Today, July 6, is the memorial of Saint Maria Goretti. Maria, born in 1890 in Marche, Italy, was a pious farm girl whose parents were Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. When she turned five, the Gorettis became so poor they gave up everything. Luigi soon died of malaria, and the family was forced to transfer …
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciplesand gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them outand to cure every disease and every illness.The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;Philip and Bartholomew,Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;James, the son of Alphaeus, …
“As emphatically as possible he rejects the idea that the mystical life – which does not consist essentially in sights and visions, stigmata and levitations, but simply in seeing God before us and with us and in us, being consumed through love for Him, knowing the divine fire within us and only wishing with God …
Today, July 5, is the memorial of Saint Anthony Maria Zaccaria. Founder of the Barnabites. Anthony was born in 1502 in Italy. As his family was of the nobility, he was able to receive proper education. He studied philosophy and medicine at Padua, Italy, receiving his doctorate at age 22. He worked as a physician …
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.The crowds were amazed and said,“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”But the Pharisees said,“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,teaching in their …
“He is very emphatic in this. On the other hand, he acknowledges the necessity of study, of preaching and of other pastoral duties. But these should be grounded on a more elevated contemplation. That was the reason why he wished the younger members of the Order to be set on the road of contemplation so …
Today, July 4, is the memorial of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. In 1901, Pier Giorgio Frassati was born to a wealthy and politically influential family. His mother was the painter Adelaide Ametis while his father was an agnostic, the founder and editor of the liberal newspaper La Stampa who became the Italian ambassador to Germany. …
While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,knelt down before him, and said,“My daughter has just died.But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind himand touched the tassel on his cloak.She said to herself, …
“It strikes us immediately that the blind brother, with all possible stress, maintains that we are called to the mystical life, all of us; that the mystical life, the familiar intercourse with God, the experiencing God, the enjoyment of God, is something God will grant man on earth, nay grants it to many if only …
At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two otherswhom 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 …