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 Him, …
Today, December 26, is the feast of Saint Stephen. Deacon and the First Martyr. The account of Stephen is found in the Acts of the Apostles: while preaching the Gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, and stoned him to death. “However, Stephen looked …
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 21, is the memorial of Saint Peter Canisius. Doctor of the Church. Born in 1521 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, Peter had wealthy parents (his father was the mayor). 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 …
Today, December 17, is the memorial of Saint John de Matha. Founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians). John came from nobility, born in 1160 in southeastern France. His parents Euphemius and Martha had him sent to Aix-en-Provence for his schooling. As a student, John gave away part of his allowance to …
By Fr. Ritche T. Salgado, O.Carm. The Order of Carmelites in the Philippines recently gathered together the brothers assigned in the different parishes managed by the Order together with lay representatives from these parishes. The colloquium was convened by Fr. Modesto Malandac, O.Carm., convenor of the pastors’ group. The prior of Agusan Carmelite Monastery, Fr. …
Carmelite pastors and parish workers gather for three days Read More »
Today, December 16, is the memorial of Blessed Mary of the Angels. Carmelite nun. She was born Marianna Fontanella in Turin, Italy in 1661 to nobility. She was a distant cousin of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. At around six years old, Marianna already knew she had a vocation to the religious life. One day, she planned …