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Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Detail | Stained glass of Saints Lucy, Catherine of Genoa, Pope Leo the Great | Sainte Anne de Detroit Catholic Church, Detroit, MI | photo by Nheyob Saint Catherine of Genoa Saint of the Day for March 26 (1447 – September 15, 1510)  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 were often overshadowed by a hunger for luxury and self-indulgence. Catherine’s parents were members...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: The Annunciation | Leonardo da Vinci Annunciation of the Lord Saint of the Day for March 25  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 had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. Now, as Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realized. The God-Man embraces all humanity, indeed all creation, to bring...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Blessed Oscar Romero at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, 1977 | Archdiocese of San Salvador Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero Saint of the Day for March 24 (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980)  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 the army, and in particular to the troops of the National Guard, the police, and the garrisons. Brothers, you belong to our own people. You...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Santo Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo, Arzobispo de Lima | photo by MNBAArgentina Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo Saint of the Day for March 23 (November 16, 1538 – March 23, 1606)  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 the law, he became so brilliant a scholar that he was made professor of law at the University of Salamanca and eventually became chief judge of the Inquisition at...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Edward Oldcorne; Nicholas Owen | Gaspar Bouttats Saint Nicholas Owen Saint of the Day for March 22 (? – 1606)  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 penal times (1559-1829), when a series of statutes punished Catholics for the practice of their faith. Over a period of about 20 years, Nicholas used his skills to build secret hiding places for priests...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: St Bonaventure Enters the Franciscan Order | Francisco de Herrera the Elder Blessed John of Parma Saint of the Day for March 21 (1209–1289)  Blessed John of Parma’s Story The seventh general minister of the Franciscan Order, John was known for his attempts to bring back the earlier spirit of the Order after the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.He was born in Parma, Italy, in 1209. It was when he was a young philosophy professor known for his piety and learning that God called him to bid good-bye to the world he was...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: The blessed Salvator à Horta of the Franciscan order | Etching | Wellcome Images Saint Salvator of Horta Saint of the Day for March 20 (1520 – March 18, 1567)  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 were flourishing. So was religion. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus in 1540.Salvator’s parents were poor. At the age of 21, he entered the Franciscans...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: The Dream of St. Joseph | Anton Raphael Mengs Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary Saint of the Day for March 19  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 all-holy or “righteous” one, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God’s own holiness, and hence it is really “right” for God to love him or her. In other words, God is...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Detail | Stained glass of Saints Cyril of Jerusalem & Bernard of Clairvaux | Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Dayton, Ohio | photo by Nheyob 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 century. Cyril was to be caught up in the controversy, accused of Arianism...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Sculpture of Saint Patrick of Ireland | Saint Augustine church, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | photo by Reinhardhauke Saint Patrick Saint of the Day for March 17 (c. 386 – 461)  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 God’s instrument for winning most of Ireland for Christ.Details of his life are uncertain. Current research places his dates of birth and death a...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer near Church of the Visitation of Our Lady in Hluboké Mašůvky, Znojmo District | photo by Jiří Sedláček Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer Saint of the Day for March 16 (December 26, 1751 – March 15, 1820)  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 name given him at Baptism, was born in Moravia into a poor family, the ninth of 12...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac | Relief in Saint Vincent’s chapel in the church of San Carlo al Corso church in Milan | sculpture by Giovanni Pandiani Saint Louise de Marillac Saint of the Day for March 15 (August 12, 1591 – March 15, 1660)  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 her confessor, and a marriage was arranged. One son...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Saint Maximilian Saint of the Day for March 14 (274 – March 12, 295)  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. I am a Christian.”Dion replied: “You must serve or die.”Maximilian: “I will never serve. You can cut off my head, but I will not be a soldier of this world, for I am a soldier of Christ. My army is the army...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Detail | Saints Leander and Isidore | © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro Saint Leander of Seville Saint of the Day for March 13 (c. 534 – March 13, 600 or 601)  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 saw it as a way to help reinforce the faith of his people and as an antidote against the heresy of Arianism, which denied the divinity of...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Portrait of Aniela Salawa in the Franciscan church in Krakow | photo by Miezian Blessed Angela Salawa Saint of the Day for March 12 (September 9, 1881 – March 12, 1922)  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 older sister Therese lived. Angela immediately began to gather together and instruct young women domestic workers. During World War I, she helped prisoners of war...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Saint John Ogilvie study | © Peter Howson Saint John Ogilvie Saint of the Day for March 11 (1579 – March 10, 1615)  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 on between Catholic and Calvinist scholars. Confused by the arguments of Catholic scholars whom he sought out, he turned to Scripture. Two texts particularly struck him: “God wills all men to be...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Stained glass of Saint Dominic Savio in the Fatima Chapel | Langen near Brekenz, Austria | photo by Reinhard Müller Saint Dominic Savio Saint of the Day for March 10 (April 2, 1842 – March 9, 1857)  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 the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He impressed Don Bosco with his desire to be a...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Frances of Rome giving alms | Giovanni Battista Gaulli Saint Frances of Rome Saint of the Day for March 9 (1384 – March 9, 1440) 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 to the needs of Rome’s poor.Born of wealthy parents, Frances found herself attracted to the religious life during her youth. But her parents objected and a young nobleman was selected to be...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of John of God in Rome | photo by Livioandronico2013 Saint John of God Saint of the Day for March 8 ( March 8, 1495 – March 8, 1550)  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 to God’s service, and headed at once for Africa where he hoped to free captive Christians and, possibly, be martyred.He was soon advised that his desire for...

Fr. Don Miller, OFM Image: Statue of John of God in Rome | photo by Livioandronico2013 Saint John of God Saint of the Day for March 8 ( March 8, 1495 – March 8, 1550)  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 to God’s service, and headed at once for Africa where he hoped to free captive Christians and, possibly, be martyred.He was soon advised that his desire for...