Born Edith Stein on 12 October 1891 in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was an exceptional figure with deep intellectual and spiritual interests. She was the youngest of 11 children in a devout Jewish family. However, during her teenage years, Edith declared herself an atheist.

Edith’s intellectual prowess led her to the University of Göttingen, where she was influenced by the teachings of the prominent philosopher, Edmund Husserl. Her studies in phenomenology culminated in a doctorate in 1917, after which she worked as Husserl’s assistant. Despite her academic success, Edith’s spiritual journey led her to a transformative moment in Frankfurt Cathedral where she witnessed a woman’s deep devotion. This, coupled with reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, set Edith on a path back to faith.

In 1922, Edith was baptized into the Catholic Church. She yearned for deeper consecration and entered the Carmelite Convent in Cologne in 1933, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

However, as the dark cloud of Nazism spread over Germany, Edith, being of Jewish heritage, faced increasing persecution. In an effort to protect her, the Church transferred her to a convent in the Netherlands. But the Nazi grip extended there too, and in 1942, she was arrested.

Edith Stein, along with her sister Rosa who had also become a Catholic and a Carmelite, died in the Auschwitz concentration camp, martyred for her Jewish ancestry, Christian faith, and outspoken criticism of Nazism.

In 1998, Pope John Paul II canonized her, recognizing her as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

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Saint Dominic was the child of Felix Guzman and Bl. Joan of Aza. He was born in Calaruega, Spain, and pursued his education at the University of Palencia. It is believed that he was ordained there while still studying. In 1199, he was appointed canon at Osma. Dominic eventually became the prior superior of the chapter, known for its strict adherence to St. Benedict’s rule.

In 1203, he went to Languedoc with Bishop Diego de Avezedo of Osma. There, Dominic preached against the Albigensians, a group considered heretical, and helped in reforming the Cistercians. In 1206, within Albigensian territory, he founded an institute for women at Prouille, supported by a group of preaching friars.

When the Albigensians murdered papal legate Peter of Castelnan in 1208, Pope Innocent III led a seven-year crusade against them with Count Simon IV of Montfort at the helm. Dominic joined this army and tried to convert the heretics through preaching. His initial efforts, however, weren’t successful.

While praying in the Church of Prouille in 1208, he reportedly received a message from Our Lady. She informed him that his efforts had borne little fruit because he had been working on barren soil, not yet touched by Divine Grace. She then instructed him to preach her Psalter, made up of 150 Angelic Salutations and 15 Our Fathers. Pope Leo XIII confirmed this revelation of the Rosary’s origin, and it’s a tradition upheld by 13 Popes that Mary first revealed the Rosary to St. Dominic. Subsequently, Dominic experienced great success with this new form of devotion, leading to the conversion of the Albigensians.

In 1214, Count Simon gifted Dominic a castle at Casseneuil. There, with six followers, he established an order devoted to converting the Albigensians. The following year, the bishop of Toulouse canonically approved this order. Although Dominic failed to receive approval for his order of preachers at the fourth General Council of the Lateran in 1215, Pope Honorius III gave his approval a year later, leading to the foundation of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans.

Dominic devoted the final years of his life to organizing the order. He traveled across Italy, Spain, and France, preaching, recruiting new members, and setting up new houses. The order was highly successful in conversions, thanks to Dominic’s unique approach of combining intellectual life with popular needs.

In 1220, he organized the first general council of the order in Bologna. After falling ill during a preaching tour in Hungary, he was forced to return to Bologna, where he passed away on August 6, 1221.

Centuries later, the Dominican Pope, St. Pius V, rallied for a rosary crusade to push back the invading Muslims. The Battle of Lepanto was won on October 7, 1571, largely attributed to the power of praying the Rosary. This victory saved Europe from the Turkish threat. News of this significant victory reached the Holy Father divinely before human channels could deliver it. That date is now celebrated as the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary. In honor of this Dominican Pope and the power of the Rosary, Popes have since worn the Dominican white as their special cassock.

