: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)
Top 7. St. Óscar Romero: The Voice of the Voiceless
We turn our eyes now to El Salvador, where Archbishop Óscar Romero transformed from a quiet, conservative cleric into a roaring lion for justice. witnessing the oppression of his people and the murder of his friend, Fr. Rutilio Grande, Romero began to speak truth to power. He used his pulpit not for politics, but to proclaim the dignity of the poor, eventually being gunned down while celebrating the Holy Mass.
Romero’s life incarnates the “preferential option for the poor.” He shows us that the Gospel cannot remain abstract; it must touch the wounds of society. His theology was rooted in the Incarnation—that because God became human, every human life is sacred and worthy of defense. His martyrdom at the altar signifies the unity of the sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of His people.
In a world rife with inequality and silence in the face of injustice, Romero challenges us to step out of our comfort zones. He asks us: “Who are the poor in your midst? And are you willing to speak for them?” He comforts those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, assuring them that the Truth cannot be killed by bullets.
Spiritual Highlights
- Key Quote: “I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people.”
- Scripture: “Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute.” (Proverbs 31:8)
Top 6. St. Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross): The Search for Truth
Edith Stein’s journey is one of the most intellectually compelling of the modern era. Born into a Jewish family, she became an atheist and a brilliant philosopher, a student of Edmund Husserl. Her restless pursuit of “Truth” led her to read the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila in a single night, after which she declared, “This is the truth.” She entered the Carmelite order, only to be pulled from her convent by the Nazis and murdered at Auschwitz.
St. Edith Stein represents the synthesis of faith and reason. She realized that the search for objective truth, if honest, eventually leads to the Person of Jesus Christ. Her theology is deeply connected to the “Science of the Cross.” She understood that suffering, when united with Christ, has redemptive power. She walked to her death not in despair, but in solidarity with her Jewish people, offering her life for their salvation and peace.
For the intellectual seeker, the academic, and those struggling with the reconciliation of heritage and faith, Edith Stein is a powerful guide. She teaches us that we do not need to leave our brains at the church door, and that true wisdom eventually bows before the mystery of the Cross.
Spiritual Highlights
- Titles: Co-Patroness of Europe; Convert; Martyr.
- Scripture: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
Top 5. St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio): The Wounded Healer
Few figures in the 20th century captured the imagination like the humble Capuchin friar from Italy, Padre Pio. Known for bearing the stigmata—the visible wounds of Christ—on his hands and feet for fifty years, he was a living icon of the Passion. Millions flocked to his confessional, where he would spend up to sixteen hours a day reconciling souls to God.
Theologically, Padre Pio is a stark reminder of the reality of the spiritual battle and the cost of sin. He did not preach complex sermons; he lived the suffering of Good Friday. His life emphasizes the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist. He showed us that suffering is not merely a misfortune to be avoided, but a currency that can purchase grace for others when offered with love.
For those of us carrying chronic pain, physical or emotional, Padre Pio is a compassionate brother. He reminds us to “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” He teaches us that our suffering is not invisible to God, and that in the silence of the confessional, the greatest miracles of the heart take place.
Spiritual Highlights
- Legacy: Founder of the “Home for the Relief of Suffering” hospital.
- Scripture: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Top 4. St. Maximilian Kolbe: The Knight of the Immaculata
The dark shadows of Auschwitz loom again in our list, pierced by the blinding light of Maximilian Kolbe. A Polish Franciscan priest who was a media mogul of his time—using the printing press to spread the Gospel—he ended up in the death camp. When a prisoner escaped, the guards selected ten men to starve to death as punishment. Fr. Kolbe stepped forward and offered to take the place of a stranger, a man with a wife and children.
This act is perhaps the definitive icon of Christian love in the 20th century. Kolbe’s theology was deeply Marian; he believed that by entrusting oneself to Mary, one learns to love Jesus perfectly. In that starvation bunker, he turned a cell of despair into a cathedral of prayer, leading the other dying men in hymns. He showed that even in the most dehumanizing conditions, the human spirit, sustained by grace, remains free to love.
