Today, March 9, is the memorial of Saint Frances of Rome. Patron saint of drivers. Foundress of the Oblates of the Tor de’ Specchi (Collatines). Born to the aristocracy in 1384, Frances was the daughter of Paul Bussa and Jacobella de’ Roffredeschi. She wanted to pursue her religious calling, but her parents got in the …
Today, March 8, is the memorial of Saint John of God. Founder of the Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God (San Juan de Dios). Born in 1495 in Portugal, John came from an upper class family that went broke. He ended up a shepherd in Spain. As a young man, John …
Today, March 6, is the memorial of Saint Colette. Colette was born Nicole Boellet in France in 1381. Her parents were already old when they had her. They prayed to St. Nicholas of Myra for a baby. When their prayers were answered, they nicknamed the baby Nicolette in honor of St. Nicholas. The nickname was …
Today, March 5, is the memorial of Blessed Lazër Shantoja. Lazër was born in 1892 (other biographers claim it is 1892) in Albania. For his elementary and secondary education, he studied at the Albanian Pontifical Seminary. He was described as a very talented seminarian. In 1915, he was ordained priest and thereafter pursued his love …
Today, March 4, is the memorial of Blessed Romeo. Carmelite friar. Also known as Romaeus, he was already fixed on God early in life. He decided to pursue his vocation in the hopes of going against the ways of the world. He entered the Order of Carmelites and set about leading a life of virtue. …
Today, March 3, is the memorial of Saint Katharine Drexel. Foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Catherine Mary, the saint was the daughter of the extremely wealthy railroad entrepreneurs and philanthropists Francis Anthony and Hannah Langstroth. She was born in 1858 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mom died when she was still a baby. …
Today, March 2, is the memorial of Saint Angela of the Cross. Foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross. She was named Maria de los Angeles and born in 1846 in Spain. Before entering the religious life, she worked in a shoe repair shop for almost 20 years. Maria attempted to become …
Today, March 1, is the memorial of Blessed Giovanna Maria Bonomo. Giovanna, born in 1606 in Venice, came from a wealthy and noble family. Even in her early childhood, Giovanna was already achieving a high degree of holiness. God was always in her thoughts and actions. When she was 10 months old, it is said …
Today, February 27, is the memorial of Saint Gabriel Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows. Gabriel embodied worldliness: he was a ladies’ man (he was engaged to two girls at the same time), a well-known partygoer, a fantastic dancer, considered the most fashionable bachelor in town who wore the latest outfits of the time (it …
Today, February 26, is the memorial of Saint Victor the Hermit. Victor was born in Troyes, Champagne, France in the 7th century. He came from a pious well-to-do and well-educated Christian family. It seemed Victor grew up embracing the virtuous life. Even as a youth, he was already practising a high degree of prayer, fasting, …