Today we celebrate the memorial of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order. The Founders consisted of Bonfilius, Alexis, Manettus, Amideus, Hugh, Sostene, and Buonagiunta, flourishing merchants from Florence. At the time, Florence was rife with conflict due to the completion between the florentine nobility and the wealthy merchants on who would govern Florence. Because […]

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Gilbert of Sempringham. Saint-Gilbert was born at Sempringham to a wealthy Norman knight of England. He served Bishop Robert Bloet as a clerk and was ordained by the bishop’s successor. After his father’s death, he returned to Sempringham to assume his lordly duties as heir in 1131. In […]

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Claude de la Colombière Claude was born in 1641 to a family of seven children, some of whom had either become priests or lived a religious life. In his youth, he attended a Jesuit school, and at the age of 17, he officially entered the Order itself. Although […]

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Patron Saints of Archdiocese of Ljubljana. Methodius and Constantine, now known as Cyril, were born in Thessalonica to a prominent Christian family. People had assumed that because many Slavs had settled in Thessalonica, both brothers could understand, if not speak, the Slavic tongue. Methodius became […]

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Giles Mary of Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of Taranto Saint Giles, named Francesco, was born in 1729 to a poor but religious family in Toronto, Italy. When he was 18, his father died, leaving him to take care of his family by making and selling rope. Though he […]

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Scholastica, Patron Saint of religious sisters and of those seeking protection against violent storms. Saint Scholastica had dedicated her life to God since her earlier days as a youth. When her brother, Saint Benedict, went to establish his monastery at Monte Cassino, she had made her home at […]

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Jerome Emiliani, Patron Saint of orphans and abandoned children. Jerome was born into an aristocratic family in Venice, and he had a morally upright upbringing. In his younger years, he was sociable, friendly, cheerful, strong-willed, and enthusiastic. When he was a teenager, he enlisted in the military, as […]

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita, Patron Saint of Sudan. Josephine was born in 1869 in the village of Olgossa, Sudan, where her uncle was tribal chief. There, she had lived a comfortable life, never knowing hardship or suffering. At the age of 7, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery numerous […]

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Colette, The patroness of women seeking to conceive, expectant mothers and sick children. Colette was the daughter of a carpenter who lived at Corby Abbey in France. Born on the 13th of January and later christened Nicolette, nicknamed Colette. She was orphaned at the age of seventeen. She […]

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Patron Saint of Japan. Paul Miki was born to a wealthy Japanese Family residing near Osaka. He was taught by the Jesuits in Azuchi and Takatsuki. He then later joined the Society of Jesus and became a well-known preacher, converting many Japanese citizens to […]