Raymund Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894. His family was very poor, but they were rich in spirit. In 1914, his father was captured and killed by the Russians for fighting for Polish independence.
Helena had two wishes. She wanted to be a good mother. And she was. She wanted to find the cross on which Jesus had been crucified. And she did.
Do you have a good friend who truly knows and loves you? Bartholomew, one of Jesus’ Twelve apostles, discovered that Jesus knew him even before they had met for the first time.
Christianity came to Korea in secret in the 17th century. People who traveled to foreign lands learned about Jesus and were baptized. When they returned home, they shared their faith with others. The Korean government did not allow Christians to practice their faith. The Church in Korea was led quietly by lay people for many years until priests and a bishop were brought into the country and hidden from the government. When these Church leaders were discovered, they were martyred.
On October 19, we honor the six Jesuit priests and two lay missionaries who we have come to know as the North American Martyrs.
Three missionaries went to Paraguay to share the Good News of Jesus with the native people. These Jesuit priests preached about Jesus and God’s saving plan for all people. Many Paraguay natives listened and believed in their message. They asked to be baptized and began to live new lives as Christians.
Saint Cecilia probably lived in the second or third century, and tradition says she died about 177 AD.
Portuguese Jesuit priests first came to Vietnam in 1533 to preach the word of God to the people of the kingdom. These missionaries also brought the sacraments to Japanese Catholics who had been forced to leave their land because of persecutions. However, a law was passed in Vietnam that made it illegal for people to belong to the Christian Church. The Jesuits had to minister in secret until 1615, when they were allowed to build a permanent mission for Catholic worship.
Lucy lived so long ago that many details of her life are unknown to us. We do know that she came from the island of Sicily and that she died in the year 304. We have proof that she was beloved by the early Christians because her name is prayed in the first Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.
On Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The next day we celebrate the birth of Stephen. But Stephen's is a different kind of birth; it is his birth into eternal life. Death brought life for him. He is the first martyr of the Christian Church.