Mary's Catholics

cc photo by Michael 1952 on flickr Name: Raymond Kolbe Birthday: January 8, 1894 Birthplace: Zdunska, Wola, Poland Parents: Julius Kolbe and Maria Dabrowska Siblings: Francis, Joseph, Walenty and Andrew Feast day: August 14  - Kolbe was baptized Raymond on the day of his birth at the church of The Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Later, his family moved to Pabianice, Poland. He was the second child of five children two of whom died at an early age. - Raymond was a mischievous child. At the age of ten, his mother who was irked by one of his pranks, asked him   "Little Raymond, whatever is going to become of you?"  That question left a mark on young Raymond's mind. Later on, Raymond prayed in front of the image (a painting) of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Matthew's church at Pabianice. The Virgin Mary emerged from her painting holding two crowns, one was white, the crown of purity and the other one was red, the crown of martyrdom and presented to them...

Last Sunday, October 21, 2012 was the canonization of seven new saints at the Vatican by Pope Benedict XVI. Here are the seven new saints: 1.  Jacques Berthieu (November 1838 - June 1896) - Jesuit priest and missionary from Cantal, France who was killed in Madagascar for refusing to renounce his faith rather than accepting an offer from a village chieftain.  Beatified on October 17, 1965 by Pope Paul VI. 2.  Pedro Calungsod (c. 1654 - April 2, 1672) - Teenage sacristan and catechist from the Visayas region in the Philippines who went with the Jesuit missionaries to Guam and helped priests in converting the natives.  He was speared by a village chieftain.  Beatified on March 5, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. 3.  Giovanni Battista Piamarta (November 1841 - April 1913) - Italian priest, educator and founder of the "Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth".   Beatified on October 12, 1997 by Pope John Paul II. 4.  Carmen Salles y ...

October 21, 2012 is a very significant day for Filipino Catholics around the world.  Today is the canonization of the second Filipino saint, Blessed Pedro Calungsod who from now on will be known as St. Pedro Calungsod. But who is St. Pedro Calungsod? Name:  Pedro Calungsod (Calonsor in Spanish records) Date of Birth:  c. 1654 Birthplace:  Visayas region in the Philippines Died:  April 2, 1672 Feast Day:  April 2 Stained glass image at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Cebu City, Philippines Pedro Calungsod was a teenage Filipino sacristan and missionary catechist who died a martyr's death in Guam in 1672.  His place of origin could not be ascertained since there was no record that could point to his exact birthplace. In historical records, he was merely known as "Bisaya" or in English, "Visayan". The Visayans are a Filipino ethnic group living in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines.  Some of...

Name:  Marie Francoise Therese Martin Birthdate:  January 2, 1873 Birthplace:  Alencon, France Parents:  Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin Siblings:  Marie, Pauline, Leonie and Celine The Martin couple had nine children but four of them died (three infants and a five year old) of Enteritis.  All of the five surviving daughters became nuns including Therese. Therese was baptized on January 4, 1873. On August 28, 1877, Therese's mother Zelie died of breast cancer at the age of forty-five.  Therese was only four years old.  Three months later, her Father moved the family to Lisieux. Towards the end of 1879, Therese had her first confession. Therese became sick and on May 13, 1883, she reported that she saw the Blessed Virgin Mary smiled at her.  She was then healed of her sickness. On May 8, 1884, Therese received her first Holy Communion. On December 25, 1886, Therese experienced a conversion that changed her life. On Novemb...

cc photo from Wikimedia Commons Date of Birth:  November 13, 354 Birthplace:  Thagaste, Numidia (now Souk Ahras, Algeria) Parents:  Patricius, a pagan and St. Monica, a Christian Died:  August 28, 430  Feast Day:  August 28 One of the most celebrated sinners turned saint in the Catholic Church is St. Augustine, who's also known as the "son of so many tears." St. Augustine had lived an immoral life.  In the year 373, he left the Christian church and joined the Manichaean religion, much to the sorrow of his mother St. Monica who influenced him to Christianity at an early age.  He had a son born out of wedlock from a woman with whom he had an affair for many years.  But in the year 386, he was converted to Christianity and decided to serve God through priesthood. In 387, Easter Vigil, he was baptized by St. Ambrose at Milan along with his son Adeodatus. He was ordained priest in 391 and in 395, he was made Bishop of Hipp...

Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus from Joseph and refers to him as the husband of Mary.  But he does not allow us to have misconceptions about Christ's birth by immediately narrating the unusual manner in which Christ was born. Mary, being espoused or betrothed to Joseph was living in the bridegroom's house for her protection.  It was the practice of the ancients.  The practice being such, Joseph was going to be very certain that nothing amiss could take place. We, too, must live our lives in such a way so no one can attribute wrongdoing to us. Finding Mary with child, he who should be jealous and suspicious, he who should degrade her, in fact cherished her. So convinced was he that what was done was done by God. Though how it was done exactly, he was not sure until confirmed, not explained, by the angel. So instead of setting her aside, he kept her with him after he was assured and he ministered to her.  St. Joseph said to himself, this was done by ...

Today, January 31st is the feast of St. John Bosco A Summary of St. John Bosco's Life cc photo by IMA Neuquen on flickr - St. John Bosco or more popularly known as Don Bosco ("Don" an Italian term of respect for priests) was born Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco on August 16, 1815 at Becchi, Castelnuovo, Italy.   - He was the youngest of three children of Francis Louis Bosco who died in 1817 and Margaret Occhiena. - He had his first communion in 1826, and had his Elementary studies in Castelnuovo in 1830. - He entered the Seminary of Chieri in 1835 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1841 in Turin.  In December of that same year, he began his work for the young when he met a 16-year old orphan, Bartholomew Garelli. - He instituted the Salesian Order on December 18, 1859 with 18 members. - He built a church in honor of Mary Help of Christians which is now the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin.  It was consecrated on Jun...