— In AD 64, a great fire destroyed large sections of Rome and many believed Nero was to blame for matters of his own interest. To deflect suspicion from himself, Nero accused the Christians of the arson and increased his efforts to persecute them. Christians were seen as an unpopular and expanding group “given to […]
— St. Peter, “Leader of the Twelve,” was chosen by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee: “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18) — St. Paul, “Apostle to the Gentiles,” was […]
— Martyred around 203, St. Irenaeus is considered one of the first great Church theologians and his important work went beyond the refutation of heresy. His system of theology includes the principle of apostolic succession and Mary’s role in the history of salvation. Some fragments of his writings have survived and are studied today for […]
— We honor the birth of St. John the Baptist with the highest order of liturgical feast. As the Forerunner of the Savior, St. John prepared the way for Jesus, instructing his followers to turn and follow the “Lamb of God.”
— St. John (d. 1535) was Bishop of Rochester and named cardinal shortly before his death; St. Thomas (d. 1535) was a lawyer and Lord Chancellor of England. In the same year, both men would be executed by order of King Henry VIII for refusing to acknowledge Henry as supreme head of the Church of […]
— St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591) was born into Italian aristocracy. At a young age he signed away his claim to his title and family wealth and entered the Society of Jesus. He died as a result of caring for the those stricken with the plague in the 1591 outbreak. St. Aloysius was canonized in 1726 […]
— from St. Romuald’s Brief Rule: “Sit in your cell as in paradise; put the whole world behind you and forget it; like a skilled angler on the lookout for a catch keep a careful eye on your thoughts. The path you follow is in the psalms — don’t leave it. If you’ve come with […]
— “In all perils and needs, the faithful have fled prayerfully to her protection. As Virgin and Mother, Mary remains for the Church a ‘permanent model.’ .. Hence, as Christians raise their eyes with faith to Mary in the course of their earthly pilgrimage, they ‘strive to increase in holiness.’ Mary, the exalted Daughter of […]
— The Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated today, a reminder of God’s perfect love for us.
— Teresa of Ávila was a Carmelite nun, Spanish mystic, and Doctor of the Church. She authored many prominent works on Christian mysticism, including The Interior Castle, and The Way of Perfection. — The idea of living a simple, purposeful life and that material possessions are not essential for true happiness goes back to ancient […]