Today, February 25, is the memorial of Blessed Avertano of Lucca. Carmelite confessor. Avertano was born in Limoges, France at the end of the 12th century. In his youth, Avertano had resolved to live a life closest to the teachings of the Gospels. The desire for holiness was always in his mind and soul. Thus, …
Today, February 24, is the memorial of Blessed Marco de Marconi. Marco was born in 1480 in Modena, Italy. He came from a pious and rich Christian family, but early on he knew he had a religious vocation. At 16, he joined the girolamini or the Order of the Hermits of St. Jerome. He dedicated …
Today, February 23, is the memorial of Saint Polycarp. Polycarp was born around A.D. 65. St. Jerome, St. Irenaeus and the early Christian writer Tertullian wrote that Polycarp was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle. Irenaeus wrote that Polycarp corresponded with people who had actually seen Jesus. He fought the heresy Gnosticism. He also …
Today, February 22, is the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. The feast of the Chair of Saint Peter is about the formation of the Church when Christ said, “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.” It has been celebrated at Rome, Italy from the early days of the …
Today, February 20, is the memorial of Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Visionaries of Our Lady of Fatima. On May 13, 1917, Francisco and Jacinta were tending sheep with their cousin, Lucia Santos, when they received the first of six visions of the Virgin Mary. Francisco was 9 years old, and Jacinta was 7 during …
Today, February 19, is the memorial of Blessed Elizabeth of Mantua. Known in life as Elizabeth Picenardi, this holy virgin was born in 1428 and was raised in Mantua, Italy. Since her childhood, she lived near the Servite Church in Mantua, which is why she became associated with the Servite Order. She would wear the …
Today, February 18, is the memorial of Saint Geltrude Caterina Comensoli. Foundress of the Congregation of the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo. Born in Brescia, Italy in 1847, Geltrude was the fifth of Carlo and Anna Maria’s children. Even as a young girl, she was already devoted to the Holy Eucharist and hoped that someday she …
Today, February 17, is the memorial of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order. The seven holy founders were Buonfiglio dei Monaldi, Giovanni di Buonagiunta, Bartolomeus degli Amidei, Hugh dei Lippi-Ugguccioni, Benedetto dell’ Antella, Gherardino di Sostegno, and Alessio de’ Falconieri. These men came from wealthy families in Florence, Italy and decided to live as …
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Today, February 15, is the memorial of Saint Juliana of Nicomedia. The virgin and martyr Juliana was born in present-day Turkey. It is said that her pagan father Africanus hated her so much because she was a Christian. Without her permission, Africanus committed her to be married to the Roman officer Eleusius, who also despised …
Today, February 15, is the memorial of Blessed Michael Sopocko. Spiritual director of Saint Faustina Kowalska. Michael was born in 1888 in what is now Belarus. After obtaining his doctorate in theology, he became the spiritual director at a seminary and a professor of pastoral theology at Stefan Batory University in Vilnius. Now, St. Faustina …