Today, October 6, is the memorial of Saint Bruno. Founder of the Order of Carthusians (O.Cart.). In 1030, Bruno was born to a principal family in Cologne. He 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 …
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 memorial 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 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 breast …
Today, September 30, is the memorial of Saint Jerome. Doctor of the Church. Born to a rich pagan family, Jerome led a wild youth. He studied in Rome and became a lawyer. He converted and joined the Church in theory, and was baptized in 365, but it was only when he began his study of …
Today, September 29, is the feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael the Archangels. They are the three angels mentioned by name in the Bible. Michael (“Who is like God”) was the archangel who battled against Satan and all the bad angels. He protects humanity from the snares of the devil. Gabriel (“Strength of God”) …
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Today, September 28, is the memorial of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion-Martyrs. Lorenzo’s parents were both Christians: he had a Chinese father and a Filipino mother who taught him Chinese and Tagalog at home, and Spanish from the Dominicans whom he served as altar boy and sacristan. He was respected as a professional calligrapher, document …
Today, September 27, is the memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul. Founder of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and the Daughters of Charity. Born in 1581, Vincent was born to farmers Jean and Bertrande de Paul. Even as a child, Vincent demonstrated high intelligence. Jean was so impressed he sent the 15-year old Vincent …
Today, September 25, is the memorial of Blessed Herman the Cripple. Author of the “Salve Regina” and the “Alma Redemptoris Mater.” Herman was born in 1013 with a cleft palate and cerebral palsy. He suffered from severe physical disabilities and could hardly speak. Reports indicate he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or spinal muscular atrophy. Because …
Today, September 24, is the memorial of Saint Gerard Sagredo. His father, also named Gerard, and mother Catherine waited for three years for his arrival. He was actually baptized George, after St. George. When his father died during a pilgrimage, he was renamed Gerard. When he was five, Gerard was miraculously cured. The recovery was …