Today, November 19, is the memorial of Saint Raphael Kalinowski. Carmelite friar. He was born Jozef Kalinowski to a noble Polish family in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1835. When he turned 18, he joined the Imperial Russian Army and got promoted to Captain years later. He later resigned from the Army and became minister of war …
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive outthose who were selling things, saying to them,“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,but you have made it a den of thieves.”And every day he was teaching in the temple area.The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,were …
Today, November 18, is the memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne. Rose Philippine was born to a French family known for its wealth and political connections. She was educated by the nuns from the Order of the Visitation. Realizing she had a religious vocation, she told her family her desire to become a nun. Her …
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,he saw the city and wept over it, saying,“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.For the days are coming upon youwhen your enemies will raise a palisade against you;they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.They will smash …
Today, November 17, is the memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. Born in present-day Bratislava, Slovakia in 1207, Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and Queen Gertrude of Merania. She was the great-aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal. She married Prince Louis of Thuringa at age 13 (other accounts say 14). …
While people were listening to Jesus speak,he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalemand they thought that the Kingdom of Godwould appear there immediately. So he said,“A nobleman went off to a distant countryto obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.He called ten of his servants and gave them ten …
Today, November 16, is the memorial of Saint Gertrude the Great. Gertrude was born in 1256 in Thuringia within the Holy Roman Empire. At age four (some reports say five), she was raised in the monastery school of Saint Mary of Helfta. She was described as an extremely bright and dedicated student, she excelled in …
At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.Now a man there named Zacchaeus,who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,was seeking to see who Jesus was;but he could not see him because of the crowd,for he was short in stature.So he ran ahead and climbed a …
As Jesus approached Jerichoa blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him,“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”The people walking in front rebuked him,telling him to be silent,but he kept calling out all the …
Today, November 14, is the feast of All Carmelite Saints. Who are the saints of Carmel? They are hermits of Mount Carmel who “lived in small cells, similar to the cells of a beehive, they lived as God’s bees, gathering the divine honey of spiritual consolation.” They are mendicants of the first medieval communities, who …