Chapdelaine was born in La Rochelle-Normande, France, and became a priest in 1843. He joined the Paris Foreign Missions in 1851 and went to China’s Guangxi province in 1852. Due to the Taiping Rebellion, foreigners were forbidden, but Chapdelaine ministered to local Catholics. After brief imprisonment and multiple threats, he returned to Guangxi in 1855. On February 25, 1856, he was arrested and accused of inciting insurrection. He refused to pay a bribe and was subjected to brutal cage torture, where he suffered severe beatings and a slow death from suffocation in a hanging iron cage. St. Auguste Chapdelaine 1814 - 1856 Feast Day: February 27 Location: France & China Identifiers: Martyr Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: Piece of habit/clothing Chapdelaine was born on a farm in La Rochelle-Normande, France. By the age of twenty, he had entered the seminary at Coutances. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Coutances in 1843 and in 1851 joined the Institute of Foreign Missions in Paris. He left from Antwerp in April 1852 to join the Catholic mission in the Guangxi province of China. The Taiping Rebellion led to suspicion of Christians, and foreigners were forbidden to enter the area. After a stay in Guangzhou, he moved to Guiyang, capital of the Guizhou province, in the spring of 1854. In December, he went, together with Lu Tingmei, to Yaoshan village, Xilin County of Guangxi, where he met the local Catholic community of around 300 people. He celebrated his first mass there on 8 December 1854. He was arrested and thrown into the Xilin county prison ten days after his arrival and was released after sixteen or eighteen days of captivity. Following personal threats, Chapdelaine returned to Guizhou in early 1855, and came back to Guangxi in December of the same year. He was denounced on February 22, 1856, by Bai San, a relative of a new convert, while the local tribunal was on holiday. He was arrested in Yaoshan, together with other Chinese Catholics, by orders of Zhang Mingfeng, the new local mandarin on 25 February 1856. Chapdelaine was accused of stirring up insurrection and refused to pay a bribe. Condemned to cage torture (zhanlong), he was first beaten one hundred times on the cheek by a leather thong, which caused his teeth to fly out, his face mutilated, and his jaw lacerated. He was locked into a small iron cage, which was hung at the gate of the jail. The planks he stood on were gradually removed, placing a strain in the muscles of the neck, and leading to a slow and painful death from suffocation. ( https://www.catholic.org/saints/ ) Next Item Previous Item

Saint John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojtyła on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland. Karol’s promising academic career was cut short by the outbreak of World War II, and by 1941, he was the lone surviving member of his family. He decided to enter the priesthood the following year, and he would go on to teach at Jagiellonian University, become the youngest bishop in the history of Poland, elected Pope in 1978 (263rd Pope), and canonized in 2014. His efforts towards Catholic interfaith relationships and advocacy of national and religious freedom encouraged millions of Catholics to “be not afraid.” St. John Paul II 1920 - 2005 Feast Day: October 22 Location: Poland & Italy Identifiers: Pope, Confessor Relic located in the: Right Reliquary Type of Relic: Piece of cincture Saint John Paul II was a universal shepherd – the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, his election in 1978 ushered in the first real “globally-oriented” papacy ever. His wisdom, compassion, and faith was spread around the globe through 104 apostolic adventures to 129 different countries. He broke down unprecedented barriers, stood unabashedly opposed to violence and oppression, and made a universal call to holiness that has inspired millions of faithful Catholics. The inspiring, cheerful saint known as John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojtyła on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, a town of about 8,000 Catholics and 2,000 jews located only 15 miles away from the future site of Auschwitz. He was the youngest of three children, born into a loving Polish family that would sadly experience immense suffering just a few years following his birth. His mother Emelia passed away before he had even received his First Communion, and by the time he was 12, he had also lost his older siblings Olga and Edmund. His father, Karol senior, was a lieutenant in the Polish army who Karol described in writings as a “deeply religious man” whose discipline and guidance was in a way his “first seminary, a kind of domestic seminary.” Young Karol would excel in academics, play soccer regularly, and enjoy the arts of drama and poetry. He would regularly help out Fr. Kazimierz Figlewicz, his first teacher in Catholicism, at Wadowice’s main Catholic church, which was right next door to the Wojtyła’s apartment. Karol graduated from secondary school as valedictorian and would move with his father to Kraków to attend the Jagiellonian University, studying Polish language, literature, theater and poetry. He performed in local theatrical productions, and met an important spiritual mentor, Jan Tyranowski, who was a local tailor that was in charge of youth ministry for the local church. Jan introduced the college-aged Karol to the Carmelite mysticism of St. John of the Cross, which would greatly influence Karol’s journey towards the priesthood and motivations that the church might improve the world. Karol’s promising academic career (he learned as many as 15 languages at Jagiellonian University!) was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. Nazi Germany invaded in September of 1939 and occupying forces closed his school. The two Wojtyłas joined thousands fleeing to the east, but after learning that the Russians had invaded Poland, they returned to Kraków. In order to avoid arrest and deportation, Karol worked in a stone quarry, with night shifts at a chemical plant, all the while still attending clandestine classes to continue his studies. Karol returned home from work on February 18, 1941 to find his father had died of a heart attack. Before his 21st birthday, Karol Wojtyła was his family’s lone surviving member. The very next year, he decided to enter the priesthood. While still working at the chemical factory, he began attending illegal seminary classes run by the Archbishop of Kraków, Cardinal Sapieha. On August 5, 1944, Karol’s journey to the priesthood was nearly curtailed by a day known as “Black Sunday”, when the Gestapo rounded up more than 8,000 men and boys in Kraków to prevent an uprising similar to what was happening in Warsaw at the time. He hid in the basement of his uncle’s house, and would soon escape to the Archbishop’s palace, where he would remain for the rest of the war. Karol recalled witnessing numerous Nazi horrors during this time, including the murder of many priests, which alongside the teachings of St. John of the Cross, helped him embrace the redemption that could be gained through suffering, and the true meaning of the priesthood. On November 1st, 1946, the feast of All Saints Day, Karol was ordained a priest by Cardinal Sapieha. He immediately traveled to Rome to continue his doctoral studies, earning a doctorate in theology in 1948 and a doctorate in philosophy in 1953. He returned to Poland and began teaching in the Jagiellonian University. Soon after he was made assistant pastor of a parish in Niegowic. The young priest quickly became a spiritual leader and mentor for many, forming a circle of young adult friends who would go on kayaking and camping trips to celebrate Mass in the open, despite a ban on unapproved worship outside of churches by the communist regime. Karol continued to pray, write and teach ardently, impressing church leaders so much that in 1958, Pope Pius XII appointed him an auxiliary bishop of Kraków, the youngest bishop in the history of Poland. What followed next was a rapid ascension through the priestly hierarchy, largely in part from his participation and contributions during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). In December 1963, Pope Paul VI named him archbishop of Kraków, and in 1967, he became a cardinal. As a cardinal, he made waves alongside Stefan Wyszyński, the archbishop of Warsaw, by declaring that “Christianity, not communism, was the true protector of the poor and oppressed.” He defied communist authorities by holding Masses in Kraków’s new industrial suburb, Nowa Huta, where he wanted to build a church. Despite their best attempts, nothing the communists could do seemed to slow Karol down, and he consecrated Nowa Huta’s Ark Church in 1977. The authorities forced the upstart cardinal archbishop to develop a public speaking style that would ultimately work against them – by attempting to deny Wojtyła access to the media, he in turn traveled far and wide to reach the people. This developed the future pope’s ability to skillfully communicate with large crowds, of which he would soon be seeing. In August 1978, a papal conclave was held to elect the successor of Pope Paul VI. Albino Luciani, an Italian Cardinal who was the first pope to have been born in the 20th century, was elected and took the name Pope John Paul I, only to pass away 33 days later. At the second conclave of 1978, it was Karol Wojtyła that the white smoke heralded, emerging as Pope John Paul II on October 16, 1978. He was the first pope ever from a Slavic country. At his installation Mass on October 22, 1978, he repeated the phrase “Be not