The Immaculate Heart of Mary The Blessed Virgin Mary has been given the title of Mother of the Church since she gave birth to Christ, the Head of the Church, and she became the Mother of the redeemed people before her Son had given up the spirit on the Cross. Pope Paul VI solemnly confirmed... Continue Reading →
9 June, Wednesday — Follow first, and see what happens
Jun 9 – Memorial for St. Ephrem of Syria, deacon and Doctor of the Church St. Ephrem (306-373) was baptized at age 18. He helped to evangelize Nisibis, Mesopotamia. He may have attended the Council of Nicaea in 325. He was a deacon and preacher, and had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 363 Nisibis was... Continue Reading →
5 June, Saturday — We can be enemies to our souls
Jun 5 – Memorial for St. Boniface, bishop and martyr Educated at the Benedictine monastary at Exeter, England where he became a monk, Boniface (c.673–754) was a missionary to Germany from 719, assisted by St. Albinus, St. Abel, and St. Agatha. They destroyed idols and pagan temples, and then built churches on the sites. He... Continue Reading →
3 June, Thursday — Those who fear God are rewarded with His grace
Jun 3 – Memorial for St. Charles Lwanga & companions, martyrs One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, St. Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages aged 13 to 30 from the homosexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and encouraged and instructed them... Continue Reading →
2 June, Wednesday — The whole truth and nothing but the truth?
2 June – Memorial for Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs Marcellinus, a priest, and Peter, an exorcist, died in the year 304. According to a legendary account of their martyrdom, the two Romans saw their imprisonment as just one more opportunity to evangelise and managed to convert their jailer and his family. The legend also says... Continue Reading →
1 June, Tuesday — What is lawful?
Jun 1 – Memorial for St. Justin, martyr He was born at the beginning of the second century in Nablus, in Samaria, of a pagan Greek family. He was an earnest seeker after truth, and studied many systems of philosophy before being led, through Platonism, to Christianity. While remaining a layman, he accepted the duty... Continue Reading →
27 May, Thursday — Meaning of Faith
May 27 – Memorial for St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop St. Augustine (d. 605) was a monk and abbot of St. Andrew’s abbey in Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, including St. Lawrence of Canterbury, to evangelize the British Isles in 597. Before he reached the islands, terrifying... Continue Reading →
26 May, Wednesday — Zeroes and Heroes
May 26 – Memorial for St. Philip Neri, Priest St. Philip Neri (1515-1595) came from a poor family, though he was related to Italian nobility. His father, Francisco Neri, worked as a notary. Philip’s brother died in childhood, but his two sisters, Caterina and Elisabetta survived. He was a pious youth, and was taught humanities... Continue Reading →
25 May, Tuesday — Chosen and Sent
May 25 – Memorial for St. Bede the Venerable, Priest and Worker; Memorial for St. Gregory VII, Pope; Memorial for St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Virgin St. Bede (672-735) was born around the time England was finally, completely Christianized. He was raised from age seven in the abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul at Wearmouth-Jarrow,... Continue Reading →
22 May, Saturday — WFH
May 22 – Memorial for St. Rita of Cascia, Religious St. Rita (1386-1457) was the daughter of Antonio and Amata Lotti, a couple known as the Peacemakers of Jesus; they had Rita late in life. From her early youth, Rita visited the Augustinian nuns at Cascia, Italy, and showed interest in a religious life. However,... Continue Reading →