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— Today’s great feast honors all the saints now in Heaven… those who have been recognized by the Church as well as those who have not been canonized.

* * *** The Church honors St. Simon (the Zealot) and St. Jude (Thaddeus), two of the Twelve Apostles called by Jesus.

— Saints Simon and Jude appear in all three Synoptic Gospels and in John’s Gospel is Jude’s famous query to Jesus: “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” — Their names appear in the Roman Canon and according to tradition, Saints Simon and Jude were both […]

* * *** “Open wide the doors for Christ.” – St. John Paul II

— A strong defender of the family, St. John Paul II began the tradition of World Youth Day and also the World Meeting of Families. He developed many themes during his papacy including, “The Culture of Life,” “The Universal Call to Holiness,” “Christian Marriage and Family life as the domestic church,” and “Theology of the […]

* * *** “… for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:5)

— Inspired author of the third Gospel and Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke highlights the powerful actions of the Holy Spirit and the universality of the Redemption.

* * *** “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk 1:42)

— “And indeed in the Rosary… the chief mysteries of our religion follow one another, as they are brought before our mind for contemplation: first of all the mysteries in which the Word was made flesh and Mary, the inviolate Virgin and Mother, performed her maternal duties for Him with a holy joy…” (Magnae Dei […]

* * *** These messengers from God protect, guide, and do battle for us. Scripture has revealed accounts of angels and St. Thomas Aquinas wrote at length about angels in the Summa Theologica.

– “For he will give his angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.” (Ps 91:11) – “‘Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.’ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.” (Lk 22:42-43) – “For the Son […]

* * *** “A word or smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul.” – St. Therese

— St. Therese (1873-1897) received permission to enter the Carmelite convent at only 15; her insight and deep spirituality were way beyond her years. She is remembered for her “little way” of seeking sanctity by doing her daily chores with little acts of charity and making sacrifices. Her many inspirational writings include “Story of a […]

* * *** 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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— “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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