POPE JOHN XVII: THE 140TH POPE

by | Jul 20, 2021 | Uncategorized

The years 1002 and 1003 were very difficult for the papacy. In the previous year, the Roman nobles, under the leadership of the son of the slain Crescentius II, John Crescentius, had begun a revolt. It was a serious enough threat to the papacy that the young emperor,...

POPE SYLVESTER II: THE FIRST FRENCH POPE

by | Jul 10, 2021 | Popes

You may recognize Sylvester II under his given name, Gerbert of Auxillac, the phenomenal scholar of the early Middle Ages. Gerbert was born around 946 in Bellise, south central France. At around 17 years of age, he entered the Monastery of St. Gerald of Auxillac to...

ST. ELIZABETH, QUEEN AND WIDOW

by | Jul 8, 2021 | Uncategorized

Can sanctity run in family genes? This story is about St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal. She was the daughter of King Peter of Aragon, who was the son of Yolanda of Hungary, the half-sister of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. There was no social relationship between the two...

Saints Cyril and Methodius

by | Jul 6, 2021 | Saints

ST. CYRIL AND METHODIUS Two brothers, named Michael and Constantine, became the famous saints, Methodius and Cyril, “Apostles to the Slavs”. Michael was born around 815AD and his younger brother, about 826AD. Their home was in Thessalonica, Greece. Their father was...