Today, May 7, is the memorial of Saint Rosa Venerini. Foundress of the Maestre Pie Venerini (MPV) or the Venerini Sisters. Following the deaths of her fiancé and her father, Rosa entered a period of intense discernment. Exactly what was God trying to tell her? Rosa invited neighborhood women to pray the rosary in her …
Today, May 6, is the memorial of Blessed Anna Rosa Gattorno. Foundress of the Daughters of Saint Anne (DSA). Rosa, born in 1831, was married at age 21 to Gerolamo Custo. From then on, she experienced financial setbacks, serious illnesses, and the death of her husband and her child. She pondered all things and felt …
Today, May 5, is the memorial of Saint Angelus. Angelus was born in Jerusalem in 1185. His parents Jesse and Maria were Jewish converts. He was one of the first Carmelites to come to Sicily from Mount Carmel. At age 18, Angelus and his twin brother John joined a group of hermits who formed …
Today, April 8, is the commemoration of Saint Julie Billiart. Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1751, Jean-Francois and Marie-Louise-Antoinette became parents to Julie. The child, at age seven, knew the catechism by heart. At 14, Julie made a private vow of chastity and devoted herself to caring and teaching …
Today, April 7, is the commemoration of Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle. Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (La Salle Brothers). Jean-Baptiste was born in 1651 in Reims, France to a wealthy family. He was an intelligent man, taking higher studies and delving into classical, literary, and philosophical courses. He entered the Seminary …
Today, April 6, is the commemoration of Blessed Pierina Morosini. Born in 1931, Pierina was one of nine children in a poor family in Bergamo, Italy. Already a pious girl, Pierina had made a private vow of chastity to God. She was an active Catholic Action member and catechist. At 15, she worked as …
Today, April 5, is the commemoration of Saint Vincent Ferrer. Vincent was born in 1350 to Anglo–Scottish nobleman William Stewart Ferrer and his Spanish wife, Constantia Miguel. It is said that William dreamt that Vincent would become a renowned Dominican friar. The young Vincent entered the Dominican Order in 1367. He earned his doctorate of …
Today, April 4, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville. Doctor of the Church. Isidore was born in 560 in Cartagena, Spain. He was the son of pious couple Severianus and Theodora. He was the brother of St. Fulgentius of Ecija, St. Florentina of Cartagena, and St. Leander of Seville. At first he did …
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 …