SAINT OF THE DAY

(Eighth century) Vergilius, Fergal in Irish, was an Irish missionary and astronomer. In the “Annals of the Four Masters” and the “Annals of Ulster” Vergilius is mentioned as Abbot of Aghaboe, in Queen’s County, Ireland. About the year 745, he left Ireland, intending to visit the Holy land, but settled down in France, where he […]

(1806-1867) Catherine Labouré was born in France, the ninth of 11 children, to Pierre and Madeleine Labouré. In 1815, Catherine’s mother died, leaving her 9-year-old daughter with the responsibility of caring for the household. After her mother’s funeral, it is said that Catherine returned home and picked up a statue of the Blessed Virgin. Holding […]

(Died 573) Brendan studied at the monastic school at Clonard Abbey, a sixth century abbey with some of the most significant names in the history of Irish Christianity. Brendan was one of the 12 students who studied there under St. Finian, who became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Brendan later founded the monastery […]

(1st century) Andrew, an early follower of St. John the Baptist, knew Jesus even before that famous day when Jesus, walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, told him, his brother Peter and the brothers James and John, to drop their nets and follow him. Because Andrew discovered Jesus before his brother, who […]

(588-660) Today’s saint is patron of goldsmiths and, by extension, ironworkers and metallurgical workers, hardware storekeepers, blacksmiths, horses, and hence farmers, carriers, mechanics, and garage keepers. May he watch over those hard-working people in our valley who have recently lost employment because of corporate takeovers and/or pandemics. Eligius was born in Chaptelat in Limousin, to […]

(4th century) According to legend, Bibiana was the daughter of a former Roman prefect, Flavianus, who was banished by Julian the Apostate. His wife, Dafrosa, and two daughters, Demetria and Bibiana, were also persecuted by Julian. Dafrosa and Demetria died a natural death and were buried by Bibiana in their own house; but Bibiana was […]

(1506-1552) St. Francis Xavier was born near Pamplona, on April 7, 1506. Xavier was educated at the University of Paris. In 1529, while in Paris, he met the Spanish ascetic Ignatius of Loyola. Xavier was one of the groups that joined Ignatius to found the Order of Jesus. In 1537 Xavier became the first secretary […]

(c. 674-749) John was a native of Syria. When it was overrun in the 630s by a new, martial religion that originated in Saudi Arabia, his family served in the local caliph’s administration. The Muslim conquest was facilitated by the local population of subjugated, but educated, Christians and Jews who were conquered but not displaced. […]

(439 -531) St. Sabas was born near Caesarea, and as a child was orphaned. At the age of 15, having suffered the abuse of his uncle, he decided to forsake the world and enter a monastery not far from his family home. He then spent 10 years in religious life and despite being the youngest […]

(3rd century) Of course, even little children know Santa Claus! The name we call him today is a derivative of the Dutch, “Sint Nikolaas,” which later evolved into “Sinterklaas.” Get the connection? But what of the real man upon whom the famous holiday spirit is based? Nicholas was born at Patara, a seaside town in […]