Feast Day: 30 August St Margaret Clitherow was born in York, the youngest of four children of Thomas Middleton (d.1567), wax chandler and freeman of York, and his wife, Jane (c.1515-85), daughter of Richard Turner, innkeeper. She was almost certainly baptised at the church of St Martin, Coney Street where her father was churchwarden between
Feast Day: 27 August If you’ve ever prayed really hard for a miracle and felt discouraged by the response (or lack of) that you received from your pleas, take your cue from St Monica. She is an inspirational woman who showed us that through love and prayers we can move mountains, or in her case,
Feast Day: 24 August In the New Testament, Bartholomew is mentioned only in the lists of the apostles. Some scholars identify him with Nathanael, a man of Cana in Galilee who was summoned to Jesus by Philip. Jesus paid him a great compliment: “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him” (John
Feast Day: 25 August St Joseph Calasanz was born into a noble Spanish family in 1557. At the age of fourteen he decided to become a priest, but his parents refused to support his vocation. In the meantime he studied philosophy and law, graduating with his doctorate. Following the death of his mother and brother,
Feast Day: 23 August St Rose of Lima is the patron of Peru, South America, and the Philippines. Her name was Isabel de Flores. She was born in Lima, Peru on 20 April 20 1586. Her father was a Puerto Rican, who had come to Peru in 1548 with the Spanish conquistadors. She received the
Feast Day: 21 August Pope Pius X is perhaps best remembered for his encouragement of the frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially by children. The second of 10 children in a poor Italian family, Joseph Sarto became Pius X at age 68. He was one of the 20th century’s greatest popes. Ever mindful of his
Feast Day: 20 August Western Europe’s “man of the twelfth century,” without doubt or controversy, had to be Bernard of Clairvaux. Adviser of popes, preacher of the Second Crusade, defender of the faith, healer of a schism, reformer of a monastic Order, Scripture scholar, theologian, and eloquent preacher: any one of these titles would distinguish
Feast Day: 19 August Ezekiel (1848-1906) was an Augustinian Recollect known for his simple and open spirit. He was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He ministered for many years in foreign lands. He stongly defended the rights of the Church. He was born in Alfaro, Logrono, Spain, April 9, 1848. His family
Feast Day: 2 January Basil was on his way to becoming a famous teacher when he decided to begin a religious life of gospel poverty. After studying various modes of religious life, he founded what was probably the first monastery in Asia Minor. He is to monks of the East what Saint Benedict is to
Feast Day: 4 September St Cuthbert lived from 634 to 20 March 687. He was a monk, bishop and hermit, and a man who is closely associated with the monasteries at what is now Old Melrose and on Lindisfarne. After his death he became one of the most important medieval saints of northern England, and
