DVRodriguez

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 [...]

St. Isabel of Portugal (1271-1336) is one of the great Catholic queens of Europe, whom the Church honors shortly after the feasts of St. Margaret of Scotland (June 10) and St. Cotilde of France (June 3). HISTORICAL CONTEXT St. Isabel (Elizabeth in English), of the royal race of Aragon, was born in Spain, in those lands which bordered the Moorish kingdom. It was a tumultuous in the history of the Iberian Peninsula. St. King Ferdinad III (1199-1252) had done much to further the Reconquista and drive the Muslims across the Strait of Gibraltar. He had served as King of Castille, León [...]

St. Bertha of Artois, Noble-Woman, Mother and Abbess, 644-725 A.D.) St. Bertha was the daughter of Count Rigobert and Ursana. Her father was the Mayor of the Palace under King Clovis II of France and her mother was the daughter of the king of Kent (England). In fact, her parents named her after St. Bertha of Kent (+ 612), who was the first Christian Queen of England and a Frankish Princess. That ancestral St. Bertha had married a pagan king, Ethelbert of Kent. Crossing the English channel, she had brought her chaplain with her to court. It was on account of [...]

St. Ulrich (893-973), Confessor and Bishop of Augsburg (Bavaria, Germany) He holds the distinction of being the first saint to be canonized. Augsburg was founded in 15 BC by Drusus and Tiberius as Augusta Vindelicorum, upon the orders of their stepfather, Emperor Augustus. The garrison grew and quickly became the capital of the Roman province of Raetia. This city was situated at the convergence of the Apline rivers Lech and Wertach and had direct access to the most important Alpine passes. Lying at the intersection of major travel routes, it naturally became a very important city. For over five hundred years [...]

St. Irenaeus of Lyon is the greatest Church Father of the Second Century. He was a great philosopher, theologian, bishop and martyr. A study of his voluminous writings proves beyond any doubt that that nascent Christian Church had full Catholic orthodoxy. St. Irenaeus is one of the most important Church Fathers. He is the greatest Catholic apologist of second century Christianity. He also bridges the Catholic traditions of East and West. For these reasons, he is one of the most important figures to study and learn about when one desires to become more familiar with 'early Christianity.' Furthermore, he is remarkable [...]

St. Paul, Apostle and Missionary (+ 67 AD) Many of us are familiar with the basic outline of St. Paul's life. We know that as Saul he was a zealous Jew who mercilessly persecuted and killed the early Christians. We know of his great conversion and how God called Paul to be the greatest of missionaries. We know he founded many churches throughout Greece and Asia Minor. He was a skilled orator and teacher who converted thousands and wrought numerous miracles. He strengthened the local churches by writing them letters, thirteen of which are in the New Testament. Yet the details [...]

St. Paulinus, Bishop of Nola in Campania, Italy (354-431 AD) SITTING AT THE TOP OF THE WORLDLY WORLD At birth, our saint was named Pontius Meropius Anicius Paulinus. He was born to a wealthy Roman family in the bustling harbor city of Bordeaux in Gaul. As praetorian prefect of Gaul, his father gave him an upbringing and education that was the envy of all. Paulinus studied rhetoric and poetry under Ausonius, the most learned and famous poet of this age. He became a lawyer and by the ripe age of twenty-five had advanced to Prefect of Rome! He married a noble [...]

St. Juliana Falconieri, Virgin and Founder of the Order of the Mantellatæ, received Viaticum miraculously at the moment of her death (1270-1340 AD) A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN FAMILY The Falconieri were a noble, illustirous and devout family in Florence, Italy. However Charissimus and his pious wife, Regurdata, had been unable to have children. They were quite advanced in years and had given up hope of ever having children> Yet in 1270, they were wonderfully blessed with the birth of a daughter, Juliana. From then on, they devoted themselves exclusively to the exercise of religion. Out of their own coffers they built a [...]

St. Vitus, Fourteen Holy Helper and Martyred Youth (+ 303 AD) THE PAGAN IS RAISED A CHRISTIAN St. Vitus belonged to a noble pagan family of Sicily, and was born around the year 291, at Mazurra. During his early childhood, his father, Hylas, placed him under the charge of a Christian couple named Modestus and Crescentia. They raised him in the Christian faith and had him baptized. Vitus grew in years and in virtue, until, at the age of twelve, his father called him back to the home. Being an important man in town with a reputation to maintain, he was [...]