Lorenzo Ruiz was hung upside-down over a pit. He was physically abused to coerce him into giving up his faith. If he would renounce Christianity, the Japanese would spare him and set him free.
Every August 19, the Catholics in different parts of the globe pause to celebrate the feast of St. Ezekiel Moreno, a figure whose life and legacy continue to transcend deeply, particularly in the Philippines and Colombia.
Barangay Tagdon, a coastal village more than 600 kilometers southeast of Manila, honors its patron San Roque with a thanksgiving festivity of food, drinks, dances, Masses, processions, and more.
Kolbe said "That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns."
Saint Dominic, whose feast day we remember today, August 8, is associated with a unique symbolism: a dog with a torch in its mouth. It is often seen beside him when he is portrayed in art, standing guard at his feet. To understand the reason behind this, we look back to the time before his birth.
In 1902, the Teddy bear was born. This popular children's stuffed toy was named after Theodore Roosevelt, the first US president to ride an automobile in the same year.
His papacy was confronted by the need for internal reform of the church, the expansion of Protestantism, and the Ottoman advance in Europe spreading the faith of Islam.
Michael de Sanctis lived a life of prayer and mortification. He was devoted to the Holy Eucharist, and is said to have been experienced ecstasies many times during Consecration.
Cyril can be considered one of those people Athanasius referred to as "brothers, who mean what we mean and differ only about the word consubstantial," notwithstanding his lack of amity with the most notable orthodoxy defender against the Arians.
According to New Testament accounts, Saints Timothy and Titus were companions of Saint Paul the Apostle. Both were committed to preaching the gospel and suffered for it.
He dared obey the gospel of Matthew, particularly, chapter 19, verse 21, which said "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven."
Tradition also credits Luke as the first person who painted icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary, making him not just the patron saint of doctors and surgeons but also of artists and painters.
