Christian Today

  St Paul the Hermit https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/18

  Gospel in Art: Jesus went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51515

SAINTS JANUARY 15 St. Francisco Fernandez de Capillas, Roman Catholic Martyr Spanish missionary who became the first Catholic martyr in China after he was beheaded in Fu'an, Fujian in China. Feastday Jan 15 St. Blaithmaic, 823 A.D. Irish abbot who sought martyrdom among the Danes, he went to England and encountered the Danes and was murdered on the altar steps of the abbey church at lona.   St. Ita. was reputedly of royal lineage. She was born at Decies, Waterford, Ireland, refused to be married, and secured her father's permission to live a virginal life. She moved to Killeedy, Limerick, and founded a community of women dedicated to God. She also founded a school for boys, and one of her pupils was St. Brendan. Many extravagant miracles were attributed to her (in one of them she is reputed to have reunited the head and body of a man who had been beheaded; in another she lived entirely on food from heaven), and she is widely venerated in Ireland. She is also known as Deirdre a...

  Words of the Holy Father-To enchain our souls: this is what the devil wants. The Gospel shows us Jesus freeing a person possessed by an “evil spirit” (cf. Mk 1:21-28), that tormented and made him scream (cf. vv. 23, 26).  This is how the devil behaves: he wants to take possession of us in order to “enchain our souls”.  To enchain our souls: this is what the devil wants.  We must be wary of the “chains” that stifle our freedom, because the devil always takes away our freedom.  Let us try to name some of these chains that can shackle our hearts. I am thinking of addictions, which enslave us, making us feel constantly dissatisfied, devouring our energies, goods, and relationships.  I am thinking of the leading trends which encourage unrealistic perfectionism, consumerism and hedonism, that commodify people and ruin relationships. And other chains: there are temptations and conditionings that undermine self-esteem, serenity and the ability to choose and love ...

There is a battle going on and the  battle  is  between the Church and the anti-Church  the Church of God and anti-God the Church of Christ and anti-Christ. There is a battle on between the retention of Catholic morals, tradition, and authority on the one side, and the active effort to destroy them on the other. The attack will not tolerate us. It will attempt to destroy us. Nor can we tolerate it. We must attempt to destroy it as being the fully equipped and ardent enemy of the Truth by which men live. The duel is to the death. The battle going on and it is between the Church and the anti-Church the Church of God and anti-God the Church of Christ and anti-Christ. There is a battle on between the retention of Catholic morals, tradition, and authority on the one side, and the active effort to destroy them on the other. The attack will not tolerate us. It will attempt to destroy us. Nor can we tolerate it. We must attempt to destroy it as being the fully equi...

  One step closer to sainthood: Thailand honors its blessed martyrs - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-01/thailand-feast-blessed-martyrs-celebration-bangkok.html

  When the Infant Jesus of Prague Spoke to a Priest: The History & Promises of the Miraculous Devotion https://www.churchpop.com/when-the-infant-jesus-of-prague-spoke-to-a-priest-the-history-promises-of-the-miraculous-devotion/

  St Felix of Nola https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/17

  Gospel in Art: What is this? A new teaching with authority! https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51507

SAINTS JANUARY 14 St. Deusdedit, 664 A.D. Benedictine archbishop of Canterbury, England. He was a Southern Saxon, originally called Freithona. In 653, Deusdedit succeeded Honorius, becoming the first Anglo-Saxon to become a primate of England. He died, probably on October 28, during a plague. ST. MALACHY, PROPHET Saint Malachy was born in 1094 at Armagh, Ireland and died on November 2, 1148. St. Malachy was canonized in 1190 by Pope Clement III. This was the first papal canonization of an Irish saint. Jan.14 ST. FELIX OF NOLA, PRIEST, Felix was the son of Hermias, a Syrian who had been a Roman soldier. He was born on his father's estate at Nola near Naples, Italy. On the death of his father, Felix distributed his inheritance to the poor, was ordained by Bishop St. Maximus of Nola, and became his assistant. Jan 14  

  St Mungo, St Hilary of Poitiers https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/16

  Gospel in Art: Repent and believe in the gospel https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51500