St. Maximilian challenges our selfishness. He asks us: What are we willing to sacrifice for our neighbor? He comforts us with the knowledge that light is stronger than darkness, and love is stronger than death.
Spiritual Highlights
- Key Moment: When asked who he was by the Nazi guard, he simply replied, “I am a Catholic priest.”
- Scripture: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Top 3. St. John Paul II: The Pilgrim Pope
Karol Wojtyła, the man who would become Pope John Paul II, was a titan who bestrode the world stage. Coming from a Poland crushed by Nazism and then Communism, he brought a message of fearless hope to the Vatican. He traveled more than any pope in history, kissing the ground of over 100 countries, and his voice was instrumental in the fall of the Iron Curtain.
His theological contribution is vast, particularly his focus on the “Theology of the Body” and Divine Mercy. He taught the world that the human person is the way of the Church. His inaugural cry, “Be not afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!” resonated across continents. He championed the youth, initiating World Youth Days, and showed us how to suffer with dignity in his final, Parkinson’s-ridden years.
John Paul II is a father figure to a generation. He comforts us when we feel overwhelmed by the culture of death, reminding us of the dignity of every human life. He challenges us to have the courage to be saints in the new millennium, not settling for a life of mediocrity.
Spiritual Highlights
- Motto: Totus Tuus (Totally Yours) — referring to Mary.
- Scripture: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Top 2. St. Maria Goretti: The Little Martyr of Forgiveness
While she died in the very early years of the 20th century, Maria Goretti’s canonization and impact resonated deeply throughout the modern era. A poor peasant girl of eleven, she was attacked by a neighbor intent on violating her. She resisted, warning him he would go to hell, and was stabbed fourteen times. On her deathbed, her concern was not for her pain, but for her attacker’s soul: “I forgive him, and I want him to be with me in heaven.”
Maria is the saint of mercy par excellence. Her theology is simple yet profound: purity of heart and the radical imperative of forgiveness. Decades later, her attacker, Alessandro, repented after a vision of Maria and eventually attended her canonization alongside her mother. This story illustrates that holiness has the power to redeem even the murderer.
In a culture often obsessed with vengeance and “canceling” others, Maria Goretti stands as a counter-cultural sign. She teaches us that forgiveness is not a feeling, but a decision—a decision that unlocks the prison doors of hatred. She is a gentle guide for anyone struggling to forgive the unforgivable.
Spiritual Highlights
- Miracle of Grace: Her attacker became a lay brother in a monastery after his release.
- Scripture: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Top 1. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta: The Pencil in God’s Hand
At the pinnacle of our list stands a diminutive woman in a white sari with blue stripes, whose wrinkled face became the most recognized image of Christian charity in the modern world. Mother Teresa left the safety of her convent to walk into the slums of Calcutta, picking up the dying from the gutters to ensure they died knowing they were loved. She founded the Missionaries of Charity, serving the “poorest of the poor.”
Mother Teresa’s theology was grounded in five words she counted on her fingers: “You-did-it-to-me.” She saw Jesus in the distressing disguise of the hungry, the naked, and the unwanted. Yet, we also now know she lived with a “dark night of the soul” for decades, feeling abandoned by God yet serving Him faithfully. This reveals a depth of faith that acts on commitment, not just emotion.
She is the mother of our modern conscience. She challenges the Western world, noting that our poverty is often one of loneliness and spiritual hunger, not just physical hunger. She invites us to find our own “Calcutta”—in our own homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods—and to do “small things with great love.”
Spiritual Highlights
- Key Insight: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
- Scripture: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Reflect and Pray
My dear friends, as we step away from this gallery of grace, let us not simply admire these figures as we would admire statues in a museum. They are alive. They are the great “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) cheering us on as we run our own race.
Which of these stories tugged at your heart? Was it the courage of Kolbe, the gentleness of Bakhita, or the fiery love of Acutis? Pay attention to that movement of your heart—it is likely the Holy Spirit inviting you to emulate that specific virtue. The world today does not need more celebrities; it needs more saints. And by the grace of God, the next one on this list could be you.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
