St. John Bosco

St. John Bosco - Patron of Editors and of Laborers - January 31st

St. John Bosco was born near Turin, Italy. Like many Saints, he was a poor farm lad, who was brought up by his holy mother in the love of God and Our Lady. John’s father died when he was young and his mother had to work very hard to feed her family. John, too, worked hard as he could to help his mother. He was an intelligent lad. Who knew how to keep his playmates from offending God. He would do tricks to win their attention and then he would talk to them about spiritual things.

In order to become a priest, John had to work his way through school. He did all kinds of work. He was a carpenter, a shoemaker, a cook, a pastry maker, a farmer, and many other things. At the same time he was a fine student and was always happy and cheerful.

After he became a priest, Don Bosco, which means, Father Bosco, began his great mission of helping orphan boys. He gathered together hundreds of these boys who had no home. He taught them all kinds of work, so that they would not steal and get into trouble. At first, people were angry with Don Bosco, because they did not think those boys would turn out to be good. But he proved that they would.

“Do you want to be Don Bosco’s friend?” he would ask each new boy who came to him. “You do? Then, you must help me save your soul.” Every night, he wanted the boys to say three Hail Marys, so that the Blessed Mother would help them avoid sin. He also recommended that they go to Confession and Communion as often as possible.

One of Don Bosco’s boys became a saint, St. Dominic Savio.
Later on, Don Bosco founded two Religious Orders to take care of poor children and he also built many homes and schools for them.

Let us help our parents at home as much as we can. The more things we learn to do, the better we can serve God.

St. Bathildes

St. Bathildes - January 30th

Born in England, St. Bathildes was taken to France and sold as a slave while she was still a young girl. She was bought for a very cheap price by the mayor of the Palace. As she grew older, she became very wise and virtuous. She was so gentle and good that King Clovis married her and made her Queen Bathildes. Three sons were born to her, but the King died when the oldest was still just a little boy. So, St. Bathildes ruled the Kingdom until they grew up.

She used her new honor to help the Church in every way she could. She did not become proud or unkind. Rather, this good Queen cared for the poor, forbade that Christians be made slaves, filled France with hospitals for the sick and founded a seminary and a convent.

Later she entered the convent herself. There she forgot her royal dignity and became very obedient and humble. She showed great charity to the sick. When she became ill, she suffered long and patiently until her death.

Because St. Bathildes was never selfish, she became a great saint. By sharing our things, we will make others happy and win much glory in Heaven.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales - Patron of Journalists - January 29th


While in school, this young Frenchman received the highest honors. His greatest joy was to be with God in prayer, and when he was given time to play, he would read the lives of the Saints and reflect on their love of God.


St. Francis gave up the chance to be a great man in the eyes of the world, for he wanted to be a priest. He wanted to become great in the eyes of God.


At that time there were many people who had lost the true faith. Francis set out to convert them. He went on foot with the Bible, a breviary and one companion, his cousin, Father Louis de Sales. Every place they went, they met people who wanted to kill them. They were insulted and made to suffer. Yet, they did not turn back. And, after four years of hard work, the Saint had converted 72, 000 souls! He gave all the credit to God, Who had given him the power to preach and convert.


St. Francis once had a very hot temper, but after praying and trying to correct his fault, he finally became a model of gentle meekness.


He became Bishop of Geneva and founded the Order of the Visitation. He also wrote wonderful books that teach everyone how to grow holy. As Bishop, he lived in a very simple house and practiced mortification. He sacrificed himself to help everyone. Once, a group of men came to ask this help. They lived in a town high in the mountains. Part of a mountain had fallen and blocked off the road leading to their town. They needed someone to go to see what had happened and then tell the King. “I’ll go at once,” saint the Saint. The men were so surprised! A bishop would come to climb over those rocks just to help them! Yes, St. Francis de Sales would do anything to help people.


After a life spent in good works, this kindly Saint died. Pope Pius IV gave him the title of Doctor of the Church.


To keep peace with everyone, we will watch our words. Those who do not sin with the tongue, says the Apostle St. James, are saints.

St. Peter Nolasco

St. Peter Nolasco - January 28th


St. Peter Nolasco was born in France. Even while he was just a boy, he found great joy in helping the poor. He loved the Blessed Virgin with all his heart and made up his mind to spend his life serving his neighbor. St. Peter felt especially sorry for all the Christians who had been dragged off as slaves by the Moslems. He prayed hard for them, and the Blessed Mother appeared to tell him to start a Religious Order to help them. She said it would please her and Jesus very much, and she would protect the new religious. When St. Peter told his Confessor, St. Raymond of Pennafort, he found that Our Lady had appeared to him, too. Together they went to tell the King, but they were surprised to learn that he, too, had seen the Blessed Mother! So, all three dedicated themselves to the new work of mercy. They promised to do all they could to free the slaves, even if they had to sacrifice their own lives.