  SAINTS JANUARY 13  Hilary (Hilarius) of Poitiers (c. 310 – c. 367[1]) was Roman Catholic Bishop of Poitiers and is a Doctor of the Church. He was sometimes referred to as the "Hammer of the Arians" Feastday Jan.13 St. Elian, 6th. Century.  Perhaps a Breton, he was related to Ismael and labored in the missions of Cornwall England.  St.  Erbin, 5th century. Saint of the Comish and Devonshire regions of England. He is also listed as Ervan, Ernie, Erbyn, or Hermes. Churches in Cornwall are dedicated to Erbin  St. Kentigern Mungo, 603  A.D. First bishop of the Strathclyde Britons. By tradition, he was the son of a British princess. His nickname, Mungo, means "dear one" or "darling." He was raised by St. Serf and be. came a hermit near Glasgow, Scotland. Driven into exile after being consecrated a bishop circa 540, Kentigern went to St. David in Wales. There he possibly founded St. Asaph Monastery at Llanelwy. In 553, he returned to Scotland to continue hi...

 Words of the Holy Father-01-12-25 thank the Lord for Baptism I ask all of you: you, each one of you, think: “Do I remember the date of my Baptism?”. If you do not remember, when you return home, ask what it is, so as not to forget it any more, because it is a new birthday, because with your Baptism you were born into the life of grace. Let us thank the Lord for Baptism. Let us also  thank him for the parents who brought us to the font, for those who administered the Sacrament, for the godfather, for the godmother, for the  community in which we received him. To celebrate your own Baptism: it is a new birthday. And we can ask ourselves: am I aware of the immense gift I carry within me through Baptism? Do I acknowledge, in my life, the light of the presence of God, who sees me as his beloved son, his beloved daughter?  And now, in memory of our Baptism, let us welcome God’s presence within us. We can do so with the sign of the cross, which traces in us the memory of t...

  Gospel in Art: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51493

SAINTS JANUARY 12 Ephesus Roman Catholic Martyrs, Forty-two monks put to death by Byzantine Emperor Constantine V in 762 AD. for opposing the Iconoclasts.Jan 12 St. Tatiana of Rome, Roman Catholic Martyr, put to death by beheading in Rome during the reign of Emperor Severus Alexander. Jan 12 ST. ARCADIUS, MARTYR, Arcadius, seeing his city in great confusion, left his estate and withdrew to a solitary place in the neighboring country, serving Jesus Christ in watching, prayer, and other exercises of a penitential life. His flight could not be long a secret; for his not appearing at the public sacrifices made the governor send soldiers to his house, who surrounded it, forced open the doors, and finding one of his relations in it, who said all he could to justify his kinsman's absence, they seized him, and the governor ordered him to be kept in close custody till Arcadius should be taken. The martyr, informed of his friend's danger, and burning with a desire to suffer for Christ, w...

  UN: 'Our effort to save lives of survivors in Gaza at breaking point' https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51488

  St Theodosius and Servant of God Elizabeth Prout https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/13

  Gospel in Art: He must increase, but I must decrease https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51489

  The Baptism Of The Lord: From The Jordan To Life In The Spirit https://catholic-link.org/feast-baptism-our-lord/

  Vatican Reveals Number of Countries with Which It Has Diplomatic Relations - ZENIT - English https://zenit.org/2025/01/09/vatican-reveals-number-of-countries-with-which-it-has-diplomatic-relations/?eti=21125

  Gaza war death toll could be significantly higher, researchers say https://bbc.com/news/articles/cqjvl4klzweo?at_campaign_type=owned&at_medium=emails&at_objective=awareness&at_ptr_type=email&at_ptr_name=salesforce&at_campaign=newsbriefingpm&at_email_send_date=20250110&at_send_id=4260269&at_link_title=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bbc.com%2fnews%2farticles%2fcqjvl4klzweo&at_bbc_team=crm

  SAINTS JANUARY 11 ST PETER OF CAESAREA, Peter, called “Apselamus” or “Balsamus”, suffered martyrdom in Caesarea, in Palestine, during the persecution under the Emperor Maximinus. Despite his youth, he was condemned to death, and was burned alive when he refused to deny his faith. He was martyred in the third century.  Jan. 11 Blessed William Carter (c. 1548 – 11 January 1584) was a Roman Catholic English printer and martyr. He established his own printing press in London to publish Catholic literature for England’s persecuted Catholic population. His captors tortured him on a rack, questioning him about several chalices and vestments that had been entrusted to him for safekeeping, and about the books found in his possession, which contained Catholic prayers, meditations, and spiritual exercises. He was executed on the following day. Feastday Jan. 11 St. Boadin. Benedictine monk from Ireland who joined that order in France. He was revered for his impeccable observance of the ...

