St. Martin de Porres Feast: Nov. 3 St. Martin de Porres (Dec. 9, 1579 – Nov. 3, 1639) was a lay Dominican brother from Lima, Peru. He was known to have been given many miraculous gifts such as levitation, bilocation, healing, and even the ability to communicate with animals. However, his greatest witness remains his [...]
Story by Joe Pisani While I was rummaging through some boxes in the attic, I found a small medal from 1950, when Pope Pius XII proclaimed a Holy Year. On the front was his image, and on the reverse was the northern-most door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which is traditionally opened for jubilee years. The [...]
By Michelle DiFranco With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, it’s hard not to get caught up in everything that is, well, all about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Heck, how can we not, when we’re so bombarded with sights and sounds all around us? Set foot into the realm of retail and you’re blasted with a [...]
Archbishop Leonard P. Blair As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day during this month of November, it is timely to reflect on something that should be obvious, and once was, but is no longer for many people. I’m referring to the fact that Thanksgiving arose as a religious celebration, and throughout its history the [...]
Archbishop Leonard P. Blair It’s that time of year when the Church has traditionally focused on what lies beyond this life, the fate that awaits every person, inasmuch as we do not cease to be even when our physical body dies. On Nov. 1, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day, venerating those [...]
By Sue Parker Feast Day: Oct. 10 Inspired by the stories of missionaries who visited his classroom, St. Daniel Comboni (1831-1881) consecrated his life to Africa at age 18. His impassioned advocacy to “Save Africa through Africa” made missionary work on the African continent one of the Church’s priorities at that time. His vision of forming [...]
By Sister Ann Shield During October, we celebrate some significant feast days: St. Therese of the Child Jesus (1), Guardian Angels (2), St. Francis of Assisi (4), Our Lady of the Rosary (7), St. Teresa of Avila (15), St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (16), St. Luke (18), Sts. Simon and Jude (28). Each saint reflects some [...]
By Sister Ann Shields Since Oct. 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, I want to devote my column this month to offering a way of praying the rosary that can be very fruitful. The rosary prayer, inspired by Mary, has 20 decades. Usually when we say we pray the rosary, we [...]
By Veronica Szczygiel A friend of mine once convinced me to indulge in dessert by saying, “Strawberries are good for the body, and chocolate is good for the soul.” Easily persuaded, I enjoyed more than my fair share. Though chocolate may seem heavenly, there’s no better prescription for our souls than an active, engaged faith [...]
Story by Joe Pisani One of my favorite prayer books is called the Raccolta. I know, the title sounds like an entre at an Italian restaurant. But Raccolta is actually an abbreviation of the full title, which is a bit overwhelming: Raccolta di orazioni e pie opere per le quali sono state concesse dai Sommi [...]