DVRodriguez

St. Hermenegild, Martyr Prince (6th Century), is recognized as 'the seed' which brought Spain into the bosom of Holy Mother Church. Leovigild, King of the Visigoths in Spain, had two sons, Hermenegild and Recared, who reigned conjointly with him. All three were Arians, but Prince Hermenegild married a zealous Catholic, Princess Indegundis, the daughter of Sigebert, King of France, and by her holy example, Hermenegild was converted to the true Faith. Here is illustrated yet another reason why France is known as the 'Eldest Daughter of the Church' - for through her intercession Spain became Catholic. Queen Goinswintha, Hermenegild's step-mother and [...]

St. Mary of Egypt was a terrible sinner who became an even greater penitent and saint. In the 5th century in Palestine, there was a very holy priest monk named Zosimus. He had served God since his youth with great fervor for more than 53 years and many souls came to him for spiritual direction. His reputation for holiness grew far and wide. So much so, that the devil was able to tempt him into pridefully thinking he had reached perfection. To prevent him from harboring a proud spirit, God prompted Zosimus to journey to a monastery near the Jordan. Being [...]

Bl. Herman was a great devotee of the Blessed Mother and an eminent contemplative mystic.(+1226 AD) Herman’s parents were very poor yet noble people who lived in Germany. His father was the Count of Meer and his mother was St. Hildegund. So often saints come from families with more saints! He was born around 1150 AD in Cologne. Because he was so poor, little Herman did not receive much of an education. Yet his great love for our Blessed Mother kept him out of trouble. He spent every free moment at a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Mother on a small [...]

[column size="2-3" last="0"] Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. Blessed be God in His humble servant, Vincent Ferrer. St. Vincent Ferrer lived from 1350-1419. He was one the Church’s greatest missionaries and miracle workers (thaumaturgus). He was a Spanish Dominican, and one of the greatest preachers in the history of the Church. He was known as “The Angel of the Judgment.” St. Vincent traveled all over western Europe preaching penance, attracting enormous crowds, and followed by thousands of disciples. He converted St. Bernardine of Siena and Blessed Margaret of Savoy. St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence, another learned [...]

St. John Capistran (1385-1456), was a Franciscan preacher who promoted devotion to the Holy Name and is known as the "soldier saint" for his bravery at the Battle of Belgrade A MAN OF SUCCESS IN THE WORLD St. John was born in Capistrano in central Italy. His father died when he was young and his mother sent him to study in Perugia. He achieved great acclaim as a lawyer and was appointed governor of the city of Perugia by King Ladislaus of Naples. John rooted out much corruption and bribery. War broke out between Perugia and Malatesta and John was sent [...]

In Catholic Tradition, on the Friday after Passion Sunday, the Catholic Faithful are encouraged to meditate upon the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. Let us thank our Blessed Mother for all the pain and suffering she willingly accepted for our salvation. The following is a Church approved miraculous event which occurred in Quito, Ecuador on April 20 of 1906. HISTORICAL CONTEXT For a better understanding, let us recall a few pertinent historical circumstances. Ecuador was the first nation officially consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 25, 1874. This was done by the president, Gabriel Garcia Moreno, the national [...]

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (320 AD) THE PERSECUTION OF LICINUS The worst Roman persecution against Catholics was launched by Emperors Diocletian and Galerius in 303 AD. The danger threatening Christians did not end until Constantine’s famous Edict of Milan (313 AD) which he signed along with the other new emperors. However, the peace between the emperors did not last long and soon Constantine found himself fighting (and defeating) the others. Licinius, Emperor in the East, had signed the Edict of Milan and married Constantine’s sister. Yet Licinius and Constantine now became bitter foes for sole mastery over the Roman Empire. [...]

St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440), widow and foundress of the Collatines A GRACE FILLED YOUTH St. Frances was born in Rome at 1384 into nobility; both her parents came from illustrious families. From a tender age she was extraordinarily pious, modest, and discreet. She had an aversion to the frivolous activities and games which engaged her peers, and instead sought solitude and prayer. When she was filled with too much ‘noise’ she could not hear God and was not at peace. (The silence she longed for was not just auditory, but also a silence of the eyes and an internal silence [...]

St. John of God (1495-1550), lay brother, mystic, and founder of an order A LIFE OF SIN John of God was born of poor but pious Catholic parents in the town of Montemor o Novo in Portugal in 1495. He was chosen for a special destiny by the Lord but this remained hidden under mounds of sin for many years. John spent his youth in innocence and virtue as the chief shepherd for the Count of Oropeusa in Castille. However, in 1522, he enlisted in the Count’s foot soldiers and served in various battles: against the French and later against the [...]

St. Thomas Aquinas, Dominican friar and Doctor of the Church (1225-1274 AD) VOCATION OF GOLD TRIED BY FIRE St. Thomas was born of noble parents at Aquino in Italy, AD 1226. At the age of nineteen, he received the Dominican habit at Naples, where he was studying. His family was very opposed to having him join the recently founded mendicant order. They would have accepted his choosing the path of the secular priesthood, of being counted among the canons, or any other ecclesiastic office with a benefice and worldly dignity. Yet Thomas desired to serve God as perfectly as possible and [...]