  St Dermot https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/12

  Gospel in Art: And immediately the leprosy left him https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51482

SAINTS JANUARY 10 POPE ST MILTIADES Of African origin, Miltiades was Pope at the time of Constantine’s victory over Maxentius – that is, the victory of the Cross over the persecutors of Christianity. Miltiades began the work of reorganizing the Church and Christian places of worship, but died in 314.  Jan 10 St. Thomian, 660 A.D. Sometimes called Toiman, Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, from about 623. He is remembered for a letter he composed to the Holy See concerning the paschal controversy, namely the date to be followed for the celebrating of Easter.    St. Dermot, 6th century. Abbot and founder of a monastery on Innis-Closran Island, Ireland. He is listed also as Diarmis or Diarmaid. Dermot trained St. Kiernan of Clonrnacnois.   St. Saethryth, 660 A.D. Benedictine abbess, also called Sethrida. The stepdaughter of a local king of the Angles, she entered a convent in Gaul (modem France) eventually becoming abbess. Sts. Ethelburga and Ethelfreda were half-siste...

  St Philip of Moscow and Blessed Pauline Jaricot https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/11

  Gospel in Art: Jesus unrolled the scroll and read https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51475

SAINTS JANUARY 09 Saints Julian and Basilissa (died ca. 304) were husband and wife. They were Christian martyrs who died at either Antioch or, more probably, at Antinoe, in the reign of Diocletian, early in the fourth century, on 9 January, according to the Roman Martyrology, ST. ANDREW CORSINI, CARMELITAN PRIEST, BISHOP OF FIESOLE St. Andrew Corsini, Bishop (Feast) He was appointed Provincial of Tuscany in 1348 by the General Chapter meeting in Metz and the following year he was named bishop of Fiesole, near Florence. He governed his diocese well, becoming a model of charity and an eloquent preacher. He was distinguished by his zeal for the apostolate,...Jan 9 BD ANTONY FATATI, BISHOP OF ANCONA. Born of a noble family, Antonio studied in Bologna to become a priest. Returning to his home, he engaged in various pastoral ministries, ultimately being named Bishop of Ancona in 1463. He was a prudent pastor, generous to the poor and severe towards himself. He was beatified in 1765.  Jan...

  Already Done With Christmas? 5 Compelling Reasons You Should Celebrate Until Candlemas https://www.churchpop.com/already-done-with-christmas-5-compelling-reasons-you-should-celebrate-until-candlemas/

  St Wulsin of Sherbourne https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/10

  Gospel in Art: They saw him walking on the sea and thought it was a ghost https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51468

  Pope encourages children to be missionaries in prayer - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-01/pope-francis-angelus-world-missionary-childhood-day.html

  SAINTS JANUARY 08 St. Athelm, 923 A.D. Archbishop of Canterbury and uncle of St. Dunstan. Benedictine, Atheim served as a monk at Glastonbury, England, becoming abbot of the famous monastery. In 909, Athelm was named the first bishop of Wells. He became the archbishop of Canterbury in 914.   St. Wulsin, 1002 A.D. Benedictine bishop and monk also called Ultius and Vulsin. A disciple of St. Dunstan, he was named by the saint to serve as superior over the restored community of Westminster, England, circa 960, and eventually became abbot in 980. In 993 he was named bishop of Sherborne, although he remained abbot of Westminster  St, Pega Roman Catholic Laywoman, was sister to St. Guthlac and she lived a retired life not far from her brother's hermitage at Croyland, just across the border of what is now Northamptonshire, on the western edge of the great Peterborough Fen. The place is now called Peakirk, i.e. Pega's church. She attended her brother's funeral, making the j...

