THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS, TOR

Saint Augustine of Canterbury Saint of the Day for May 27 (? – May 26, 605) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMay27.mp3 Saint Augustine of Canterbury’s Story In the year 596, some 40 monks set out from Rome to evangelize the Anglo-Saxons in England. Leading the group was Augustine, the prior of their monastery. Hardly had he and his men […]

Venerable Pierre Toussaint Saint of the Day for May 28 June 27, 1766 – June 30, 1853) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMay28.mp3 Venerable Pierre Toussaint’s Story Born in modern-day Haiti and brought to New York City as a slave, Pierre died a free man, a renowned hairdresser, and one of New York City’s most well-known Catholics. Plantation owner Pierre […]

Saint of the Day for May 29 (December 12, 1779 – May 25, 1865) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMay29.mp3 Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat’s Story The legacy of Madeleine Sophie Barat can be found in the more than 100 schools operated by her Society of the Sacred Heart, institutions known for the quality of the education made available to the […]

Saint Joan of Arc Saint of the Day for May 30 (? January 6, 1412 – May 30, 1431) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMay30.mp3 Saint Joan of Arc’s Story Burned at the stake as a heretic after a politically-motivated trial, Joan was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920. Born of a fairly well-to-do peasant couple in Domremy-Greux southeast of Paris, Joan was […]

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saint of the Day for May 31 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODMay31.mp3 The Story of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary This is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The present date of celebration […]

Saint Justin Martyr Saint of the Day for June 1 (c. 100 – 165) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun01.mp3 Saint Justin Martyr’s Story Justin never ended his quest for religious truth even when he converted to Christianity after years of studying various pagan philosophies. As a young man, he was principally attracted to the school of Plato. However, he […]

Saints Marcellinus and Peter Saint of the Day for June 2 (d. 304) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun02.mp3 Saints Marcellinus and Peter’s Story Marcellinus and Peter were prominent enough in the memory of the Church to be included among the saints of the Roman Canon. Mention of their names is optional in our present Eucharistic Prayer I. Marcellinus was […]

Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions Saint of the Day for June 3 (d. between November 15, 1885 – January 27, 1887) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun03.mp3 Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions’ Story One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages, aged 13 […]

Blessed Angeline of Marsciano Saint of the Day for June 4 (1377 – July 14, 1435) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun04.mp3 Blessed Angeline of Marsciano’s Story Blessed Angeline founded the first community of Franciscan women other than Poor Clares to receive papal approval. Angeline was born to the Duke of Marsciano near Orvieto. She was 12 when her mother […]

Saint Boniface Saint of the Day for June 5 (c. 675 – June 5, 754) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun05.mp3 Saint Boniface’s Story Boniface, known as the apostle of the Germans, was an English Benedictine monk who gave up being elected abbot to devote his life to the conversion of the Germanic tribes. Two characteristics stand out: his Christian […]

Saint Norbert Saint of the Day for June 6 (c. 1080 – June 6, 1134) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun06.mp3 Saint Norbert’s Story In the 12th century in the French region of Premontre, Saint Norbert founded a religious Order known as the Praemonstratensians or the Norbertines. His founding of the Order was a monumental task: combating rampant heresies–particularly regarding the […]

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter Saint of the Day for June 7 ( May 20, 1907 – August 9, 1943) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun07.mp3 Blessed Franz Jägerstätter’s Story Called to serve his country as a Nazi solider, Franz eventually refused, and this husband and father of three daughters–Rosalie, Marie and Aloisia–was executed because of it. Born in St. Radegund in Upper […]

Saint William of York Saint of the Day for June 8 (c. 1090 –  June 8, 1154) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun08.mp3 Saint William of York’s Story A disputed election as archbishop of York and a mysterious death. Those are the headlines from the tragic life of today’s saint. Born into a powerful family in 12th-century England, William seemed destined […]

Saint Ephrem Saint of the Day for June 9 (c. 306 – June 9, 373) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun09.mp3 Saint Ephrem’s Story Poet, teacher, orator, and defender of the faith, Ephrem is the only Syrian recognized as a doctor of the Church. He took upon himself the special task of opposing the many false doctrines rampant at his […]

Blessed Joachima Saint of the Day for June 10 (1783-1854) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun10.mp3 Blessed Joachima’s Story Born into an aristocratic family in Barcelona, Spain, Joachima was 12 when she expressed a desire to become a Carmelite nun. But her life took an altogether different turn at 16 with her marriage to a young lawyer, Theodore de Mas. […]

Saint Barnabas Saint of the Day for June 11 (c. 75) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun11.mp3 Saint Barnabas’ Story Barnabas, a Jew of Cyprus, comes as close as anyone outside the Twelve to being a full-fledged apostle. He was closely associated with Saint Paul–he introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles–and served as a kind of mediator between […]

Blessed Jolenta (Yolanda) of Poland Saint of the Day for June 12 (c. 1235 – June 11,1298) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun12.mp3 Blessed Jolenta of Poland’s Story Jolenta was the daughter of Bela IV, King of Hungary. Her sister, St. Kunigunde, was married to the Duke of Poland. Jolenta was sent to Poland where her sister was to supervise […]