Right from the beginning, a great number of slaves were freed, not only in Spain, but also in Africa. St. Peter was not afraid to risk his life many times to come to the rescue of the poor prisoners.


The person who sins becomes a slave of the devil. When temptations come, let us ask our Blessed Mother to help us, so that we may win over the devil and remain faithful to our Divine King.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom - Patron of Preachers - January 27th


St. John Chrysostom was born at Antioch. His father died when he was a baby and his good young mother did not want to marry again. She gave all her attention to bringing up her son and daughter in the holy love of God. She made many sacrifices so that John could have the best teachers. He was very intelligent and could have become a great man in the world. When he gave speeches everyone loved to listen to him. In fact, his name, Chrysostom, means “Golden-mouthed.” Yet, John wanted to give himself to God, He became a priest and later was made Bishop of the great city of Constantinople.


St. John was a wonderful bishop. Although he was always sickly, he accomplished a tremendous amount of good. He preached once or twice a every day, fed the poor, took care of orphans, corrected bad customs, and stopped bad plays from being given. He loved everyone, but he was not afraid to tell even the Empress when she did wrong.


Because he fought sin, St. John had enemies, the Empress was one. She had him sent away from Constantinople and on the trip he suffered greatly from fever, from lack of food and sleep. Yet, he was happy to suffer for Jesus and just before he died, he cried out, “Glory be to God!”


A terrible hailstorm fell on Constantinople at his death and four days later, the bad Empress died. Her son honored St. John’s body and showed how sorry he was for what his parents had done.


God sees us all the time. If we do everything well and for Him, then we do not have to be afraid of what others say or do against us.

St. Polycarp

St. Polycarp - January 26th

St. Polycarp was a beloved disciple of St. John the Evangelist. Like St. John he was good and kind to everyone, but he avoided the company of bad men. Once when someone was preaching something different from what Our Lord said, Polycarp plugged his ears! All that he learned from St. John, he taught to others. When Christians were being put to death, St. Polycarp, too, was captured. He gave a meal to the men who came to capture him and then asked them to let him pray awhile. The judge tired to make him save himself from death by cursing Jesus. “I have served Jesus eighty-six years,” answered the Saint, “and He has never done me any wrong. How can I curse my King who died for me?”

The soldiers tied St. Polycarp’s hands behind his back and placed him on a burning pile. But the fire did not harm him! One of the soldiers then stabbed a lance into his heart. And so the holy martyr went to be forever with the Divine Master he had served so well.

Let us at once break off a friendship with anyone who gives bad example, and let us keep only good friends. Their example will help us to be the kind of boys and girls Jesus wants.

The Conversion of St. Paul

The Conversion of St. Paul - January 25th


Paul was first called Saul. As a young man, he was a very bright student of the Hebrew religion. When he grew older, he persecuted the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem because he did not know Jesus was God. It was he who held the robes of men who stoned to death the first martyr, St. Stephen. But one day when he was one his way to hunt down more Christians in the city of Damascus, a great light suddenly shone all around him. As he fell from his horse, he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecuted Me?”


And Saul asked, “Who art thou, Lord?”


Our Lord answered, “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.


Afraid and trembling, Saul said, “Lord, what will you have me do?”


At that moment, Saul became a great lover of Jesus. After his baptism, he thought only of making everyone know and love the Lord Jesus, our Savior.


We know Saul by his Roman name of Paul. He is the great Apostle who travelled all over the world, preaching about Jesus and converting millions of people in one city after another.


He worked and suffered, and his enemies tried to take his life many times. Yet nothing could stop him from bringing souls to Christ. When he was old and tried, he was once again put in prison and sentenced to die. Still St. Paul was happy to suffer for Christ.


This great apostle wrote fourteen marvelous letters to Christians. They are in the Holy Bible. These letters, called Epistles, are read almost every morning at Holy Mass.


God asks us, too, to love Jesus very much. Do we often tell Our Lord that we love Him?

St. Timothy

St. Timothy - Patron against stomach disorders - January 24th


St. Timothy was born in Asia Minor. His father was a pagan and his mother a Hebrew. When St. Paul went to preach in his city, the lad Timothy, his mother and his grandmother all became Christians. Several years later, St. Paul came back and found Timothy now a young man, whom people said would do great things. St. Paul saw that he would make a good missionary and the young man was eager to go with him. So it was Timothy left his home and his parents to follow St. Paul, to share in his sufferings and to bring the word of God to many people. St. Timothy was the great Apostle’s beloved disciple. He was his dear son in Christ, faithful always. St. Paul once said that he had no one else like him. He went everywhere with St. Paul, until the Apostle made him Bishop of the great city of Ephesus. It was very hard for Timothy to be far away from Paul, but he made the sacrifice for the love of God. Before he was martyred, St. Paul wrote Timothy a beautiful letter from his prison cell in Rome. He encouraged him to become a saint, to read the Bible and to try to please God. He wanted him to pay no attention to busybodies, and to give good example to everyone.