afraid!”, which would become a recurring theme for him, along with his Episcopal motto, taken from the profound teachings of St. Louis de Montfort: “Totus Tuus – I am completely yours.” In his first year alone as Pope, John Paul II went on four different trips abroad – bouncing around the world between Mexico, Poland, Ireland, Turkey and the United States. At each stop, large crowds gathered to hear him preach and give counsel to leaders and laity alike, with his impassioned speeches calling upon every person to care for the poor and respect the dignity of every human person. He would become the most widely-traveled pope ever during his nearly 27-year pontificate (the third-longest reign in history), but his presence on the world stage never took precedence over his pastoral duties, writing 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions and 45 Apostolic Letters, alongside five books during his time as pope. He also emphasized the universal call to holiness by beatifying 1,338 people and canonizing 482 saints, which was more than all 263 previous popes combined. He also established World Youth Day, and the World Meeting of Families, both born from his concern and focus on marriage and the family. On May 13, 1981, the feast day of Our Lady of Fátima, the world was shocked by an attempted assassination on Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s square by a 23-year old Turkish man, Mehmet Ali Agca. Two years later, the world was shocked again by JPII, having recovered from his abdomen wound, made a personal visit to his attacker in prison to forgive him. The pope credited the Virgin of Fátima for guiding the bullet from his would-be assassin away from his vital organs. John Paul II continued with his missionary activities, holding meetings with government officials, religious leaders from other faiths, and countless other important individuals to impress on them the need for peace, the abolishing of materialism, and the beauty of interfaith initiatives. In 1986, despite the scorn of many, Pope John Paul II invited the leaders of all major religions to Assisi, Italy for a universal prayer service for world peace. By the mid 90’s, he had spent a considerable amount of time orchestrating acts of interfaith reconciliation – many involving general apologies for the sins committed by Catholics against others throughout history, including those during the Crusades, against indigenous peoples, non-Catholic christians, Muslims, Jews, and more. He would go on to become the first pope to ever enter a synagogue, where he embraced the chief rabbi at the Great Synagogue of Rome, as well as the first pope to enter a mosque, entering the Great Mosque of Damascus to pray at the shrine of St. John the Baptist in the company of the Muslim clerics. As the new millennium was ushered in, Pope John Paul II continued to change the world through his tireless ministry. His televised audiences captivated millions, his pastoral efforts established numerous dioceses, and he continued to travel even as the once-robust pope became slowed by Parkinson disease and a series of operations. When his aides would urge him to slow down, he would respond, “Si crollo, crollo” (“If I collapse, I collapse”). After 2003, he appeared in public only when seated, and by Easter 2005, he was unable to speak to the millions of pilgrims he blessed from his apartment window, due to a tracheotomy. Hundreds of thousands of young people kept vigil beneath the window of the papal apartment in April of 2005, as Pope John Paul II breathed his last. He died on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 5, 2005 at 9:37 pm. His last audible words were “Let me go to my Father’s house.” More than three million pilgrims traveled to Rome to pay their respects to JPII, whose witness of faith ignited the missionary hearts inside countless Catholics around the world. On April 28, 2005, a mere 23 days after John Paul’s passing, Pope Benedict XVI declared that the normal five-year waiting period needed before beginning causes of beatification and canonization would be waived for John Paul II, and on May 1, 2011, Pope John Paul II was beatified by Benedict, and finally canonized as Saint John Paul II on April 27, 2014. Saint John Paul II has a legacy unlike nearly any pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. His efforts towards Catholic interfaith relationships, understanding of political participation, advocacy of national and religious freedom, and stance on traditional church positions made an impact that will resonate for many generations to come. He was an endearing and prayerful pope, and is now in heaven among the communion of saints, beckoning to all Catholics young and old, to “be not afraid” and join him. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot, is one of the most obscure apostles of the 12 who followed Jesus Christ. We know next-to-nothing about his life, with his name being mentioned only a handful of times throughout the gospels. Simon played no particular role in the gospels, and even his moniker of “the Zealot” has an unconfirmed meaning. Regardless of the speculation, we know he was a passionate believer and unafraid to continue to serve the Lord, and thus, he is a saint, who faithfully followed the will of God, even unto death. He shares a feast day with St. Jude on October 28th. St. Simon the Apostle 1st Century Feast Day: October 28 Location: Jerusalem Identifiers: Apostle, Martyr Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone St. Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot or Simon the Apostle, is one of the most obscure apostles of the 12 who followed Jesus Christ. We know next-to-nothing about his life, with his name being mentioned only a handful of times throughout the gospels. Simon played no particular role in the gospels, and even his moniker of “the Zealot” has an unconfirmed meaning. Some writings identified Simon as a member of the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, while others imply that it was given to Simon simply to differentiate him from Simon Peter. Regardless, it’s likely that he earned the title through his zealous following of the Jewish law, or Jesus’ teachings, but we’ll never know for sure. Another common misconception about this mysterious saint is that he was from Cana. Early Christian writers misinterpreted the word “kananaios” to mean “from Cana”, which led to a few translations of the Bible to identify him as “Simon the Cananite” or “Simon the Cananean” (located in Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18 specifically). In review, most scholars believe the word “kananaois” to be derived from the Aramaic word “qan’an” which roughly translates to “zealous one”, which would provide much more consistency throughout the gospel writings regarding Simon and his title. There are conflicting reports regarding the later portion of Simon’s life, including where he was sent to evangelize, while living as a disciple of Jesus, but most believe that he was sent to preach in Egypt. In the thirteenth century, Jacobus de Varagine, an Italian author, compiled numerous biographies of the saints into a book titled “The Golden Legend”, which is a great resource for many of the early saints. In it, de Varagine records that Simon preached in Egypt, before partnering with Judas, who was in Mesopotamia. It was in Persia that Simon reportedly joined the apostle St. Jude, known as Jude Thaddeus, where they were both martyred. Simon was said to have died from being cut in half with a saw, which is why he is often pictured with a saw in iconographic imagery. Other reports of his death also include him being crucified in Samaria, as well as passing away of old age in Edessa – many facts remain unconfirmed. Regardless of the speculation regarding St. Simon, this we know: he was a passionate believer; most likely in the Jewish law at first, but after encountering Jesus Christ, that passion changed to spreading the Kingdom of Heaven. He was unafraid to continue to serve the Lord, and thus, he is a saint, who faithfully followed the will of God, even unto death. Next Item Previous Item

Jude was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and is one of the most widely venerated saints ever, despite being mentioned only a handful of times in the New Testament and having just one line of dialogue in the Gospels. The details regarding St. Jude’s life are incomplete, but he is believed to have been related to Jesus, evangelized in Mesopotamia, and martyred in Armenia. He was an ardent follower of Christ, who implored fellow Christians to stand firm in the face of difficulty, and to hold fast to the truth of their Christian faith. He shares a feast day with St. Simon the Apostle on October 28th. St. Jude Thaddeus the Apostle 1st Century Feast Day: October 28 Location: Jerusalem Identifiers: Apostle, Martyr Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone St. Jude, also known as Jude of James, Judas Thaddeus or Thaddeus, was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and today, is one of the most widely-venerated saints ever. Jude the apostle is mentioned only a handful of times in the New Testament, and has just one line of dialogue in the gospels, speaking during the Last Supper in John 14:22. The variety of names attributed to Jude is partly due to early translators of the Bible attempting to differentiate Judas Thaddeus from Judas Iscariot. Even in his one line in John’s gospel, he is mentioned as “Judas, but not Iscariot” to avoid the identification of Jesus’ betrayer. Of his most popular titles, “Thaddeus” means generous and kind, while “Jude” can