St. Pius V, who was born in 1504, joined the Dominicans at the age of fourteen; he was sixty- two when elected Pope. His reign, though short, was one of the most fruitful of the sixteenth century. To Protestantism, which had proclaimed the Reformation, St. Pius replied by applying the decrees of the Council of…
All his lifetime he was remarkable for his almsdeeds, and it was a law with St. Eadbert to lay aside yearly the tenth part of his goods for the poor. He was ordained successor to St. Cuthbert in the see of Lindisfarne, Scotland in 687 and most worthily governed that church eleven years. It was…
Bishop of Cracow from 1072 to 1079, St. Stanislaus was put to death by Boleslas II, king of Poland. After five different attempts to remonstrate King Boleslas for his terrible immorality which had earned him the surname of The Cruel, St. Stanislaus excommunicated the king. In response, the king with his guards, followed St. Stanislaus…
St. Michael, the holy archangel has ever been honored in the Christian church. To thank his adorable goodness for this benefit of his merciful providence, this festival was instituted by the Church in honor of the good angels: in which devotion she has been encouraged by several apparitions of this glorious archangel. Among others it…
Gregory was born in Cappadocia. He pursued advanced studies in Athens at the same time as St. Basil with whom he always remained on terms of devoted friendship. St. Gregory, at first Bishop of Nazianzus and then of Constantinople, occupied the imperial see at a very troubled period. He resigned his office for the sake…
Bishop of Florence, St. Antoninus was a member of the Dominican Order. He was so opposed to accepting this title that Pope Eugenius IV had to order him to obey his command under penalty of excommunication. After many tears, Antoninus complied. His usual saying was that all the riches of a successor of the apostles…
The feasts of the Apostles throughout the year were formerly all holidays. That of SS. Philip and James celebrates the solemn translation of their relics to the church of the Holy Apostles at Rome, which is dedicated to them, and where they still rest. The station is made there on all the Ember Fridays and…
The holy martyrs venerated today have in common the place of their cultus which is the catacomb of Domitilla, well known to pilgrims in Rome. Nereus and Achilleus, two Roman soldiers were converts; they were beheaded for their faith and their bodies rest in a basilica which may be as early as the fourth century.…
A member of the Society of Jesus, St. Robert Bellarmine was a professor of theology and preacher at Louvain (1569-76), he taught controversial theology at Rome, where he was St. Aloysius Gonzaga’s confessor. Sixtus V sent him on a diplomatic mission to France; he became provincial of the Jesuits at Naples, and was made a…
Today the Roman liturgy celebrates the feast of a martyr of Tarsus whose relics were taken to Rome at an early date. St. Boniface was a steward of a very wealthy and beautiful lady, Aglae. Together these two were involved in criminal activities but one day Aglae said to Boniface, “I have heard that they…
