— The Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 at Tepeyac hill, leaving a miraculous image on Juan’s tilma. Nearly 500 years later, the tilma is still preserved at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, one of the most popular Christian pilgrimage destinations in the world.
— Pope Bl. Pius IX solemnly defined the traditional belief of the Church: the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived free from all stain of Original Sin. Her Immaculate Conception is the most beautiful fruit of the work of redemption accomplished by her Son, Jesus Christ. Chosen to be the Mother of the Savior, the Blessed […]
~ “O God, who made the Bishop Saint Ambrose a teacher of the Catholic faith and a model of apostolic courage, raise up in your Church men after your own heart to govern her with courage and wisdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Daily Roman Missal
— Born in the third century to a wealthy family, St. Nicholas was consecrated Bishop of Myra (modern-day Turkey) and is known for his compassion and generosity to those in need.
— St. Andrew was a disciple of St. John the Baptist before he became a follower of Christ, to whom he also brought his brother, St. Peter. “Andrew told his brother Simon: We have found the Messiah, the Christ, and he brought him to Jesus.” (Cf. Jn 1:41-42, Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal)
“‘Let us go joyfully to meet the Lord’… Let us walk with joy and watchfulness, as we wait for the season that recalls God’s coming in human flesh, a time which reached its fullness when Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem. It is then that the time of waiting was fulfilled.” (Eucharistic Celebration, […]
“As we venerate the glorious memory of the most holy Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, O Lord, through her intercession, that we, too, may merit to receive from the fullness of your grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ from the Proper of Saints, Daily Roman Missal
— Born into Hungarian nobility, St. Elizabeth (1207-1231) is remembered for her charitable works and tireless devotion in caring for the poor and the sick. After her husband’s death, she became one of the first Franciscan tertiaries of Germany. (art: “St. Elizabeth spinning wool for the poor” by Marianne Stokes)
— Mother Cabrini (1850-1917) dedicated her life in serving the poor, sick, and abandoned. She encountered many hardships when first arriving in New York, yet managed to establish orphanages, schools, and hospitals. Mother Cabrini founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which provides service in education, healthcare, and immigration.
— On All Souls’ Day, we remember and pray for beloved family members and friends, and the faithful departed who may yet be waiting for the joy of heaven.