May 13 – Memorial for Our Lady of Fatima Our Lady of Fatima is the title given to the vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary that appeared before three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting May 13, the Fatima holiday. The three children were Lucia... Continue Reading →
12 May, Tuesday — Believe To Be Saved
May 12 – Memorial for Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs; Memorial for St. Pancras, Martyr Sts. Nereus and Achilleus (d. 98) were soldiers in the imperial Roman army, and members of the Praetorian Guard. They were converts to Christianity and baptized by St. Peter the Apostle. They were exiled for their faith, suffered with St.... Continue Reading →
2 May, Saturday — Show me the money!
May 2 – Memorial for St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor St. Athanasius (c.295) studied the classics and theology in Alexandria, Egypt. He was a deacon, secretary, and student of Bishop Alexander of Alexandria. He attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 where he fought for the defeat of Arianism and the acceptance of the divinity... Continue Reading →
30 April, Thursday — Love is an act of service
30 Apr – Memorial for St. Pius V, pope Antonio Ghislieri (1504-1572) was born to impoverished Italian nobility, the son of Paolo Ghislieri and Domenica Augeria. He worked as a shepherd as a boy, and received an excellent education in piety and holiness, including a scholastic education from a Dominican friar. He joined the Order... Continue Reading →
29 April, Wednesday — Chosen and Called
29 Apr – Memorial for St. Catherine of Siena, virgin & doctor St. Catherine (1347-1380) was the youngest child in a large family. At the age of six, she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominican tertiary. She was a mystic... Continue Reading →
28 April, Tuesday — The error of being ourselves
28 Apr – Memorial for St. Peter Chanel, priest & martyr; Memorial for St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, priest St. Peter Chanel (1803-1841) was born to a peasant family and was a shepherd as a boy. He was an excellent student and was ordained at 24. He was assigned to Crozet, a parish in decline;... Continue Reading →
24 April, Friday — A Small Pause
24 Apr – Memorial for St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest & martyr St. Fidelis Sigmaringen (1577-1622) was a lawyer and teacher of philosophy. Disgusted by the greed, corruption, and lack of interest in justice by his fellow lawyers, Mark Rey abandoned the law, became a priest and a Franciscan friar with his brother George. He... Continue Reading →
23 April, Thursday — Silence Of The Lambs II
23 Apr – Memorial for St. George, martyr; Memorial for St. Adalbert, bishop & martyr St. George (d. 304) was a soldier who was martyred for his faith. That’s all we know for sure. Several stories have been attached to St. George, the best known of which is the ‘Golden Legend’. In it, a dragon... Continue Reading →
21 April, Tuesday – Your cross or my flags
21 Apr – Memorial for St. Anselm, bishop & doctor St. Anselm (1033-1109) was born of Italian nobility. After a childhood devoted to piety and study, he wanted to enter religious life, but his father prevented it, and Anselm became rather worldly for several years. Upon his mother’s death, Anselm argued with his father, fled... Continue Reading →
13 April, Monday — Spirit of Truth
13 Apr – Memorial for St. Martin I, pope & martyr St. Martin (d. 655) was chosen the 74th pope in 649 without imperial approval. He conducted the Lateran Council, which condemned the Patriarch of Constantinople for Monothelitism, and which claimed that Christ had no human will. This put him in opposition to the emperor,... Continue Reading →