As St. Paul, Timothy, too, died a martyr. He was beaten and stoned to death because he opposed the worship of false gods.


Let us not be busybodies or “chatterboxes”. Like St. Timothy, let us read holy books in order to be able to know and love God more.

St. Raymond of Pennafort

St. Raymond of Pennafort - Patron of Canonists - January 23rd


Born in Spain, St. Raymond was a relative of the King of Aragon. From childhood he had a tender love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. Raymond finished his studies at an early age, and became a famous teacher. The he gave up all his honors and entered the order of the Dominicans. St. Raymond was very humble and very close to God. He did much penance and was so good and kind that he won many sinners to God. With King James of Aragon and St. Peter Nolasco he founded the order of Our Lady of Ransom. The brave religious of this Order devoted themselves to saving poor Christians captured by the Moors.


Once he went with King James to the Island of Majorca to preach about Jesus. King James was a man of great qualities, but he let himself be ruled by passions. There on the Island, too, he was giving bad example. The Saint commanded him to send the women away. The King said he would, but he did not keep his promise. So St. Raymond decided to leave the island. The King declared he would punish any ship captain who brought the saint back to Barcelona. Putting all his trust in God, St. Raymond spread his cloak upon the water, tied up one corner of it to a stick for a sail, made the Sign of the Cross, stepped onto the cloak, and sailed along for six hours until he reached Barcelona. This miracle moved the King. He was sorry for what he had done, and became a true follower of St. Raymond.


When we have done wrong, we must be sorry at once, and make up our minds not to sin again.

St. Vincent of Saragossa

St. Vincent of Saragossa - Patron of Winegrowers - January 22nd

St. Vincent was a Spanish deacon. Because he preached about God, he was put into prison and tortured without mercy.

First, he was tied to a red-hot iron and scourged with iron hooks. Then salt was rubbed into his open wounds. But while all this was going on, St. Vincent kept his eyes raised to Heaven in constant prayer. The courageous saint was next cast into prison without food or visitors.

Later the Christians were permitted to come to visit Vincent in jail and they took care of him. They kissed his wounds and took home clothes dipped in his blood as relics.

When St. Vincent died, the emperor ordered his body to be left for animals to destroy, but God protected it. Then the ruler had it tied to a heavy stone and thrown into the sea. But again God worked a miracle to honor St. Vincent. His body floated on top of the water and when the waves brought it ashore, the Christians buried it and built a large church over it.

Let us, too, learn to offer up our little sufferings bravely for the love of Jesus.

St. Agnes

St. Agnes - Patroness of children of Mary - January 21st

St. Agnes was a Roman girl who was only thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her Faith. Agnes had made a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for our Lord was very great and she hated sin even more than death! Since she was very beautiful, many young men wished to marry Agnes, but she would always say, “Jesus Christ is my only spouse.”

Procop, the Governor’s son, became very angry when she refused him. He had tried to win her for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, “I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!” In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shown with joy. Next sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such and young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. “I would offend my Spouse,” she said, “if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!” Then she prayed and bowed

If we are careful about what we look at, it will be easier to keep our heart pure for love of God.

St. Sebastian

St. Sebastian - Patron of Athletes - January 20th


St. Sebastian was born in France, but his parents were from Milan, Italy, and he was raised as a Christian in that city.


In order to help his fellow Christians who were dying as martyrs, he went to Rome and enlisted in the army. He became an officer and a great favorite of the Emperor Diocletian. Diocletian made him a captain. In this position, Sebastian converted many to Jesus. When the twin brothers, Mark and Marcellinus were put in prison for the faith, their pagan family kept trying to persuade them to deny Jesus. The two brothers were finding it hard to remain strong. But Sebastian came to encourage them, and they went bravely to their martyrdom. What is more, their family became Christians, too. And Sebastian also converted the jailor and sixty-four prisoners! At last, a false disciple betrayed him to the Emperor. Diocletian tried in every way to make his captain Sebastian give up the Christian faith, but he would not. Then the Emperor accused him of being ungrateful. He called him a traitor. “I am not disloyal to you,” answered Sebastian. “I am very faithful to you and grateful. That is why I am praying to the true God for you and for the Roman Empire.” But in anger Diocletian ordered Sebastian to be killed with arrows.


The archers shot arrows into every part of the brave soldier’s body and then left him for dead. When a holy widow came to bury him, she found him still alive. She took him to her home and nursed his wounds. When Sebastian was well enough, the widow tried to persuade him to escape, but Sebastian was a brave soldier of Christ and he would not leave. Instead he went out to meet the Emperor and urged him to stop his persecution of the Christians.


The Emperor was greatly shocked to see Sebastian alive. At once he ordered him to be beaten with clubs until dead.


We should always encourage our friends to do good. This is the best way to be a real friend to others.

