Archbishop and "the First Martyr of Canterbury." He was born in 953 and became a monk in the Deerhurst Monastery in Gloucester, England, asking after a few years to become a hermit. He received permission for this vocation and retired to a small hut near Somerset, England. In 984 Alphege assumed the role of abbot of the abbey of Bath, founded by St. Dunstan and by his own efforts. Many of his disciples from Somerset joined him at Bath. In that same year, Alphege succeeded Ethelwold as bishop of ...

Martyr whose Apologia, or defense of the faith, is considered one of the most priceless documents of the early Church. Apollonius was a Roman senator who was denounced as a Christian by one of his slaves. The Praetorian Prefect, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, arrested him, also putting the slave to death as an informer. Perennis demanded that Apollonius denounce the faith, and when he refused, the case was remanded to the Roman senate. There a debate took place between Perennis and Apollonius that ...

Reading 1: Isaiah 53:1-12, Reading 1: Isaiah 52:13-15, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:25, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:15-17, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:12-13, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:6, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:2, Gospel: John 19:1-42, Gospel: John 18:1-40, Reading 2: Hebrews 5:7-9, Reading 2: Hebrews 4:14-16

O my dear Angel Guardian, preserve me from the misfortune of offending God.

Anicetus was a Syrian from Emesa. He became pope about 155 and actively opposed Marcionism and Gnosticism. His pontificate saw the appearance of the controversy between East and West over the date of Easter. St. Polycarp, a disciple of John, is reported to have visited him in Rome about the dispute, which was to accelerate and grow more heated over the following centuries.

Reading 1: Exodus 12:1-8, Reading 1: Exodus 12:11-14, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116:12-13, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116:15-18, Gospel: John 13:1-15, Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

God, my Father, may I love You in all things and above all things. May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in Heaven. Nothing is good that is against Your Will, and all that is good comes from Your Hand. Place in my heart a desire to please You and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love, so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace.

Blessed are you, loving Father, Ruler of the universe: You have given us Your Son as Your Leader, And have made us temples of Your Holy Spirit. Fill our family with Your light and peace. Have mercy on all who suffer, And bring us to everlasting joy with You. Father, We bless Your Name for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1: Isaiah 50:4-9, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 69:33-34, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 69:31, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 69:21-22, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 69:8-10, Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

St. Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France on January 7, 1844. Her parents were very poor and she was the first of nine children. She was baptized at St. Pierre's, the local parish church, on January 9. As a toddler, Bernadette contracted cholera and suffered extreme asthma. Unfortunately, she lived the rest of her life in poor health. On Thursday, February 11, 1858, fourteen-year-old Bernadette was sent with her younger sister and a friend to gather firewood, when a very beautiful lady ...