Today, April 2, is the commemoration of Saint Pedro Calungsod. Pedro was born in 1654 and was educated by the Jesuits in the Visayas. He could read, write and speak Visayan, Spanish, and Chamorro. He had an artistic streak: he could paint, draw, sing, and do carpentry. He was a teenage catechist who worked with …
Today, March 31, is the commemoration of Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz. Born in 1906 in Poland, Natalia worked as a teacher and led the local lay apostolate. When World War II happened, Natalia decided to join underground educators in Krakow. She voluntarily went to Germany to join women forced into hard labor, as she wanted to …
Today, March 30, is the commemoration of Saint John Climacus. John was born in 579 in Syria. He was named “Climacus” because of his writings. “Climacus” means “ladder,” so his name refers to his works. Fired with a love of God, a young John decided he wanted to serve God all his life. At 16, …
Today, March 29, is the commemoration of Blessed Berthold of Mount Carmel. Born in Limoges, France, Berthold was the son of the Count of Limoges and a nephew of Aymeric the Latin patriarch of Antioch. He was a soldier who battled in the Crusades and was present in Antioch during the siege of the Saracens. …
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Today, March 26, is the commemoration of Saint Ludger. Born in 742 AD, Ludger came from a family of wealth and nobility. He was the brother of St. Gerburgis and St. Hildegrin. He was much impressed by the preaching of St. Boniface. He was ordained priest and became a missionary. He went on a pilgrimage …
Today, March 24, is the commemoration of Saint Oscar Romero. Oscar was born to Santos and Guadalupe Romero in 1917 in San Miguel, El Salvador. He was ordained in 1942 in Rome and served as parish priest of Anamoros, La Union, El Salvador in 1943. In 1970, he was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese …
Today, March 23, is the commemoration of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo. Born to the nobility in 1538, Toribio was named after St. Toribio de Astorga. As a child, Toribio had a devotion to the Virgin Mary, fasted in her honor, and recited rosaries. He became a lawyer and law professor in Saamanca, Spain. He became …
Today, March 22, is the commemoration of Saint Lea. What is known about Lea came from the writings of her friend, St. Jerome. Lea was born into a life of riches and privilege. When her husband died, Lea found herself possessing much material and financial wealth. Instead of spending the rest of her life in …
Today March 21, is the commemoration of Saint Benedetta Frassinello. Foundress of the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence. Benedetta was born in 1791 in Genoa, Italy. At the age of 20 she had a profound spiritual experience that made her desire for a life of prayer, penance, and consecration to God. Her parents …
Today, March 19, is the solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary. Principal Protector of the Carmelite Order. The liturgical feast of St. Joseph already appeared in the Carmelite Order in the second half of the 15th century. In 1680, the Carmelite General Chapter unanimously elected St. Joseph as the Principal Protector of the Carmelite …