Today, October 10, is the memorial of Saint Daniel Comboni. Founder of the Comboni Missionaries. Daniel was born in Limone, Italy in 1831. He became an Italian bishop who served in the missions in Africa and was the founder of both the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and the Comboni Missionary Sisters. He …
Today, October 9, is the memorial of Saint Denis & Companion-Martyrs. Patron saint invoked against headaches. Saints Denis, Rusticus, and Eleutherius were missionaries in Paris. Nothing more is known about Denis’ companions. Denis was appointed the first Bishop of Paris. It was said that they were so successful in converting many non-Christians that the authorities …
Today, October 8, is the memorial of Saint Pelagia the Penitent. The story goes that she was a professional dancer/actress who was known for her beauty, wealth, and immoral state of life. One time she heard the sermon of the bishop Saint Nonnus of Edessa, who was struck by her looks. Saint Nonnus talked about …
Today, October 7, is the memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. October 7, 1571 was a Sunday when the Christian fleets under John of Austria reached a major naval victory over the Turks in the Straits of Lepanto. Thousands of Christians were freed. The Turkish fleet was destroyed, and they suffered their first …
Today, October 6, is the memorial of Saint Bruno. Founder of the Order of Carthusians (O.Cart.). Bruno studied in Paris and Rheims, France. He was ordained in 1055 and taught theology. In fact, one of his students became Blessed Pope Urban II. He was known to criticize the worldliness, and hunger for power and wealth …
Today, October 5, is the memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska. The Apostle of Divine Mercy. Faustina was the third of 10 siblings and managed to attend only three years of schooling. When she was a teenager, she became a housemaid. Initially rejected by religious congregations, she eventually joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our …
Today, October 4, is the fiesta of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the son of a rich cloth merchant, enjoyed a good education, and worked in his father’s business. The downside was, he had a rather wayward youth. He engaged in street fighting and even became a soldier. When he became a prisoner of …
Today, October 3, is the memorial of Blessed Columba Marmion. Born Joseph Marion in Dublin of an Irish father and a French mother, he completed his preparation for the priesthood in Rome. He was ordained priest in the Eternal City in 1881 and afterwards was appointed professor of philosophy at Clonliffe Seminary. Returning from Italy, …
Today, October 2, is the memorial of the Guardian Angels. This celebration started in many local calendars centuries ago, and was widely known by the 16th century. Pope Paul V placed a feast venerating the angels on the general calendar on 27 September 1608. Ferdinand of Austria requested that it be extended to all areas …
Today, October 1, is the feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. Carmelite virgin and Doctor of the Church. Patron saint of missionaries. Thérèse was the daughter of St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azelie Guérin Martin. She had four sisters, all of whom became nuns. Marie-Azelie died of …