THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS, TOR

Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio Saint of the Day for February 25 (January 20, 1502 – February 25, 1600) Click to hear audio clip ► Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio’s Story Sebastian’s roads and bridges connected many distant places. His final bridge-building was to help men and women recognize their God-given dignity and destiny. Sebastian’s parents were […]

Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin Saint of the Day for February 26 (October 6, 1888 – October 20, 1922) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin’s Story If anyone knew rejection, ridicule and disappointment, it was today’s saint. But such trials only brought Maria Bertilla Boscardin closer to God and more determined to serve him. […]

Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows Saint of the Day for February 27 (March 1, 1838 – February 27, 1862) Click to hear audio clip ► Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows’ Story Born in Italy into a large family and baptized Francis, Saint Gabriel lost his mother when he was only four years old. […]

Blessed Daniel Brottier Saint of the Day for February 28 (September 7, 1876 – February 28, 1936) Click to hear audio clip ► Blessed Daniel Brottier’s Story Daniel spent most of his life in the trenches—one way or another. Born in France in 1876, Daniel was ordained in 1899 and began a teaching career. That […]

Saint David of Wales Saint of the Day for March 1 (d. March 1, 589) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar01.mp3 Saint David of Wales’ Story David is the patron saint of Wales and perhaps the most famous of British saints. Ironically, we have little reliable information about him. It is known that he became a priest, engaged in missionary work, […]

Saint Agnes of Bohemia Saint of the Day for March 2 (1205 – March 6, 1282) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar02.mp3   Saint Agnes of Bohemia’s Story Agnes had no children of her own but was certainly life-giving for all who knew her. Agnes was the daughter of Queen Constance and King Ottokar I of Bohemia. She was betrothed to the […]

  Saint Katharine Drexel Saint of the Day for March 3 (November 26, 1858 -March 3, 1955 ) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar03.mp3 Katharine Drexel’s Story If your father is an international banker and you ride in a private railroad car, you are not likely to be drawn into a life of voluntary poverty. But if your mother opens your […]

Saint Casimir Saint of the Day for March 4 (1458 – 1483) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar04.mp3 Saint Casimir’s Story Casimir, born of kings and in line to be a king himself, was filled with exceptional values and learning by a great teacher, John Dlugosz. Even his critics could not say that his conscientious objection indicated softness. As a teenager, […]

Saint John Joseph of the Cross Saint of the Day for March 5 (August 15, 1654 – March 5, 1734) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar05.mp3 Saint John Joseph of the Cross’ Story Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity—as the life of Saint John Joseph shows. John Joseph was very ascetic even as a […]

Saint Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes Saint of the Day for March 6 (October 31, 1618 – May 26, 1645) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar06.mp3 Saint Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes’ Story Mary Ann grew close to God and his people during her short life. The youngest of eight, Mary Ann was born in Quito, Ecuador, which […]

Saints Perpetua and Felicity Saint of the Day for March 7 (d. 203) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar07.mp3 Saints Perpetua and Felicity’s Story “When my father in his affection for me was trying to turn me from my purpose by arguments and thus weaken my faith, I said to him, ‘Do you see this vessel—waterpot or whatever it may […]

Saint John of God Saint of the Day for March 8 ( March 8, 1495 – March 8, 1550) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar08.mp3   Saint John of God’s Story Having given up active Christian belief while a soldier, John was 40 before the depth of his sinfulness began to dawn on him. He decided to give the rest of his life […]

Saint Frances of Rome Saint of the Day for March 9 (1384 – March 9, 1440) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar09.mp3   Saint Frances of Rome’s Story Frances’ life combines aspects of secular and religious life. A devoted and loving wife, she longed for a lifestyle of prayer and service, so she organized a group of women to minister […]

Saint Dominic Savio Saint of the Day for March 10 (April 2, 1842 – March 9, 1857) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar10.mp3 Saint Dominic Savio’s Story So many holy persons seem to die young. Among them was Dominic Savio, the patron of choirboys. Born into a peasant family at Riva, Italy, young Dominic joined Saint John Bosco as a student at […]

Saint John Ogilvie Saint of the Day for March 11 (1579 –  March 10, 1615) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar11.mp3 Saint John Ogilvie’s Story John Ogilvie’s noble Scottish family was partly Catholic and partly Presbyterian. His father raised him as a Calvinist, sending him to the continent to be educated. There, John became interested in the popular debates going […]

Blessed Angela Salawa Saint of the Day for March 12 (September 9, 1881 – March 12, 1922) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar12.mp3 Blessed Angela Salawa’s Story Angela served Christ and Christ’s little ones with all her strength. Born in Siepraw, near Kraków, Poland, she was the 11th child of Bartlomiej and Ewa Salawa. In 1897, she moved to Kraków where her […]

Saint Leander of Seville Saint of the Day for March 13 (c. 534 – March 13, 600 or 601) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar13.mp3 Saint Leander of Seville’s Story The next time you recite the Nicene Creed at Mass, think of today’s saint. For it was Leander of Seville who, as bishop, introduced the practice in the sixth century. He […]

