DVRodriguez

St. Melchiades, Pope and Martyr (311-314 AD), also called St. Militades. HIS PAPAL ELECTION This exemplary pontiff, whom St. Augustine calls 'the true child of the peace of Jesus Christ, the worthy father of the Christian people,' became the Vicar of St. Peter in the year 311 AD. This was during the fiercest storm of the very worst persecution ever unleashed by the Roman Empire upon Catholics. So many of his predecessors upon the papal throne had already been martyred, that surely when St. Melchiades was elected he knew it was tantamount to receiving a 'death warrant.' His election marked the [...]

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (DEC 8) PRESENCE OF GOD I place myself in the presence of Mary Immaculate, my loving Mother, and listen to her invitation: "Come over to me all you who desire me, and I will declare to you what great things God has done for my soul." MEDITATION 1. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is in perfect harmony with the spirit of Advent; while the soul is preparing for the coming of the Redeemer, it is fitting to think of her, the all-pure one, who was His Mother. The very promise of a [...]

St. Nicholas of Myra is one of the greatest and holiest bishops of the early Church. He is also one of the most popular saints of all time! St. Nicholas was born ~280 AD in Lycia, Asia Minor (now modern day Turkey) to noble Christian parents. Even from a very young age it was clear that God had granted him very special and unique graces. For example, he preferred to assist at prayers and Mass in the church than play with other children. One often found him singing holy hymns, the psalms, and he learned much of Sacred Scripture by heart. [...]

St. Barbara (3rd century) is one of five Virgin Martyrs to which the Church turns our attention at the start of Advent. HER CONVERSION Nicoemdia, a city in Asia Minor, was St. Barbara's birthplace. Prior to the construction of Constantinople (326 AD), this was the most important Roman City in Asia (the area now known as Turkey). Her father, Dioscurus, was a superstitious pagan nobleman. Fearing that his only child might learn to know and love the doctrines of Christianity, he kept her apart from interaction with most men. As she grew, he feared her great beauty might bring shame and [...]

Confessor and Apostle of the Indies (1506-1552) (taken from the Third Lesson of the Roman Breviary) "Francis was born of a noble family at Xavier in the diocese of Pamplona. In Paris, he joined the companions and disciples of St. Ignatius, and in a short time became a shining example of austerity of life and uniting contemplation of divine things. Paul III made him apostolic nuncio to India, and he traveled about through countless provinces, always on foot and often barefoot. He brought the faith to Japan and six other regions. In India, he converted many hundreds of thousands to Christianity, [...]

In the 1134th Year of Our Lord, three Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, prisoners of the Muslims in Egypt, miraculously found (or received) in their prison a statue of Our Lady, which they named Our Lady of Joy, or Notre Dame de Liesse (Causa Nostra Lætitiæ). In response to the prayers of these three knights, a young Muslim princess named Ismerie was intrigued by their prayers, austerity, devotion and chivalry. Through the intercession of Our Lady and the mercy of God, the princess was converted to the one holy Catholic Faith. This of course was a capital [...]

On her liturgy of December 2nd, Holy Mother Church honors St. Bibiana, a Roman Virgin Martyr (+ 363 AD). In 313, Emperor Constantine passed the Edict of Milan which made Christianity a "legal" religion and outlawed the persecution of Christians. This relief came shortly after the most severe persecution against Christians, that of Emperors Diocletian and Galerius (303-311 AD). Unfortunately, in 361 Julian "The Apostate" became emperor and he renewed the persecutions against Christians for a few brief years. It was under his reign that St. Bibiana lost her life. A soldier named Apronianus was made governor of Rome by Julian. [...]

Saint James Intercisus, (+421) was a fifth century martyr from the East. James was a Persian soldier who rose in the ranks to become a great favorite of King Yezdigered I. When this king began to persecute Christians, James did not have the courage to confess his Catholic faith. He was too afraid to lose the King’s friendship and his prominent position at court. So he apostatized. He gave up his faith and denied Christ (or at the very least, pretended to do so, which is nevertheless mortally sinful). James’ wife and mother were broken-hearted. They had remained steadfast in the [...]

St. Catherine “of the Wheel” was a great virgin, queen, mystic and martyr. St. Catherine of Alexandria lived in Egypt during the third century. She was of royal blood and an excellent scholar, a veritable genius by the grace of God. In the midst of the great delta of the Nile and on the Mediterranean coast, Alexandria was the second most important city in the Roman Empire. It was known throughout the world for its advanced learning and sophisticated culture. It had the world's greatest library, most impressive lighthouse, largest granaries and other marvels of the ancient world. During her lifetime, [...]

Saint John of the Cross, OCD (1542 – 14 Dec 1591), Carmelite Mystic and Doctor of the Church YOUTH John was born in Fontiveros, Spain and was the son of a poor weaver. His childhood was difficult because his family was poor, his family died prematurely, and the extended family looked down upon them and refused to lend support. He went to a school for poor children and became a servant to the director of a hospital, caring for those who were dying with terrible diseases. For seven years, John worked as a servant while also studying at a Jesuit college. [...]