  St Raymond of Penafort, St Kentigerna https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/8

  Gospel in Art: You give them something to eat https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51462

  St. Raymond of Penyafort - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/07/st--raymond-of--penyafort--dominican--co-founder-of-the-mercedar.html

  SAINTS JANUARY 07 ST. LUCIAN, ANTIOCHIAN PRIEST, MARTYR A scholarly and austere priest of Antioch in Syria, a precise exegete of the Old and New Testaments, Lucian died a martyr at Nicomedia on 7 January 312, during the persecution of the Roman emperor Maximinus. Another emperor, Constantine, would be baptized near his grave.  Jan 7 ST. POLIEUTO, MARTYR Jan 7 Bl. Edward Waterson, 1593 A.D. An English martyr and a convert. He was born in London, England, and ordained in Reims, France. In 1592, he was returned to England to serve hidden Catholics. Edward was arrested the following year and executed at Newcastle. He was beatified in 1929.7 St. Brannock.  A Welsh monk who migrated to Devon, England. He founded a monastery at Braunton,  and was famed for his holiness and zeal.   St. Cronan Beg, 7th century. A bishop of Aendrum, County Down, Ireland. He is mentioned in connection with the controversy of 640.   St. Kentigerna, 734 A.D. Widowed hermites...

What does it mean that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness and that the darkness did not overcome him? Pope Francis answers - ZENIT - English : Allocution on the occasion of the recitation of the Angelus on Sunday, January 5, 2025

  Pope calls for respect for humanitarian law https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51453

This is the religion of the new congressmen and senators in the U.S. Congress: Protestant and Catholic (and Jewish overrepresentation) - ZENIT - English : The Catholic presence in Congress stands at 150 members, a slight uptick from the last session but below the average of the past 15 years. Catholics comprise 29% of the House and 24% of the Senate, maintaining a prominent, though slightly diminished, influence.

  Feeling Lost? Priest Explains How God’s Subtle Signs Can Guide You to Peace https://www.churchpop.com/feeling-lost-priest-explains-how-gods-subtle-signs-can-guide-you-to-peace/

  St Andre Bessette https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/7

  Gospel in Art: Jesus left Nazareth and lived in Capernaum in the territory of Zebulun https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51455

  St. André Bessette - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/06/st--andre-bessette.html

  SAINTS JANUARY 06 BAPTISM OF JESUS Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John. St. Peter of Canterbury, 607 A.D. A Benedictine abbot. Peter was originally a monk in the monastery of St. Andrew’s, Rome, and was chosen by Pope St. Gregory I the Great to embark with St. Augustine of Canterbury and other monks on the missionary enterprise to England in 596. Peter became the first abbot of the monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul at Canterbury in 602. He died by drowning at Ambleteu, near Boulogne while on a mission to France.   St. Schotin, 6th century. He was also known as Scarthin, a hermit and disciple of St. David of Wales. Born in Ireland, he left the island to become a student of David. Returning home, he lived for many years as a hermit and is traditionally believed to have established a boy's school in Kilkenny.    St. Diman, 658 A.D. Abbot-bishop of Connor, Ireland, also called Diman Dubh or “Diman the Black,” Dimas, or Dima. He was a monk under St. Columba. Di...

  Pope to educators: Amid daily struggles, keep eyes on Christ - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-01/pope-francis-bullying-an-attitude-that-leads-to-warfare.html

  Dickens-to-Go: Reflections on the Best of Times and the Worst of Times https://youtu.be/QkRec6d1cHY?si=X_77UuJE3OrBzPYU

  St John Neumann, St Charles of Mount Argus https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/6

  Gospel in Art: The Epiphany of the Lord https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51449

  St. John N. Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia, United States - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/05/st--john-n--neumann--bishop-of-philadelphia--united-states.html

  SAINTS JANUARY 05 ST. EDWARD, KING OF ENGLAND, Crowned King of England in 1043, beloved by the people, he was a mild and gentle sovereign of profound prayer: he promoted peace, abolished war taxes to help the poorest of the poor, and built a monastery out of which would grow the Abbey of Westminster Jan 5 ST. JOHN N. NEUMANN, BISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES A native of Bohemia, St. John lived in the United States (1811-1860), and ministered to the immigrant poor. He entered the Redemptorists and was named Bishop of Philadelphia, where he built churches and schools, especially on the outskirts of the city. He also wrote a catechism for young people. Jan 5 St. Cera, 7th century. An Irish abbess also called Ciar, Cior, Cyra, or Ceara. She was born in Tipperary and served as abbess of a monastery at Kilkeary and another one at Tehelly. Jan 5

  How the 1571 Battle of Lepanto saved Europe For those who know little history, today’s battle with the Islamic State in the Middle East may seem new and unprecedented. It is not. https://catholiceducation.org/en/culture/history/how-the-1571-battle-of-lepanto-saved-europe.html

