Today, January 15, is the memorial of Saint Arnold Janssen. Founder of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), and the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Pink Sisters). Born in 1837 in Germany, Arnold felt an early call to the priesthood. He …
Today, January 14, is the memorial of Saint Felix of Nola. Felix was born in the early Third Century in Italy. After the death of his soldier-father Hermias, Felix sold off most of his property and possessions, gave the proceeds to the poor, and pursued his vocation. Felix was ordained by and worked with Saint …
Today, January 13, is the memorial of Saint Hilary of Poitiers. Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Hilary, whose name in Latin means happy, was born in 310 in Pictavium, Gaul (now modern-day Poitiers, France). His parents were well-known pagans, and so Hilary was raised and educated in a pagan environment. Hilary would later convert …
Today, January 4, is the memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Foundress of the Sisters of Charity. In 1774, Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born into a wealthy and influential Episcopalian family in New York. She was the daughter of surgeon Dr. Richard Bayley and Catherine Charlton. Elizabeth was raised in the New York high society …
Today, January 3, is the memorial of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara. Co-founder of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC). The Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic priest Kuriakose Elias was born in 1805 in what is now Kerala, India. He studied with a Hindu teacher until age 10, and …
Today, December 31, is the memorial of Pope Saint Sylvester I. Pope Sylvester I was the 33rd pope of the Catholic Church, born around the year 250 in Avelino. He was the son of Rufinus. Little is known about him. Accounts of his pontificate in the Liber Pontificalis only showed the favors that Emperor Constantine …
Today, December 29, is the memorial of Saint Thomas Becket. Thomas was born around 1118 in London. Gilbert and Matilda were his parents. He took up Canon Law and became a trusted assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Later, Thomas was ordained deacon. That time, Henry II ascended to the throne. He and Thomas clicked …
Today, December 28, is the feast of the Holy Innocents. From Matthew 2:16-18, it is written: “When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had …
Today, December 27, is the feast of Saint John the Apostle. John was the son of Zebedee and Salome. He was the brother of Saint James the Greater and a disciple of Saint John the Baptist. He was a fisherman called by Jesus during the first year of His ministry, and traveled everywhere with …
Today, December 23, is the memorial of Blessed Nicolas Factor. Franciscan priest and Renaissance painter. Nicolas knew poverty when he was born in 1520 in Valencia, Spain. His father was a poor tailor and had five children. As a child, Nicolas fasted thrice a week and gave his food to the poor. He was also …