St. Canute

St. Canute - January 19th

St. Canute was a strong, wise king of Denmark. He was a great athlete, an expert horseman, and a marvelous general.

At the beginning of his reign, he led a war against the barbarians and defeated them. Everywhere he conquered, he brought the Christian faith. In Gratitude for his glorious victories, St. Canute knelt at the foot of the alter and offered his crown to the King of Kings, Jesus.

He was very charitable and gentle to his people. He tried to help them with their problems. Most of all, he wanted to make them true followers of Jesus.

However, a rebellion broke out in his kingdom because of the laws he had made about supporting the Church. One day his enemies went to the church where Canute was praying. He knew they had come to harm him. At the foot of the alter, he made his confession and received Holy Communion. With all his heart he forgave his enemies. Then, as he prayed, a spear was thrown through a window and killed him.

As St. Canute offered his royal crown to Jesus for all he had received, we, too, should thank God every day and offer Him a crown made up of good deeds.

Chair of St. Peter at Rome

Chair of St. Peter at Rome - January 18th

St. Peter was the Prince of the Apostles and the first Pope. After Jesus went back to Heaven, St. Peter preached the Gospel and ruled the Church, as Jesus had told him to do. At first, he labored in Jerusalem and in Antioch, two big cities of the East. Later, he went to preach the Gospels in Rome. Rome, the great capital of the world, was a wicked pagan city. But there, with the help of God, St. Peter soon brought many souls to Jesus.

The Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome reminds us of the great Church St. Peter founded in that city. St Peter was martyred for the faith, but down through the ages there has always been a Bishop of Rome. He is the Pope and he rules the whole Church, as St. Peter did, in the name of Jesus. We call the successor of St. Peter the Holy Father.

We love and honor the Pope because he takes the place of Jesus on earth. Let us always pray for our Holy Father, that God may give him strength, light and consolation.

St. Anthony of Egypt

St. Anthony of Egypt - Patron of Grave Diggers - January 17th


St. Anthony was born in a small village in Egypt. When he was twenty years old, his parents died and left him a large estate and the care of his young sister. About six months later, he heard these words of Christ read in church: “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, follow Me.” Anthony was sure that those words were meant for him. So immediately afterwards, he gave away all that he possessed. His sister entered a convent and Anthony begged an aged hermit to teach him the spiritual life. He also visited other hermits to learn and practice each one’s most outstanding virtue. Then he began his own life of prayer and penance alone with God.


When he was fifty-five, St. Anthony built a monastery to help others. He was the first to establish the religious life as it is today. Many people heard of him and sought his advice. He would tell them: “The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices, when we are humble and good, but especially when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross.”


St. Anthony visited Paul the hermit and came away holier than ever. He died at the age of one hundred and five.


We must never become discouraged when the devil strongly tempts us to do wrong. Jesus is right beside us. If we pray to Him, He will help us, and He will reward us for our love and faithfulness.

St. Honoratus

St. Honoratus – Patron of Bakers – January 16th


St. Honoratus’ father was a pagan Roman consular. When still very young Honoratus refused to worship the idols of the pagans and became a Christian. He also persuaded his brother Venantius to do the same. Honoratus was very fervent and wanted to live alone with God, but his father had plans to make him great and famous. He tried to change his son’s mind by giving him beautiful clothes and everything that he thought could delight him. Yet Honoratus was loyal to Jesus. He kept himself pure always. At last, he was able to leave home. He and Venantius left their riches and went off to serve God. But many people heard of them and came to visit them. With the intention of living alone, they asked a holy hermit, St. Caprais, to be their director, and the three of them left Gaul to set out for a desert. They suffered so much on the journey that Venantius died soon afterwards, and Honoratus himself became very sick. He realized that God willed him to return to France, and so, after he was well enough, he went back and founded a monastery there.


When the Archbishop of Arles died, St. Honoratus was made Archbishop. Although he only lived three years more, everyone loved him for his great charity.


Let us give good example to our younger brothers and sisters, so that they will find it easier to be good.

St. Paul-The First Hermit

St. Paul-The First Hermit – Patron of Weavers – January 15th

St. Paul was born of rich parents in Egypt and became an orphan at the age of fifteen. He had been taught to trust God since he was a very young child. When he was twenty years old, he had to flee to a desert because of a bloody persecution of the Christians. In his great love of God, St. Paul trusted in the Lord to provide him with what he needed to live. He dwelt under a tree that supplied him with fruit for food. A nearby spring gave him water.

When he was one hundred and ten, the great St. Anthony of the Desert went to visit him. St. Anthony tells us how he found out about St. Paul. One day he had a temptation to think that no one else but he had spent his life in the desert as a real hermit. That night God revealed to him that there was another hermit much better than he and so Anthony went to visit him. We are told that while they were talking, a raven dropped a loaf of bread. St. Paul told St. Anthony that for the past sixty years he had been receiving a half of loaf a day. “Now you have come,” he said, “and God has doubled the portion. The Lord is truly good!” After they had eaten, they spent the night in prayer.

