There fared a mother driven forthOut of an inn to roam;In the place where she was homelessAll men are at home.The crazy stable close at hand,With shaking timber and shifting sand,Grew a stronger thing to abide and standThan the square stones of Rome.G.K. Chesterton, The House of Christmas Read more
On this day, Pope Leo XIII issued two encyclicals: Christi Nomen (On Propogation of the Faith and Eastern Churches) December 24, 1894; Dum Multa (Marriage Legislation) December 24, 1902. Read more
Saint Paola Elisabetta Cerioli was the founder of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Family and the congregation of the Family of Bergamo. Cerioli, the daughter of Francesco Cerioli and Francesca Corniani, was born in an Italian noble family, the youngest of 16 children. At the age of 11, she was sent to school in Bergamo where she would be educuated for 5 years. Though she became lonely, the experience helped her religious convictions. Cerioli returned to Soncino where... Read more
Hyacinth Gulski was a Pioneer Polish-American Roman Catholic Priest. Hyacinth Gulski was born in Chelmno that was part of West Prussia in 1847. In 1866 he joined the Order of the Franciscan Fathers. Gulski was ordained at Laki, German partition of Poland, entering the Priesthood on September 21, 1873. His timing was unfortunate for, that same year, his friary was closed by actions resulting from the Kulturkampf. Father Gulski had spent two years in hiding and eventually fled via in... Read more
O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the expectation of all nations and their Saviour: come and save us, O Lord our God. Roman Breviary, Great Antiphon at Vespers on December 23rd (ca. 7th cent.) Read more
Saint Marguerite d’Youville (October 15, 1701 – December 23, 1771) was a French Canadian widow who founded the religious order the Order of Sisters of Charity of Montreal, commonly known as the Grey Nuns of Montreal. She was canonized by Pope John-Paul II of the Roman Catholic Church in 1990. She was born Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais in 1701 at Varennes, Quebec, eldest daughter of Christophe du Frost, Sieur de la Gesmerays (1661-1708) and Marie-Renée Gaulthier de Varennes. (Pursuant to... Read more
The Class of 1869, St. John’s College, Fordham, New York (now Fordham University). Read more
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