Saint Anthony of Padua Saint of the Day for June 13 (1195 – June 13,1231) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun13.mp3 Saint Anthony of Padua’s Story The gospel call to leave everything and follow Christ was the rule of Anthony’s life. Over and over again, God called him to something new in his plan. Every time Anthony responded with renewed […]

Saint Albert Chmielowski Saint of the Day for June 14 (August 20, 1845 – December 25, 1916) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun14.mp3 Saint Albert Chmielowski’s Story Born in Igolomia near Kraków as the eldest of four children in a wealthy family, he was christened Adam. During the 1864 revolt against Czar Alexander III, Adam’s wounds forced the amputation of […]

  Saint Marguerite d’Youville Saint of the Day for June 15 (October 15, 1701 – December 23, 1771) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun15.mp3 Saint Marguerite d’Youville’s Story We learn compassion from allowing our lives to be influenced by compassionate people, by seeing life from their perspectives, and reconsidering our own values. Born in Varennes, Canada, Marie Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais had […]

Saint John Francis Regis Saint of the Day for June 16 (January 31, 1597 –  December 30, 1640) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun16.mp3 Saint John Francis Regis’ Story Born into a family of some wealth, John Francis was so impressed by his Jesuit educators that he himself wished to enter the Society of Jesus. He did so at age […]

Saint Joseph Cafasso Saint of the Day for June 17 (January 15, 1811 – June 23, 1860) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun17.mp3 Saint Joseph Cafasso’s story Even as a young man, Joseph loved to attend Mass and was known for his humility and fervor in prayer. After his ordination, he was assigned to a seminary in Turin. There he […]

Venerable Matt Talbot Saint of the Day for June 18 (May 2, 1856 – June 7, 1925) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun18.mp3 Venerable Matt Talbot’s story Matt can be considered the patron of men and women struggling with alcoholism. He was born in Dublin, where his father worked on the docks and had a difficult time supporting his family. After […]

Saint Romuald Saint of the Day for June 19 (c. 950 – June 19, 1027) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun19.mp3 Saint Romuald’s Story In the midst of a wasted youth, Romuald watched his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he fled to a monastery near Ravenna. After three years, some of the monks found him […]

Saint Paulinus of Nola Saint of the Day for June 20 (354 – June 22, 431) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun20.mp3 Saint Paulinus of Nola’s Story Anyone who is praised in the letters of six or seven saints undoubtedly must be of extraordinary character. Such a person was Paulinus of Nola, correspondent and friend of Saints Augustine, Jerome, Melania, […]

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga Saint of the Day for June 21 (March 9, 1568 – June 21, 1591) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun21.mp3 Saint Aloysius Gonzaga’s Story The Lord can make saints anywhere, even amid the brutality and license of Renaissance life. Florence was the “mother of piety” for Aloysius Gonzaga despite his exposure to a “society of fraud, dagger, poison, […]

Saint Thomas More Saint of the Day for June 22 (February 7, 1478 – July 6, 1535 ) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun22.mp3 Saint Thomas More’s Story His belief that no lay ruler has jurisdiction over the Church of Christ cost Thomas More his life. Beheaded on Tower Hill, London, on July 6, 1535, More steadfastly refused to approve King Henry VIII’s […]

Saint John Fisher Saint of the Day for June 23 (1469 – June 22, 1535) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun23.mp3 Saint John Fisher’s Story John Fisher is usually associated with Erasmus, Thomas More, and other Renaissance humanists. His life therefore, did not have the external simplicity found in the lives of some saints. Rather, he was a man of learning, associated with […]

The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Saint of the Day for June 24 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun24.mp3 Saint John the Baptist’s Story Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded him: “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John….” But John would have agreed completely with what Jesus added: […]

Blessed Jutta of Thuringia Saint of the Day for June 25 (d. c. 1260) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun25.mp3 Blessed Jutta of Thuringia’s Story Today’s patroness of Prussia began her life amidst luxury and power but died the death of a simple servant of the poor. In truth, virtue and piety were always of prime importance to Jutta and […]

Blessed Raymond Lull Saint of the Day for June 26 (c. 1235 – June 28, 1315) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun26.mp3 Blessed Raymond Lull’s Story Raymond worked all his life to promote the missions and died a missionary to North Africa. Raymond was born at Palma on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. He earned a position […]

Saint Cyril of Alexandria Saint of the Day for June 27 (378 – June 27, 444) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun27.mp3 Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s Story Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the Church, began his career as archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. He pillaged and closed the […]

Saint Irenaeus Saint of the Day for June 28 (c. 130 – c. 202) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun28.mp3 Saint Irenaeus’ Story The Church is fortunate that Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a student, well trained no doubt, with great patience in investigating, tremendously protective of apostolic teaching, but prompted more by a […]

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Saint of the Day for June 29 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun29.mp3 Saints Peter and Paul’s Story Peter (d. 64?). Saint Mark ends the first half of his Gospel with a triumphant climax. He has recorded doubt, misunderstanding, and the opposition of many to Jesus. Now Peter makes his great confession of faith: “You are the Messiah” […]

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome Saint of the Day for June 30 (d. 64) https://www.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODJun30.mp3 First Martyrs of the Church of Rome’s Story There were Christians in Rome within a dozen or so years after the death of Jesus, though they were not the converts of the “Apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 15:20). Paul […]