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Franciscan Media Image: Statue of Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza | Monastery of Saint Bartholomew-Saint Anthony, Vicenza, Italy | photo by Claudio Gioseffi Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza Saint of the Day for October 27 (c. 1200 – 1271)  Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza’s Story Dominicans honor one of their own today, Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza. This was a man who used his skills as a preacher to challenge the heresies of his day.Bartholomew was born in Vicenza around 1200. At 20, he entered the Dominicans. Following his ordination, he served in various leadership positions. As a young priest, he founded a...

Franciscan Media Image: Saint Peter of Alcántara | Luis Tristán Saint Peter of Alcantara Saint of the Day for October 26 (1499 – October 18, 1562)  Saint Peter of Alcantara’s Story Peter was a contemporary of well-known 16th-century Spanish saints, including Ignatius of Loyola and John of the Cross. He served as confessor to Saint Teresa of Avila. Church reform was a major issue in Peter’s day, and he directed most of his energies toward that end. His death came one year before the Council of Trent ended.Born into a noble family—his father was the governor of Alcantara in...

Franciscan Media Image: Statue of Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão | Cathedral of Saint Anthony, Guaratinguetá | photo by Zééh.mané Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão Saint of the Day for October 25 (1739 – December 23, 1822)  Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão’s Story God’s plan in a person’s life often takes unexpected turns which become life-giving through cooperation with God’s grace.Born in Guarantingueta near São Paulo, Antônio attended the Jesuit seminary in Belem, but later decided to become a Franciscan friar. Invested in 1760, he made final profession the following year and was ordained in 1762.In São Paulo, he...

Franciscan Media Image: Saint Anthony Mary Claret | Saints in Rome and Beyond Saint Anthony Mary Claret Saint of the Day for October 24 (December 23, 1807 – October 24, 1870)  Saint Anthony Mary Claret’s Story The “spiritual father of Cuba” was a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop, and refugee. He was a Spaniard whose work took him to the Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris, and to the First Vatican Council.In his spare time as weaver and designer in the textile mills of Barcelona, Anthony learned Latin and printing: The future priest and...

October 24, 2018 Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Eph 3:2-12 Brothers and sisters:You have heard of the stewardship of God’s gracethat was given to me for your benefit,namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,as I have written briefly earlier.When you read thisyou can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,which was not made known to human beings in other generationsas it has now been revealedto his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint John Capistrano | Stained glass window in the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC. | photo by Lawrence OP Saint John of Capistrano Saint of the Day for October 23 (June 24, 1386 – October 23, 1456)  Saint John of Capistrano’s Story It has been said the Christian saints are the world’s greatest optimists. Not blind to the existence and consequences of evil, they base their confidence on the power of Christ’s redemption. The power of conversion through Christ extends not only to sinful people but also to calamitous events.Imagine being born in the...

October 23, 2018 Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Eph 2:12-22 Brothers and sisters:You were at that time without Christ,alienated from the community of Israeland strangers to the covenants of promise,without hope and without God in the world.But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far offhave become near by the Blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he made both oneand broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,thus...

Franciscan Media Image: Pope John Paul II | old Yankee Stadium, New York City, in October 1979 | Library of Congress Saint John Paul II Saint of the Day for October 22 (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) Saint John Paul II’s Story “Open wide the doors to Christ,” urged John Paul II during the homily at the Mass where he was installed as pope in 1978.Born in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Jozef Wojtyla had lost his mother, father, and older brother before his 21st birthday. Karol’s promising academic career at Krakow’s Jagiellonian University was cut short by the...

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò In thin-skinned times such as these, Archbishop Viganò’s most recent letter shines forth as a clarion call to Catholics everywhere. As I finished reading Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s third letter, I had an immediate sense that I had just read something destined to be one of the great pastoral and literary moments of the Church’s history. There was an air of greatness about it that I cannot fully describe. I was stunned at its soteriological quality — at its stirring and yet stark reminder of our own judgment day. In effect he reminded us that...

October 22, 2018 Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Eph 2:1-10 Brothers and sisters:You were dead in your transgressions and sinsin which you once lived following the age of this world,following the ruler of the power of the air,the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient.All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh,following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses,and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest.But God, who is rich in mercy,because of the great love he had for us,even when we were...