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Pope Saint Hormisdas, born in Frosinone in the Roman Campagna, had a vibrant and impactful pontificate, characterized by peace and victory. Before his ordination, he was married and had a son, Silverius, who also became a pope. As a deacon, Hormisdas firmly supported St. Symmachus during his conflict with the antipope Lawrence and the pro-Byzantine group. Although he faced difficulties during his election, St. Hormisdas began his papacy on a victorious note by reconciling with the remnants of the Laurentian schism.

A more significant achievement was soon to follow. The Church of Constantinople had been in schism since 484, due to the actions of Patriarch Acacius. Even after many patriarchs returned to orthodoxy, they resisted removing Acacius’s name from the liturgical tablets. This division was further complicated by Emperor Anastasius’s leanings towards Monophysite heresy. Nevertheless, the Eastern Church’s clergy, monks, and laypeople increasingly desired an end to the schism, which weakened their stance against Monophysites.

An unsuccessful attempt to reconcile was made in 514 when General Vitalian revolted and pressured Anastasius. However, after Anastasius’s death in 517, optimism grew. His successor, the Orthodox believer Justin I, facilitated the reunion, as did popular opinion. A synod at Constantinople sent a representative to Pope Hormisdas to seek reunion.

In response, Hormisdas sent back a delegation with a formula of faith. This was accepted on Holy Thursday, March 28, 519, reuniting the Church of Constantinople with the Catholic Church. This event brought immense joy and relief to the faithful.

The Pope’s formula of faith was crystal clear, reasserting the condemnation of the heresies deemed wrong by the ecumenical councils, and particularly condemning the actions of Acacius. It strongly underlined the primacy and infallibility of the Roman See, proving to be a robust defence for Catholic orthodoxy from then on. It was signed by the patriarch of Constantinople and, eventually, by 2,500 bishops across the East.

St. Hormisdas also rejoiced when he received news that the African Church was enjoying a brief period of peace following the death of the Vandal king Thrasamund.

During his reign, Hormisdas took disciplinary actions and banned the phrase “one of the Trinity was crucified”, due to its misuse as a Monophysite slogan. When he passed away in 523, the Church was generally peaceful, although there were signs of looming troubles in the West.

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The three Synoptic Gospels – Matthew (17:1-8), Mark (9:2-9), and Luke (9:28-36) – all recount the story of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Interestingly, they all place the event after Peter’s affirmation of Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus’ first foretelling of his death. It’s thought that this event might have happened during the Jewish Feast of Booths, based on Peter’s inclination to build tents on the spot.

However, trying to fully understand the disciples’ experience of the Transfiguration is a challenge. This is because the Gospel accounts draw heavily from Old Testament depictions of God’s encounter at Sinai and prophetic visions of the Son of Man. It is clear that Peter, James, and John witnessed a glimpse of Jesus’ divine nature so powerful that it instilled fear in them. Describing such an overwhelming experience is difficult, so they used known religious terminology. Jesus, for certain, warned them that his glory and suffering were intertwined, a theme that the Gospel of John underscores repeatedly.

Mount Tabor is traditionally believed to be the location of the Transfiguration. The first church there was built and dedicated on August 6 in the fourth century. The Eastern Church started celebrating a feast in honor of the Transfiguration from around the same period. The Western Church began to observe it in some areas by the eighth century.

A significant event in history also falls on August 6. On this day in 1456, Crusaders won a victory over the Turks at Belgrade. Upon receiving news of this victory in Rome, Pope Callistus III decided to add the feast of the Transfiguration to the Roman calendar the following year.

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The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the most significant church in Rome dedicated to Our Lady, dates back to the year 352 during Pope Liberius’ reign. An intriguing legend tells of an aristocratic couple, John and his wife, who had no children. They prayed fervently to the Blessed Mother, asking her to designate an heir to inherit their fortune.

