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| '''Good Catholic''' is a digital platform dedicated to Catholic faith formation, offering free and paid multimedia content designed to help users learn, live, and share their Catholic faith. Launched as an extension of The Catholic Company, it provides resources such as educational video series, blog articles, podcasts, and guided prayers, with a focus on liturgical seasons, saints, and spiritual practices. The platform emphasizes accessible, practical tools for spiritual growth, including seasonal retreats and daily devotionals. | | The '''Saints’ Way''' is an American Christian YouTube channel launched on 8 June 2025, dedicated to the lives, miracles, and spiritual teachings of Catholic and Orthodox saints. As of 3 December 2025, the channel has amassed 19,800 subscribers, uploaded 152 videos, and accumulated approximately 1.4 million total views. |
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| The episodes are regularly captured in [[Digital media collection]]. | | The episodes are regularly captured in [[Digital media collection]]. |
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| == History== | | == Content and style == |
| | The channel presents short-to-medium-length narrative videos (typically 8–20 minutes) that recount the biographies of saints, emphasizing their “yes” to God, acts of sacrifice, reported miracles, and relevance to contemporary spiritual life. Episodes frequently combine historical reenactment footage, classical and medieval artwork, soft orchestral music, and reflective narration. Many videos conclude with a brief prayer or practical spiritual challenge for viewers. |
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| Good Catholic was established by The Catholic Company, a family-owned Catholic retailer founded in 2001 by James and Whitney Hetzel. The Catholic Company began as an online store for Catholic gifts, books, and sacramentals, launching its website on September 17, 2001, just days after the September 11 attacks, as a response to global tragedy through evangelization and faith-based products. Over the years, the company expanded into digital content to complement its physical offerings, with Good Catholic emerging as a dedicated arm for online faith resources.
| | Recurring series include: |
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| While an exact launch date for Good Catholic is not publicly documented, its content and branding have been active since at least 2020, aligning with The Catholic Company's growth into multimedia apostolates. The platform is headquartered in the United States and operates as a service of both Good Catholic™ and The Catholic Company™, serving hundreds of thousands of users annually through integrated email newsletters and e-commerce.
| | * Full-length saint biographies |
| | * “Miracle Moments” (short-form miracle accounts) |
| | * Seasonal reflections tied to the liturgical calendar |
| | * Viewer-submitted testimony episodes |
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| == Content and offerings==
| | The channel’s branding revolves around the metaphor of a “path” or pilgrimage, symbolized by recurring visuals of cobblestone roads, golden light, and halos, even though it is not connected to the Cornish coast-to-coast footpath of the same name. |
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| Good Catholic's resources are divided into free and paid categories, with a strong emphasis on liturgical and devotional themes. The platform's content is produced in-house, often featuring contributions from priests, theologians, and lay experts, and is accessible via its website and associated YouTube channel (@goodcatholic4062).
| | == Growth == |
| | Launched in mid-2025 with no prior online presence, The Saints’ Way experienced rapid growth within the English-speaking Catholic and broader Christian digital space. By early December 2025—less than six months after its first upload—the channel reached nearly 20,000 subscribers and averaged roughly 9,200 views per video. Growth is attributed to algorithm-friendly devotional content, high shareability within Catholic Facebook groups, Reddit communities (e.g., r/Catholicism), and consistent daily or near-daily upload schedules during its first three months. |
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| === Free resources==== | | == Reception == |
| - '''Blog articles''': Timely pieces on topics like Advent preparation ("5 Steps To Prepare Yourself For A Holy Advent"), saint biographies (e.g., St. Nicholas, St. Lucy), and doctrinal explanations (e.g., the Immaculate Conception, the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart).
| | Viewers commonly praise the channel for making hagiography accessible and emotionally engaging without sacrificing theological depth. Comment sections regularly feature personal testimonies, prayer requests, and expressions of renewed devotion to particular saints. As of late 2025, no major controversies or criticisms have been widely documented. |
| - '''Videos''': Short-form content including art reflections ("Behind the Canvas: The Incredulity of St. Thomas"), priest Q&A sessions ("Ask A Priest: Discernment Isn’t a Sumo Wrestling Match"), and guided prayers (e.g., the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary).
