(Feast Day ~ January 30) Rags to riches stories are always appealing. What child has not thrilled to the story of Cinderella, who went from being neglected and given the worst of the household chores by her step-sisters to being the Prince’s choice for his bride? And what American does not admire the success stories […]

Feast Day ~ January 29 He had everything a young man could wish for: wealth, social prominence, an excellent education, a lucrative position as a lawyer, a beautiful wife from one of the best families. What more could Sulpicius Severus have asked for? It is especially true for someone who “has it all” that one […]

(Feast day ~ January 27) Popularity with many often brings about hatred by some, and truth, spoken forthrightly and bluntly can inspire hatred in those for whom the truth hurts most. St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople at the turn of the 4th to the 5th century, experienced this phenomenon dramatically. John was born in […]

(Feast Day ~ January 23) The New Testament is filled with stories of our Lord’s admonitions to his listeners – and to us, today – to be merciful and generous to the poor, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, to go out of our way to help those in need. Many of the […]

(Feast Day ~ January 22) Six centuries after Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star and brought gifts to the Christ child, another magus learned of Christ, believed, and gave his life for his faith. Magundat, a Persian, was the son of a magician, who had taught him all the practices of his art. Magundat […]

(Feast day ~ January 20) Some of the most tragic incidents in war are the occasional “friendly fire” accidents, when soldiers mistakenly fire upon (and often kill) members of their own military force. But these incidents, regrettable as they are, are still understandable in the midst of the chaos and confusion of war. It would […]

(Feast Day ~ January 17) Reprinted from The Prologue from Ochrid by Bishop (St.) Nikolai Velimirovic Antony was an Egyptian, born about 250 in a village called Quemen-el-Arons near Heracleopolis. After the death of his rich and noble parents, he shared his inherited possessions with his sister, who was still in her minority, made sure […]

(Feast Day ~ January 16) The two sons in a Roman senatorial family living in northern Gaul led a typical life, receiving a good education and enjoying the privileges of society to which they were entitled by their class. But when, at age 18, Honoratus converted to Christianity, followed soon by his brother, Venantius, the […]

(Feast day, January 14) The ways of the world have drifted far from the ways of God. In the world, power and riches and prominent positions are important. But Holy Scripture reminds us that God’s way is the opposite. We are told that even great and powerful people must be “born again” and become like […]