BIG C CATHOLICS

Optional Memorial - July 21st His name was Giulio Cesare Russo, and he was born at Brindisi in the kingdom of Naples in 1559. Educated in Venice at the College of St. Mark, he entered the Capuchins and took the name Lawrence. Finishing his studies at the University of Padua, he showed a flair for languages, mastering Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish, and French, and showed an extraordinary knowledge of the text of the Bible. He is the greatest linguist among the Doctors of the Church. While still a deacon, St. Lawrence of Brindisi became known as an excellent preacher and after his ordination startled the whole of northern Italy with his amazing sermons. Sent into Germany by the pope to establish Capuchin houses, he became chaplain to Emperor Rudolf II and had a remarkable influence on the Christian soldiers fighting the Muslims when they were threatening Hungary in 1601. Through his efforts, the Catholic League was formed to give solidarity to the Catholic cause in Eu

Memorial of St. Bonaventure - July 15th Legend has it that it was Saint Francis of Assisi who gave Saint Bonaventure his name, long before anyone else realized to what heights this young boy would ascend. As a child, Bonaventure — who was baptized John — became seriously ill. His mother, hoping that the saint would intercede with God on behalf of her son, brought him to St. Francis. Francis did pray for the boy and he was made well. The saint also foresaw a great future for the child. " O Buona ventura! " (O Good Fortune!) Francis was reported to have exclaimed, and the name stuck. Whether or not there is truth to this story is debatable; however, Bonaventure went on to live a life of compassion, holiness, and remarkable scholarship, leaving an indelible imprint on the Franciscan Order and the Universal Church. Born in the town of Bagnoregio, Italy, around the year 1217, the boy who would become the saint grew up in relative obscurity. Little is known of his early ye

June 28th, the Church observes the memorial of Saint Irenaeus, the 2nd century Father of the Church whose brilliant theology refuted heresy, affirmed the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and helped to establish the Scriptural canon. Born in Asia Minor around the year 130, he studied with the great saint, Polycarp of Smyrna, who was himself formed in the faith by the Apostle John. Thus, Irenaeus was steeped in both Scripture and the apostolic tradition, a background that prepared him thoroughly for the ministry he would eventually undertake. Irenaeus became a priest and later, bishop of the Church of Lyons, province of Gaul (present-day France) in 177, during the persecutions of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. His greatest struggle, however, would not be against Rome, but against the heresy known as Gnosticism, which denied Christ’s humanity and promoted instead "secret knowledge" as key to salvation. His five-volume work, Against Heresies , effectively ended the

Optional Memorial - June 27th It should be a great comfort to realize that even saints have to work diligently to achieve holiness. One of the great gifts they leave behind for us is their example of heroic virtue through which they became the person God meant them to be. Just as we often learn more from our mistakes than from our successes; we can profit as much by what a saint overcame as we can from what they achieved. Such was the case with Saint Cyril of Alexandria. We know very little about his early life. We are even unsure of whether he was born in 376 or 378, but we do know that by 403, at what was called the Council of the Oak, he was already having an impact on the life of the early Church. His initial actions do not appear to be particularly saint-like. The Council of the Oak was convened to depose Saint John Chrysostom, whose sermons had offended the Roman empress. Though he was brought back into favor for a short period of time, St. John Chrysostom was eventually

Mention the name “Saint Anthony” in a roomful of Catholics, and you are likely to be regaled with story after story of things, people and pets that have been found, often in what seem to be miraculous circumstances, through his intercession. And although this saint is the patron of lost items and a thaumaturgist, or miracle worker, many people may not realize that he is also a Doctor of the Church who had a burning desire to imitate Christ in all things and be martyred for the faith. St. Anthony of Padua was neither born in Padua nor with the name Anthony. He first saw the light of day in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195 and was baptized Ferdinand by his powerful and well-to-do parents, who were devout Catholics. At the age of 15, young Ferdinand joined the Augustinian Order, totally forsaking the wealth and power that could have been his by reason of his family’s standing in society. But he did not remain with that order. In 1220, the mutilated corpses of the five Franciscan protomarty

Although Saint Ephrem (or Ephraim) lived in the 4th century, there is much about him and his life that strikes a contemporary note. Born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia (present day Syria) around the year 306, he is the only Syrian recognized as a Doctor of the Church. His background, which was Asian/ African rather than Greek, afforded him a different worldview than many of his contemporaries, one of whom was St. Athanasius. His theology and insights into the faith were just as profound, but his unique outlook was often expressed in poetry, rather than the “systematic” form that was prevalent in the writings of other theologians. St. Ephrem, like many who have lived in that part of the world, saw troubled times. In his late fifties, he became a refugee when his native city was conquered and subsequently ceded to the Persians in 363. Under threat of persecution Christians, including Ephrem, fled the area en masse . By the year 364, St. Ephrem resided in Edessa, where he lived his final ye

There is very little that we know about this medieval scholar and saint. What information we have comes from the very end of the work for which he is best known, the Ecclesiastical History of the English People.  In its closing paragraphs he notes that, at the age of seven, his family gave him into the care of the Benedictine monastery at Jarrow, England, where he remained for virtually the rest of his life. There, with “great delight,” he lived the life of one of the most extraordinary and devout scholars of his day. Though the study of Scripture was his priority, he also chronicled a history of Christianity in England from its beginnings until his own time.  Not only is his history an important ecclesiastical work, it is also highly prized by prized by scholars of many disciplines, as it is the foundation for much of our knowledge of that period of English history. Bede was also quite well versed in all the sciences of his day, including what was then referred to as natural ph

May 2nd, is the memorial of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296 – 373), the 4th century bishop, theologian, and Doctor of the Church who as a revered pillar of the Faith championed orthodoxy and the divinity of Christ against the heretical Arius (hence his title "Arius' ablest enemy"). He is a venerated Church Father. Most Catholics today have little idea what the term “Arianism” means. In the 4th century, however, it was the most pernicious heresy ever to be promulgated, and it threatened to destroy the Church's most essential beliefs about Jesus Christ. Arius, for whom the heresy is named, was a priest in Alexandria, Egypt, in the late 3rd century. He believed that, although Jesus was Lord and Savior, he was not equal to God the Father, but was merely the highest of all God’s creatures. In short, Arius denied the divinity of Christ. His teaching had divided the Church. Enter St. Athanasius. He too, was from Alexandria, having become Patriarch Archbishop

April 29th, is the memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena (1347 – 1380), the 14th century virgin, visionary and Doctor of the Church. Catherine di Benincasa was born the twenty-fifth child of Giacomo and Lapa di Benincasa in Siena, Italy. At the age of 6, she began to experience mystical visions including seeing angels. She consecrated her virginity to Christ when she was just 7 years old. Catherine defied her family’s plans to give her away in marriage by cutting her hair short and repulsing her future husband. Catherine's mother would eventually relent. With her family’s blessing, she became a Dominican tertiary at 16, where her visions of Christ, Our Lady and the saints continued. Two years later, she would join the Dominican third order, spending her days in seclusion and prayer. By the time Catherine was 23, Christ answered her prayer to take her heart and give her His own. The Lord Jesus appeared to her holding in his hands a human heart, bright red and shining. He opened

April 21st, is the optional memorial of Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)., also known as Anselm of Aosta and Anselm of Bec, the 11th century Benedictine abbot, archbishop, theologian and philosopher. He was born in the Italian town of Aosta, the eldest child of a noble family. His mother gave him a careful academic and Christian education. At 15, he sought entry to a monastery, but was refused over his father’s objections. Later, Anselm experienced a period of rebellion and excess, during which he abandoned his studies. He travelled to France in search of greater purpose and eventually reached the Abbey of Bec, drawn by the fame of its prior, Lanfranco of Pavia. There, at the age of 27, he entered monastic life. In time, Anselm’s fellow monks would name him Lanfranco’s successor as abbot. Anselm successfully made the Benedictine monastery of Bec the center of a true reformation in Normandy and England. From this position, he wisely exercised a restraining influence on popes,

Though it might seem strange to reach back to the late seventh and early eighth centuries for a patron saint of something as modern as computers and the Internet, one of the names suggested for just such patronage is Saint Isidore of Seville. Born in Spain around the year 560, St. Isidore amassed in his lifetime such a treasure trove of knowledge that he is referred to as “The Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages.”  For anyone who relies on a computer search engine to access information, the thought that so much learning could be contained in one man’s mind, all of which he recalled without the aid of Google, is impressive indeed. That doesn’t mean that Isidore came by this erudition easily. His schooling, at the hands of his (much) older brother Leander, was, at least by today’s standards, imparted in a very harsh way. Leander, although he would himself also become a saint, believed that force and punishment were the proper pedagogical tools to be used on Isidore, and his methods ofte

March 18th, is the optional memorial of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, the 4th century bishop, confessor, exegete and Doctor of the Church who composed the simple, yet, profoundly beautiful Catechetical Instructions , that defended the Church’s dogmas. Bishop of Jerusalem for thirty-seven years, Cyril, spent sixteen of those years banished from his own diocese. This was a result of the raging controversy surrounding the Arian heresy which denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. Like other bishops of his time accused of infidelity, Cyril endured the hardships of exile. He was eventually exonerated and his good standing restored. He participated in the Second General Council at Constantinople, and died in peace in the year 386 AD. Cyril was born in the city of Jerusalem, about the year 315. He immersed himself in the study of Sacred Scriptures from childhood, and achieved such insight that he would became a prominent champion of orthodoxy. He embraced the monastic institute and made a vow o

January 24th, is the memorial of Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), the 17th century French bishop and Doctor of the Church, whose desire to save souls resulted in the conversion of some 70,000 Calvinists in the region of Chablais (an area comprising parts of present day France and Switzerland). His gentleness of spirit, pastoral zeal and compassion made him a powerful teacher of the Faith. His most famous works Treatise on the Love of God and Introduction to the Devout Life , show holiness is possible for everyone, regardless of station. Born into a noble family of means, Francis studied law in Padua, Italy. Although once cantankerous and choleric in his demeanor, during this period, he became enamored with living in imitation of Christ. Taking a vow of perpetual chastity, he placed himself under Mary’s protection. His devotion to God, while unshakable, put him at odds with his family. Francis’ father expected him to lead the life of a respectable gentleman befitting his class.

January 13th, is the optional memorial of Saint Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310 – 367), the 4th century philosopher, bishop and Doctor of the Church, whose staunch defense of orthodox Trinitarian theology protected the deposit of faith against heretical attacks in a period of discord. His spiritual formation and extensive education included the classic literature of Latin and Greek as well as Sacred Scripture. Much of St. Hilary's life before his episcopacy is a mystery. What is known comes almost entirely from details contained in his theological writings. He was born in present-day France to a pagan family, three years before the Roman Empire ceased its persecution of Christians and officially recognized Christianity. Although he came of age without any significant Christian influence, his comprehensive study of Greek philosophy and the Bible enabled him to acknowledge the truths of the Faith. This acceptance occurred gradually. At age 35, Hilary was baptized together with his da

December 21st, is the optional memorial of Saint Peter Canisius (1521-1597) the 16th century Dutch Jesuit priest and Doctor of the Church, who played a major role in the Council of Trent and the Counter Reformation. His extensive writing in theology and powerful preaching in defense of orthodoxy won him great renown, and the Church innumerable souls. He wrote three definitive Catechisms in the span of four years explicating the Faith. These were tremendously influential, especially to those in Austria, Bavaria, and Bohemia where Catholicism was most under siege. Although claimed by both the Dutch and German Churches, Canisius is designated the second Apostle of Germany (after Saint Boniface of Mainz). He was born in Wijmegen, Holland, to Jacob Canisius and mother Egidia van Houweningen, who died soon after Peter's birth. His father was Burgomaster of the town. While a student at the University of Cologne studying the arts, civil law and theology, he regularly visited the Carth

December 7th, is the memorial of Saint Ambrose, (c. 338 - 397) the 4th-century bishop and theologian, one of the four original doctors of the Church, famous for baptizing Saint Augustine. Originally a lawyer and provincial governor, Ambrose was named bishop of Milan by popular acclamation while still an unbaptized catechumen. He wrote extensively on Sacred Scripture and the Fathers, defended the rights of the Church against secular encroachment and opposed heretics. He composed numerous sermons, letters and hymns, (most notably the Te Deum ) promoted sacred chant, and took interest in the Liturgy. He introduced into the West the practice of Lectio Divina . St. Augustine called him, "a faithful teacher of the Church, and even at the risk of his life a most strenuous defender of Catholic truth." Through his efforts, Ambrose secured the rights of Christians to worship. Ambrose was born to a wealthy Christian family (his father was the Pretorian Prefect of Gaul) in what is n

November 10th, is the memorial of Saint Leo the Great, aka Pope St. Leo I, (c. 400 – 461) the 5th century pontiff and Doctor of the Church. He is regarded as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church and was a tireless defender of doctrinal orthodoxy. He fought against the heresies of Arianism, Pelagianism, Manichaeism, Priscillianism, Nestorianism and Eutychism. St. Leo’s eloquent homilies (96 of his homilies and 143 of his letters are extant) on Christ’s incarnation, the unity of the Church and the primacy of the papacy as the Vicar of Christ on earth, are a treasure from the Patristic Age. Little is known about his formative years. Born at the end of the fourth century, the Liber Pontificalis states that he was "of Tuscan nationality from his father Quintian." Since he spent his early years in Rome, St. Leo considered the Eternal City his homeland. As a young man, he joined the Roman clergy and was ordained a deacon. In this capacity, he served Pope S

October 15th, is the memorial of Saint Teresa of Ávila, (1515-1582) also called St. Teresa of Jesus, celebrating the heroic virtue of the 16th century Spanish mystic, foundress, and Doctor of the Church. Baptized Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, she was born into a wealthy family at Ávila, Spain, the third of nine children. In her youth she was described as beautiful, precocious and marked by a spiritual acuity beyond her years. Of her initial formation and temperament, she observed: "The possession of virtuous parents who lived in the fear of God, together with those favors which I received from his Divine Majesty, might have made me good, if I had not been so very wicked." Teresa was 14 when her mother died. Overcome with grief, she asked the Virgin Mary to be her spiritual mother. Despite her pious upbringing and Godly inclination; Teresa’s interest was briefly given to superficial pursuits. Enamored with tales of chivalry, the future saint deigned to write the same

You ask me a method of attaining perfection. I know of love — and only love. Love can do all things. — St Thérèse of Lisieux October 1st, is the feast day of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, more popularly known as St Thérèse of Lisieux, "the Little Flower." Although just an obscure cloistered Carmelite nun, she has achieved universal appeal since her death in 1897. This beloved saint is the patron of foreign missions, missionaries, against tuberculosis, AIDS sufferers, illness and loss of parents. Her perfect trust in God, deep faith and patient suffering is an example for us to follow. Saint Pius X called St. Thérèse the "greatest saint of modern times." Marie Thérèse Martin was born at Alençon, France on January 2, 1873, the youngest of five daughters. Her father, Louis Martin, was a watchmaker, and her mother, Zélie Martin, who died of breast cancer when Thérèse was four, was a lace maker. (On October 18, 2015, Pope Francis canonized

Saint Jerome and the Angel , Simon Vouet, c. 1622/1625. Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. — St. Jerome September 30th, is the feast day of Saint Jerome, one of the four original doctors of the Latin Church, who is best known for translating the Bible from Greek (the Septuagint) into Latin (the Vulgate). He is widely regarded as the most learned of the Latin Fathers. A remarkable scholar and a sometimes prickly man, St. Jerome nevertheless believed deeply in the mercy of Christ. ____________________________________ One of the greatest Biblical scholars of Christendom, Saint Jerome was born of Christian parents at Stridon in Dalmatia around the year 345. Educated at the local school, he then studied rhetoric in Rome for eight years, before returning to Aquilea to set up a community of ascetics. When that community broke up after three years Jerome went to the east. He met an old hermit named Malchus, who inspired the saint to live in a bare cell, dressed in sack