Today, December 31, is the memorial of Pope Saint Sylvester I. Pope Sylvester I was the 33rd pope of the Catholic Church, born around the year 250 in Avelino. He was the son of Rufinus. Little is known about him. Accounts of his pontificate in the Liber Pontificalis only showed the favors that Emperor Constantine …
Today, December 29, is the memorial of Saint Thomas Becket. Thomas was born around 1118 in London. Gilbert and Matilda were his parents. He took up Canon Law and became a trusted assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Later, Thomas was ordained deacon. That time, Henry II ascended to the throne. He and Thomas clicked …
Today, December 28, is the feast of the Holy Innocents. From Matthew 2:16-18, it is written: “When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had …
Today, December 27, is the feast of Saint John the Apostle. John was the son of Zebedee and Salome. He was the brother of Saint James the Greater and a disciple of Saint John the Baptist. He was a fisherman called by Jesus during the first year of His ministry, and traveled everywhere with …
Today, December 23, is the memorial of Blessed Nicolas Factor. Franciscan priest and Renaissance painter. Nicolas knew poverty when he was born in 1520 in Valencia, Spain. His father was a poor tailor and had five children. As a child, Nicolas fasted thrice a week and gave his food to the poor. He was also …
Today, December 22, is the memorial of Saint Flavian of Acquapendente. Flavian was the father of Saint Bibiana and Saint Demetria, and the husband of Saint Dafrosa of Acquapendente. He was greatly admired by Romans for his virtues and talents. Even Constantine the Great held him in high esteem, so much so that the emperor …
Today, December 21, is the memorial of Saint Peter Canisius. Doctor of the Church. Born in 1521 in Habsburg Netherlands, Peter had wealthy parents (his father was a chief magistrate). At 19, he was sent to study at the University of Cologne. There he met St. Peter Faber, one of the founders of the Society …
Today, December 20, is the memorial of Saint Dominic of Silos. Dominic was born in the year 1000 in Spain. He was a shepherd before becoming a Benedictine monk at the monastery of San Millán de Cogolla. There Dominic became novice master and then prior before being driven out with two of his fellow monks …
Mary set outand traveled to the hill country in hasteto a town of Judah,where she entered the house of Zechariahand greeted Elizabeth.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,the infant leaped in her womb,and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,cried out in a loud voice and said,“Blessed are you among women,and blessed is the fruit of your womb.And …
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,but before they lived together,she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,yet unwilling to expose her to shame,decided to divorce her quietly.Such was his intention when, behold,the angel of the …