12/20/2021 – St. Dominic of Silos
Our saint today, Dominic of Silos, was born in Spain around the year 1000 into a peasant family. As a young boy he spent time in the fields, where he welcomed the solitude. He became a Benedictine priest and served in numerous leadership positions. Following a dispute with the king over property, Dominic and two […]
12/19/2021 – Bl. Urban V
In 1362, the man elected pope declined the office. When the cardinals could not find another person among them for that important office, they turned to a relative stranger: the holy person we honor today. The new Pope Urban V proved a wise choice. A Benedictine monk and canon lawyer, he was deeply spiritual and […]
12/18/2021 – St. Flannan
St. Flannan 7th. cent. bishop. Son of an Irish chieftain, Turlough he made a pilgrimage to Rome where Pope John IV consecrated him. On his return he became first bishop of Killaloe and also preached in the Hebrides. His feast day is December 18th.
12/17/2021 – St. Olympias
Olympias born into a wealthy noble Constantinople family. She was orphaned when a child and was given over to the care of Theodosia by her uncle, the prefect Procopius. She married Nebridius, also a prefect, was widowed soon after, refused several offers of marriage, and had her fortune put in trust until she was thirty […]
12/16/2021 – St. Adelaide
Born c. 931 in Burgandy, St. Adelaide married, at 15 or 16, Lothair of Italy to whom her father had engaged her when she was two. When Lothair died three years later, his successor and usurper Berengar of Ivrea imprisoned Adelaide and attempted to force her to marry his son. Legends tell of Adelaide’s escape […]
12/15/2021 – St. Nino
Virgin and the Apostle of Georgia, also listed as Christiana. According to custom, she was born in Cappadocia and became a slave. Taken to Iberia, she won the respect of many locals with her patience and goodness and by the miracles she supposedly performed. Brought to the royal palace, she converted the king and queen […]
12/14/2021 – St. Spiridon
Born into a family of shepherds, Spiridon followed the family occupation like David the King and Prophet, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He married and had children, but his wife died early in their marriage. A single parent, Spiridon not only earned a living and raised his children, but also found the time […]
12/13/2021 – St. Lucy
Lucy’s history has been lost and all we really know for certain is that this brave woman who lived in Syracuse lost her life during the persecution of Christians in the early fourth century. Her veneration spread to Rome so that by the sixth century the whole Church recognized her courage in defense of the […]
12/12/2021 – St. Finnian
Irish abbot, a disciple of Sts. Colman and Mochae also called Winin. He was born in Strangford, Lough, Ulster, in Ireland, a member of a royal family. Studying under Sts. Colman and Mochae, he became a monk in Strathclyde and was ordained in Rome. Returning to Ulster, Finian founded several monasteries, becoming abbot of Moville, […]
12/11/2021 – Bl. Franco Grotti
Franco was born in the town of Grotti near Siena, Italy. He grew to be a lazy, nasty-tempered teenager who would not obey anyone. When his father died, Franco became worse than ever. He spent all his time and all his money in sinful acts and in gambling. Then he got into serious trouble, and […]