SAINT OF THE DAY

(4th century) Pelagia was a 15-year-old Christian virgin. Soldiers came in search of her, during the Diocletian persecution, in order to force her to offer publicly a heathen sacrifice. She was alone in the house. She came out to the soldiers and when she learned the order they had to execute, she requested permission to […]

(3rd century) St. Gregory of Tours tells us that this Denis was an Italian by birth and became a missionary bishop. With five companions he established a Christian center on an island in the Seine in the city of Paris. One of his companions was a priest called Rusticus, another a deacon called Eleutherius. They are said to […]

(Died 644) Paulinus was a Roman monk from St. Andrew’s monastery in Rome. St. Bede describes him as tall and thin, with a slightly stooping figure; he had black hair and an aquiline nose and was of venerable and awe-inspiring stature. He was sent by St. Gregory the Great in 601, with St. Mellitus and […]

(1881-1963) Pope John XXIII was born in the small village of Sotto il Monte in Italy. He was the fourth of 14 children born to poor parents who made their living by sharecropping. His given name was Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. He graduated from university with a doctorate in theology and was ordained a priest in […]

On Oct. 12, 1717, three Brazilian fishermen set out on the waters of the Paraiba River, which ran through their village. They were charged with providing the fish for the banquet that would be take place a few days later in the village of Guarantinguetá on the occasion of the visit of the Count of […]

(Died circa 185 AD)           Theophilus was born a heathen, not far from the Tigris and Euphrates, and was led to embrace Christianity by studying the Holy Scriptures. He makes no reference to his office in his existing writings, nor is any other fact in his life recorded. Eusebius, however, speaks of […]

(Died 223) Callistus was a slave in the imperial Roman household. Put in charge of the bank by his master, he lost the money deposited, fled and was caught. After serving time for a while, he was released to make some attempt to recover the money. Apparently, he carried his zeal too far, being arrested […]

(1515-1582) Teresa, then known as Beatrice, was the daughter of a Jewish convert and his second wife. She had a happy childhood with her brothers and cousins. She was fascinated by novels that told tales of chivalry. After the death of her elder brother John in 1524 and the loss of her mother, Beatrice, the […]

(Died 1267) In the latter part of the 12th century, St. Hedwig was married to the Duke of Lower Silesia, Henry the Bearded. She soon became a mother, ultimately giving birth to six children. From the beginning, the young duchess was beloved like a beautiful queen, thanks to her prompt generosity, which always was ready […]

(Died c. 107)  Ignatius was born in Syria and converted to Christianity. He eventually became bishop of Antioch. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians there to choose between death and apostasy. Ignatius would not deny Christ, and thus was condemned to be put to death in Rome. Ignatius is […]