On the night of August 4-5, the couple were blessed with a dream in which Our Lady of the Snows appeared to them. She requested that they build a church in her honor on the Esquiline hill. The miraculous sign accompanying this dream was the outline of the church marked in snow on a hot summer night.

Not only did the couple dream of this miraculous event, but so did Pope Liberius. As dawn broke, both the couple and Pope Liberius rushed to the site and were met by a crowd of people marveling at the unusual snowfall. The area outlined by the snow was marked off before it could melt, and construction of the church began.

Within two years, the basilica was completed and consecrated by Pope Liberius, earning it an alternate name – the Basilica Liberiana. After the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. affirmed Mary as Theotokos, or the God-bearer, Pope Sixtus III rebuilt and embellished the basilica. From the 7th century onward, it was often referred to as St. Mary the Great or Major. It was also occasionally called Our Lady of the Snows, recalling the miraculous snowfall that prompted its construction.

One of the basilica’s most precious treasures is the painting of Madonna and Child, named Salus Populi Romani, believed to be painted by St. Luke. It was retrieved from the Holy Land by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. This revered painting was initially housed in Pope Liberius’ private chapel but was later moved to the Basilica for public veneration.

Over the centuries, this famous image of Our Lady has been held in great esteem. Popes have carried it in processions, praying to the Protectress of the People of Rome during times of plague and cholera. In recognition of these answered prayers, Pope Gregory XVI placed crowns of gold and gems on the heads of Mary and the child Jesus in the image.

In the 17th century, Pope Paul V commissioned a special chapel to house this venerated image. In the heart of the basilica, under the high altar, the manger from Bethlehem’s stable is venerated.

The Basilica of St. Mary Major’s Dedication feast is celebrated annually on August 5th. A delightful tradition on this day is the showering of white rose petals from the dome of the Chapel of Our Lady, symbolizing the miraculous snowfall that inspired the church’s construction.

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Saint John Marie Vianney, a humble peasant born on May 8, 1786, in the village of Dardilly near Lyons in France, was known for his quiet nature, patience, and deep faith. He wished to become a priest but struggled with learning Latin, which was crucial for his religious training. His life took an unexpected turn when he was drafted into the French army.

En route to join his designated unit, he paused to pray in a church, which resulted in his regiment departing for Spain without him. To avoid military service, Jean Baptiste had to go into hiding for two years. In 1811, he eventually entered a seminary, only to be dismissed three years later due to his difficulty grasping theological studies. Despite this, the bishop of Grenoble, recognizing Vianney’s resolute character and judicious wisdom, decided to ordain him as a priest in 1815. After a three-year probationary period, Vianney was assigned to the village of Ars as their pastor.

Vianney brought to Ars a blend of gentle compassion and personal resilience. Initially, his sermons tackled issues such as drinking, swearing, and dancing. He advocated for the importance of observing Sunday as a day of rest and the need for regular church attendance. His severe fasting and late-night prayers served as a testament to his parishioners that he held himself to an even higher standard than he asked of them. Over time, his influence transformed Ars into a beacon of Christian values.

As his reputation grew, visitors from surrounding towns began to seek out the Ars pastor for confession. Vianney’s deep spiritual insights into their concerns proved highly valuable. By 1845, he was dedicating more than 12 hours a day to hearing confessions in the parish church, with people from across France waiting in long lines for his counsel.

However, Vianney’s success as a confessor also came with personal hardships. His limited sleep was often interrupted by bizarre noises and extreme discomfort, to the point that he felt physically assaulted. His bed even once caught fire. He interpreted these troubles as devil’s harassment, leading him to further intensify his prayers and penances.

Vianney passed away on August 4, 1859, at the age of 73. In recognition of his unwavering faith and service, the Roman Catholic Church canonized him as a saint in 1925 and declared him the heavenly patron of all parish priests in 1929.

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Saint Gamaliel was a prominent Pharisee and renowned legal scholar during the New Testament era, known for his profound influence in Jewish religious affairs.

