St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231). Daughter of King Andrew of Hungary, while till young she was married to Ludwig, Landgrave of Thuringia, and bore him three children. After her husband’s death, she embraced evangelical poverty and spent her days caring for the sick in a hospice which she had built, before dying at Marburg. Picture: St. […]
St. Margaret of Scotland (1046-1093). Born in Hungary, where her father lived in exile. Intelligent, beautiful and devout, with a keen taste for fine clothes, she was given in marriage to Malcolm III, King of the Scots to whom she bore eight children. Through her, the Scottish Court achieved a higher standard of civilisation. She […]
St. Gertrude (1256-1301). Born at Eisleben in Thuringia, as a girl she was brought up by Cistercian nuns and did well at her studies, especially philosophy and the humanities. She gave herself to God, and progressed in a wonderful manner along the paths of perfection, spending much time in prayer and contemplation.
St. Albert the Great (1206-1280). Born at Lauingen on the Danube In Germany, he studied at Padua and Paris before entering the Dominican Order where he engaged in teaching in different places with great merit. Ordained Bishop of Regensburg, he strove to secure peace between both peoples and cities. He also wrote many famous works […]
St. Josaphat (1580-1623). Born in the Ukraine of Orthodox parents, he became a “western” Catholic and joined the monks of St. Basil. Becoming a priest, he was elected Bishop of Polock where he worked strenuously for the unity of the Church before suffering martyrdom at the hands of his enemies. Picture: Martyrdom of Josaphat Kuntsevych(c. 1861) […]
St. Martin of Tours (316-397). Born in Pannonia pf pagan parents, he received baptism, gave up his career as a soldier and founded a monastery at Liguge in France where he led a religious life under the guidance of St, Hilary. After his ordination to the priesthood, he was chosen to be Bishop of the […]
St. Leo the Great (+ 461). Born on the Tuscan Plain, Italy, he became pope in 440. A true shepherd and father of his people, he constantly strove to preserve the integrity of the faith, defended the unity of the Church, repelled or at least alleviated the incursions of the barbarians, whence he earned his […]
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. It was initially built by the Emperor Constantine on the Lateran Hill in Rome in the 12th century. At first, it was only a Roman feast, but since the Basilica was called the Mother and Head of all Churches of the City (Rome) and the world, the feast was extended […]
St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584). Born at Arona in Lombardy, he obtained a doctorate in both civil and canon law, and was created a cardinal by his uncle, Pius IV and then chosen to be Bishop of Milan. As a true shepherd of his flock, he frequently went round his diocese, called synods, and made wise […]
All Souls. Yesterday we celebrated the feast of All Saints; today we turn our thoughts to those who have departed from this earth, but for some reason are not yet worthy to enter Heaven – the Church Suffering. It is our duty to pray for these souls, since the Church teaches us that they can […]
St. Damasus (305-384). Of Spanish descent, he became a cleric in Rome and in 366, during exceptionally troubled times, he was ordained Bishop of Rome, calling together a number of synods against heretics and schismatics. He promoted the veneration of martyrs whose tombs he embellished with sacred verses. Picture: Lithography of Pope Saint Damasus I (Lisboa, […]
St. Jane Frances de Chantal ( 1572-1641). Born in Dijon, France, she married a French nobleman to whom she bore six children whom she brought up religiously. After her husband’s death, she placed herself under the direction of St. Francis de Sales and made great progress along the way of perfection, performing many works of […]
St. Lucy (+ 304). Suffered martyrdom at Syracuse, probably in the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Her name in mentioned in the first Mass Canon of the Church (Canon 1). Tradition states that when her suitor (whom she had rejected!) accused her to the authorities, the judge ordered her to be violated in a brothel where […]