Saint Maximilian Saint of the Day for March 14 (274 – March 12, 295) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar14.mp3 Saint Maximilian’s Story We have an early, precious, almost unembellished account of the martyrdom of Saint Maximilian in modern-day Algeria. Brought before the proconsul Dion, Maximilian refused enlistment in the Roman army saying, “I cannot serve, I cannot do evil. […]

Saint Louise de Marillac Saint of the Day for March 15 (August 12, 1591 – March 15, 1660) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar15.mp3 Saint Louise de Marillac’s Story Born near Meux, France, Louise lost her mother when she was still a child, her beloved father when she was but 15. Her desire to become a nun was discouraged by […]

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer Saint of the Day for March 16 (December 26, 1751 – March 15, 1820) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar16.mp3 Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer’s Story Clement might be called the second founder of the Redemptorists, as it was he who carried the congregation of Saint Alphonsus Liguori to the people north of the Alps. John, the […]

Saint Patrick Saint of the Day for March 17 (c. 386 – 461) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar02.mp3 Saint Patrick’s Story Legends about Patrick abound; but truth is best served by our seeing two solid qualities in him: He was humble and he was courageous. The determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided the life of […]

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem Saint of the Day for March 18 (c. 315 – March 18, 386) Saint Cyril of Jerusalem’s Story The crises that the Church faces today may seem minor when compared with the threat posed by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ and almost overcame Christianity in the fourth […]

Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary Saint of the Day for March 19 (c. 100–c. 1) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar19.mp3 Saint Joseph’s Story The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. The quality meant a lot more than faithfulness in paying debts. When the Bible speaks of God “justifying” someone, it means that God, the […]

Saint Salvator of Horta Saint of the Day for March 20 (1520 – March 18, 1567) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar20.mp3 Saint Salvator of Horta’s Story A reputation for holiness does have some drawbacks. Public recognition can be a nuisance at times—as the confreres of Salvator found out. Salvator was born during Spain’s Golden Age. Art, politics, and wealth […]

Saint Nicholas Owen Saint of the Day for March 22 (? – 1606) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar22.mp3 Saint Nicholas Owen’s Story Nicholas, familiarly known as “Little John,” was small in stature but big in the esteem of his fellow Jesuits. Born at Oxford, this humble artisan saved the lives of many priests and laypersons in England during the […]

Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo Saint of the Day for March 23 (November 16, 1538 – March 23, 1606) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar23.mp3 Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo’s Story Together with Rose of Lima, Turibius is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for 26 years. Born in Spain and educated for […]

Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero Saint of the Day for March 24 (August 15, 1917  – March 24, 1980) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar24.mp3 Blessed Oscar Romero’s Story The night before he was murdered while celebrating Mass, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador said on the radio: “I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of […]

Annunciation of the Lord Saint of the Day for March 25 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar25.mp3 The Story of the Annunciation of the Lord The feast of the Annunciation, now recognized as a solemnity, was first celebrated in the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God […]

Saint Catherine of Genoa Saint of the Day for March 26 (1447 – September 15, 1510) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar26.mp3 Saint Catherine of Genoa’s story Going to confession one day was the turning point of Catherine’s life. When Catherine was born, many Italian nobles were supporting Renaissance artists and writers. The needs of the poor and the sick […]

Lazarus Saint of the Day for March 27 (first century) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar27.mp3 Lazarus’ Story Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, the brother of Martha and Mary, was the one of whom the Jews said, “See how much he loved him.” In their sight, Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. Legends abound about the life of […]

Saint Catharine of Bologna Saint of the Day for March 28 (September 8, 1413 -March 9, 1463 ) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar28.mp3 Saint Catharine of Bologna’s Story Some Franciscan saints led fairly public lives; Catharine represents the saints who served the Lord in obscurity. Born in Bologna, Catharine was related to the nobility in Ferrara, and was educated at […]

Saint Ludovico of Casoria Saint of the Day for March 29 (March 11, 1814 – March 30, 1885) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar29.mp3 Saint Ludovico of Casoria’s Story Born in Casoria, near Naples, Arcangelo Palmentieri was a cabinet-maker before entering the Friars Minor in 1832, taking the name Ludovico. After his ordination five years later, he taught chemistry, physics, […]

Saint Peter Regalado Saint of the Day for March 30 (1390 – March 30, 1456) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar30.mp3 Saint Peter Regalado’s Story Peter lived at a very busy time in history. The Great Western Schism (1378-1417) was settled at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). France and England were fighting the Hundred Years’ War, and in 1453, the […]

Saint Stephen of Mar Saba Saint of the Day for March 31 (725 – 794) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMar31.mp3 Saint Stephen of Mar Saba’s Story A “do not disturb” sign helped today’s saint find holiness and peace. Stephen of Mar Saba was the nephew of Saint John Damascene, who introduced the young boy to monastic life beginning at age 10. […]