Saint Anysia of Salonika was a Christian virgin and martyr of the 4th century. Anysia was born to a wealthy and pious Christian family in what is now Thessaloniki. She dedicated herself to vows of chastity and poverty, praying and helping the poor. For more about this saint, please click on the image. Peace be with you!
Thomas Becket (1118-1170) was born in London and became a close friend of King Henry II. He was only a deacon when he was appointed chancellor of England. When he was ordained as archbishop of Canterbury, he underwent an abrupt conversion of life and began to defend the Church’s rights against the king. He had to take refuge in a French monastery for six years, and when he returned to his diocese four knights, inspired by careless words from the king, assassinated him in his cathedral on 29 December 1170. He was immediately acknowledged as a martyr and the king later did penance and endowed his shrine. He is remembered for his courage in defence of the rights of the Church. For more about this saint, please click on the image. Peace be with you!
The Feast of the Holy Family falls within the season of Christmastide and in the General Roman Calendar since 1969, it is held on the Sunday between Christmas Day and January 1; if both are Sundays, the Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on December 30th. For more about this day, please click on the image. Peace be with you!
The Holy Innocents are the children who were slaughtered at the orders of King Herod, in the hope that by killing every boy born in Bethlehem at the same time as Jesus, he would succeed in killing the new-born King of the Jews. The Church venerates them as martyrs. It it is uncertain how many children were killed, whether a small number, or in the thousands. The Latin Church instituted the feast of the Holy Innocents in the fifth century. Today, they are also a reminder of the vulnerability of the child in the womb. May innocent lives be spared and expectant mothers protect the holy innocent in the womb. Holy Innocents, pray for us! For more about these saints, please click on the image. Peace be with you!
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were nicknamed by Jesus “the sons of thunder.” John is involved in many of the central events of Jesus’ life, including the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, and the discovery of the Resurrection. He is “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and the one to whom he confided the care of his mother Mary. He is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles; later he was exiled to the island of Patmos. He is said to have died at Ephesus. He wrote a Gospel, three Epistles, and the Apocalypse. For more about this saint, please click on the image. Peace be with you!
