Today, October 7, is the memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. October 7, 1571 was a Sunday when the Christian fleets under John of Austria reached a major naval victory over the Turks in the Straits of Lepanto. Thousands of Christians were freed. The Turkish fleet was destroyed, and they suffered their first …
Today, October 6, is the memorial of Saint Bruno. Founder of the Order of Carthusians (O.Cart.). Bruno 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 known to criticize the worldliness, and hunger for power and wealth …
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 fiesta 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 3, is the memorial of Blessed Columba Marmion. Born Joseph Marion in Dublin of an Irish father and a French mother, he completed his preparation for the priesthood in Rome. He was ordained priest in the Eternal City in 1881 and afterwards was appointed professor of philosophy at Clonliffe Seminary. Returning from Italy, …
Today, October 2, is the memorial of the Guardian Angels. This celebration started in many local calendars centuries ago, and was widely known by the 16th century. Pope Paul V placed a feast venerating the angels on the general calendar on 27 September 1608. Ferdinand of Austria requested that it be extended to all areas …
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 …
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 …