Nicholas, also called “Little John,” because of his small stature was born at Oxford in the year 1550. He saved the lives of many priests and laypersons in England during the penal times (1559-1829), when a series of statutes punished Catholics for the practice of their faith. Over a period of about 20 years, Nicholas used his skills to build secret hiding places for priests throughout the country. His work, which he did completely by himself as both architect and builder, was so good that time and time again, priests…
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St. Patrick, pray for us
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world’s most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, The Confession. In The Confession, he wrote: “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and…
Read MoreLife of St Polycarp
Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, disciple of Saint John the Apostle and friend of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, was a revered Christian leader during the first half of the second century. Saint Ignatius, on his way to Rome to be martyred, visited Polycarp at Smyrna, and later at Troas wrote him a personal letter. The Asia Minor Churches recognized Polycarp’s leadership by choosing him as a representative to discuss with Pope Anicetus the date of the Easter celebration in Rome—a major controversy in the early Church. Only one of the many letters written by…
Read MoreFeast of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto
February 20th, dioceses in Portugal celebrate the feast of Blesseds Francisco, 11, and Jacinta, 10, the youngest non-martyrs to be beatified in the Church’s history. The brother and sister, who tended their families’ sheep herds together with their cousin Lucia Santo in Fatima, Portugal, witnessed apparitions of Mary, known as Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady urged man to pray the rosary and to return to God. Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three children, Portuguese shepherds from Aljustrel, received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near…
Read MoreNAMES OF THE SAINTS Feast days and the saints of the day
NAMES OF THE SAINTS We grouped the saints according to feast days, and make sure that there is a name of saint for everyday. You may notice that some days have more than one SAINTS SAINTS OF JANUARY St. Basil——–January 2 [New] Traditional June 4 St. Gregory Nazianzen——–January 2 St. Marcarius——–January 2 St. Genevieve———-January 3 St. Dafrosa——–January 4 St. Elizabeth Seton———–January 4 St. John Neumann—————January 5 [New] St. Telesphorus——–January 5 Sts. Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar——–January 6 Blessed Andre Bessette——–January 6 St. Lucian——–January 7 St. Appolinaris——–January 8 St. Julian of Antioch——–January…
Read MoreThe Memorial of Blessed Iwene Tansi
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was a native of Aguleri town of Anambra State, Nigeria. He was born in Aguleri, in September 1903 and he died in Leicester, England on January 24, 1964. He was of Igbo Ethnic group of Nigerian, an ordained Catholic priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. The date of his ordination was December 19, 1937. While still alive, he worked in the Nnewi, Dunukofia, Akpu/Ajalli and Aguleri parishes. Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi later became a Cistercian Monk at Mount Saint Bernard Monastery in…
Read MoreSt. Theodosius the Cenobiarch
St Theodosius was born at Mogariassus, in Cappadocia, in 423. He imbibed the first tincture of virtue from the fervent example and pious instructions of his virtuous parents. He was ordained reader, but sometime after, being moved by Abraham’s example to quit his country and friends, he resolved to put this motion in execution. He accordingly set out for Jerusalem, but went purposely out of his road to visit the famous St. Simeon Stylites on his pillar, who foretold him several circumstances of his life, and gave him proper instructions…
Read MoreSt. William of Bourges
William Berruyer, was a member of the illustrious family of the ancient counts of Nevers, and he was educated by Peter the hermit, archdeacon of Soissons, and his uncle by the mother’s side. He learned from his infancy to despise the folly and emptiness of the riches and grandeur of the world, to abhor its pleasures, and to tremble at its dangers. His only delight was in exercises of piety and in his studies, in which he employed his whole time with indefatigable application. He was made canon, first of…
Read MoreLife of St. Andre Bessette
Alfred Bessette also known as Saint André of Montreal was a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He was born on August 9, 1845 in Mont-Saint- Grégoire , Quebec , a small town situated 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of Montreal. When he was admitted into the Holy Cross Brothers in 1870, he carried with him a note from his pastor saying, “I am sending you a saint.” The Brothers found that difficult to believe. Chronic stomach pains had made it impossible for Alfred to hold a job…
Read MoreSaint John Neumann
Neumann was born in Prachatice, Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic. He attended school in Budweis and joined the seminary there in 1831. Two years later, he transferred to the University of Prague, where he studied theology. He intended to be ordained, but his bishop, in 1835, decided there would be no more ordinations, as Bohemia had a high number of priests already. Neumann, who spoke eight languages then wrote to other bishops in Europe, but they all replied that they also had too many priests and could not ordain him. He…
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