Today, January 20, is the memorial of Blessed Angelo Paoli. Carmelite priest. When the future Carmelite was born in 1642, he was named Francesco in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. His parents Angelo and Santa were avid devotees of the saint. As he was well-educated, he spent his youth teaching catechism and Catholic instruction …
Today, January 17, is the memorial of Saint Anthony of Egypt. Patron saint of pig owners. More popularly known as San Antonio Abad, he took responsibility of his sister’s education when their parents died. Anthony sold his house, property, and furniture, and then gave the money to the poor. At age 35, Anthony moved to …
Today, January 16, is the memorial of Saint Joseph Vaz. Joseph, who belonged to the Congregation of the Oratory, was born in 1651 in Goa, India. He was ordained priest in 1676. He soon after lived barefoot to imitate the poor and preached the Gospel with much success. Joseph journeyed to Sri Lanka during the …
Fr. Engelbert Hein van Vilsteren, O.Carm. April 9, 1935 – January 16, 1973 Today, January 16, we remember Fr. Engelbert van Vilsteren, O.Carm., who was martyred in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur at the height of the dictatorship of then Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. He was born on April 9, 1935 at Wijhe-Boerhaar, The Netherlands …
Today, January 12, is the memorial of Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung. Nicholas was born in 1895 in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. His parents were converts to the Catholic faith. He was ordained priest in 1926 and first served as assistant parish priest. Two years later, he taught Salesians missionary priests how to speak the Thai language. …
Today, January 11, is the memorial of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch. A cenobiarch is basically an abbot or a leader of people living a life in common, which was what Theodosius became. He was born in Cappadocia, Turkey to pious parents Proheresius and Eulogia. In later life, Eulogia would become a nun and would choose …
Today, January 7, is the memorial of Saint Raymond of Peñafort. Patron saint of lawyers. Raymond of Peñafort was the confessor of King James I of Aragon, who used to be a devout Catholic until he had a mistress. When the king went to the island of Majorca to convert the Moors, he brought along …
Today, January 6, is the memorial of Saint André Bessette. “At the end of my novitiate, my superiors showed me the door, and I stayed there for 40 years.” Thus said Brother André who, as a porter, had the job of opening the door and greeting guests. He was born Alfred Bessette in Quebec, Canada …
Today, January 5, is the memorial of Saint Charles of Mount Argus. In 1821, Saint Charles was born John Andrew Houben in Limburg, the Netherlands. He was born poor. His father Peter Joseph, who was a miller, and mother Johanna Elizabeth had 11 children. He was described as a slow learner, quiet, and very shy. …
Today, January 4, is the memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Foundress of the Sisters of Charity. In 1774, Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born into a wealthy and influential Episcopalian family in New York. She was the daughter of surgeon Dr. Richard Bayley and Catherine Charlton. Elizabeth was raised in the New York high society …