Born in Antioch about 347, St. John Chrysostom was a great genius. His powerful eloquence earned for him the surname of Chrysostom, or golden mouthed. With St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil, he forms the group of the four great doctors of the Eastern Church. He was anointed Archbishop of Constantinople. His courage…
Devoting himself body and soul to delivering Christians from captivity among the infidels and in providing for their spiritual welfare, St. Peter Nolasco founded the Order of Our Lady of Ransom which he obliged its members themselves to become prisoners of the pagans, if by so doing they could obtain the freedom of their brothers…
His ardent love of God and souls, his great kindliness, rare wisdom and sure teaching made St. Francis exceptionally influential in bringing about conversions and in guiding souls in the spiritual life. He was bishop of Geneva. He won back to the faith more than 70,000 heretics, thus restoring to the Church a great part…
A noble Roman virgin who glorified God, St. Martina suffered many torments and a cruel death for her faith, in the capital city of the world, in the third century. The city of Rome ranks her among its particular patrons. Her relics were discovered in a vault, in the ruins of her old church, and…
In St. John Bosco the liturgy honors a saint whose soul was all simplicity, joyfulness and zeal, whose trust in divine Providence overcame every difficulty and persisted through every obstacle. Born near Turin in 1815, St. John Bosco devoted his life as a priest to the poor, to prisoners and to all the unfortunate of…
Today's liturgy celebrates three feasts in one. The first is the Octave of the Lord. Formerly a second Mass was celebrated at St. Maria Antiqua, in the forum, whose dedication it possibly was. Traces of this are to be found in the Mass and Office which are devoted to Our Lady. The third feast is…
The name of Jesus means Savior; it had been shown in a dream to Joseph together with its meaning and to Our Lady at the annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel. The institution of this feast is relatively recent. Its origins are to be found in the Franciscan Order; the devotion and preaching of St. Bernardine…
In the year 311, in Palestine, Peter Balsam was apprehended at Aulane, in the persecution of Maximinus. He was interrogated and sentenced by Severus, governor of the province. “Of what family and of what country are you?” said Severus. “I am a Christian,” said Peter. “What is your employ?” “What employ can I have more…
Born a gentile, St. Titus seems to have been converted by St. Paul, who calls him his son in Christ. His extraordinary virtue and merit gained him the particular esteem and affection of this apostle; for we find him employed as his secretary and interpreter; and he styles him his brother, and copartner in his…
Born at Alexandria in Egypt of wealthy Macedonian parents, St. Syncletica consecrated her virginity to God at a tender age. Mortification and prayer were her principal employment. The fame of her virtue being spread abroad, many women resorted to her abode to confer with her upon spiritual matters. Her humility made her unwilling to take…
