SAINT OF THE DAY

(291-304) St Agnes is among the seven women listed, together with the Blessed Virgin, embedded in the Roman Catholic Cannon of the earliest saints and martyrs. She was only 12 years old when she was led to the altar of Minerva in Rome and commanded to obey the persecuting laws of Diocletian by offering incense. […]

(Died 304 AD) Vincent was ordained deacon by his friend St. Valerius of Zaragoza in Spain. The Roman emperor had published his edicts against the clergy in 303, and the following year against the laity. Vincent and his bishop were imprisoned in Valencia. Hunger and torture failed to break them. In fact, they seemed to thrive […]

(1838-1918) Today’s saint will be familiar to members of St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Parish as she can trace part of her origin story to our city and the neighboring parish of St. Joseph / St. Patrick. She also founded one of our hospitals. Her story begins, however, in Germany. Marianne was […]

(1567-1622) Francis was born to an ancient noble family of Boisy, in Savoy on Aug. 21, 1567 in Thorens-Glières, France. He was privileged to attend the best French schools, then later went to study law at the University of Padua. There he discovered a definite interest in theology. He graduated with honors, returned to France […]

St. Paul first appears on the biblical scene as Saul in the Acts of the Apostles. He was raised in the Jewish faith as a Pharisee trained in the strict observance of God’s Law. Believing they had broken away from that Law, Saul openly persecuted Christians. As the first Christian martyr Stephen was being stoned […]

(347-406) Paula was born into the family, the gens Cornelia, who had produced more eminent statesmen than any other in Rome’s history. She married a senator, Toxotius, from whom she had five children: four girls and a boy. Until she was 32 years old, she lived in privilege and luxury. Upon the death of her […]

(1474-1540) Angela has the double distinction of founding the first teaching congregation of women in the church and what is now called a “secular institute” of religious women. She began her religious life as a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, and lived a life of great austerity, wishing, like St. Francis, to own nothing, […]

(1225-1274) Thomas was born, the youngest of eight siblings, in Roccasecca, Italy to count Landolfo of Aquino and countess Theodora of Teano. Before his birth, a holy hermit told Theodora that her son would enter the Order of Friars Preachers, become a great learner and achieve unequaled sanctity. He began to live up to that […]

(Died 170 AD) St. Constantius was martyred under the Emperor Antoninus. He was tortured by officials and then took refuge in the house of a certain Anastasius, in the place called Monticellus. Both men were subsequently arrested, together with their colleague Carpophorus. They managed to convert their oppressors and were released. Other officials questioned St. […]

(Died 228 AD) St. Martina of Rome was a wealthy daughter of a Christian Roman consul. On her parent’s death, she gave away her riches to the poor and devoted herself to prayer. She so openly testified to her Christian faith that she could not escape the persecutions under Emperor Alexander Severus. Arrested and commanded to return to […]