Today, October 20, is the memorial of Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin. Born Anna Francesca Boscardin to a poor peasant family, she was nicknamed “The Goose” because of her lack of intelligence and mental slowness. Her childhood was full of trials. She had to endure her father Angelo’s violent behavior whenever he was drunk. She worked …
Jesus said to his disciples:“Be sure of this:if the master of the house had known the hourwhen the thief was coming,he would not have let his house be broken into.You also must be prepared,for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said,“Lord, is this parable meant for …
Today, October 19, is the memorial of Saint Paul of the Cross. Founder of the Passionists (Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ). Paul was born in 1694. Family and relatives wanted Paul to marry, but he refused, believing that he could serve God more as a bachelor. A heavenly vision inspired Paul to found …
Jesus said to his disciples:“Gird your loins and light your lampsand be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.Blessed are those servantswhom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,have them recline at table, and proceed to …
Today, October 18, is the feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist. Born to pagan Greek parents, and possibly a slave, Luke was one of the earliest converts to Christianity. Luke was a physician who studied in Antioch and Tarsus. Some accounts mention that the evangelist may have been a ship‘s doctor. He met Saint Paul …
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two discipleswhom he sent ahead of him in pairsto every town and place he intended to visit.He said to them,“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;so ask the master of the harvestto send out laborers for his harvest.Go on your way;behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.Carry …
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?”They answered him, “Grant that in your glorywe may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”Jesus …
Today, October 16, is the memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Visionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Margaret Mary was born in Burgundy, France in 1647. She healed from a crippling disorder by a vision of the Blessed Virgin, which prompted her to give her life to God. After receiving a vision of Christ …
Jesus said to his disciples:“I tell you,everyone who acknowledges me before othersthe Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.But whoever denies me before otherswill be denied before the angels of God. “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spiritwill …
Today, October 15, is the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila. Virgin and Doctor of the Church. Foundress of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada was born in 1515 to the Spanish nobility, the daughter of Don Alonso Sanchez de Cepeda and Doña Beatriz. She grew up reading the lives …