Today, February 9, is the memorial of Saint Miguel Febres Cordero. Born Francisco Luis Febres-Cordero y Muñoz in Ecuador in 1854, he was born with the inability to stand or walk. At age five, he saw the Blessed Virgin Mary in a vision and was afterwards cured. At age eight he was miraculously protected from …
Today, February 8, is the memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita.She was born to a well-to-do and respected Sudanese family in 1869. She was kidnapped by Arab slave-traders (she was around 7 to 9 years old). Because she was severely traumatized by her abduction, she completely forgot her real name. She was given the name Bakhita, …
Today February 7, is the memorial of Blessed Pope Pius IX. Born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti in 1792 to a noble family, Pope Pius IX began his papacy in 1846. He was the longest-reigning elected pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving for over 31 years. One of his first acts as Pope …
Today, February 5, is the memorial of Saint Agatha. Patron saint of breast cancer patients. Agatha was born in Sicily in 231. According to the account, Agatha was young, beautiful, and rich. Instead of wasting her time on worldly pleasures, Agatha chose to consecrate her life to God. When Emperor Decius decided to persecute …
Today, February 4, is the memorial of Saint Jane of Valois. Also known as Jane of France, she was born a princess, the daughter of King Louis XI of France and Charlotte of Savoy, in 1464. Jane was the cousin of Blessed Louise of Savoy. She was deformed at birth, with a hump on her …
Today, February 3, is the memorial of Saint Blaise.Patron saint of people with throat and respiratory problems.Blaise was said to have been born in what is now Turkey. His Acts narrate that he lived in a cave on Mount Argeus. He became popular as a physician of both men and animals. It was said that …
Today, February 1, is the memorial of Blessed Benedict Daswa. The future beato was born Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa in 1946 in South Africa. He was a member of the Lemba tribe. Since this tribe followed Jewish laws, rituals, and traditions, they were known as the “Black Jews.” He got the name “Benedict” when he converted …
Today, January 31, is the memorial of Saint John Bosco. Founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, and Union of Cooperator Salesians. Born in 1815 in Becchi, Italy, John Bosco was the youngest son of Francesco and Venerable Margaret Bosco. Francesco passed away when the child was two. …
Today, January 29, is the memorial of Blessed Archangela Girlani. Carmelite nun. Born to a noble family in 1460, she was originally named Eleanora. She was already drawn to the religious life as a child. She planned to enter the Benedictines. On her way to the abbey, her horse refused to move. She took it …
Today, January 28, is the memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Doctor of the Church. Thomas Aquinas was born in their family’s castle in Roccasecca, Central Italy in 1225. His family was the very wealthy and most powerful of the time. He went to the famed Benedictine monastery Monte Cassino where his uncle Sinibald was the …