The Bible’s book of Acts, specifically in Acts 5:34, describes him as counseling the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish tribunal, to spare the lives of Saint Peter and the Apostles. They had defied Jewish authorities by continuing to preach, and despite potential backlash, the Sanhedrin heeded Gamaliel’s advice due to his high standing and authority.

It’s also in the Acts, specifically Acts 22:3, that we discover Saint Paul was a student of Gamaliel. However, the exact extent and nature of his influence on the future apostle remain unclear. Many believe Gamaliel is the same person as a respected Jewish legal scholar with the same name, who passed away eighteen years before Jerusalem’s destruction. Like his grandfather, Hillel, this Gamaliel was known as “the Elder” in the Talmud and was the first to be honored with the title “Rabban,” or “our master.”

According to the Talmud, Gamaliel played a crucial role in the Jewish high tribunal and initiated numerous legal ordinances. He had a son named Simeon, named after his own father, and a daughter who married a priest named Simon ben Nathanael. The Talmud states that Gamaliel remained a Pharisee until his death, leading to the declaration, “When he died, the honour of the Torah (the law) ceased, and purity and piety became extinct.”

Interestingly, early ecclesiastical traditions suggest that Gamaliel might have secretly converted to Christianity while still serving on the Sanhedrin, discreetly supporting his fellow Christians. Photius, a notable scholar, suggests that Gamaliel, along with his son and Nicodemus, was baptized by Saint Peter and Saint John. According to legend, Gamaliel’s body, said to be miraculously discovered in the fifth century, is currently preserved in Pisa, Italy.

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Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, originally from Sardinia, Italy, had a notable life that was marked by his strong faith and resilient stand against heresy. Following the martyrdom of his father, Eusebius’ mother relocated the family to Rome, where Eusebius spent his formative years and served as a lector. Subsequently, he moved to Vercelli in the Piedmont region of Italy, where his unwavering service to the Church resulted in his election as the city’s first Bishop.

In 355, Eusebius participated in a council in Milan, convened by Emperor Constantius. With the Emperor’s backing, the Arian bishops intended to label St. Athanasius, a staunch defender of Christian orthodoxy, as a heretic. Eusebius, together with St. Dionysius, staunchly opposed this wrongful condemnation.

Despite the Emperor’s pressure, Eusebius firmly refused to sign off on Athanasius’ condemnation. As a consequence, he was banished and first exiled to Scythopolis in Palestine. There, he endured intense persecution at the hands of the Arian bishop Patrophilus, who not only had him imprisoned but also starved him. Adding insult to injury, the Arians also paraded him semi-naked through the streets, heaping mockery and insults upon him.

Further periods of exile followed in Cappadocia and then Thebaid in Upper Egypt. Yet, throughout these tribulations, Eusebius remained a steadfast advocate of the true Faith, maintaining correspondence with other bishops and urging them to stay faithful.

The tides turned in 361 when Emperor Julian ascended to power and allowed all the exiled bishops to return. Eusebius traveled to Alexandria to discuss with St. Athanasius the possibility of convening a synod. The synod was subsequently held there in 362 under their joint leadership.

After the synod, Eusebius journeyed to Antioch and Illyricum, reaffirming the wavering faithful and guiding those who had gone astray back to the fold. By 363, he returned to Italy and collaborated with St. Hilary of Poitiers, a passionate crusader against Arianism in the Western Church. Finally, after a prolonged absence, Eusebius returned to his Bishopric in Vercelli, where he passed away on August 1, 371.

In recognition of his enduring faith and the hardships he underwent, the Church bestowed upon him the title of martyr.

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Saint Alphonsus Liguori, born in 1732 near Naples, Italy, was known for his studious nature and diligent work ethic. He earned a law degree and went on to establish a notable legal career. However, a legal mistake prompted a significant shift in his life. It validated his inner thoughts that he was meant for a different calling – priesthood.

