* * *** As a Roman soldier under Diocletian, St. George (d. 303) refused to follow the Emperor’s edict against Christians, nor would he renounce his own faith.

~ The story of St. George is quite similar to that of his fellow Christians martyred under Diocletian’s notorious rule, but for one famous tale… that of St. George courageously slaying a dragon to protect the village people and a princess from being sacrificed. ‘The dragon’ would not appear though until many centuries after his […]

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ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO THE HOLY SEE’S INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATS* Saturday, 18 March 2006 — *L’Osservatore Romano. Weekly Edition in English n. 14 p.5.

* * *** We honor Saint Anselm (1033-1109) as one of the Church’s greatest theologians. Born in Aosta, he would spend about 30 years of his life in the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. In 1093, he was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury and named Primate of England, yet, in his defense of the Church, St. Anselm would suffer persecution and exile.

~ Known as the Father of Scholastic Theology, St. Anselm’s doctrinal works are among the most noteworthy examples of theology. His popular writings include “Cur Deus Homo” (Why God Became Man) and “De Veritate” (On Truth).

* * *** “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rab-bo′ni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” (Jn 20:16-17) ~ from the Didache Bible, RSV2CE

(“Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene” by Alexander Ivanov)

– Born near Todi, Umbria, and elected Pope in 649, Saint Martin I suffered persecution for his condemnation of “Monothelitism,” a heresy promoted during the seventh century by authorities within the Byzantine Church and empire. This teaching, strongly supported in the East, acknowledged that Christ had two natures – human and divine – but only one will: the divine. Pope Martin disputed this belief, insisting that to refuse to acknowledge that Christ had both a divine and human will, was to deny biblical teaching that Christ was like humanity in everything other than sin.

~ “Grant, almighty God, that we may withstand the trials of this world with invincible firmness of purpose, just as you did not allow your Martyr Pope Saint Martin the First to be daunted by threats or broken by suffering. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal