Sensational Saints

If family history had a favorite holiday, it would have to be All Souls’ Day, the thousand-year-old observance that falls every year on November 2, immediately after All Saints’ Day, which is on November 1. Like All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day is for remembering people who have died. But while All Saints’ Day is focused on Christian martyrs and saints, All Souls’ Day is all about the members of your own family and family tree. It’s a day for being with family, visiting cemeteries, sharing memories of loved ones, and honoring traditions.

The fourth instalment in our series. St Gerard Majella is the patron of Majellan Media. We derive our name from him.  For each one of us his life is a sharp reminder that we all possess great talents and nobody is useless.

He was once labelled as ‘useless’ and was always in poor health. However, St Gerard had two great talents: He had tremendous love for God which he expressed in long hours of prayer and he had an enormously generous heart.

In his six short years as a Redemptorist Brother these gifts flourished amazingly to bring miracles of peace and healing to many.  We encourage you to read his life story in this 4 part series.

The third instalment in our series. St Gerard Majella is the patron of Majellan Media. We derive our name from him.  For each one of us his life is a sharp reminder that we all possess great talents and nobody is useless.

He was once labelled as ‘useless’ and was always in poor health. However, St Gerard had two great talents: He had tremendous love for God which he expressed in long hours of prayer and he had an enormously generous heart.

In his six short years as a Redemptorist Brother these gifts flourished amazingly to bring miracles of peace and healing to many.  We encourage you to read his life story in this 4 part series.

The Second instalment in our series. St Gerard Majella is the patron of Majellan Media. We derive our name from him.  For each one of us his life is a sharp reminder that we all possess great talents and nobody is useless. 

He was once labelled as ‘useless’ and was always in poor health. However, St Gerard had two great talents: He had tremendous love for God which he expressed in long hours of prayer and he had an enormously generous heart.

In his six short years as a Redemptorist Brother these gifts flourished amazingly to bring miracles of peace and healing to many.  We encourage you to read his life story in this 4 part series.

St Gerard Majella is the patron of Majellan Media. We derive our name from him.  For each one of us his life is a sharp reminder that we all possess great talents and nobody is useless. 

He was once labelled as ‘useless’ and was always in poor health. However, St Gerard had two great talents: He had tremendous love for God which he expressed in long hours of prayer and he had an enormously generous heart.

In his six short years as a Redemptorist Brother these gifts flourished amazingly to bring miracles of peace and healing to many.  We encourage you to read his life story in this 4 part series.

The Church commemorates the martyred saints Cornelius (c. 180-253) and Cyprian (210-258) on the same day, as their lives were intertwined during a critical period for Christianity: at the time of the persecutions of Decius, Cyprian and pope Cornelius were in favour of readmitting to communion the lapsi, those who had denied Christ in order to escape persecution.

It was on September 10, 1946 during a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling for her annual retreat, that Mother Teresa received her “inspiration, her call within a call.” On that day, in a way she would never explain, Jesus’ thirst for love and for souls took hold of her heart and the desire to satiate His thirst became the driving force of her life.

By means of interior locutions and visions, Jesus revealed to her the desire of His heart for “victims of love” who would “radiate His love on souls.” “Come be My light,” He begged her. “I cannot go alone.”

Jesus revealed His pain at the neglect of the poor, His sorrow at their ignorance of Him and His longing for their love. He asked Mother Teresa to establish a religious community, Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor.

Her feast day has also been declared the International Day of Charity by the United Nations.

Augustine is remarkable for what he did and extraordinary for what he wrote. If none of his written works had survived, he would still have been a figure to be reckoned with. However, more than five million words of his writings survive, virtually all displaying the strength and sharpness of his mind (and some limitations of range and learning) and some possessing the rare power to attract and hold the attention of readers in both his day and ours.

Pius X advocated for frequent and, even daily reception of the Eucharist. He promoted the reading of the Bible among laypeople, reformed the liturgy, promoted clear and simple homilies, and brought back Gregorian chant. He revised the Breviary, reorganized the curia, and initiated the codification of canon law.

He died in 1914 of natural causes reportedly aggravated by worries over the beginning of World War I.

The 41 years of Clare’s religious life are scenarios of sanctity: an indomitable resolve to lead the simple, literal gospel life as Francis taught her; courageous resistance to the ever-present pressure to dilute the ideal; a passion for poverty and humility; an ardent life of prayer; and a generous concern for her sisters.