A Galilean, John was the son of Zebedee and brother of James the Greater. He was a fisherman, who along with Peter and James, became a member of the inner circle around Jesus. John was present at the Transfiguration and the Agony
The first martyr for the Christian faith, Saint Stephen was chosen as one of the seven deacons by the apostles. He was ordained with the mission of laboring among the poor. His story is recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. Stephen
On December 25, we observe the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. Since the fourth century, Christians in the West have celebrated the feast of the Nativity of Christ on December 25, marking the beginning of the Christmas season.
The Nativity tells
The start of the new year marks a significant moment for over 100,000 men worldwide as they embark on Exodus 90, a spiritual exercise designed to deepen their relationship with God. This program, which begins on Jan. 1, has attracted diverse participants,
Born in the Netherlands, Peter was educated at Cologne and Mainz, where he studied theology. In 1543, he joined the Society of Jesus and founded a Jesuit community in Cologne. He was well known for his preaching, his defense of Catholic doctrine,
“What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun!” Thus says the Book of Ecclesiastes, a sentiment that may well summarize much that has happened in 2023. Old wars continued; new
Born in Spain, John entered the Carmelite order and was ordained in 1567. He found the Carmelites to be suffering excessive laxity, so he joined forces with St. Teresa of Avila to reform the order. He encountered severe opposition to these reforms
Born in Sicily to a noble Roman family, Lucy was a young child when her father died. Her mother raised her in the Christian faith. Spurning marriage and worldly goods, Lucy vowed to remain a virgin in the tradition of St. Agatha.
In 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to the Mexican peasant Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City. She instructed Juan to ask the bishop to build a church on the site, but the bishop requested a sign. Our Lady had Juan
Born in Mexico, Juan converted to Catholicism at age 50. While walking to Mass on Dec. 9, 1531, Mary appeared to Juan on Tepeyac Hill. She asked him to petition the bishop for a shrine to be built there in her honor,