  Burkina Faso: Rise in vocations despite terror threat https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51440

  St Elizabeth Seton, St Rigobert https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/4

  Gospel in Art: What are you seeking? https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51445

  St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, Foundress, Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/04/st--elizabeth-ann-bayley-seton--foundress--sisters-of-charity-of.html

  St. Angela of Foligno - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/04/st--angela-of-foligno--franciscan.html My place is in the world.” This conviction accompanied Angela da Foligno throughout her life: from the years of her youth, characterized by worldliness and an apparent indifference to God, to those of her spiritual maturity, which followed, in which she realized that she was called to better things: to serve and imitate the Lord, to live a life of holiness in the concreteness of the everyday. Born in Foligno on January 4, 1248 to a well-to-do family, she soon lost her father, and received little supervision from her mother. Thus, did she spend youth far from faith. Beautiful, intelligent, passionate, she married a notable local man, by whom she had several children. Conversion and the fear of hell The frivolity and light-heartedness of her youth were upset by a series of events in quick succession: the violent earthquake of ...

  SAINTS JANUARY 04 Martyrs of Egypt, Two groups of martyrs, otherwise unknown, who were slain in Egypt. There were many other known martyrs who were put to death in Egypt, a large number of them dying in Alexandria Feastday January 5 Bl. Jacques Ledoyen, Roman Catholic Priest, in Angers, France and was martyred during the French Revolution. Feastday Jan.5 Bl. Thomas Plumtree, Roman Catholic Priest and English Martyr. He was offered his freedom if he abjured the faith and he refused. He was hanged in Durham Castle. Feastday January 4 ST. ELIZABETH ANN BAYLEY SETON, FOUNDRESS, SISTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. JOSEPH'S A widow with 5 children, St. Elizabeth was a convert to Catholicism from Episcopalianism, who founded the first religious Congregation for women in the country. She dedicated herself to the service of the poor and promoted the nascent parochial school movement.  Jan 4 ST. ANGELA OF FOLIGNO, FRANCISCAN, Jan 4

  The mission [nonnegotiable element] to which God continues to call us is to transform society, the church and our surroundings in a prophetic way https://www.globalsistersreport.org/columns/religious-life/nonnegotiable-elements-are-heart-religious-life

  St Genevieve  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/3

  Missionaries and Pastoral Workers killed in 2024 Fabio Beretta Jan 2nd, 2025 https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51438

 https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51439

  SAINTS JANUARY 03 ST. TELESPHORE, POPE AND MARTYR Telesphore was an anchorite in Egypt and Palestine. He reigned from 125 to 136. He established the Midnight Mass at Christmas with the song of Gloria in excelsis Deo, the celebration of Easter on Sunday, and fixed the Lenten fast. He also worked to counter Gnostic heresy, and died a martyr.  Jan 3 ST. ANTERUS, POPE Of Greek origins, Anterus was Pope for only 40 days. He was martyred in 236 under Emperor Maximinus the Thracian for collecting the Acts of the martyrs in the archives of the Church of Rome, so that they would not be dispersed. He was the first Pope to be buried in the catacombs of St. Callixtus.  Jan 3 Sts. Zosimus and Athanasius (d.303) + Martyrs in Cilicia (modern Turkey). They were executed during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305). According to one account, Zosimus was tortured and Athanasius, a witness, was so moved that he converted to the faith. Both were then tortured but survived and...

 Canon Law 603 Live like a monk-Nun at home  religious  living in, but not of, the world as a witness to service for Christ. Canon Law 603 

  Pope Francis invites us to cherish life and entrust 2025 to Mary https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51431

  St Basil the Great https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/2

  Gospel in Art: Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/51432

  Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/01/02/sts--basil-the-great-and--gregory-nazianzus--bishops-and-doctors.html

 SAINTS JANUARY 02 Bl. Marie-Anne Vaillot, Roman Catholic Nun and French Martyr, during the French Revolution.Jan 2 Bl. Guillaume Repin, Roman Catholic Priest and Martyr.During the French revolution Brought before the Revolutionary Committee of Angers, he was sentenced to the guillotine and executed January 2, 1794. Bl. Odilia Baumgarten, Roman Catholic Nun and French Martyr, during the French Revolution.Jan 2 STS. BASIL THE GREAT AND GREGORY NAZIANZUS, BISHOPS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH Jan2