Category Archives: Saints: Stories & Symbols

29 August – Beheading of John the Baptist: exposing corrupt priests who covered Herod’s pedophile lust

I jotted this for the print edition of UK’s best Catholic weekly, the Catholic Herald.  I give them 400 words (exactly) a week. I celebrate as my onomastico or “name day” the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist, … Read More

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ASK FATHER: Mass texts for St. Elijah, Old Testament Prophet

Many of the great figures of the Old Testament are considered saints and have a day in the Roman liturgical book called the Roman Martyrology. I post about them on occasion. The Martyrology says that when the day is clear … Read More

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17 July 1794: “Permission to die, Mother?”

In 1794, the Place de la Nation on the east side of Paris was called the Place du Trône-Renversé… Toppled Throne Square. In 1792 a guillotine was set up here and the killing began. Robespierre and Barère made terror an … Read More

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“St Swithin’s day if thou be fair…”

Today is the Feast of St. Swithun, Bishop of Winchester (+862).  His bones in Winchester were the occasions of many cures, but his shrine was destroyed by Protestants.  He is celebrated today, 15 July, because this is the day his … Read More

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12 July: Sts. Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin

Today is the feast of two saints married to each other and the parents of another. Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin have their feast in the Novus Order calendar.  They are the parents of St. Therese, the Little Flower.  July 13th … Read More

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Fulton Sheen’s body to return to his native Diocese of Peoria

Such is the news from WGLT and the NatCathReg: PEORIA, Ill. — On the evening of June 8, the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, announced that earlier in the day the Supreme Court of New York had ruled for the second … Read More

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28 May – St Augustine of Canterbury: chance meetings make a difference

Chance meetings are important. In the traditional Roman calendar, today is the Feast of St. Augustine of Canterbury (+604).   He had been the prior of the monastery in Rome on the Caelian Hill during the pontificate of the Great … Read More

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4 May – St Monica, intercessor for children who have fallen away from the Faith

In the older, traditional Roman calendar today is the feast of the mother of St. Augustine, St. Monnica, widow.  She died in Ostia (Rome’s port) in 387, when she and her family were heading back to North Africa after Augustine’s … Read More

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1 May: Feast of St. Jeremiah, Old Testament Prophet

  Today is not only the feast of St. Joseph the worker, but also the feast of the prophet Jeremiah. Some people do not know that many figures of the Old Testament are considered saints by the Catholic Church.  They are … Read More

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25 March – Feast of the Thief who “stole heaven”: St. Dismas

Today is Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation, the instant of the Incarnation… and we would be celebrating it if it were not for the vagaries of the Moon.  Palm Sunday and Holy Week have pushed our observance to another … Read More

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