translate to “giver of joy”. The details regarding St. Jude’s life are incomplete, with some information varying based on different translations and writings. The New Testament mentions Jude or Judas (again, not counting mentions of Judas Iscariot) six times, in four different contexts. This has led to some uncertainty whether Judas Thaddeus is indeed the same person as St. Jude, author of the Epistle of Jude, but most biblical scholars believe them to be one and the same. St. Jude is also believed to have been related to Jesus – his mother, Mary of Cleophas, was commonly referred to as a cousin of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jude’s father, Cleophas, was noted as a brother of St. Joseph. Jude also had many brothers, one of them being St. James the Lesser, who was another one of the original apostles. Most writings describe St. Jude as being married and having at least one child, with references to his grandchildren living as late as 95 A.D. Being one of the main disciples of Jesus Christ, writings place Jude in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) to evangelize all in the area. The Epistle of Jude was written around the time of his evangelizing, a brief book with only a single chapter, containing 25 verses. In it, Jude wrote to recent Christian converts who were under persecution, warning them against the luring of false teachers and ideas, and instead, encouraging them to keep their faith and persevere amidst the harsh circumstances that they faced. Many believe it was this inspirational writing that earned St. Jude the patronage of lost causes and desperate situations. Following his time in Mesopotamia, Jude traveled to Armenia around 65 A.D., to join St. Simon the Zealot to spread Christ’s word. It is believed that Jude was one of the first to bring Christianity to Armenia, which is why he is also the patron saint of Armenia. It was in Armenia, alongside Simon, that St. Jude would be martyred, with most writings depicting the saint being beat to death by an axe or club. It is for this reason that an axe or club is often pictured in St. Jude’s icons. Other popular depictions traditionally include St. Jude carrying an image of Jesus in his hand or close to his chest. This depiction stems from a story in which King Abgar of Edessa (located in what is now Turkey) sent a letter to Jesus asking Him to cure him of leprosy. Along with the letter, he sent an artist to bring him a drawing of Jesus. When the message reached Jesus, He was impressed by Abgar’s faith. Pressing his face against a cloth, he instructed St. Jude to deliver the cloth to Abgar. Jude traveled to Edessa to hand over the cloth, now known as the Image of Edessa, and upon seeing Jesus’ image, King Abgar was healed. The king converted to Christianity, along with most of the people in his kingdom. Many people have found St. Jude’s patronage of lost causes to be a relatable, and much-needed source of prayers. Devotion to St. Jude began in earnest around the 1800’s in Italy and Spain, before spreading to South America and finally to the United States in the early 1920’s. Many immigrants, dealing with pressures from the Great Depression, found solace in novenas to St. Jude. St. Jude is the patron saint of the Chicago Police Department, there are shrines named after him in more than 12 countries, and TV superstar Danny Thomas credited Jude for showing him his way in life, leading Thomas to found the world-renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Despite the uncertainty regarding certain aspects of Jude’s life and lineage, this much is certain: he was an ardent follower of Christ, who implored fellow Christians to stand firm in the face of difficulty, and to hold fast to the truth of their Christian faith. He is a powerful name to call upon in the face of helplessness, and in today’s tumultuous times, we need his intercession more than ever. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Thomas Aquinas was an invaluable gift to both the Catholic Church and to the world for his ability to bridge the gap between faith and reason. A 13th century Dominican friar and Doctor of the Church, he is recognized today as the most significant figure in scholastic theology, and an unparalleled voice on biblical interpretations during the Middle Ages. Thomas preached a revolutionary focus: viewing faith and reason not as contradicting opposites, but as complementary fountains of knowledge. “The Universal Teacher”, his timeless works and his relentless pursuit of knowledge and holiness are still benefiting the church today. St. Thomas Aquinas 1225 - 1274 Feast Day: January 28 Location: Italy Identifiers: Doctor of the Church, Dominican Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Thomas Aquinas was an invaluable gift to both the Catholic Church and to the world for his ability to bridge the gap between faith and reason. A 13th century Dominican friar, he is recognized today as the most significant figure in scholastic theology, and an unparalleled voice on biblical interpretations during the Middle Ages. Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225, inside a castle owned by his parents, Count Landulf of Aquino and Theodora, the Countess of Teano. The family, with Thomas being the youngest child among his eight siblings, were descendant of Emperors Frederick I and Henry VI, though they were generally regarded as lower nobility in the Kingdom of Sicily. At the age of five, Thomas was sent to study among Benedictine monks at the Abbey of Monte Cassino. He was regarded as a “witty child” who was often quizzical and curious, posing questions to the monks such as “What is God?” to the surprised monks. Eventually the military conflict between the Emperor Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX reached the abbey in 1239, forcing 13-year-old Thomas to return to Naples. While studying at the University of Naples, he was attracted to the work of Aristotle and became greatly intrigued by philosophy. He also took interest in the newly founded Dominican order of friars, thanks to meeting John of St. Julian, a Dominican preacher who was part of an active effort to recruit more followers to their order. Thomas was attracted to their emphasis on academic learning, poverty, purity, and a life of spiritual service, and at the age of 19, he secretly joined the order of Dominican monks. When his family found out, they were outraged with his decision. His parents demanded that Thomas become a Benedictine instead, in order to enjoy a more affluent and influential position in the church; they couldn’t stand to imagine their son begging as a poor monk. The Dominicans attempted to prevent his parents from interfering with his decision and arranged to move him to Rome, but on their way to Rome, he was kidnapped by his own brothers and returned to his family’s castle, San Giovanni at Rocca Secca. His family tried desperately for an entire year to sway Thomas from his new beliefs as he was held captive, but instead he passed the time by tutoring his younger sisters and secretly communicating with the Dominicans. His family even went so far as to offer him a position as Archbishop of Naples and hire a prostitute to attempt to break his resolve. He resolutely rejected both, and legend tells of Thomas chasing the prostitute out of his room with a flaming iron, branding a cross into his door, and then seeing two angels appear in a dream to strengthen his resolve to remain celibate. When his mother realized their attempts were futile, Theodora arranged for him to escape through a window. So prideful was their family that they preferred a secret escape rather than appearing to accept his position at the sake of their family name. After his escape around the year 1245, Thomas returned to Naples, where he resumed his studies with the Dominicans. He began studying theology at the University of Paris – the leading center for academic studies in Europe at the time – and likely fell under the wing of another future saint, Albert the Great. Albert was by far the best theological teacher Thomas could have met, and when he was sent to teach at a new university in Cologne in 1248, Thomas would follow the theologian, declining the offer of Pope Innocent IV to become the abbot of Monte Cassino. Thomas was appointed magister studentium of the university by Saint Albert, but many were confused by the quiet, introverted friar with lopsided eyes, and he gained the nickname “the dumb ox.” Nonetheless, after reading Thomas’ thesis and finding it brilliant, Saint Albert proclaimed to the university, “We call this young man a dumb ox, but his bellowing in doctrine will one day resound throughout the world!” The next years of his life would find Thomas spending his time teaching and writing across Europe. He taught in Cologne as an apprentice professor, wrote commentaries on the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Lamentations, and rapidly gained prominence through his public speaking and preaching. At the time in Medieval thought, many were struggling to reconcile the relationship between faith and reason. Many great minds of Christianity and brilliant philosophers were present, but few sought to harmonize the two prior to Thomas Aquinas. Averroes, a Muslim Andalusian who wrote many books on philosophy and theology, had created a popular “theory of the double truth” at the time, which viewed the two types of knowledge, faith and reason, as being in direct opposition of each other. Thomas preached a revolutionary new focus on the theological aspects of faith and the philosophical principles of reason not as contradicting