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~ from “What’s Wrong with the World”

The “prince of paradox” referred to himself as an “orthodox” Christian, and would eventually convert to Catholicism from High Church Anglicanism. Chesterton shared many beliefs concerning philosophy and theology with close friend, Hilaire Belloc.

St. John of God (1495– 1550) was a farmer and soldier, before having a profound conversion experience at the age of forty. Reflecting on his life he vowed to follow the word of God and from then on lived at the service of the sick in Granada, Spain. Behind John’s outward acts of concern and love for the sick and the poor was a deep interior prayer life and spirit of humility. He founded what would become known as the Order of Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, a congregation devoted to the infirm.

~ “O God, who filled Saint John of God with a spirit of compassion, grant, we pray, that, giving ourselves to works of charity, we may merit to be found among the elect in your Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

Perpetua, a young mother of Carthaginian nobility, and Felicity, a slave woman imprisoned with her and pregnant at the time, were martyred during the persecution of Emperor Severus in 203. Along with their Christian companions, they were sent to the public games in the Carthage arena. Although details of early martyrs are often unclear, a true record exists attesting to the courage of these two saints, known as “The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity.”

~ A passage from St. Perpetua’s account in captivity, while separated from her baby: “… I was very much afraid, because I had never felt such darkness. O terrible day! O the fierce heat of the shock of the soldiery, because of the crowds! I was very distressed by my anxiety for my infant… ” […]

Born in 1458, St. Casimir was the son of King Casimir IV and Queen Elizabeth, monarchs of Poland and Lithuania. In contrast to other members of the royal court, St. Casimir preferred a life of asceticism and prayer. He was educated by Fr. John Dlugosz, the historian and diplomat whose deep piety and political expertise would greatly influence Casimir in his upbringing. Known for his material charity to the poor, St. Casimir was a compassionate young man with great devotion and love for the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

~ In 1984, at the 500th anniversary commemorating St. Casimir’s death, St. John Paul II said, “His life of purity and prayer beckons you to practise your faith with courage and zeal, to reject the deceptive attractions of modern permissive society, and to live your convictions with fearless confidence and joy.”

St. Katharine was the founder of the congregation of missionary nuns, dedicated to the welfare of American Indians and African Americans, now named Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Born into a wealthy family in 1858, St. Katharine was greatly influenced by seeing her parents practice charity from their own home, distributing food, clothing, and money to the poor. She would devote her life to the impoverished, taking a special interest in the material and spiritual well-being of African Americans and Native Americans. In 1915, she founded Xavier University in New Orleans, along with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. At the time of her death, St. Katharine had used a large amount of her inheritance for her charitable and apostolic missions.

~ “God of love, you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Native American and African American peoples; by her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and the oppressed, and keep us undivided in love […]

St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was close to St. John the Evangelist, and sometimes accompanied him on his apostolic journeys. In the second century, St. Polycarp was martyred under emperor Aurelius for refusing to renounce Christ as Lord and King. At his trial, he said, “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior?”

~ “God of all creation, who were pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that, sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ from the Proper of […]

This feast commemorates the office of supreme pastor conferred by Christ upon St. Peter and continued in unbroken succession to the present. ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

–“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And […]