*** *** *** “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” (St. Jerome)

— St. Jerome (c. 342) believed that all Christians should view Bible study as a necessity. He is best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin, the Vulgate, which was adopted by the Church as the official edition of Scripture. St. Jerome’s extensive writings include historical essays, commentaries on Scripture, and writings on […]

*** *** *** The Church celebrates the Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael… in Sacred Scripture, each of them with an important mission:

~ Michael is the great protector and defender of the Church. Pope Leo XIII instituted the Prayer to St. Michael, invoking his name for protection against Satan and all evil. ~ Gabriel is the messenger; he announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and the joyful message of the Incarnation to the Blessed […]

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— St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660) was a French priest who dedicated himself to ministering spiritually and materially to the poor and suffering. He founded the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and he cofounded the Daughters of Charity with St. Louise de Marillac.

*** *** *** “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”  

Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (1887–1968), known as Padre Pio, was an Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic. His miraculous abilities as spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor attracted the attention of the world.

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— “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” (Mt 9:9)

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— Our Blessed Mother endured each of the Seven Sorrows with perfect faith and trust in God; the echo of her Fiat. “… the Blessed Virgin faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself […]

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“Mary . . . is interpreted to mean ‘Star of the Sea.’ This admirably befits the Virgin Mother… She, I say, is that shining and brilliant star, so much needed, set in place above life’s great and spacious sea, glittering with merits, all aglow with examples for our imitation… In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, […]

*** *** *** The birth of Mary begins a glimmer of light.

“This radiant and manifest coming of God to men most certainly needed a joyful prelude to introduce the great gift of salvation to us. The present festival, the birth of the Mother of God, is the prelude, while the final act is the fore-ordained union of the Word with flesh. Today the Virgin is born, […]

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— St. Gregory the Great (540–604) was more inclined to the monastic lifestyle than a role in government or Church office, yet his papacy is considered one of the greatest. He provided guidance and leadership during a time when Rome faced many internal and external challenges. St. Gregory sent missionaries from Rome – the Gregorian […]

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— St. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles as mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and also in Acts. According to tradition, he preached the Gospel as far as India and was martyred in Armenia for having converted the king. The saint may have been flayed alive which is widely depicted […]