Post by Franciscan Media Image: Saint-Hilarion Church, Church place in Saint-Hilarion, France | photo by Lionel Allorge Saint Hilarion Saint of the Day for October 21 (c. 291 – 371)  Saint Hilarion’s Story Despite his best efforts to live in prayer and solitude, today’s saint found it difficult to achieve his deepest desire. People were naturally drawn to Hilarion as a source of spiritual wisdom and peace. He had reached such fame by the time of his death that his body had to be secretly removed so that a shrine would not be built in his honor. Instead, he was...

Franciscan Media Image: Saint Paul of the Cross | Engraving | Wellcome Images Saint Paul of the Cross Saint of the Day for October 20 (January 3, 1694 – October 18, 1775)  Saint Paul of the Cross’ Story Born in northern Italy in 1694, Paul Daneo lived at a time when many regarded Jesus as a great moral teacher but no more. After a brief time as a soldier, he turned to solitary prayer, developing a devotion to Christ’s passion. Paul saw in the Lord’s passion a demonstration of God’s love for all people. In turn that devotion nurtured...

October 20, 2018 Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Eph 1:15-23 Brothers and sisters:Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesusand of your love for all the holy ones,I do not cease giving thanks for you,remembering you in my prayers,that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelationresulting in knowledge of him.May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,what are the riches of gloryin his inheritance among the holy ones,and what is...

Franciscan Media Image: Martyrdom of Father Isaac Jogues S.J. | Engraving by A. Malaer | Wellcome Images Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions Saint of the Day for October 19 (d. 1642 – 1649)  Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions’ Story Isaac Jogues and his companions were the first martyrs of the North American continent officially recognized by the Church. As a young Jesuit, Isaac Jogues, a man of learning and culture, taught literature in France. He gave up that career to work among the Huron Indians in the New World, and in 1636, he...

October 19, 2018 Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs Reading 1 Eph 1:11-14 Brothers and sisters:In Christ we were also chosen,destined in accord with the purpose of the Onewho accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,we who first hoped in Christ.In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,which is the first installment of our inheritancetoward redemption as God's possession, to the...

Franciscan Media Image: The Apostle Luke | Andrey Mironov Saint Luke Saint of the Day for October 18 (d. c. 84)  Saint Luke’s Story Luke wrote one of the major portions of the New Testament, a two-volume work comprising the third Gospel and Acts of the Apostles. In the two books he shows the parallel between the life of Christ and that of the Church. He is the only Gentile Christian among the Gospel writers. Tradition holds him to be a native of Antioch, and Paul calls him “our beloved physician.” His Gospel was probably written between 70 and...

October 18, 2018 Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist Reading 1 2 Tm 4:10-17b Beloved:Demas, enamored of the present world,deserted me and went to Thessalonica,Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.Luke is the only one with me.Get Mark and bring him with you,for he is helpful to me in the ministry.I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas,the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm;the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.You too be on guard against him,for he has strongly...

Franciscan Media Image: Detail | Saint Ignatius with Madonna and Child | Lorenzo Lotto Saint Ignatius of Antioch Saint of the Day for October 17 (d. c. 107)  Saint Ignatius of Antioch’s Story Born in Syria, Ignatius converted to Christianity and eventually became bishop of Antioch. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians there to choose between death and apostasy. Ignatius would not deny Christ and thus was condemned to be put to death in Rome.Ignatius is well known for the seven letters he wrote on the long journey from Antioch to Rome. Five...

October 17, 2018 Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr Reading 1 Gal 5:18-25 Brothers and sisters:If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.Now the works of the flesh are obvious:immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.I warn you, as I warned you before,that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, generosity,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.Against such there is no law.Now those who belong...

Franciscan Media Image: Stained glass, depiction Christ appearing to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and showing her His Sacred Heart | St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Vincennes, IN Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Saint of the Day for October 16 (July 22, 1647 – October 17, 1690)  Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s Story Margaret Mary was chosen by Christ to arouse the Church to a realization of the love of God symbolized by the heart of Jesus.Her early years were marked by sickness and a painful home situation. “The heaviest of my crosses was that I could do nothing to lighten the cross...