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Without knowing a whole lot about Saint Polycarp, he has entered into the life of the Church because he was a martyr–a witness to the faith with his life. That level of testimony to the faith is notable.
Every cathedral has a “cathedra,” a bishop’s chair that is used only by the bishop when he presides in the cathedral. It’s a symbol of his authority as chief teacher and liturgist of the diocese. So, today we celebrate the Chair of Saint Peter.
If it hadn’t been for an elder brother taking him under his wing, Saint Peter Damian may have taken a very different path in life. But with his brother’s guidance, he matured into a holy man, monk, and bishop. A man of prayer and devotion, Peter Damian was also a spiritual writer.
Two young children who died early in life, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, gained the attention of the Church and the world when Mary appeared to them at Fatima. Without being martyred, they became witnesses and messengers of God’s goodness.
Saint Conrad of Piacenza offers a different slant of holiness. Married, he and his wife opted to live separate lives─she as a Poor Clare and he as a Franciscan hermit. All this after he set a fire which was spread by the wind and destroyed the nearby fields, forests, and town.
Blessed John of Fiesole, a Dominican Friar, is also known as Fra Angelico. Famous for his devotional artwork John used his talents to praise God through paint. All talents can be used to praise God.
Rather than just talk about the problems of the day, the Seven Founders of the Servite Order did something about it─they consciously left all and formed a new religious congregation to address the issues. They put their money where their mouths were.
