Today, September 2, is the memorial of Saint Solomon Leclerq. His real name was Guillaume-Nicolas-Louis and he was the son of a wealthy French wine merchant. Though his father wanted him to pursue the family business, Nicolas discerned early the call to religious life. In 1767, he entered the novitiate of the Brothers of the …
Today, September 1, is the memorial of Saint Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart. Carmelite nun. The future Carmelite was born into the noble family of Redi, wth cavalier Ignatius Redi and Camilla Ballati as her parents. In 1764, she entered the Discalced Carmelites’ monastery in Florence, changing her baptismal name of Anna Maria to …
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Today, August 31, is the memorial of Saint Raymond Nonnatus. Patron saint of pregnant women, midwives, and babies. Raymond was born in the village of Portell (today part of San Ramon), in the Diocese of Urgell in 1204. He was taken from the womb of his mother after her death, hence his name. His father …
Today, August 30, is the memorial of Blessed Maria Rafols. Foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Anne. Maria Rafols was born to a working class family in 1781 in Villafranca del Panedes, Spain. Her father Cristobal Rafols Cunillera and mother Margarita Bruna Brugol had 10 children, with Maria the sixth. She received the …
Today, August 28, is the memorial of Saint Augustine of Hippo. Doctor of the Church. Augustine was born in 354 in modern-ay Algeria. He was the son of Patricius, a pagan who converted on his death bed, and of St. Monica, who never stopped praying for her son’s conversion to the Catholic faith. Despite being …
Today, August 27, is the memorial of Saint Monica. Born in 332 in present-day Souk Ahras, Algeria, Monica was married off at a very young age to the Roman pagan Patricius, who seemed to have inherited his mother’s savage temper. Patricius’ mother lived with the couple, thus whenever mother and son would quarrel, Monica would …
Today, August 26, is the memorial of Blessed Jacques Retouret. Carmelite priest and martyr. Born to a family of merchants in Limoges (France) in 1746, Jacques was an educated man and was known as a lover of books. He joined the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance (O.Carm.) at age 15. He was a priest, whose …
Today, August 25, is the memorial of Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified. Carmelite nun. Mariam Baouardy was born at Abellin in Galilee in 1846 to very poor and devoted Greek-rite Catholic parents. She became an orphan at three years old when both her parents died of natural causes days apart. An uncle adopted Mariam and …
Today, August 24, is the feast of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and is usually identified with Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel according to John as being introduced to Christ by Philip, who would also become an Apostle. A popular tradition holds that he was skinned …
Today, August 23, is the memorial of Saint Rose of Lima. Secondary patroness of the Philippines. Born in 1586, Rose was a beautiful girl and devoted daughter. She was so devoted to her vow of chastity that she used pepper and lye to ruin her complexion so she would not be attractive. In emulation of …