Saints of the Day & More

Pope St. Pius V established this feast in 1573. The purpose was to thank God for the victory of Christians over the Turks at Lepanto—a victory attributed to the praying of the rosary. Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church in 1716. The development of the rosary has a long history. First, a practice developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms. Then there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys. Soon a mystery of Jesus' life was attached to each Hail Mary. Though Mary's giving the rosary to St. Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of St. Dominic. One of them, Alan de la Roche, was known as "the apostle of the rosary." He founded the first Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century. In the 16th century the rosary was developed to its present form—with the 15 mysteries (joyful, sorrowful and glorious). In 2002, Pope John Paul II added the Mysteries of Light t...

Dominican missionary called “the Apostle of Poland.” Born in Oppeln, Poland, he received the Dominican habit in 1217 or 1218 from St. Dominic. Hyacinth preached in Poland, Pomerania, Denmark, Prussia, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Russia, China, and Tibet. He died in Cracow, Poland, on August 15. Hyacinth was canonized in 1594. His feast is now confined to local calendars.

The Dominicans are now celebrating. St. Dominic de Guzmán founded in the thirteenth century. For so many years have done and are doing a great service to the Church throughout the world. The founder of the Dominican fathers, who are now 6,800 in 680 houses in the world , was born in Caleruega , Spain, in 1171. His mother , Joan of Aza, was an admirable woman in virtues and has been declared Blessed . He was educated in strict religious training. At age 14 he went to live with an uncle, a priest in Palencia , in whose house he worked and studied. People said that age was a kid but that serious like an old man . His special joy was to read religious books, and give charity to the poor. At that time the region came a famine and people have begged for help to survive . St. Dominic de Guzmán distributed at home all I had and even furniture. Then, when he had nothing more to do to help the hungry, sold what he loved and appreciated , his books (at that time were copied by hand and very expen...