opposites, but instead as complementary fountains of knowledge that both flowed from God alone. Not only were the two compatible, according to Thomas, but he believed that “revelation could guide reason and prevent it from making mistakes, while reason could clarify and demystify faith.” To expand on the many teachings and defenses of faith that Thomas provided would require hours upon hours of explanation, but at its core, Thomas combined traditional principles of theology with modern philosophic thought to bring clarity and truth to the world, answering the questions of church authorities, medieval intellectuals, and common people alike. Thomas would later go on to receive a master’s degree in theology, and teach in Paris, Ostia, Bologna, Rome, Naples, and more. He would write more than 60 books, ranging from topics such as apologetics, philosophy, and Biblical commentaries. He was appointed regent master in theology at Paris in 1256, served as general preacher of Naples in 1260, and in 1261 traveled to Orvieto, where he worked to form friars who were unable to attend a university, while also producing works for Pope Urban IV, such as writing a newly created liturgy for the feast of Corpus Christi. In February of 1265, Thomas was called to Rome by the newly elected Pope Clement IV to serve as papal theologian. The same year, he began teaching deep theology courses at a newly established Dominican school at Santa Sabina, one of the first advanced schools for the province. It was while teaching at Santa Sabina that Thomas began his most famous work, the Summa Theologica, a timeless book on Christian doctrine that is also a highly practical guide for spiritual leaders. While it eventually would remain unfinished by Aquinas, to this day it is regarded as one of the most influential works of Western literature. In 1268, Thomas was called again to serve as regent master at the University of Paris, partly due to a sudden rise of “Averroism”, a resurgence of a “radical Aristotelianism” that opposed the combability of faith and reason. Thomas ended up penning two works which combatted these beliefs and reprimanded Averroism as being “incompatible with Christian doctrine.” The Catholic church would publicly condemn the works of Averroes in 1270 and later in 1277. At the end of his regency in Paris, the Dominicans requested Thomas to establish a university at the place of his choosing. He chose Naples for the new institution and moved there upon its founding to serve as regent master. He continued to write and preach in Naples, until two mystical experiences would change everything for Thomas. In 1273, during the Feast of St. Nicholas, Thomas Aquinas had a mystical vision at Mass where he heard the voice of Christ speak to him saying, “You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward would you have for your labor?” Thomas replied, “Nothing but you, Lord.” Stories tell of Thomas being found by a sacristan crying and levitating in front of an icon of the crucified Christ while praying, and following this mystical experience, Aquinas found himself unable to continue his writings, saying, “I can do no more. Such secrets have been revealed to me that all I have written now appears to be of little value.” After his confessor, Father Reginald of Piperno, urged him to continue writing, he refused, admitting that “all that I have written seems like straw to me.” He would never write again. In 1274, Thomas Aquinas was invited to participate in the Second Council of Lyons to help bridge the gap between Eastern and Western churches, which was rapidly widening at the time. While on his way to the council, Thomas hit his head on the branch of a fallen tree and became ill. He was ushered to Monte Cassino to rest, but after attempting to set out again, he was unable to continue and stopped at the Cistercian abbey in Fossanova, Italy. The monks there offered Thomas a spot inside the castle, but sensing his death was near, he requested to remain in the monastery saying, “If the Lord wishes to take me away, it is better that I be found in a religious house than in the dwelling of a layperson.” His health continued to dwindle for several days before receiving his last rites and praying “”I have written and taught much about this very holy Body, and about the other sacraments in the faith of Christ, and about the Holy Roman Church, to whose correction I expose and submit everything I have written.” He died on March 7, 1274, while giving commentary on the Song of Songs. Before half a century had passed, Thomas Aquinas was canonized a saint by Pope John XXII. In 1567, Pope Pius V named him a Doctor of the Church. In the 16th century, the University of Paris was renamed the College of Saint Thomas. In the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII declared the works of Aquinas were to be taught at all Catholic seminaries and theological institutions around the world. His original feast day was March 7, the day of his death, but due to that date often falling within Lent, it was moved to January 28th after a revision of the Roman Calendar in 1969. Saint Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of academics, philosophers, students, publishers, and pencilmakers. “The Universal Teacher”, Saint Thomas Aquinas illuminated a compatibility of faith and reason and serves as a towering example of what it means to be a devout believer in Jesus Christ. His timeless works are still benefitting the church and the world to this day, and his relentless pursuit of knowledge and holiness, despite any opposition or degradation he faced, should inspire us all to use our gifts for the glory of God. Next Item Previous Item

It is always a joyful experience for us to welcome a new Christian into the Church and into our parish community.  Through baptism, your child will be adopted into God’s family, receive the grace of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and have life in the Holy Spirit.  Baptism - Infant It is always a joyful experience for us to welcome a new Christian into the Church and into our parish community. Through baptism, your child will be adopted into God’s family, receive the grace of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and have life in the Holy Spirit. 0-6 years old Next Item Previous Item Program Contact Claudia Avena Baptism Coordinator (Bilingüe) cavena@ap.church 832-482-4033 We are excited to be a part of your child’s relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through the Sacrament of Baptism! It is always a joyful experience for us to welcome a new Christian into the Church and into our parish community. Through baptism, your child will be adopted into God’s family, receive the grace of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and have life in the Holy Spirit. As the doorway into God’s Church, Baptism enables your child to grow in holiness by receiving the other Sacraments as they mature. Let us know if you need any assistance with the registration process. If you prefer, we are happy to set up an appointment to meet in person to guide you through the steps or answer any questions you may have about infant baptism. Preparation for Registration If you can answer YES to all the questions below, you may be ready to request the Sacrament of Baptism for your child. After you attend the Baptism Preparation Class, you will receive a Baptism Packet which contains the necessary forms and information. Is your child 6 years old or younger? Have the parents of the child attended a Baptismal Preparation class? Are the parents of the child registered parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua? Required Documents for Infant Baptism 1 . Sacrament of Baptism Request Form . Complete the Parent Baptismal Preparation Interest Form for more information on how to get started. Upon submitting this form, our Baptism coordinator will get in touch with you for further instructions. 2 . Verification of Completion of Baptism Preparation class for both parents. If parents attended a Baptism Preparation class within the past three years at a parish other than St Anthony of Padua, you will need to obtain and submit a verification of where and when the class was completed. 3. Godparent Information Forms must be completed and signed by the godparent – one for each godparent. You will find the requirements and obligations for godparents listed in your Baptismal Pack or download a copy here: English Godparent/Christian Witness Commitment Form Español Forma de Padrino/Madrina/Testigo Cristiano 4. Official Birth Certificate. We will need a copy of your child’s official Birth Certificate as soon as possible. The latest this copy may be submitted is 2 weeks prior to your scheduled baptism in order to create your child’s Baptismal Certificate. 5. Parish Registration. You will need to provide your parishioner registration number you received when you submitted the "join our parish" form. If you do not know your number, send an inquiry to support@ap.church If you are not a member of our parish, we will need to receive a Letter of Assurance from the pastor of your current church. If you need a Letter of Assurance from St Anthony of Padua because your child is celebrating baptism at another Catholic parish, contact Sue Dewlen with your request. Scheduling Reserve Baptism Ceremony Date . To reserve a ceremony you must turn in ALL documentation required to the parish office. All registration packets will be processed on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given to active parishioners of St. Anthony of Padua. Two weeks before the Ceremony, available spots will be open to non-parishioners.

Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, born in 1902 in Spain, was deeply shaped by his Catholic upbringing. After facing personal tragedies and financial hardship, he felt a divine call, leading him to the priesthood. In 1928, he founded Opus Dei, promoting the idea that holiness could be achieved through everyday work. Despite the challenges of the Spanish Civil War and later health issues, Escrivá expanded Opus Dei globally, focusing on education, professional integrity, and devotion to God. He died in 1975, leaving a spiritual legacy that led to his canonization by Pope John Paul II in 2002. St. Josemaría Escrivá 1902 - 1975 Feast Day: June 26 Location: Spain & Italy Identifiers: Founder of Opus Dei Relic located in the: TBD Type of Relic: A spot of blood Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer was born in Barbastro (Spain) on January 9, 1902, the second of six children of José Escrivá and María Dolores Albás. His parents, fervent Catholics, took him to the baptismal font four days later, on January 13, and then taught him, first of all with their exemplary life, the foundations of faith and the practice of Christian virtues: love for frequent confession and communion, trust in prayer, devotion to Our Lady, and helping those most in need. Blessed Josemaría grew up as a cheerful, bright and simple child, naughty, a good student, intelligent and gifted with a spirit of observation. He had great affection for his mother and great trust and friendship for his father, who invited him to turn to him freely to tell him his worries, always ready to give him affectionate and prudent advice. Soon the Lord began to temper his soul in the forge of pain: between 1910 and 1913 his three younger sisters died and in 1914 the family suffered a financial collapse. In 1915 the Escrivás moved to Logroño, where the father had found a job that would allow him to support his family, albeit modestly. In the winter of 1917-18, an event occurred that would have a decisive influence on Josemaría Escrivá's future: during the Christmas holidays, a heavy snowfall fell on the city and one day he observed the frozen footprints left in the snow by two bare feet; they were the prints of a Carmelite friar who was walking barefoot. He then asked himself: - If others make so many sacrifices for God and for their neighbor, will I not be able to offer Him anything? Thus a "divine restlessness" arose in his soul: - I began to have a presentiment of Love, to realize that my heart was asking me for something great and that it was love. Although he did not yet know precisely what the Lord was asking of him, he decided to become a priest, to make himself more available to fulfill the divine will. After completing high school, he began his ecclesiastical studies at the seminary in Logroño and, in 1920, he transferred to the seminary in Zaragoza, where he completed his formation prior to the priesthood at the Pontifical University. In the capital of Aragon, following a suggestion from his father and with the permission of his ecclesiastical superiors, he also studied law. He was much loved by his classmates for his generous and cheerful, simple and serene character. Josemaría's commitment to a life of piety, discipline and study was an example for all seminarians and in 1922, at the age of just twenty, the Archbishop of Zaragoza appointed him Inspector of the Seminary. In those years he spent many hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, laying the foundations for a profound Eucharistic life, and went every day to the Basilica of the Pillar to ask Our Lady to show him what God wants from him: – Since I felt those premonitions of God’s love, he said on October 2, 1968, in my smallness I tried to realize what He expected from this poor instrument [...]. And, amid those anxieties, I prayed, prayed, prayed in a continuous prayer. I never stopped repeating: Domine, ut sit! Domine, ut videam!, like the poor man in the Gospel, who cries out because God can do everything. Lord, let me see! Lord, let it be! And I also repeated, [...] full of trust in my Mother in Heaven: Domina, ut sit!, Domina, ut videam! The Most Holy Virgin has always helped me to discover the desires of her Son. On November 27, 1924, José Escrivá died of a sudden syncope. On March 28, 1925, Josemaría was ordained a priest by Msgr. Miguel de los Santos Díaz Gómara, in the church of the Seminary of San Carlos in Saragossa, and two days later he celebrated his first solemn Mass in the Holy Chapel of the Basilica del Pilar. On the 31st of the same month he moved to Perdiguera, a peasant village, where he was appointed auxiliary regent of the parish. In April 1927, with the approval of his archbishop, he moved to Madrid to obtain a doctorate in Civil Law, which at the time could only be obtained at the Central University of the Spanish capital. Here his apostolic zeal immediately put him in contact with people from all social backgrounds: students, artists, workers, intellectuals, priests. In particular, he tirelessly devoted himself to the children, the sick, and the poor of the outlying slums. At the same time, he supported his mother and brothers by giving lessons in legal subjects. These were times of great economic hardship, which the whole family lived with serene dignity. The Lord blessed him with abundant extraordinary graces that found fertile ground in his generous soul and produced abundant fruits for the benefit of the Church and souls. On October 2, 1928, Opus Dei was born . Blessed Josemaría was taking part in a retreat and, while meditating on the notes in which he had recorded the interior motions he had received from God over the last few years, he suddenly "saw" – this was the term he would always use to describe the foundational experience – the mission that the Lord wanted to entrust to him: to begin a new vocational path in the Church, to promote the search for holiness and apostolate through the sanctification of ordinary work in the middle of the world, without changing one's state. A few months later, on February 14, 1930, the Lord made him understand that Opus Dei must also include women. From that moment on, Blessed Josemaría dedicated himself body and soul to his founding mission: to ensure that men and women from all walks of life commit themselves to following Christ, loving their neighbor and seeking holiness in their daily lives. He did not consider himself an innovator or a reformer, because he was convinced that Christ is eternal newness and that the Holy Spirit continually rejuvenates the Church, for whose service God raised up Opus Dei. Aware that he had been entrusted with a supernatural mission, he based his work on prayer, sacrifice, the joyful awareness of divine filiation, and tireless work. People from all walks of life began to follow him, especially groups of university students, in whom he awakened a sincere aspiration to serve their fellow men, kindling in them the burning desire to put Christ at the center of all human activities through work that was sanctified, sanctifying and sanctifying. This is the goal he will assign to the initiatives of the faithful of Opus Dei: to raise to God, with the help of grace, every created reality, so that Christ may reign in everyone and in everything; to know Jesus Christ, to make him known, to bring him to all places. It is therefore understandable that he could exclaim: – The divine paths of the earth have been opened. In 1933 he opened a university academy because he realized that the world of science and culture is a focal point for the evangelization of the entire society. In 1934 he published, with the title of Consideraciones espirituales, the first edition of Cammino, a book of spirituality, of which more than four and a half million copies have been published so far, with 372 editions in 44 languages. Opus Dei was still in its infancy when, in 1936, the Spanish Civil War broke out. Anti-religious violence was raging in Madrid, but Don Josemaría, despite the risks, devoted himself heroically to prayer, penance and apostolate. It was a time of suffering for the Church; but they were also years of spiritual and apostolic growth and of strengthening hope. In 1939, with the conflict over, the founder of Opus Dei was able to give new impetus to his apostolic work throughout the country and, in particular, he mobilized many young university students to bring Christ everywhere and discover the greatness of their Christian vocation. Meanwhile, his fame for sanctity was spreading: many bishops invited him to preach retreats to the clergy and lay people of Catholic organizations. Similar requests came from the superiors of various religious orders and he always granted them. In 1941, while he was preaching a retreat to a group of priests in Lérida, his mother, who had helped the apostolates of Opus Dei so much, died. The Lord also allowed bitter misunderstandings to arise against him. The bishop of Madrid, Msgr. Eijo y Garay, sent him his most sincere support and granted the first canonical approval of Opus Dei. Blessed Josemaría endured the difficulties with prayer and good humor, knowing full well that "all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12), and he recommended to his spiritual children that, faced with offenses, they should strive to forgive and forget: