Today, March 20, is the memorial of Saint Maria Josefa Sancho de Guerra. Foundress of the Servants of Jesus of Charity. Born in 1842, Maria Josefa came from a Spanish Catholic family. When her father Bernabe died, her mother Petra made sure that Maria Josefa had an education. At age 18, Maria Josefa wanted to …
Today, March 19, is the solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary. Principal Protector of the Carmelite Order. The liturgical feast of St. Joseph already appeared in the Carmelite Order in the second half of the 15th century. In 1680, the Carmelite General Chapter unanimously elected St. Joseph as the Principal Protector of the Carmelite …
Today, March 18, is the memorial of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem. Doctor of the Church. Cyril’s early life is rather sketchy, but his birth year has been pegged at 315. He was known for his expertise in the topics of theology and philosophy. He was ordained deacon by St. Macarius of Jerusalem and priest by …
Today, March 17, is the memorial of Saint Patrick. Patrick lived in tumultuous times. He was kidnapped from the British mainland around age 16, and shipped to Ireland as a slave. There he was assigned to serve as shepherd. Even while guarding sheep, Patrick never neglected his prayer life. He dreamt that a mission was …
Today, March 16, is the memorial of Saint Heribert of Cologne. Heribert was born in the year 970, Germany. It was his dream to become a Benedictine monk. His father disliked the idea—he did everything to stop Heribert from pursuing that dream. Heribert later became a church official and eventually was ordained priest. He became …
Today, March 15, is the memorial of Saint Clement Hofbauer. Born in 1751 in present-day Czech Republic, Clement felt called to become a priest early in life. However, his family could not afford such an education. After his father’s death, he then worked as a journeyman, apprentice baker, and househelp at the Norbertine Abbey. He …
Today, March 13, is the memorial of Saint Leander of Seville. Born in Cartagena, Spain in 534, Leander came from a family of holy people. He was the son of Severianus and Theodora, known for their piety. He was the brother of St. Isidore of Seville, St. Fulgentius of Ecija, and St. Florentina of Cartagena. …
Today, March 12, is the memorial of Saint Luigi Orione. Founder of the Little Missionaries of Charity, the Hermits of Divine Providence, and the Ladies of Divine Providence. Luigi, born in 1872 in Alessandria, Italy, came from a poor family. At the start of his teenage years, Luigi joined the Franciscans. He went out after …
Today, March 11, is the memorial of Saint Eulogius of Cordoba. Eulogius was the son of a senatorial family from Cordoba, Spain. He was a well-respected priest and ecclesiastical school head who provided support to Christian martyrs and their survivors. This was the time of the Islamic persecutions in Moorish-occupied Spain. He was arrested several …
Today, March 10, is the memorial of Saint Marie-Eugénie de Jésus. Foundress of the Religious of the Assumption. Marie-Eugenie was born in 1817 in Moselle, France. She was raised in a well-to-do and educated family with almost zero faith in God. Her father Jacques Milleret lost all their fortune when she was 13. Because of …