St. Paul died at the age of one hundred and thirteen, and St. Anthony buried him.

When St. Anthony returned to his monks, he told them: “Sinner that I am, I do not deserve the name of monk! I have seen another John the Baptist, another St. Paul in the third Heaven!”

St. Paul spent all his long life in prayer and penance to gain glory in heaven. Let us, too, spend our time well, because time spent in praying and in doing our duties for Jesus will win us a treasure in Heaven.

St. Hilary of Poitiers

St. Hilary of Poitiers - Patron Against Snake Bites - January 14th


St. Hilary was born in France and raised a pagan. But he was a very intelligent man, and he thought it was foolish to worship many gods as pagans do. He obtained a copy of the Holy Bible and read it eagerly. There he learned about the one true God and about Jesus Christ Our Savoir. At last, Hilary became a Christian.


From his baptism to the end of his life, St. Hilary tried to teach people to believe in God. He also tried to encourage them to lead holy lives. He converted his wife and daughter and later was ordained to the priesthood. He became the Bishop of Poitiers, his city. During this time there was a heresy that said Jesus was not God. St. Hilary showed people how wrong it was.


He wrote many books about the Faith and traveled everywhere preaching that Jesus Christ is truly God. For this he earned the title of Doctor of the Church.


Like St. Hilary, let us be proud of our faith and defend it every time we have a chance.

St. Veronica of Milan

St. Veronica of Milan – January 13th

St. Veronica was born in a small village near Milan. Her parents were very poor but they were hard working and very pious. Because she was so poor, she never had the chance to learn how to read or write. But she learned from her devout parents how to pray. She prayed always and worked hard to help them.

Veronica wanted to become a nun, but she was very worried because she could not read or write. She used to rise at night to try to teach herself. One day Our Lady appeared to her and told her not to worry, because all she had to know were three things. The first was to be pure in intention, which meant to do all her duties only to please God. The second was to mind her own business and to hate grumbling and criticism. The third was to forget her own troubles in thinking of the sufferings of Jesus every day. Our Blessed Mother’s holy advice made Veronica very happy and she tried to practice it.

After preparing herself for three years, Veronica was admitted into the convent of St. Martha of Milan. She was assigned the duty of begging for daily food. Every moment of her life she tried to obey her superior, because she knew that if she obeyed her superior, she obeyed God.

St. Veronica died a saint at the age of fifty-two.

Let us, too, follow Our Lady’s advice; that is, let us do everything for the love of Jesus, never complain, and remember each day that Jesus suffered and died for us.

St. Aelred

St. Aelred – January 12th


St. Aelred was master of the household of King David of Scotland. He ardently desired to give himself entirely to God, but he dearly loved his many friends. It was very, very hard for him to leave them, yet in order to belong to God alone, at the age of twenty-four, Aelred entered a Cistercian monastery. There he grew fond of a very holy monk named Simon. One day, forgetting the rule of the monastery forbidding the monks to talk, Aelred spoke to Simon. In great surprise and sorrow, Simon gave him a look he never forgot. From then on, Aelred learned not to let his love for anyone come between him and Jesus.


Later Aelred was made an abbot. He wrote many books on spiritual things. In one of them, he said that we only learn to love God by sharing in His sufferings. Everyone loved St. Aelred because he was so kind and good. And in return he loved everyone for love of Jesus.


St. Aelred died at the age of fifty-seven after having served as abbot for twenty-two years.


We should choose our friends among those who love God and are close to Him. These good friends will help us always to do what is right.

St. Theodosius

St. Theodosius - January 11th

St. Theodosius was born in Asia Minor. Greatly impressed by the examples of the Patriarch Abraham, of whom he read in the Bible, he decided to imitate him. So he left his family and friends and traveled to Jerusalem to visit all the holy places. While there, he decided to submit himself to a holy hermit named Longinus, so as to serve God by obeying him. Longinus was so pleased with Theodosius’ virtues that he entrusted him with the care of a church of Our Lady. Theodosius obeyed promptly, but he grew disturbed by the great admiration the people had for him. He then retired to a mountain and fasted and prayed for years.

Many men were attracted by his holiness and he eventually built a monastery near Bethlehem.

Seeing how good and devout he was, the Patriarch of Jerusalem made Theodosius Superior General of all the religious men living in Palestine. St. Theodosius delighted in helping the poor. He and his monks set more than a hundred tables some days to serve hungry beggars. Even when food was very scarce, and the monks themselves did not have enough, he would not turn the poor people away. Even though he was very active, the Saint kept himself close to God by reading spiritual books often. He lived to be a hundred and five years old.

Let us imitate St. Theodosius’ humility by never bragging about ourselves and what we have done.

