Brian O'Neel

Except for what she said in court, St. Faith never preached. She never wrote an epistle.

Let’s be honest: Many of us find prayer, well, boring. We get distracted. We rattle off a litany of wants and needs.

A Holy Patriarch | ca. 670–ca. 725–726 • Pre-Congregation Memorial: February 7

We know little about St. Richard, a pilgrim who, St. Bede says, ruled the old British kingdom of Wessex from roughly 688 to 725. He is thought to be the grandson of Queen St. Seaxburha and the brother-in-law of St. Boniface, and his name probably wasn’t Richard but Hlothere. We also know he was married and had three children, all of whom became saints: Walburga, Wunibald, and Willibald.

We all know people who, if you look at their lives, aren’t “special”—they are not like Mother Teresa or some great preacher—and yet their commitment to letting Christ soak every thread in their life’s fabric is no less profound.

Felicity and Perpetua were North African women martyred very early in the third century.

Circumstances permitting, we expect the elderly to retire and do their own thing. After all, they have worked hard for decades; now they should enjoy the rewards of their labors. We certainly don’t expect them to bear much fruit during this period in their lives.