Rose was born in 1235 in Viterbo, Italy. She lived at the time when Emperor Frederick had conquered land that belonged to the Church. Rose's special mission was to make the people of her own city and nearby aware of how important it is to remain faithful to the Holy Father. And this she did when she was just a teenager.In fact, Rose was only eight years old when our Blessed Mother told her while she was sick that she was to join the third order of Saint Frances. Our Lady also told Rose ...

Dominic was born in Castile, Spain, in 1170. He was a member of the Guzman family and his mother is Blessed Joan of Aza. When Dominic was seven, he began to go to school. His uncle, a priest, directed his education. After years of study, he became a priest too. Dominic lived a quiet life of prayer and obedience with other holy priests. God had amazing plans for Dominic. He was meant to begin a new religious order. It would be called the Order of Preachers or Dominicans, named afte...

James was a fisherman like his father Zebedee and his brother John. He was on his father’s boat mending his nets when the Lord passed by. Jesus called each of them, James and John, to become fishers of men, to join him in spreading the Good News. Zebedee watched as his two sons left the boat to follow Jesus.With Saint Peter and Saint John, James was a special companion of Jesus. Along with Saints Peter and John, James was permitted to see what the other apostles did not see. With them...

This very popular saint was born in Portugal in 1195. He was baptized “Ferdinand.” He received an excellent education from the Augustinian friars and joined the order. When he was twenty-five, his life took an exciting turn. He heard about some Franciscans who had been martyred by the Moors in Morocco. These friars were Saint Berard and companions. We celebrate their feast on January 16. From then on, Ferdinand felt a strong desire to die for Christ. He joined the Franciscans. T...

Saint Faustina, Jesus chose you to remind us that our Savior loves and accepts us as we are. You used all your energy to carry out God’s plan for you. Your day-to-day life wasn’t always easy. You were sometimes misunderstood by those who failed to recognize the love of Jesus in your heart. Jesus called the kingdom of heaven a treasure and a pearl of great price. You found that kingdom and that pearl in the Lord himself.Saint Faustina, you preached Jesus’s mercy with your life, ...

In 1916 an angel appeared to three Portuguese children Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco. Jacinta and Francisco were brother and sister and Lucia was their cousin. The angel who said that he was the Angel of Portugal taught them how to pray and make sacrifices to God for sinners. The children said the prayers over and over for the conversion of sinners and to make reparation for sins.On May 13, 1917, while the children were pasturing their sheep at the Cova da Iria, a flash of lightening appeared acr...

Mark lived at the time of Jesus. Although he was not among the original twelve apostles, he was a relative of Saint Barnabas, an apostle. Mark is well-known because he wrote one of the four Gospels. That is why he is called an evangelist, a Gospel writer. Mark’s Gospel is short, but it gives many little details that are not in other Gospels.       While still young, Mark went with the two great saints, Paul and Barnabas, on a missionary journey to bring the teachin...

Feast Day: February 16Onesimus lived in the first century. He was a slave who robbed his master and ran away to Rome. In Rome he went to see the great apostle, St. Paul, who was a prisoner for his faith. Paul received Onesimus with the kindness and love of a good father. Paul helped the young man realize he had done wrong to steal. But more than that, he led Onesimus to believe in and accept the Christian faith.After Onesimus became a Christian, Paul sent him back to his master, Philemon, who wa...

The Lorica (loh-RYE-kah) is a long prayer believed to be written by Saint Patrick. It is also called “The Breastplate of Saint Patrick.” A lorica or breastplate is piece of armor, like a mail coat, worn by soldiers. The prayer is called a “Lorica” because it is asking for God’s protection.Saint Patrick came to bring the good news of Jesus to people that did not know him. Many people were converted and became Christians. Others were not happy that Saint Patrick ...

February 11Our Lady of LourdesIt was on February 11, 1858, that a beautiful lady first appeared to Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes, France. Bernadette was a sickly girl. Her family was so poor they lived in a cellar that had once been a jail. Even though she was fourteen, Bernadette still could not read or write. She never could remember her catechism lessons, but she was a good girl. She loved God very much. Although her memory was poor, Bernadette kept trying hard to learn all she could about ...