St John Chrysostom was not afraid of speaking the truth. A famed theologian, he gained the name Chrysostom or "golden-mouthed" for his eloquent preaching. He faced much opposition to his reforms as Archbishop of Constantinople and later died in exile.
A French legend tells of a man hearing angels singing on the night of 8 September and being told that the Virgin Mary had been born on that night. Her earthly birth is celebrated (like that of St John the Baptist) because it announced to the world the coming of Jesus, the beginning of the New Covenant.
Mother Teresa was an Albanian missionary in India who gave up everything she had for a life of poverty. With her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, she cared daily for many poor, sick, and dying people. Be inspired by her life to find inspiration for your prayer life, including five tips to boost your prayer life.
A reluctant Pope who became the "Apostle of the English", St Gregory the Great became a Doctor of the Church.
Stabat mater dolorosa – “The mournful mother was standing”. This is the opening line of the extraordinary hymn attributed to the 13th-century Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi, which is still a popular Lenten devotion. Find the words of the original Latin and the popular English translation in this blog.
In the Vatican offices is an icon of Mary with her finger pressed to her lips called Our Lady of Silence. One of the elements of this devotion is five mysteries of the rosary dedicated to the silence of Jesus and Mary.