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| - '''Podcasts''': Daily audio series such as ''Morning Offering with Fr. Kirby'' (morning devotionals), ''Night Prayer with Fr. Matlak'' (evening reflections), and ''The Saint of the Day Podcast'' (hagiographical summaries).
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| ===Paid resources=== | | == See also == |
| Good Catholic offers structured digital series for deeper study, priced between $4.95 and $22.95:
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| - ''Great Advent'' ($22.95): A guided journey through Advent with reflections and practices.
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| - ''St. Joseph: Our Protector'' ($4.95): Reflections on the foster father of Jesus.
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| - ''Angels and the Supernatural'' ($22.95): Explorations of angelic theology and spiritual phenomena.
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| - Seasonal programs like ''Journey to Easter'' (Lenten series, launched in 2025).
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| New users receive 25% off their first series via newsletter signup, which also delivers updates on launches and seasonal content.
| | * Catholic YouTube |
| | | * Hagiography in popular media |
| == Notable features and projects===
| | * Digital evangelization |
| - '''Liturgical focus''': Content is heavily tied to the Church calendar, with 2025 updates including Lenten recipes, explanations of penitential colors (e.g., purple for Lent), and preparations for canonizations like St. Carlo Acutis (the first millennial saint, canonized September 7, 2025).
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| - '''Multimedia expansions''': In December 2024, Good Catholic announced its largest project, the five-part documentary ''Not Made By Human Hands: The Miracle of Guadalupe'', filmed on location in Mexico City and exploring the history and science of Our Lady of Guadalupe's tilma. Released in late 2025, it features interviews with experts like Fr. Robert Spitzer.
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| - '''Integration with affiliates''': Content often cross-promotes products from The Catholic Company, such as rosaries inspired by new saints (e.g., St. Carlo Acutis Blue Wood Rosary).
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| As of December 3, 2025, the platform continues to update for the Advent season, with articles on transformative practices and virtual retreats led by contributors like Fr. Matthew Pawlikowski.
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| ==Reception and impact==
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| Good Catholic has been positively received within Catholic communities for its approachable, high-quality content that bridges traditional teachings with modern digital formats. Users praise its role in fostering daily spiritual habits, with podcasts like ''The Saint of the Day'' lauded for bite-sized hagiography that fits busy lifestyles. The platform's affiliation with The Catholic Company, a trusted retailer since 2001, enhances its credibility, as evidenced by user testimonials on sites like Reddit, where it is recommended alongside outlets like EWTN for reliable Catholic resources.
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| In 2025, coverage of timely events—such as the canonizations of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati—has amplified its impact, inspiring family discussions on holiness in the digital age and environmental stewardship. The ''Not Made By Human Hands'' documentary series has been highlighted for its blend of science, theology, and pilgrimage, contributing to broader evangelization efforts. While formal reviews are limited, informal feedback emphasizes its value in promoting media literacy and moral reflection, aligning with Catholic social teaching on the responsible use of technology for faith formation.
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| Critics note that, like many digital apostolates, its reach is primarily English-speaking and U.S.-centric, though its free resources have global accessibility. Overall, Good Catholic is viewed as a modern tool for the new evangelization, echoing Pope Pius XI's 1936 encyclical ''Vigilanti Cura'' on film's moral influence.
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| == References==
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| {{Reflist}}
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| ==External links==
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| * [https://www.goodcatholic.com/ Official website]
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| * [https://www.youtube.com/@goodcatholic4062 YouTube channel]
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| * [https://www.catholiccompany.com/ Parent company: The Catholic Company]
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| [[Category:Catholic websites]] | | [[Category:Catholic websites]] |
| [[Category:Online religious resources]] | | [[Category:Online religious resources]] |
| [[Category:American Christian websites]] | | [[Category:American Christian websites]] |