* * *** “Sanctity is not for a privileged few. The Lord calls all of us… For the daily life we live, apparently so ordinary, can be a path to sanctity: it is not necessary to abandon one’s place in the world in order to search for God…because all the paths of the earth can be the occasion for an encounter with Christ.” (St. Josemaria Escriva)

— Today we honor St. Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975), Spanish priest, who through his life and work taught that we are all called to holiness. St. Josemaria’s popular writings include “The Way,” “Christ Is Passing By,” and “Friends of God.”

* * *** “John the Baptist is ‘more than a prophet.’ In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets… John ‘came to bear witness to the light.’ In John’s sight, the Spirit thus brings to completion the careful search of the prophets and fulfills the longing of the angels.” (CCC 719)

— 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.”

* * *** Born in Ravenna to a family of nobility, St. Romuald (d. 1027) grew up in a lavish environment. Yet, a particular life experience would prompt his journey to monasticism. St. Romuald founded the Camaldolese Order; a combination of hermit life and an austere form of community. He helped to establish and reform many monasteries, reviving the practice of hermit life to allow for more solitude.

— 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 […]

* * *** The Immaculate Heart of our Blessed Mother… model of purity and perfect love for God.

— “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 […]

* * *** “His most Sacred Heart never ceased, and never will cease, to beat with calm and imperturbable pulsations. Likewise, it will never cease to symbolize the threefold love with which He is bound to His heavenly Father and the entire human race…” (HAURIETIS AQUAS, Pope Pius XII)

— The Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated today, a reminder of God’s perfect love for us.

* * *** Born in Nisibis, St. Ephrem (306– 373) was a deacon, poet, teacher, and defender of the faith. He is remembered for his hymns and biblical commentaries, many of which are still in existence. His works not only give praise and worship to God, but also teach about the Christian faith. Confronting the heresy of his time, St. Ephrem helped to spread Christianity in Syria, and is considered one of the most significant Church Fathers in the Syriac tradition.

— from St. Ephrem’s ‘Hymn to the Light’: “The Light of the just and joy of the upright is Christ Jesus our Lord. Begotten of the Father, He manifested himself to us. He came to rescue us from darkness and to fill us with the radiance of His light.”

* * *** the bandits hoped to find gold and riches, instead… what they left on the ground, was the Ragyndrudis Codex.

— Known as the Apostle of Germany, St. Boniface (d. 754), was a Benedictine monk. Greatly esteemed by his brethren for his virtue and intellect, Boniface gave up the occasion to be abbot and instead went to preach the Gospel to the Germanic pagan tribes and organize the Church. He was appointed missionary bishop for […]

* * *** courageous young men gave witness to Christ…

— As master page in the royal court of King Mwanga, St. Charles (d. 1886) led a group of young men to uphold their Christian faith in opposition to King Mwanga’s immoral actions. St. Charles was martyred along with many of his fellow pages, including St. Kizito, who was only fourteen. Some of the men […]

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~ A Christian convert, St. Justin (d. 165) was a philosopher in the Greek tradition and one of the earliest Christian apologists. He passionately sought after the truth, which he found in Christ, and his defense of the faith is evidenced in his “Apologies” and “Dialogue with Trypho,” the only of his writings to have […]

* * *** Today we commemorate the Blessed Virgin Mary’s joyful visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth speaks the prophetic words…

— “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord […]

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