to be silent, to pray, to work, to smile. In 1943, through a new foundational grace he received during the celebration of Mass, the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross was born within Opus Dei, in which priests from the ranks of the lay faithful of Opus Dei could be incardinated. The full membership of lay faithful and priests in Opus Dei, as well as the organic cooperation of both in its apostolates, is a specific characteristic of the foundational charism, which the Church confirmed in 1982 with its definitive juridical configuration as a personal Prelature. On June 25, 1944, three engineers, including Alvaro del Portillo, the Founder's first successor at the head of Opus Dei, were ordained priests. By 1975, there were almost a thousand lay members of Opus Dei whom Blessed Josemaría would lead to the priesthood. Furthermore, the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, intrinsically united to the Prelature of Opus Dei, carries out, in full harmony with the Pastors of the local Churches, activities of spiritual formation for diocesan priests and candidates for the priesthood. Diocesan priests can also be part of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, without changing their membership in the clergy of their respective dioceses. As soon as he glimpsed the end of the world war, Blessed Josemaría began to prepare apostolic work in other countries, because – he repeated – Jesus wants his Work to have a universal, Catholic character from the very beginning. In 1946 he moved to Rome with the aim of preparing the pontifical recognition of Opus Dei. On February 24, 1947, Pius XII granted the decretum laudis and on June 16, 1950, definitive approval. From that day on, non-Catholic and even non-Christian men and women could be admitted as Cooperators of Opus Dei, to support its apostolic activities with their work, almsgiving and prayer. The headquarters of Opus Dei was established in Rome to emphasize even more tangibly the aspiration that informed all its work: – To serve the Church as the Church wishes to be served, in strict adherence to the Chair of Peter and the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Pius XII and John XXIII repeatedly sent him expressions of affection and esteem; Paul VI wrote to him in 1964, defining Opus Dei as a "living expression of the perennial youth of the Church". This period in the life of the founder of Opus Dei was also marked by all sorts of trials: to his health compromised by so many hardships (he suffered from a serious form of diabetes for over ten years, until 1954, when he miraculously recovered), were added the economic hardships and difficulties connected with the expansion of the apostolates throughout the world. And yet he was always seen cheerful, because true virtue is not sad and unpleasant, but rather amiably cheerful. His perennial good humor is a continuous testimony of unconditional love for the will of God. The world is very small when Love is great: the desire to flood the earth with the light of Christ leads him to welcome the appeals of the numerous bishops who, in every part of the world, ask for the contribution of the apostolates of Opus Dei to evangelization. Various projects are born: professional schools, training centers for farmers, universities, schools, clinics and dispensaries, etc. These activities, which he liked to define as a sea without shores, the fruit of the initiative of ordinary Christians who want to take care, with a lay mentality and professional sense, of the concrete needs of a certain place, are open to people of all races, religions and social conditions, because their clear Christian identity is always combined with a profound respect for the freedom of conscience. When John XXIII announced the convocation of an Ecumenical Council, he began to pray and have others pray for the happy outcome of this great initiative that was the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, as he wrote in a letter in 1962. In the Council sessions the solemn Magisterium confirmed some fundamental aspects of the spirit of Opus Dei: the universal call to holiness, professional work as a means of holiness and apostolate, the value and legitimate limits of the freedom of the Christian in temporal matters, the Holy Mass as the center and root of the interior life, etc. Blessed Josemaría met numerous Council Fathers and Experts, who saw in him an authentic precursor of many of the main lines of Vatican II. Deeply identified with the Council's doctrine, he diligently promoted its diffusion through the formation activities of Opus Dei throughout the world. Far away – over there, on the horizon – it seems that heaven and earth are united. Do not forget that where heaven and earth truly unite is in your heart as a child of God. The preaching of Blessed Josemaría constantly emphasizes the primacy of interior life over organizational activities: – These world crises are crises of saints, he wrote in The Way, and sanctity always requires that interpenetration of prayer, work and apostolate that he calls unity of life and of which his conduct is the best testimony. He was deeply convinced that to achieve sanctity in daily work it is necessary to strive to be a soul of prayer, a soul of profound interior life. When one lives in this way, everything is prayer, everything can and must lead us to God, nourishing a continuous relationship with Him, from morning to night. Every honest job can be prayer; and every job that is prayer is apostolate. The root of the prodigious fruitfulness of his ministry is found precisely in the ardent interior life that made Blessed Josemaría a contemplative in the midst of the world: an interior life nourished by prayer and the sacraments, which expressed itself in his passionate love for the Eucharist, in the depth with which he made the Mass the center and root of his life, in his tender devotion to Mary, to Saint Joseph and to the Guardian Angels, in his fidelity to the Church and to the Pope. In the last years of his life, the founder of Opus Dei made catechetical trips throughout much of Europe and several countries in Latin America. He took part in numerous formation meetings everywhere, simple and familiar, even though thousands of people were often present to listen to him, in which he spoke about God, the sacraments, Christian devotions, the sanctification of work, and love for the Church and the Pope. On March 28, 1975, he celebrated his priestly jubilee. That day, his prayer was like a synthesis of his entire life: – Fifty years later, I find myself like a babbling child. I begin and begin again in my interior struggle every day. And so it is until the end of my remaining days: always beginning again. On June 26, 1975, Blessed Josemaría died in his workroom at midday, following a cardiac arrest, at the foot of a picture of Our Lady upon which he cast his last gaze. At that time, Opus Dei was present on the five continents with more than 60,000 members of 80 nationalities. The spiritual works of Msgr. Escrivá (The Way, The Holy Rosary, Conversations with Msgr. Escrivá, Christ is Passing By, Friends of God, Our Mother Church, The Way of the Cross, Furrow, The Forge) were distributed in millions of copies. After his death, a large number of faithful asked the Pope to open the cause of canonization. On May 17, 1992, in Rome, His Holiness John Paul II elevated Josemaría Escrivá to the honors of the altars, in a beatification ceremony attended by a multitude of faithful. On September 21, 2001, the Ordinary Congregation of Cardinals and Bishops, members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, unanimously confirmed the miraculous character of a healing and its attribution to Blessed Josemaría. On December 20, 2002, John Paul II approved the decree of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints regarding the miracle of Blessed Josemaría that opened the doors to his canonization. It concerns the miraculous healing of a serious occupational disease (chronic radiodermatitis) suffered for several years by Dr. Manuel Nevado Rey , who disappeared in November 1992, after having turned to the intercession of Blessed Josemaría Escrivá. Radiodermatitis is a disease typical of health workers who have exposed their hands to the action of radiation emitted by X-ray equipment for a prolonged period of time. The disease is progressive, it inevitably progresses until it causes, over the years, the appearance of skin cancer. Radiodermatitis has no adequate cure. The only known treatments are surgical (skin grafts, amputation of the parts of the hands affected by the lesions). In fact, no case of spontaneous healing of chronic radiodermatitis in cancerous evolution has been reported in medical literature to date. Dr. Manuel Nevado Rey is Spanish, born in 1932, a medical specialist in traumatology. For almost fifteen years he operated on fractures and other injuries, exposing his hands to the effects of X-rays. He began to perform this type of surgery very frequently starting in 1956. The first symptoms of radiodermatitis began to appear in 1962 and the disease worsened to the point that in 1984 he had to limit his activity to minor surgery, due to the already serious damage to his hands, and then even stop operating in the summer of 1992. Dr. Nevado did not undergo