DVRodriguez

THE STORY OF THE THREE KINGS - PART I [Read Part II] Many of us are familiar with the fact that three gentile kings came to adore the Newborn King. They brought Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. We celebrate this feast each year on January 6, Epiphany. Their appearance in the Gospel is quite unexpected and their departure equally sudden. Who were they? What did they do before and after this great event of their lives? While such details are not contained in Sacred Scripture Tradition does record their lives, including the fact that they became great bishops and [...]

St. Genevieve, Virgin and Defender of Paris, like a great precursor of St. Joan of Arc (422-512 AD) A SPECIAL CHILDSt. Genevieve was born in the small village of Nanterre, near Paris, about the year 422 A.D. Her parents were simple farmers who also tended sheep. She was but seven years when St. Germanus (Bishop of Auxerre) and St. Lupus passed through Nanterre on their way to England to defeat the Pelagian heresy growing there. St. Germanus preached to the people of Nanterre. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the holy bishop took special note of little Genevieve. He sought [...]

OCTAVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS - The Circumcision of Our Lord “And after eight days were accomplished, that the Child should be circumcised, His Name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before He was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21) MEDITATION In order to transform us from sinners into children of God, the only Son of the Father willed to be clothed in human nature, thereby putting on our sinful flesh and submitting to all its most humiliating consequences. The law of circumcision could in no way affect Jesus, the Son of God, the Most Holy One; but Jesus [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]