St. William

St. William – January 10th

St. William came from a wealthy French family, but even as a young boy, he did not care to waste time fooling around or being idle. He spent much time praying. When he joined the Cistercian Order, he was such a good monk that the others were inspired just by looking at him. Yet he always considered himself the least among his brethren.

St. William had a great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He practiced penance, but he was always very happy. When he was made the Abbot of his community, he remained as humble as ever. At the death of the Archbishop of Bourges, William was chosen to take his place. But so humble was he that he cried on receiving this new honor. Yet he accepted it and did even more penance than before, to convert sinners. Although he loved to be alone with God, he traveled all over his diocese to preach, to visit the poor and the sick, to console them and bring them to Christ. When he died he was buried in ashes, as he had asked.

The more we read about the Saints, the more we find that they really became saints by praying, obeying and doing penance.

Sts. Julian and Basilissa

Sts. Julian and Basilissa – January 9th

Sts. Julian and Basilissa, though they were husband and wife, lived as brother and sister. They turned their home into a hospital in order to help the sick and the poor. St. Julian took care of the men, and St. Basilissa cared for the women. St. Basilissa died after suffering great persecutions for the Faith. Julian lived many years and also received the glorious crown of martyrdom.

Basilissa and Julian spent their whole lives helping others and serving God. They planted the seed of faith by living holy lives and watered it and made it grow with their blood shed for Jesus crucified.

We can imitate these Saints by visiting sick or lonely people to cheer them up and to bring them something good to read.

St. Syncletica

St. Syncletica – January 8th

St. Syncletica was a rich young girl who lived in Alexandria, Egypt in the fourth century. When her parents died, they left her and her blind sister a great fortune. But Syncletica gave it to the poor. She kept just enough to live on, and she and her sister devoted themselves to prayer and penance. Hearing of St. Syncletica’s great holiness many women came to ask her to teach them how to please God. She was so humble that she felt she was too sinful to teach anyone. At last, however, she did not have the heart to refuse them any longer, and she gave them many wise lessons.

What most surprised everyone who visited the Saint was her great happiness. She who had once been so rich was living on bread and water and sleeping on the ground. Besides that, for three years before her death, she suffered from a very painful sickness. Yet, Syncletica was always joyful and grateful to God for letting her share in the sufferings of His Passion. To reward her, three days before her death, the Lord gave her a little idea of the great glory and happiness He had prepared for her in Heaven.

It is not true that to be good we have to be sad. The Saints were always happy. God loves those who serve Him cheerfully.

St. Lucian

St. Lucian – January 7th

St. Lucian was born in Syria. His rich pagan parents brought him up to worship their false gods. When he was twelve, however, he began to see that his religion was wrong, and after being instructed in the Christian faith, Lucian was baptized. He went away to a Christian school, even though he found it hard to leave home. There he studied Sacred Scripture and began to make mortifications, such as eating very little. Daily he grew closer to God. Lucian became a priest and a teacher of Sacred Scripture himself. When a persecution broke out, the Saint was captured and kept in prison for nine years. There he prepared himself to die for Jesus by reading the Holy Bible.

When brought before the emperor to be judged, Lucian took the opportunity to explain our holy religion to everyone. He suffered patiently, and when they asked him, “Where are you from? Who are your parents?” he only answered, “I am a Christian.” He was placed on the rack, and he still repeated these words. Then he was put to death and so he earned the martyr’s crown he had long desired.

Let us listen well to the sermons our pastor gives. Our faith will teach us what is right and give us the strength to do it-even when we find it hard.

The Epiphany of Our Lord

The Epiphany of Our Lord – January 6th


The Epiphany is the Feast of the visit of the Magi to the Infant Jesus. The Magi were three wise Kings from the East, who made a long trip to adore the King of Kings. When they saw a very unusual star in the sky, they knew that our Savior had been born in Palestine, and they set out to find Him. They did not listen to those who tried to discourage them, and they did not mind making the long, hard journey. The three Kings trusted God to lead them by His star.


When they found Jesus with His Mother, Mary, they knelt down and adored Him. Worshipping, they offered Him precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Afterwards, the Magi returned home with their hearts full of joy. They had seen and adored the Son of God.


Let us often visit Jesus in church and receive Him in Holy Communion, even if we have to get up early or walk a long way. In return, Jesus will fill our hearts with joy and give us many graces.

St. Simeon the Stylite

St. Simeon the Stylite – January 5th


St. Simeon was born in Asia Minor of a poor family of shepherds. He became a shepherd like his father. One day, when he was still a young boy, he could not take his sheep out because it was snowing. So he went to church and there heard a reading of the Beatitudes-“Blessed are the poor in spirit…; Blessed are they who mourn…; Blessed are the clean of heart….” Not understanding these words of Jesus, he asked a holy old man for an explanation and then begged the Lord Himself to teach him how to become perfect. God in His goodness taught Simeon that he must first become very humble and then acquire the other virtues. At once Simeon asked to join a monastery.


