ChurchMilitant, Christine Niles: Blessed Fr. Martin Martinez Pascual left a lasting testament to the grace of martyrdom when, on August 18, 1936, he smiled for a photo just moments before being shot. More here with photo.
Category: Lives of the Saints
St. Cornelius the Centurion an Italian and First Gentile Convert
Good article here by Angelo Stagnaro. And with a bit of humor. I hope, however, that Angelo does not think Saint Patrick was Italian. Well, he may have been, on his father’s side. Saint Patrick’s mother, however, was the sister … Continue reading
A Martyr Born of the Blood of Campion That Splattered Him Beneath Tyburn Tree
National Catholic Register, Stephanie Mann: Four hundred and thirty-five years ago, on December 1, 1581, an infamous priest was executed at Tyburn. Edmund Campion, SJ was a traitor in nearly all Englishmen’s eyes (except for the Catholics whom he served). … Continue reading
A Little Christmas Joy from a Little Saint in the Making
Catholic World Report, Russell Shaw on Saint Thérèse of Lisieux : For many people, the season of good cheer is a deeply trying affair. I don’t mean unhappy souls who have good reason to be sad—the loss of loved ones, poor … Continue reading
A Wordly Knight to a Hermit Saint, Galgano Guidotti and His Miraculous Sword
Here is a story for every Knight of the Immaculata, featuring Our Lady, the Apostles, and most prominently, Saint Michael the Archangel. Could it be the source of the legend of King Arthur’s sword? This is a saint of whom I … Continue reading
38 Albanian Martyrs, Killed by Communists, to Be Beatified Nov 5
CNA: During 40 years of communist rule in Albania – which in 1967 declared itself the first completely atheist country in the world – praying, making the sign of the cross, wearing a crucifix around one’s neck, or any other evidence … Continue reading
Cristero, Fifteen Year-Old Blessed José Sanchez, to Be Canonized Sunday October 16
TFP Student Action: Our young saint lived in tumultuous times. The socialist government of Mexico was waging a bloody war against the Catholic Church, and fervent Catholics known as the Cristeros rose up to defend Christ the King. Their heroic … Continue reading
Saint Robert Southwell: A Brief Life
Robert Southwell was born in 1561, the third son of Richard Southwell, a gentlemen and courtier of Horsham St. Faith in Norfolk. His mother was Bridget Southwell, a Copley of Sussex. His paternal grandfather was Sir Richard Southwell of Wodrising … Continue reading
Blessed Herman the Cripple, Author of Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris Mater
A hundred years after Blessed Herman died, Saint Bernard added the O Clemens, O Pia, O Dulcis Virgo Maria to the Salve Regina, genuflecting three times as he processed to the altar in the cathedral of Speyers in 1146 on … Continue reading
On Padre Pio’s Feast Day, Let Us Give Thanks for His Father
Seton Magazine, John Clark: On a hot and sunny day about one hundred and twenty-five years ago, on a little Italian farm, the landscape contained a familiar image—a man tending to the needs of his land. That man, Grazio Mario … Continue reading
Was the Last Apostle to Die Martyred?
ChurchPop: Of the 12 Apostles appointed by Jesus, 10 of them died as martyrs. Judas, the traitor,took his own life. But the last Apostle to die, John, met a very different fate. Living nearly to the very end of the 1st century, he died … Continue reading
Council Father, a Saint Who Spoke in Tongues
Last week, August 23, was the feast day of Saint Rose of Lima, one of five saints from that illustrious city in Peru. It is also the feast day of a lesser known saint, Philip Benizi. There were two saints … Continue reading
St. Mary Magdalene is the Same Mary, the Sister of Lazarus and Martha of Bethany
I had doubted this in the past. My main reason was that Saint Mary Magdalene is called “the Magdalene” not “Mary of Bethany.” Magdala was in Galilee, not Judea, where Bethany was. I stand corrected by this informative article by Father … Continue reading
The ‘Gaucho’ Priest and Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio to Be Canonized October 16
CNA: If Jose Brochero doesn’t sound like a Gaucho name, nothing does. Earlier this year, Pope Francis announced Oct. 16 as the canonization date for Blessed Brochero, a fellow countryman from Argentina also known as the “Gaucho priest.” More here.
‘If You Would Have Seen Him He Is So Ugly’
Saint Gemma Galgani ChurchPop: “During the last two days Jesus has been telling me after Holy Communion: ‘My daughter, the devil will soon wage a great war against you,’” she wrote to a priest. “These words I hear in my heart continuously. … Continue reading
