Events Calendar

St. Vincent Ferrer (1350?-1419) A prophet for his time, Vincent is remembered most for his preaching.  Vincent was born in Valencia, Spain.  While still a youth, he entered the Dominican Order.  Vincent was recognized for his great learning and leadership.  Embarking as a missionary preacher, Vincent traveled Western Europe preaching on the need for repentance and conversion in light of the coming Judgment of God.  Many healings and miracles accompanied Vincent’ preaching.  Massive crowds flocked to witness this preacher, and…

St John Baptist de la Salle (1651-1719) In the movement begun by John Baptist is found the beginnings of the modern school system.  John Baptist was born in Rheims, France.  At the age of eleven, John Baptist entered formation for the priesthood, being ordained at age twenty-seven.  However, John Baptist came to leave behind his nobility, wealth, and status in order to dedicate himself fully to the education of poor boys.  Others gathered around him in this task, and thus…

St. Martin I (d. 655) The last Pope to be honoured as a martyr.  Martin I assumed the papal office in 649, without the confirmation of the (Byzantine) Emperor.  Shortly thereafter, Martin I called the Lateran Council.  Here the position that Jesus Christ had no human will, but only a Divine Will, was condemned.  Emperor Contans II, who supported this condemned position, was furious.  In retaliation, the Emperor had Martin I kidnapped and brought from Rome to Constantinople.  There Martin…

St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) Conversion comes with a cost.  Kateri was born in what is now Auriesville, New York.  Her mother was a Christian Algonquin from the Trois-Rivières area that had been taken captive and given in marriage to a Mohawk chief, Kateri’s father.  A smallpox epidemic took the life of both her parents and her younger brother when Kateri was just four years old.  Though Kateri survived, her face was scarred and her vision impaired.  Her uncle succeeded her…

Bl. Marie-Anne Blondin (1809-1890) From her own troubles, Marie-Anne (nee. Esther) sought to alleviate others.  Marie-Anne was born in Terrebonne, Quebec to devout, though illiterate, farmers.  Enlisting her services as a domestic servant with the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, Marie-Anne took to learning to read and write in her spare time.  Seeking to join the Congregation of Notre Dame, Marie-Anne was denied due to her poor health.  However, this did not stop the zeal within Marie-Anne’s heart…

St. Anselm (1033-1109) He shines forth as one of the greatest thinkers in the history of the Church.  Anselm was born in Aosta, Italy.  Though Anselm desired to join the Benedictine monastery at age fifteen, his father’s opposition barred him.  After twelve years of worldly living, Anselm entered the monastery in Bec, Normandy.  He was shortly thereafter elected prior, and then, in time, abbot.  Contrary to his will, Anselm was elected the Archbishop of Canterbury, England.  As the Archbishop, Anselm…

St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) From the glories of the contemplative life, to the trials of political affairs.  The youngest of her parents’ twenty five children, Catherine was born in Siena.  Catherine is one of the great mystics in the Church. Already as a young girl, she began to have mystical experiences and gave her life to Christ.  While a young adolescent, her parents sought for her to improve her appearance and seek a husband.  Instead, Catherine cut off her…

St. Marie de l’Incarnation (1599-1672) Mother of New France.  Marie was born in Tours, France.  Her father was a baker and her mother was related to a noble family.  From an early age, Marie sensed a calling to give her life totally to God.  Though she had expressed at the age of fourteen to enter religious life, her parents had her marry at the age of seventeen.  However, after two years of marriage, her husband died, leaving her with a…

Bl. Marie-Léonie Paradis (1840-1912) A humble servant of the Lord and His ministers.  Marie-Léonie was born in L’Acadie, Quebec to a poor miller family.  She was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame.  At the age of thirteen, Marie-Léonie entered the religious community of the Marianites of Holy Cross.  With them she taught and ministered in Quebec, New York, Indiana, and New Brunswick.  During her time in New Brunswick, Marie-Léonie gathered other women around her, and with them she founded…