Despite his father’s pleas to reconsider, Alphonsus was resolute in his decision. He embarked on his journey into priesthood, a journey filled with ceaseless activity. Alphonsus preached, penned books, and even founded a religious group, the Redemptorists.

Known for his wise spiritual guidance, he brought solace to people through the sacrament of Reconciliation. His talents went beyond preaching and counseling; he wrote hymns, played the organ, and even painted. The breadth of his accomplishments is made even more remarkable by his output of sixty books, despite being frequently unwell with headaches and other illnesses.

In terms of his temperament, Alphonsus was naturally quick-tempered but strived for self-control. His humility was such that when offered the position of bishop by Pope Pius VI, he initially declined. When told he was the pope’s choice, the pope’s messengers addressed him as “Most illustrious Lord.” Alphonsus politely requested they refrain from using that title, saying it would “kill him.”

Eventually, he accepted the bishop’s role, understanding that it was the pope’s wish. He sent numerous preachers throughout his diocese to remind people of God’s love and the importance of their faith. Alphonsus always advised his priests to preach sermons that even the simplest congregation member could comprehend, stating, “I never preached a sermon that the simplest old woman in the church could not understand.”

As he aged, Saint Alphonsus was burdened by illness. Arthritis made him crippled, and he became nearly deaf and blind. Despite these hardships, his devotion to the Blessed Mother, as evidenced in his renowned book, the Glories of Mary, remained unwavering. His trials were met with peace, joy, and a holy death.

St. Alphonsus passed away in 1787, aged ninety-one. He was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839, and in 1871, Pope Pius IX declared him a Doctor of the Church.

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Saint Ignatius of Loyola, whose birth name was Íñigo Oñaz López de Loyola, was born into nobility and spent his early years in a prominent courtier’s household. In 1517, he made a shift from court life to the military. While recovering from a severe injury in 1521, he experienced a religious conversion after reading a biography of Jesus.

Following this transformation, Ignatius traveled to Montserrat for confession and absolution, then moved on to Manresa. In 1523, he attempted a journey to the Holy Land but was barred from entering Palestine. This setback led him to decide on pursuing an education.

Between 1524 and 1528, he studied at Barcelona, Alcalá, and Salamanca. His time in Alcalá and Salamanca included brief imprisonments due to suspicions raised by the Inquisition. His studies concluded in Paris. Rather than excelling in academics, Ignatius proved to be a spiritual guide. Despite further inquiries by the Inquisition, he was absolved of any wrongdoings.

Together with six others, including St. Francis Xavier and Diego Lainez, Ignatius pledged vows of poverty and chastity. This group would become the core of the Jesuits. Initially, they aimed to live in Christ’s footsteps in the Holy Land, seeking to convert Muslims. But the outbreak of the Turkish wars redirected them to Rome. Once in Rome, they were ordained in 1537 and commenced work under the pope’s direction in 1538.

In 1539, Ignatius outlined a new order’s formula, securing papal approval for it in 1540. This formula would later underpin the Jesuits’ governance Constitutions, published posthumously. In 1541, Ignatius was chosen as the order’s general, leading it from Rome until his passing. Despite the Jesuits playing a crucial role in the Counter Reformation, it was not their primary objective. Ignatius seemed more invested in foreign missions and youth education. During his life, numerous schools were established in Europe, and missions started in Japan, India, and Brazil.

Ignatius was driven by a lifelong wish to emulate Christ. His book, the “Spiritual Exercises”, written over many years, contains a range of reflections, conscience examinations, and prayers. These are organized into four stages towards achieving mystical union with God. The spirituality associated with Ignatius highlights the importance of human initiative. His book is a highly valued resource in Christian mysticism and continues to be a go-to guide for devout Catholics. His “soldier of Christ” idea, often perceived as overly militaristic, is more accurately an echo of St. Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:10-17. Ignatius’s final resting place is the Gesù in Rome. He was canonized in 1622.

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