Jul 4 – Memorial for St. Elizabeth of Portugal Elizabeth (1271-1336) was a princess with a pious upbringing, who became Queen of Portugal before she was a teenager. Elizabeth suffered through years of her husband’s abuse and adultery, praying all the while for his conversion, and working with the poor and sick. She rode onto... Continue Reading →
30 June, Tuesday — Faith
Jun 30 – First Martyrs of the Church of Rome These holy men and women are also called the ‘Protomartyrs of Rome’. They were accused of burning Rome by Nero, who burned Rome to cover his own crimes. Some martyrs were burned as living torches at evening banquets, some crucified, and others were fed to... Continue Reading →
27 June, Saturday — Freely Receive, Freely Give
Jun 27 – Memorial for St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and Doctor of the Church Cyril (376–444) was the nephew of Theophilus the Patriarch. He was a monk and a priest who became Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt in 412, and later the Patriarch of Alexandria. He suppressed the Novatians. He worked at the Council of... Continue Reading →
22 June, Monday — Being Open to Love
Jun 22 – Memorial for St. Paulinus of Nola, bishop; Memorial for St. John Fisher, Bishop & St. Thomas More, martyrs Paulinus (c.354–431) was a friend of St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Nicetas of Remesiana, and was mentioned for his holiness by at least six of his contemporary saints. He was a distinguished lawyer... Continue Reading →
13 June, Saturday — Yes or No
Jun 13 – Memorial for St. Anthony of Padua, priest, religious, doctor St. Anthony's (1195-1231) wealthy family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but for the sake of Christ he became a poor Franciscan. When the remains of St. Berard and his companions, the first Franciscan martyrs, were brought to be buried in his church, Anthony was... Continue Reading →
9 June, Tuesday — The Jar of Meal, the Jug of Oil
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... Continue Reading →
6 June, Saturday — The faith of Jesus Christ is not a self-absorbed faith
Jun 6 – Memorial for St. Norbert, bishop, religious founder St. Norbert (1080-1134) had been born to the nobility and raised around the royal court. There, he developed a very worldly view, taking holy orders as a career move when he joined the Benedictines. A narrow escape from death led him to a conversion experience, and taking... Continue Reading →
5 June, Friday — Living a life in Jesus Christ
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, Wednesday — At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.
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 →
27 May, Wednesday — Truth of the matter
May 27 – Memorial for St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop 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 tales... Continue Reading →