DVRodriguez

St. Dominic Guzmán (1170 - 1221) founded the mendicant Order of Preachers (Dominicans), received the Rosary through a miraculous visit from the Blessed Virgin, defeated the Albigensians, and helped reform and reinvigorate the Church. GOD'S PROVIDENCE Dominic was born at Calaruega, in Spain of the noble family of the Guzmans. His mother, Blessed Joan of Aza, already had two grown up sons when she begged Our Lord to send her another son. While Bl. Joan was pregnant with Dominic, she received a vision that she was carrying in her womb a little dog holding a torch in his mouth, with which, [...]

St. Alphonsus Liguori (27 Sep 1696 - 1 Aug 1797) was a Bishop, the founder of the Redemptorists, a Church Doctor, the Moral Theologian par excellence of the Church, and a great devote of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is a patron saint of confessors. BIRTH AND VOCATION St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori was born of a noble family at Naples, and from his early youth gave clear proofs of sanctity. While he was still a child, his parents once presented him to St. Francis Giralomo of the Society of Jesus. The Saint blessed him, and prophesied that he would reach his [...]

St. Pantaleon, a physician and martyr, and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Note: We are in the only period of the year when over the course of eight days we celebrate the Feasts of three of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr, on July 20th, St. Christopher, Martyr, on July 25th, and today, July 27th, St. Pantaleon, Physician and Martyr. BAPTISM AND CONVERSION Pantaleon lived in the third century, and was of a noble family of Nicomedia. He was the son of a pagan but was raised as a Christian by his mother. He became a famous [...]

St. Christopher, Martyr and Holy Helper (+254) GIVING A GREAT WITNESS St. Christopher was born to a heathen king of Canaan, through the prayers of his wife to the Blessed Virgin. His birth name was Reprobus (in some accounts it is Offerus, Offro or Adokimus). His name, meaning 'reprobate,' aptly described him as he was a barbarous heathen dedicated at birth to Apollo. In stature and strength he was considered a 'giant' (perhaps much like Goliath of old). Hagiographies also record he had a 'fearsome face.' Now on account of his tremendous strength, he was filled with hubris. He did not [...]

St. Christina of Bolsena, Virgin and Martyr (third century) REJECTING THE LIFE OF A PAGAN PRIESTESS Saint Christina, along with St. Lucy, St. Cecilia and St. Agnes, is ranked among the great virgin martyrs honored in Rome. She was born to a noble family and her father, Urban, was a leading citizen and magistrate in Vulsunium of Tuscany. He was deeply enmeshed in Etruscan paganism and owned a number of idols which he had decorated with silver, gold, and precious stones. It seems this city was a center of their pagan worship, for in the edicts of Constantine the Great, it [...]

ST. MARY MAGDALENE, PENITENT (1st century) "Three Saints", said our Lord to St. Bridget of Sweden, "have been more pleasing to me than all others: Mary, my mother, John the Baptist, and Mary Magdalen." The Fathers tell us that Madgalen is a type of the Gentile Church, called from the depth of sin to perfect holiness; and, indeed, better than any other, she personifies both the wandering and the love of the human race, espoused by the Incarnate Word of God. HER CONVERSION It is quite likely that St. Luke came to know Mary Magdalene and her family when he journeyed [...]

St. Margaret of Antioch defeated the devil by the power of the Cross. She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and is invoked to aid pregnant women. BIRTH AND BAPTISM St. Margaret was born to a pagan priest in Antioch, the largest city in the Mideast and third largest in the Roman Empire. Her mother died shortly after her birth. Her father sent her to a nurse a few leagues from the city, who happened to be a Christian. Margaret was baptized and accepted and learned the Christian Faith from her most tender age. When she returned to her father's [...]

The story of Saint Alexius appears at first to be an unusual, perhaps difficult story, but as I meditated on it and thought about it more, I’ve come to love and cherish this saint very much. In the late 4th century, Saint Alexius was born to a wealthy nobleman in Rome. On the night of his marriage, he secretly left his home and traveled to Edessa in the Syrian Orient (over 1000 miles away). There, he led the life of a very pious ascetic on the steps of Our Lady’s Church. Naturally, his wife and parents spent much effort trying to [...]

St. Felicitas and her Seven Sons were martyred under Marcus Aurelius (10 July 162). This family bears many resemblances to the mother and her seven sons of 2 Machabees 7. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In 161 AD, when his father-in-law died, Marcus Aurelius ascended to the Imperial Roman Throne. Although he has the reputation of being a 'great' Roman Emperor (mostly on account of his military conquests and reputation as a Stoic philosopher), he was one of the worst persecutors of Christians. When truth and Catholic dogma are rejected, superstition and false philosophy take their place. This cruel monarch believed the Christians were [...]

The story of the Nineteen Holy Martyrs of Gorkum, Holland fills us with great hope and zeal for our faith. As of 1572, the heresy of Calvinism had spread throughout much of Europe. Generally, Protestantism was much more successful in the northern parts of Europe and such was the case in Holland (or the Netherlands). Ultimately the Calvinists were victorious militarily and imposed their views, at the point of the sword, upon much of the populace which remained steadfast in their Catholic Faith. On June 26, the town of Gorkum was attacked by Calvinist pirates called Wassergeuzen (sea beggars) who were [...]