THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS, TOR

Blessed William Carter Saint of the Day for January 11 (c. 1548 – January 11, 1584) Click to hear audio clip ► Blessed William Carter’s Story Born in London, William Carter entered the printing business at an early age. For many years he served as apprentice to well-known Catholic printers, one of whom served a […]

Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys Saint of the Day for January 12 (April 17, 1620 – January 12, 1700) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys’ Story “God closes a door and then opens a window,” people sometimes say when dealing with their own disappointment or someone else’s. That was certainly true in Marguerite’s case. Children from European […]

Saint Hilary of Poitiers Saint of the Day for January 13 (c. 315 – c. 368) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Hilary of Poitiers’ Story This staunch defender of the divinity of Christ was a gentle and courteous man, devoted to writing some of the greatest theology on the Trinity, and was like […]

Saint Gregory Nazianzen Saint of the Day for January 14 (c. 325 – c. 390) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Gregory Nazianzen’s Story After his baptism at 30, Gregory gladly accepted his friend Basil’s invitation to join him in a newly founded monastery. The solitude was broken when Gregory’s father, a bishop, needed help in […]

Saint Paul the Hermit Saint of the Day for January 15 (c. 233 – c. 345) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint  Paul the Hermit’s Story It is unclear what we really know of Paul’s life, how much is fable, how much fact. Paul was reportedly born in Egypt, where he was orphaned by age […]

Saint Berard and Companions Saint of the Day for January 16 (d. January 16, 1220) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Berard and Companions’ Story Preaching the gospel is often dangerous work. Leaving one’s homeland and adjusting to new cultures, governments and languages is difficult enough; but martyrdom caps all the other sacrifices. In 1219, with […]

Saint Anthony of Egypt (Saint Anthony the Abbot) Saint of the Day for January 17 (251 – 356) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Anthony of Egypt’s Story The life of Anthony will remind many people of St. Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, “Go, sell what […]

Saint Charles of Sezze Saint of the Day for January 18 (October 19, 1613 – January 6, 1670) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Charles of Sezze’s Story Charles thought that God was calling him to be a missionary in India, but he never got there. God had something better for this 17th-century successor to […]

Saint Fabian Saint of the Day for January 19 (c. 200 – January 20, 250) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Fabian’s Story Fabian was a Roman layman who came into the city from his farm one day as clergy and people were preparing to elect a new pope. Eusebius, a Church historian, says a dove […]

Saint Sebastian Saint of the Day for January 20 (c. 256 –  January 20, 287) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Sebastian’s Story Almost nothing is historically certain about Sebastian except that he was a Roman martyr, was venerated in Milan even in the time of Saint Ambrose and was buried on the Appian Way, probably […]