any treatment. In November 1992, Dr. Nevado met Luis Eugenio Bernardo, an agricultural engineer who works for a Spanish public organization. Hearing about Dr. Manuel's illness, Bernardo gave him a prayer card of the founder of Opus Dei, beatified on May 17 of that year, inviting him to turn to his intercession to be cured of radiodermatitis. From that moment on, Dr. Nevado began to recommend himself to Blessed Escrivá. A few days after this meeting, he went with his wife to Vienna to attend a medical conference. They visited several churches together and found prayer cards of Blessed Josemaría. "I was impressed," Dr. Nevado explains, "and I was encouraged to pray even more for my healing." From the day he began to entrust his healing to the intercession of Blessed Josemaría Escrivá, the lesions on his hands improved and, in about fifteen days, disappeared completely. The healing was complete, so much so that in early January 1993, Dr. Nevado was able to return to his work as a surgeon without any problems. In the Archdiocese of Badajoz – where Dr. Nevado resides – a canonical process was held on this healing, which was concluded in 1994. On July 10, 1997, the Medical Committee of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously issued the following diagnosis: “ Cancerization of serious chronic radiodermatitis in the 3rd stage, in the irreversible phase ”; and therefore with a certainly inauspicious prognosis . The complete healing of the lesions, confirmed by objective examinations of the patient in 1992, 1994 and 1997, was declared by the Medical Committee to be “ very rapid, complete and lasting, scientifically inexplicable ”. On January 9, 1998, the Special Congress of Theological Consultors gave a unanimous affirmative response regarding the attribution of the miracle to Blessed Josemaría Escrivá. The Ordinary Congregation of Cardinals and Bishops, on 21 September 2001, confirmed these judgments. On 26 February 2002, John Paul II presided over the Ordinary Public Consistory of Cardinals and, having heard the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops present, established the date of 6 October 2002 for the ceremony of Canonization of Blessed Josemaría Escrivá. From the Apostolic Brief of Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, Priest, Founder of Opus Dei: « The Founder of Opus Dei recalled that the universality of the call to the fullness of union with Christ also means that every human activity becomes a place of encounter with God [...]. He was an authentic master of Christian life and knew how to reach the heights of contemplation with continuous prayer, uninterrupted mortification, the daily effort of a work carried out with exemplary docility to the motions of the Holy Spirit in order to serve the Church as the Church wants to be served» . https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/josemaria-escriva-de-balaguer.html Next Item Previous Item

Saint Bonaventure was a wise and holy man who devoted his life to the sharing of Christ’s love through mystical and Christian wisdom. His contributions to the Catholic Church – from his writings, restoration of the Franciscan Order and organization of the Council of Lyon – are immeasurable in their impact, and he is remembered as one of the most brilliant minds of his time. His intellectual prowess, paired with his calming, peaceful skills of reconciliation, created a much-needed bright spot in the Catholic Church in a time where many brewing storms could have caused severe, lasting damage if he hadn’t intervened. His feast day is July 15th. St. Bonaventure 1221 - 1274 Feast Day: July 15 Location: Italy Identifiers: Doctor of the Church, Franciscan Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: A piece of bone Saint Bonaventure was born Giovanni di Fidanza in Bagnoregio, then part of the Papal States, around the year 1221, but little is known about his early years. There are varying stories of how he became known as Bonaventure, but one story recounts his parents growing anxious when young Giovanni fell deathly ill. Beside herself with worry, his mother sent for none other than St. Francis of Assisi to come and pray over him. St. Francis healed the sickly 4-year-old boy and foreseeing the greatness of the future saint, cried out, “Oh good fortune!” which in Italian, is “O buona ventura.” And thus, the name “Bonaventure” stuck. Fast forward to 1243, when a healthy 22-year-old Bonaventure followed Francis by entering the Franciscan Order. He had already earned a Master of Arts degree in 1243, and after joining the Friars Minor, became a Master of Theology at the University of Paris alongside another future saint, Thomas Aquinas. He produced many notable works, including commentaries on the Bible, a commentary on “The Four Books of Sentences” (a theology book written by Peter Lombard), and the Breviloquium, which was an outlined summary of his theology. Bonaventure was particularly noted for his ability to reconcile and unite differing viewpoints into a harmony of theology, philosophy, and understanding. In 1256, a teacher at the University of Paris accused the mendicant Franciscans (meaning the friars who were nomadic wanderers, begging for a living) of defaming the Gospels by their practice of poverty, to prevent the Franciscans from holding teaching positions at the university. Bonaventure defended the Franciscan ideal of Christian life, and his ability to share his personal understanding of truth in a way that formed a pathway towards the love of God earned him the title of minister general of the Franciscan Order on February 2, 1257. Bonaventure expertly navigated numerous divides during his life, and thanks to his tireless visits to various provinces, he was able to restore unity to the order and reestablish the spirit of St. Francis among the friars and beyond. At all times, Bonaventure preached the Gospel eloquently and with a noticeable outward happiness. In his writings and teachings, he made it clear that only through an inward peace and joy, gained from having God in his heart, could he show happiness on the outside. He would serve as the superior of the Friars Minor for 17 fruitful years, and his impact is so great on the order that he is sometimes referred to as the second founder of the Franciscans. He successfully proposed a unified and collected text regulating the daily life of the Friars Minor in 1260, which was accepted and ratified by the General Chapter of the Order in Narbonne. Bonaventure’s skill at reconciling opposing views caught the attention of numerous Popes, including Pope Clement IV, who nominated Bonaventure for Archbishop of York in 1265. He would turn down the title though, wanting to live a simple and frugal life. A few years later though, the next Pope, Gregory X, appointed him Cardinal Bishop of Albano and it was a dignity that he couldn’t refuse in May of 1273. Pope Gregory consecrated him in November of 1273 in the French city of Lyon, and his first big task as a Cardinal Bishop was to help prepare the Second Ecumenical Council of Lyons, an important ecclesial event aimed at uniting the divisions between the Latin and Greek Churches at the time. Bonaventure worked hard to prepare the council and was a leading figure in the reform of the church, but sadly, he would not see its completion. Bonaventure died suddenly on July 15, 1274, while the council was still in session. He was buried the same day in a Franciscan Church. His contributions to the church and profound sanctity earned him the canonization of a saint on April 14, 1482 by Pope Sixtus IV, and he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1588 by Pope Sixtus V. He is often referred to as the “Seraphic Doctor” of the Church, with seraphic referring to the highest order of angels in heaven. Saint Bonaventure could have easily been remembered only for his immense intellect shared in his teachings and writings. Instead, this wise and holy man chose to reinforce that intellectual ability, while good and valid, is inferior to the direction and affections of the heart. In his own words: “If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything.” Next Item Previous Item

