St. John of God was orphaned at eight, and was at one point a shepherd, soldier and book dealer before experiencing a profound spiritual awakening at age 40, guided by a vision of the Infant Jesus and the influence of St. John
Saints Perpetual and Felicity are best known for their joy and calm amid terror and horrendous suffering. Together with other companions, they were imprisoned for their Christian faith when the governor of Carthage enforced an edict by the Roman emperor forbidding conversion
St. Gregory of Narek was an Armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher and theologian born in A.D. 950. In 2015, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, Pope Francis declared him a Doctor of the Church for his timeless and
No one saw the speaker, but Christians nearby heard words of encouragement spoken at the time St. Polycarp was on trial for being a Christian in A.D.155. A friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch, another early Christian martyr, Polycarp was a bishop
The feast of the Chair of St. Peter honors the special role given to the apostle Peter by Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Christ asks his apostles, “Who do people say that the Son of Man
St. Peter Damian is known for a deep devotion to Christ as evidenced in his initial life as a hermit and in his writings calling for the reform of the Church particularly with regard to simony and priestly celibacy. His sufferings as
St. Josephine Bakhita is a true witness to the power of the love of God in overcoming the worst experiences. Born in Sudan in 1869, she was kidnapped at nine years of age and sold into slavery. Experiencing both physical and moral
St. Paul Miki is the foremost martyr remembered of the 26 Jesuits, Franciscans and Secular Franciscans who literally died like Christ on February 5, 1597 on a hill near Nagasaki, Japan. A Jesuit novice, St. Paul Miki together with his companions was
In our increasingly secular world, St. Agatha is a shining light of hope for those negatively impacted by the non-Christian culture. Her very strong faith encourages all of us to not readily give in to the perverse sexuality common today, similar to
With the Feast of the Presentation, we find Mary and Joseph dutifully bringing Jesus to the Temple and offering the sacrifice required by the law for Mary’s purification. We also hear Simeon’s prophecy. The details of the future suffering foretold for the