Today marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bernadette, the young peasant girl from Southern France. In 1858, Our Lady revealed herself to St. Bernadette as “the Immaculate Conception,” and her loving message was a call to conversion, prayer, and charity.

~ “Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness, that we, who keep the Memorial of the Immaculate Mother of God, may, with the help of her intercession, rise up from our iniquities. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

Born in 480 to a Roman noble family, St. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict, the “father of monasticism.” Following the rule of her brother, she founded the Order of Benedictine nuns. According to the “Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great,” they spent their last day together in prayer and conversation.

~ “As we celebrate anew the Memorial of the Virgin Saint Scholastica, we pray, O Lord, that, following her example, we may serve you with pure love and happily receive what comes from loving you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

St. Agatha is one of the most highly venerated of the virgin martyrs in the early Church. Although there is little that is known about her life, tradition holds that she was born in Sicily to a noble family, and martyred there during the time of Emperor Decius in the third century. St. Agatha is among the saints commemorated in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).

~ “May the Virgin Martyr Saint Agatha implore your compassion for us, O Lord, we pray, for she found favor with you by the courage of her martyrdom and the merit of her chastity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal

In both the Eastern and Western Church, there is widespread veneration of St. Blasé due to the many cures attributed to him. According to tradition, he was a physician before being consecrated Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and in 316 martyred under Licinius.

“Hear, O Lord, the supplications your people make under the patronage of the Martyr Saint Blaise, and grant that they may rejoice in peace in this present life, and find help for life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one […]

Originally celebrated in the Eastern Churches as “The Meeting of the Lord.” Also known as the Purification of Mary, and Candlemas Day, this feast concludes the celebration of the Nativity. By the offerings of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, and the prophecy of St. Simeon, the life of Christ now begins to point toward his Resurrection.

–“The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord… Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the ‘light to the nations’ and the ‘glory of Israel.’” (CCC 529). –“… for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all […]

St. John Bosco’s lifework was educating young people. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one’s work, study and play. He believed that education–based on a strong Catholic identity, reason, and kindness–was the means to help young people find their place in society. St. John founded the Salesian Society, named in honor of St. Francis de Sales.

~ from St. John Bosco: –“Act today in such a way that you need not blush tomorrow.” –“Forget the services you have rendered to others, but not those rendered to you.” –“Do not write anything offensive: scripta manent (writings remain).” –“All past persecutors of the Church are now no more, but the Church still lives […]

One of the greatest philosophers and theologians of all time, the Angelic Doctor exhibited a profound holiness of life. His great work, “Summa Theologica,” was not yet finished when he died. Following a mystical experience, Aquinas declared he would write no more, “such things have been revealed to me that what I have written seems like straw.”

“Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not in hand.” ~ St. Thomas Aquinas

Celebrated together, these two saints were close companions and disciples of St. Paul. Timothy was a convert of Paul, joining him in his apostolic work. According to ancient tradition, St. Timothy tried to halt a pagan festival by preaching the Gospel, when an angry mob beat him to death. St. Titus was known as an effective negotiator; he was sent by St. Paul to help organize a new Church.

*The Epistles of Paul give insight into the trusted friendship he had for disciples Timothy and Titus. –“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. They all […]

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus while he was on his way to Damascus is one of the most powerful miracles in the history of the early Church. It reveals how faith comes from grace and builds upon free cooperation with it. The doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ received proof and a clear illustration when Christ said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the […]

Born in the province of Savoy, St. Francis was destined by his father to be a lawyer. His desire instead was to enter the priesthood. After much gentle persuasiveness, his father offered his consent. At 35, Francis was chosen to be Bishop of Geneva, where he fought Calvinism. It was his gentle character that was a great asset in winning souls. Along with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded the Order of Sisters of the Visitation.

~ In his well-known classic, “Introduction to the Devout Life,” he writes to all Christians, not just those called to religious vocation: “It is an error, nay more, a very heresy, to seek to banish the devout life from the soldier’s guardroom, the mechanic’s workshop, the prince’s court, or the domestic hearth… there are various […]

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