Birthday of St. John the Baptist

On June 24, we celebrate the birthday of the cousin and precursor of Jesus Christ, St John the Baptist. Today we examine why June 24. The most simplistic reason is that it is 6 months before the birth of Christ. If you will remember, on March 25, the Annunciation, the...

POPE JOHN VIII, FIRST ASSASSINATED POPE

Pope John was a native of Rome, born in the first quarter of the 9th century, some say in 816. His father was known as Gundus. As a young man, John witnessed the sack of Rome by the Saracens. During that battle, the enemy partly destroyed Old St. Peter’s Basilica...

ST. ANTHONY of PADUA

JUNE 13 is the traditional memorial of ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA (+1231). St. Anthony was the first teacher of the Franciscan Order, a fascinating preacher, a priest, and a declared Doctor of the Church. St. Anthony was born in 1195, in Lisbon, Portugal. His parents were...

ST. BARNABAS

JUNE 11 is the traditional memorial of ST. BARNABAS (1st CENTURY), one of the very early Christian Jews. Barnabas’ real name was either Joseph, or Joses, the Greek form. He was a Hellenic Jew, born on Cyprus. He was a Levite, therefore trained to be a teacher of the...

POPE ADRIAN II, WIDOWER

Adrian was a member of the Roman nobility as a youth. This is a frequently noted trait in the early Church. He was born about 792 in Rome. As a young man, he married Stephania and they had a daughter before he was ever ordained, which was still acceptable at the time....