Saints of the Day & More

The principal patron of Ancona, St. Judas Cyriacus, may possibly have been a local bishop who died or was killed during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. On the other hand, he has been conjecturally identified with Judas, bishop of Jerusalem, who was slain during a riot in the year 133. The local tradition of Ancona, however, connects its patron with Judas Quiriacus, a legendary Jew who is supposed to have revealed to the Empress Helen, the place in which the Holy Cross lay hidden, and after being baptized and made bishop of Jerusalem, to have suffered martyrdom under Julian the Apostate. A fantastic account of his dialogue with the emperor Julian, and of the torments endured by him and his mother Anna, is furnished in the so-called "Acts" of his martyrdom. Ancona is said to owe to the Empress Galla Placidia the relics of its patron, but the saint's head was brought over from Jerusalem by Henry, Count of Champagne, who built a church in the town of Provins to contain it.

St. Philip was from Bethsaida in Galilee. St. John speaks of him several times in the Gospel. Recounts that the Lord Jesus called Philip the day after the vocations of St. Peter and St. Andrew. In the Gospels it is clear that the Holy answered the call of the Lord. Writers of the early Church and Eusebius, historian of the Church, affirm that St. Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia and died in Hierapolis. Papias, bishop of this place, known by the daughters of the apostle, which was attributed to Philip the miracle of the resurrection of the dead. A James is called "the Younger" to distinguish it from other apostle James the Major (who was martyred shortly after the death of Christ). The gospel says that he was from Cana in Galilee, that his father's name was Alpheus and family of our Lord. It is called "the brother of Jesus", not because he was the son of the Virgin Mary, who had but one Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, but because the Bible is called "brothe...

One of twelve children born to a farm family; six of his siblings died in childhood. Educated in Almería, Spain. Entered the diocesan seminary in 1876, and the Granada seminary in 1878. Ordained on 24 September 1887. Parish priest in Chinchón and Estremera. For nearly 20 years he cared for an elderly brother priest. Synodal examiner in Madrid, Spain in 1890. Taught metaphysics, Latin, and pastoral theology at the Madrid seminary. Chaplain to the convent of Saint Bernard. Pilgrim to the Holy Land in 1905. Entered the Jesuit noviate in Granada in 1906, and made his religious profession on 12 October 1908. Noted and sought after counselor and confessor, known for his parish ministry, spiritual direction, his devotion to the poor, and his excellent preaching that brought many to the faith. He served as spiritual director for groups of lay people, and from behind the scenes he helped them start academic and trade schools, find work for the unemployed, and minister to the sick and disabled. ...

Briocus, Brioc or Bru) A Celtic saint of Brittany who was educated in Ireland and then studied under the guidance of St. Germanus, the famous St. Germanus of Auxerre. Much of what we read about his early years, we have to take it with caution. Ussher says he was born in Ireland, but it is very probable that it was in France for the year 431, also bringing with him to Saint Iltud. Even before being ordained, Saint Brioc worked many miracles represented in his "Acts" (edited by F. Godefroid Herschenn), and after a brief period, he was with his parents, he entered his career as a missionary. In 480, establesció in Armorica, and founded a monastery in Landebaeron. From there he went to the High Britain where he established a chapel in a place known as Saint Brieuc-des-Vaux, between Saint Malo and Land Trigui; of that place he was appointed as its first bishop. Many miracles are mentioned in his "Acts," especially the treatment of Riguel Conde, whom the nobleman gave his...

He was born near Normandy, France, where he was made a knight in the First Crusade. The stories given for his patronage of boaters vary. Some state that he was captured by Muslims in The Crusade, and escaped persecution by swimming. Additional legends state that it was in fact angels who freed him from his captors, and his association with the seas came when he calmed a whirlpool by throwing Holy water, and the chains of his captivity into it, and signing the cross. He returned to France and entered the abbey of Tiron. There he became a recluse, remaining recollected until his death of April 30.

San Pedro, Dominican martyr, born towards 1205, in Verona, the Italian city of Lombardy prey to the heresy of the Cathars, propagators of Manichaeism in the central and northern Italy. These heretics Puritans, of warlike spirit and sectarian. Peter is a very intelligent, sincere, friendly and firm in his decisions, it seems destined to be an apostle of the heretical world, his family has no problems that a child's education is headed by a Catholic teacher. Peter has grown. The University of Bologna is deservedly famous, but still enjoys greater influence Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans and their followers that captivate both students and teachers. Many people join the newly founded Order of Preachers. Peter at 16, is fascinated by the burning words of Fray Domingo de Guzman and received the Dominican habit of his hands. Youth vehemently dedicated to the study, prayer and lives of austerity and penance in a radical, all is faithful follower of Dominic de Guzman. After t...

What a marvelous life of Saint Catherine of Siena is not unusual for both the role played in the history of his time, but how exquisitely feminine with what worked. The Pope, whom she called by the name of "sweet Christ on earth," he complained the little courage and invited him to leave Avignon and return to Rome, with most human words as these: "Courage, manfully, Father! I tell him not to be shaking. " A young man who sentenced to death and had accompanied her to the scaffold, he said at the last moment "to weddings, sweet my brother! soon you'll be in the long life. " But the voice of submissive women changed in tone and often resulted in that "I want" that brooked no misrepresentations when it came into play the good of the Church and harmony among citizens. Catherine was born in Siena (Italy) on March 25, 1347 and was the twenty-fourth daughter of James and Lapa Benincasa. At seven years held its mystical marriage with Christ. This was ...