Later he went to serve God in a lonely mountain spot, but he was so holy that people kept coming way up there to find him.


At last he had a very tall column built, and on the top of that pillar, he lived for forty years. He is called St. Simeon Stylite, from the word “stylos,” which means pillar. There was so little space on that pillar that he could never lie down. What a penance that was!


St. Simeon grew very close to God. He prayed constantly and taught the people who gathered beneath his pillar. Yet, no matter how many special favors God gave him, he never grew proud. He always stayed humble and held a very poor opinion of himself. That is why he became such a great Saint.


Today let us deny ourselves something like to do very much, so that we, too, may offer some penance to Our Lord to make us for our sins.

St. Titus

St. Titus – Patron of Crete – January 4th

St. Titus, a pagan, became a disciple of St. Paul. Titus labored hard, preaching with St. Paul on his missionary travels. Because of his extraordinary virtue, he was very close to the great Apostle. Paul sent Titus on many missions to the churches, to strengthen the faith and to bring peace when there were arguments among the Christians. It seemed that St. Titus had a special gift for bringing peace to troubled hearts. And this was another reason why he was dear to St. Paul. When he arrived among a group of Christians, the guilty had done, and accepted the punishment they deserved. After he finished his success and so bring him great happiness.

St. Paul made Titus Bishop of Crete and wrote a letter to him there. In it, he called him, “my beloved son.” St. Titus died at Crete.

Let us try to imitate this great saint by never quarreling with anyone and by trying to be peacemakers.

St. Genevieve

St. Genevieve - Patroness of Paris - January 3rd

St. Genevieve was born in Paris. While still very young, she desired to devote her life to Jesus. After her parents died, Genevieve went to live with her grandmother, where she led a life of prayer and performed works of charity. Genevieve was so pleasing to God that He gave her the power to know the future and to perform miracles.

When the people of Paris were going to run away from a terrible army coming to attack them, Genevieve encouraged them to trust in God. She said that if they did penance, they would be saved. The people did what she said, and the fierce army of Huns suddenly turned back. They did not attack the city at all.

St. Genevieve’s life was one of heroic charity and obedience to God’s holy will. At the age of eighty-nine, she died in an act of strong and pure love of God. Happily she went to meet Jesus, her Spouse, whom she had served faithfully in life.

One of the best ways for us to help our country is to pray for their leaders, that God may guide them for the good of us all.

St. Fulgentius

St. Fulgentius – January 2nd

St. Fulgentius was born of a noble family in Carthage. When he was very young, he was appointed an important officer of the Roman province of Carthage. Fulgentius was not satisfied, for his heart was full of spiritual desires. He decided to become a religious, and in the monastery he entered, he found great peace of mind and heart. Fulgentius was ordained a priest and later became a bishop.

He strongly corrected the heretics of his day with his books and letters. For this reason he was persecuted and exiled to distant lands.

After a life of loving service of God, Fulgentius fell very ill. He gave away all he had to the poor, forgave those who had persecuted him, and died a humble servant of Jesus.

Let us always study our lessons well so that we will know more about our faith, and be able to tell others about Jesus.

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - Sunday Occurring Between January 1 And 6 Otherwise On January 2 -

The Church reveals to us the wonders of the Incarnate Word by singing the glories of His name.

Among the Jews a child was named when he was circumcised, and for this reason the Church repeats to-day the Gospel appointed for the feast of the Circumcision giving particular emphasis to the final sentence: “His name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.” *The name of Jesus means Savoiur and “there is no other name under heaven,” says St. Peter, “given to men, whereby we must be saved” (Epistle). “In the name of Jesus,” says St. Bernard, “the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear.” This name of Jesus, “a remedy for our souls, sweet to the lips like honey, tuneful to the ear, gladness to the heart,” should be often on our lips here below if we desire to have the joy of seeing our names written in heaven under His glorious Name (Postcommunion).

The origin of this feast goes back to the sixteenth century when it was already celebrated by the Franciscan Order. In 1721 Innocent XIII extended its observance to the whole world. Bd. Pius X fixed it at the present date.

There is an indulgence of 300 days for the pious invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus or Mary; plenary once a month for daily recitation under the usual conditions; plenary also at the moment of death under the usual conditions, for the invocation with the lips, or at least in the heart, with an act of acceptance of death as a punishment for sin.

* The angel of the Lord being sent by God to Mary, told her: “Thou shalt bring forth a Son and thou shalt call His name Jesus.” (St. Luke, 1. 31). Again: “Behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in his sleep, saying: “Joseph, Mary thy wife shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call His name Jesus” (St. Matt. 1. 20-21).

The Infant Jesus of Prague

The Infant Jesus of Prague



O Infant Jesus,


Have Mercy on Us!


