Pope Alexander IV and the Hohenstaufen Rulers

Rinaldo di Jenne became pope on December 12, 1254. He was somewhere between 55 and 69 at the time, relatively old for taking on a new life. Matthew of Paris described him as kind and religious, assiduous in prayer and strict in abstinence. Between these...

POPE INNOCENT IV AND THE EMPERORS

Pope Innocent IV was born Sinibaldo Fieschi, around 1195. He was the son of Beatrice Grillo and Ugo Fieschi,  an up and coming noble. Sinibaldo was educated at the universities of Parma and Bologna and was considered one of the best canonists of his time. Between...

FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus Today, January 3 is the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. As far back as the first entries in the Gospel of St; Matthew, we see that the name had significance. Gabriel said to Mary, “You shall name him Jesus”, a command, more than a...