All four Gospels give an account of John the Baptist as a prophet and preacher whose ministry created expectation and awakened a wave of repentance leading to baptism among many different groups of people. Two Sundays in Advent focus on that preaching and the First Sunday after the Epiphany celebrates Jesus’ baptism by John as a central moment where the fullness of Christ’s...
Saint Hermes of Rome, also known as Ermete, was born into a life of slavery in Rome in the first century. He was fortunate enough to be freed from bondage and went on to achieve great wealth and success as a Roman citizen. Hermes was not only known for his social standing but also for his deep devotion to the Christian faith. He saw the teachings of Jesus as a way to bring true liberation and...
Saint Poemen, also known as Pastor or Shepherd, was a prominent figure among the early Christian hermits in the desert of Skete in Egypt. He gained renown as the leader of a group of hermits who lived in the abandoned ruins of a pagan temple at Terenuth. Poemen was born around the early 4th century and dedicated his life to a strict and disciplined asceticism. Saint Poemen was highly...
Saint Jeanne Elizabeth Des Bichier Des Anges, also known as Saint Jeanne Elizabeth, was born on July 5, 1773, in La Blanc, Charente, France. She was the daughter of Antony Bichier, lord of Agnes, and Marie Augier de Moussac. At the age of ten, she entered a convent in Poitiers, France, where she received an education until the age of nineteen.
Following her education, Jeanne Elizabeth...
Saint Peregrinus’ life took an unexpected turn during the reign of the Roman Emperor Commodus, known for his brutal persecution of Christians. In our understanding of historical documents, it is believed that Saint Peregrinus was martyred during these persecutions. He suffered greatly for his unwavering faith, enduring torture and persecution for proclaiming his belief in...