Just before Martin was born, Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire and the bloody persecution of Christians soon came to an end. The Gospel message soon flourished in ancient Rome, transforming the empire. Martin’s parents were pagans, but he responded to the call of the Gospel and became a...
It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead,that they may be loosed from sins.”–2 Machabees 12:46 Invocation for the Holy Souls Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. The Holy Souls are...
St. Martin de Porres was a freed slave from Panama. His father abandoned his family, and they grew up in deep poverty. After spending just two years in primary school, Martin was placed with a barber/surgeon where he would learn to cut hair and the medical arts. As Martin grew...
St. Ignatius is one of the earliest Christian Martyrs. He was arrested in Antioch and, for unknown reasons, and was transported across half of the empire to Rome for punishment. Some suffering souls have experienced the passion of Christ in the very same manner that Christ did. Stigmatists have had...
Pope Callistus 1 is celebrated as a Saint and Martyr on the 14th of October. He chose to emphasize God’s mercy in his ministry. Under inauspicious circumstances, he became a slave to the city where he believed that even the most serious sins could be absolved after sincere Confession. He met with great...