Saint Jerome was born Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus in Stridon (modern Croatia). His education began young, traveling to Rome to further his studies before he was a teenager. He became a Christian in 366, studied theology in Trier, before retreating to the desert of Calchis to live as a hermit. Known for his scholarly work and monasticism, he became a priest, secretary to Pope Damsus, and author of numerous biblical translations, including the famous Latin translation, The Vulgate. His writings provided source material for essentially all future translations of the Bible for thousands of years. He is a Doctor of the Church. St. Jerome 342 - 420 Feast Day: September 30 Location: Present day Crotia Identifiers: Doctor of the Church Relic located in the: Center Reliquary Type of Relic: Stone from the room where he composed the Vulgate A legendary translator. A part-time hermit. A sarcastic and sharp-witted debater. Saint Jerome can be described as many things, but above all, he is one of the most important scholars of the early Catholic Church. Born around the year 343 AD in Stridon, located in modern Croatia, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus had his education begin at a young age, traveling to Rome to further his studies before he was a teenager. In Rome, Eusebius studied grammar, philosophy and rhetoric, but the Roman culture quickly sent his moral compass awry. When he was not studying, he was likely pursuing women or seeking other superficial escapades. The future St. Jerome knew his actions were wrong though, and while not yet even a Christian, on Sundays he would trudge down into the tombs of the martyrs and apostles in Rome, contemplating the reality of hell from deep in the catacombs. While Jerome was successful in frightening himself, it wasn’t until the year 366 when Eusebius decided to become a Christian and was baptized, more than likely by Pope Liberius. The next portion of his life was spent traveling far and wide, studying theology at the famous schools of Trier, learning about the self-discipline of ascetism near Aquileia, and taking a pilgrimage to the East; it was on this pilgrimage while visiting Antioch Jerome is said to have composed his earliest literary work, De septies percussa (“Concerning Seven Beatings”). Throughout all his travels, Jerome was developing his skills as a translator, which he first started to take interest in while in the Roman catacombs, where he would attempt to translate the inscriptions above the tombs. With a goal of building his own personal library, Jerome would pick up books along his journey, and translate them for his own use. Around the year 374, while Jerome was still in Antioch, a series of sickness struck him and his friends, with two of his companions passing away. It was during one of these illnesses that Jerome had a dreamlike vision where in it, he was accused of being “a Ciceronian” – a follower of 1st-century Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero – and not a Christian, which led to a severe lashing in this dream. Awaking, he vowed to never read or possess pagan literature again. The next year, Jerome traveled into the desert of Chalcis, southwest of Antioch, to live as a hermit. He would spend four years in the desert, desiring a life of ascetic penance, with practices including fasting, simple living, meditation, and striving to abstain from any sensual pleasures. This time of hermitage did not go smoothly for Jerome – he had no spiritual guide, his stomach didn’t agree with much of the desert food, and he spoke only Latin while living among Greek and Syriac speakers. Despite these difficulties, he worked hard to study and pray, learning Hebrew from a Jewish convert and continuing to improve in his translation skills. By the year 378, Jerome was becoming well-known for his work as a scholar, and being a monastic figure of significance. He returned to Antioch, where he resided as a guest of the priest Evagrius (it was at his residence in Antioch that he composed De septies percussa). Evagrius introduced Jerome to numerous Church leaders, including Bishop Paulinus. Paulinus wanted to ordain Jerome a priest, but Jerome himself had no desire to do so. He would have much preferred to remain a monk or hermit. But with many Church officials in Antioch, as well as Pope Damasus himself, encouraging him to be ordained, Jerome relented on two conditions: he wouldn’t have any priestly functions forced on him, and he would still be allowed to pursue a monastic life. He was subsequently made a priest, immediately traveling to Constantinople to begin a three-year period of intensive study of scripture. Jerome would cross paths with many noted theologians and scholars, learning greatly from them and helping him improve his knowledge of Greek. This knowledge would allow him to begin translating the homilies of Origen, a famous Greek biblical scholar, into Latin, as well as Eusebius’ Chronicon (Chronicles). These translations would take up much of Jerome’s time until the year 382, when he was made secretary to Pope Damasus. Back in Rome, Jerome served dutifully while also pursuing further scholarly work and translations. He promoted the ideal of asceticism to those around him and used the best Greek manuscripts he could find to attempt to revise the Old Latin versions of the Gospels, which didn’t sit well with some among the Roman clergy. Jerome’s pen would not be deterred by dissent though, crafting writings that defended Mary as a perpetual virgin, attacked the idea that marriage was as equally virtuous as virginity, and called out many Roman clergy who Jerome saw as corrupt or lax. When Pope Damasus died in December of 384, not even his great sarcastic wit could fully defend him from the vengeance of his enemies. One particularly vicious rumor that was spread involved an accusation of inappropriate behavior with a woman named Paula, who at the time was one of Jerome’s students in asceticism. Dismayed by this calumny, Jerome left Rome and returned to Antioch in 386. Not long after, Paula, along with a number of other followers (many being Roman women who had been interested in monastic life and learned much from Jerome), joined him along a religious and archaeological pilgrimage across the Holy Land – traveling through Jerusalem, Alexandria, and eventually they settled in Bethlehem. It was here that Paula, a widow with four children, would finish building a monastery for men, three cloisters for women, and a hostel for pilgrims by 389. Jerome would spend the majority of his remaining years at this monastery, continuing to write extensively, engaging in debates against heretics or fellow teachers of the Church, including a heated exchange with St. Augustine himself. They eventually repaired their relationship and saw each other as equals, with Augustine once saying “What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known.” Jerome would spend the remaining 34 years of his life writing the bulk of his literary works. He wrote about his monastic life, some historical works, biblical exegeses, and more. While reviewing his earlier work on the Gospels, he deemed most of those writings inadequate and began to revise his earlier editions. Jerome would never finish a complete translation of the Bible into Latin, but his work would form the core foundation of the eventual accepted Latin translation, known as The Vulgate. In the year 404, Paula died, and she would later become a saint (Saint Paula of Rome). Rome would be ransacked later that decade, with violence eventually making its way to Bethlehem, disrupting much of Jerome’s literary work in his final years. Jerome died peacefully on September 30th, 420, and his remains were buried under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, before being later transferred to Rome. He was beatified in 1747 by Pope Benedict XIV, and officially canonized a saint in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. He is the patron saint of translators, Biblical scholars, librarians, students, and archaeologists, and he is recognized as a Doctor of the Church. One could argue that Jerome’s translation of the Bible is one of the most important versions of the text to have ever been composed. It provided the source material for essentially all future translations of the Bible for more than a thousand years. He was a passionate writer, dedicated to prayer, and unwilling to allow the weakness of the flesh to deprive him of the glory found in full unity with God. 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First Reconciliation and First Communion will be through our Adult Confirmation Program – Participants will receive their First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. During the Fall Semester, Adult Confirmation preparation is offered through an 8-10 week course. First Communion - Adult First Reconciliation and First Communion will be through our Adult Confirmation Program – Participants will receive their First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. During the Fall Semester, Adult Confirmation preparation is offered through an 8-10 week course. 18+ years old Next Item Previous Item Program Contact Katie Krall Adult FF/ Marriage Manager kkrall@ap.church 832-482-4147 First Communion and Reconciliation Preparation for those at least 18 years old and out of high school, will be through our Adult Confirmation Program. Participants will receive their First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Adult Confirmation preparation is offered through a ~10-week course during the Fall Semester. Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old AND graduated from High School. Have already received the Sacrament of Baptism in the Catholic Church. Do not have any marriage impediments. Are growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Fill out the Adult Confirmation Interest Form ***You will need to provide a recently issued copy of your baptismal certificate dated within the last 6 months. Please call the church that you were baptized at and ask them to “re-issue” your baptismal certificate. Please Note: If you are married, and you and/or your spouse are Catholic, but you were not married in the Catholic Church, you will need to have your marriage convalidated prior to becoming Catholic. For more information and to see if this applies to you, please read the Marital Status Information below. Marital Status Information Adult Confirmation Request Form