The More You Honor Me, The More I Will Bless You


Feast Day: Replaces the Feast of the Holy Name, Sunday occurring between January 1 and 6 otherwise on January 2


Devotion to The Infant Jesus of Prague


DEVOTION TO THE Infant Jesus of Prague is devotion to the Child Jesus. It is veneration of the Son of God, Who in the form of an infant chose a stable for a palace, a manger for a cradle and shepherds for worshippers. Our Savior grants special graces to all who venerate His Sacred Infancy. The image of the Child Jesus known as the “Infant Jesus of Prague” was in reality of Spanish origin. In the 17th century, this beautiful statue was brought to Bohemia by a Spanish princess whose mother had given it to her as a wedding gift. This noble lady, in turn, presented the image to her daughter. When the latter’s husband died in 1623, she resolved to spend the remainder of her days in works of piety and charity. She was particularly generous to the Carmelite priests and brothers of Prague who, after Emperor Ferdinand II, their founder, had removed his residence to Vienna, fell into such utter destitution that at times they had scarcely enough to eat. Accordingly, she presented her beloved statue to the religious with these prophetic words: “I hereby give you what I prize most highly in this world. As long as you venerate this image, you will not be in want.” Her prediction was verified. As long as the Divine Infant was venerated, God showed Himself as a kind helper through His Son, and the community prospered both spiritually and temporally. But when the devotion to the Infant was relaxed, God’s blessing seemed to depart from the house. For many years this statue has been enshrined on a side altar in the Church of Our Lady of Victory in the city of Prague. It is of wax and is about nineteen inches high. It is clothed in a royal mantle and has a beautiful jeweled crown on its head. Its right hand is raised in blessing; its left holds a globe, signifying sovereignty. So many graces have been received by those who invoke the Divine Child before the original statue that it has been called “The Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague.” We read the following in an old book printed in Kempt: “All who approach the miraculous statue and pray there with confidence receive assistance in danger, consolation in sorrows, aid in poverty, comfort in anxiety, light in spiritual darkness, streams of grace in dryness of soul, health in sickness and hope in despair.” In thanksgiving for the numerous graces and cures received, the miraculous statue at Prague was solemnly crowned on the Sunday after Easter, in 1665. What is said of the original statue may be applied also to images of the “Little King” which are venerated the world over. From small beginnings, this devotion has grown to great proportions. The Divine Child attracts an ever-increasing number of clients, who appeal to Him in every need.



POWERFUL NOVENA TO THE INFANT JESUS


For Cases of Urgent Need
(In cases of great urgency, a novena of nine hours may be made instead of nine days. The prayers should, if possible, be repeated at the same time every hour for nine consecutive hours.)


O JESUS, Who hast said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open unto you,” through the intercession of Mary, Thy most holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.
(Mention your request)


O JESUS, Who hast said, “All that you ask of the Father in My Name He will grant you,” through the intercession of Mary, Thy most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father in Thy Name that my prayer will be granted.
(Mention your request)


O JESUS, Who hast said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away,” through the intercession of Mary, Thy most holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
(Mention your request)


Prayer of Thanksgiving for Graces Received from the Infant Jesus


I prostrate myself before Thy holy image, O most gracious Infant Jesus, to offer Thee my most fervent thanks for the blessings Thou hast bestowed upon me. I shall incessantly praise Thine ineffable mercy and confess that Thou alone art my God, my helper and my protector. Henceforth my entire confidence shall be placed in Thee! Everywhere I shall proclaim aloud Thy mercy and generosity, so that Thy great love and the great deeds which Thou dost perform through this miraculous image may be acknowledged by all. May devotion to Thy holy infancy increase more and more in the hearts of all Christians, and may all who experience Thine assistance preserve with me in showing unceasing gratitude to Thy most holy infancy, to which be praise and glory forever. Amen.



You may also find the little novena above and a rosary novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague at: http://thesaintsprayers.blogspot.com/2007/10/devotion-to-infant-jesus-of-prague.html

The Circumcision of Our Lord

The Circumcision of Our Lord – January 1st

On the eight day after His birth, Jesus was brought to the temple by Mary and Joseph to be circumcised. Circumcision was a painful religious ceremony performed on Jewish boys eight days after they were born. On that day they also received their name, and they became members of God’s Chosen People. St. Luke tells us: “And after eight days were accomplished, that the Child should be circumcised, His name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel, before He was conceived in the womb.” The holy name of Jesus means “Savior,” and it is the sweetest and most powerful name.

Mary was not bound to bring Jesus to the temple, but out of her great love and respect for the Law of Moses, she did.

Jesus shed the first drops of His blood for our salvation in His circumcision. In His great love for us, He came on this earth to save us from our sins and show us the way to Heaven and happiness.

When we are told to do something hard today, let us think of how Jesus and Mary obeyed. Then we will do it well for love of Jesus, and it will bring us a great reward in Heaven.