DVRodriguez

St. Sabinus was Bishop of Assisi and a holy martyr (early 4th century). BACKGROUND The cruel edicts of Emperors Diocletian and Maximian against the Christians, published in 303 AD, brought about the most intense and widespread persecution ever seen in the Roman Empire against the disciples of Christ. Many of the ancient martyrs we continue to honor today suffered during this period. (And yet it is prophesied that an even far worse persecution awaits those who remain faithful to our Lord. It seems clear that time is fast approaching…) WITNESS TO THE FAITH According to the records, St. Sabinus was bishop [...]

St. Stephen, Deacon and Protomartyr (1st century) BACKGROUND We first hear of St. Stephen in the Acts of the Apostles (4:5). Apparently there was dissatisfaction among the early Christians in how the gathered alms were being distributed among the needy, especially the widows. Some of the Christians were Hebraic Jews and others were Hellenic Jews. The Hellenic Jews complained that they were being discriminated against and not receiving a fair share of the alms. The Apostles were too overwhelmed with the sacred tasks of preaching, offering Holy Mass, forgiving confessed sins, administering the Sacraments and performing miracles, to be able to [...]

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - DEC 12 In the Year of our Lord 1531, Our Lady appeared to San Juan Diego at the center of the Americas to bring the light of her Divine Son to these heretofore pagan lands. She sent Castillian roses in the dead of winter and left her miraculous image imprinted on St. Juan Diego's tilma, which convinced Bishop Juan de Zumárraga (a Franciscan) that her message and request were truly from heaven. This image is utterly miraculous and the most modern scientific studies are still unable to explain it, nor have any men been able to [...]

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. [...]