The life of Peter, a North African tax collector and banker, bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Charles Dickens' fictional character, Ebenezer Scrooge. Peter was a merciless miser, cruel to the poor, who dubbed him "the stingy one." Once when a baker was delivering bread to Peter at his door, a pauper resolute to obtain alms rushed to the doorstep. Out of anger, and to rid himself of the intruder, Peter threw a loaf at the head of the poor man, who received it with delight. Two days later, Peter fell gravely ill. During this sickness he experienced a terrifying vision of the divine judgment he would face if he did not repent. He saw a balancing scale, on one pan of which a hoard of devils piled his many sins. On the other side were angels that had nothing to place on the opposite pan other than the one loaf Peter had angrily hurled at the pauper. The vision wrought a total conversion in Peter. Thereafter he donated all his possessions to the poor. After giving his own tunic to a pauper, Peter experienced a vision of Christ clothed in the same garment. Peter also obtained the miraculous healing of a deaf and mute man.
St. Giles, Abbot (Patron of Physically Disabled) Feast day - September 1 St. Giles is said to have been a seventh century Athenian of noble birth. His piety and learning made him so conspicuous ... continue readingMore Saint of the Day
Born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16 1890; her farmworker father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children. In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed ... continue readingMore Female Saints
St. Michael the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief ... continue reading
The name Gabriel means "man of God," or "God has shown himself mighty." It appears first in the prophesies of Daniel in the Old Testament. The angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks. His name also occurs in the apocryphal book of Henoch. He was the ... continue reading
Sabas was born at Mutalaska, Cappadocia, near Caesarea. He was the son of an army officer there who when assigned to Alexandria, left him in the care of an uncle. Mistreated by his uncle's wife, ... continue reading
By Deacon Keith A Fournier
Over the centuries, the Jesuits have been relied upon by Popes as trustworthy, heroic soldiers for Jesus Christ and His Church. Yes, there have been times when the company seemed to lose its fervor. However, Jesus Christ the King has always sent His Spirit to ... continue readingMore Christian Saints & Heroes