Saints Cornelius and Cyprian
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
Our Lady of Sorrows
Wonderfully summed up in the Stabat Mater of Blessed Jacopone da Todi, devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows gained particular impetus in Middle Ages, also thanks to the constitution in 1233 of the Order of the Servants of Mary. In 1667 the Servites obtained official approval for the celebration of the “Seven Sorrows of Mary”, a number based on as many episodes narrated in the Gospels
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
From the East, where it is celebrated with a solemnity equal to Easter, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross arrived in the West and in particular in Rome, where it is attested before the end of the 7th century
Saint John Chrysostom
“The Blood of Christ renews in us the image of our King, produces an unspeakable beauty and does not allow the nobility of our souls to be destroyed, but continually irrigates and nourishes it”. This is how St John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), one of the great Greek-speaking Fathers who was proclaimed Doctor of the Church, spoke of the Eucharistic mystery
Most Holy Name of Mary
In the light of faith, it seems that Divine Providence wished to make elusive the exact meaning of the name of its supreme creature - chosen from all eternity to become the Mother of God - and that the many meanings are accompanied by many graces.
Saints Protus and Hyacinth
The brothers Protus and Hyacinth suffered martyrdom presumably during the persecutions of Valerian (257-260) or at the latest during the Great Persecution of Diocletian (303-305). They were then honoured by one of the famous Latin inscriptions of St Damasus (304-384), who had their sepulchres unearthed.
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305) was born in Sant'Angelo in Pontano, a small town in the Marche region, from two devout Christians. He is famous for his gifts as a thaumaturge and particularly invoked for the liberation of souls in Purgatory
Saint Peter Claver
The area in which he carried out his mission was present-day Colombia at the time of the slave trade. St Peter Claver (1580-1654) faced this phenomenon with true Christian charity, bringing material aid to the deported Africans and teaching them the way of Jesus.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“Let us celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for from her arose the sun of justice, Christ our God.” The liturgical antiphon expresses incisively the reason for today's feast, which celebrates the mystery of the birth of Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Saviour.
Saint Gratus of Aosta
The patron saint of the city and diocese of Aosta, Saint Gratus (5th century), was the second bishop of the capital city of the Valle d’Aosta. He succeeded Eustasius, with whom he probably shared a Greek origin.
Saint Zechariah
He should not be confused with the homonymous father of John the Baptist. Saint Zechariah is the penultimate of the Old Testament prophets and, after Isaiah, the most quoted in the New Testament.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta
“By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.” The best presentation of St Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), known by all as Mother Teresa, could only be given by herself, the little nun who expanded her heart to embrace every man as her neighbour
