St. John Stone was a religious who chose to remain truthful to Peter although faced by a real danger to his life. John was a religious of the English Augustinian Province. He lived during turbulent times in which Catholics – after the Catholic faith was abandoned by Henry VIII on the establishment of the Anglican church in 1534 – it was not easy to retain full faith with Peter’s successor. […]
Saint John Stone – 25th October Read More »
The life of St. Guillermo is the subject of somewhat contrasting and divergent opinions; this because the historical documentation is scarse and the fact that, with the passage of time, records of the lives of various personages got mixed up. Guillermo IX, count of Pattavia and duke of Aquitania, who died as a pilgrim in Santiago de Compostela; Gulliermo of Tolosa who led a monastic life; Guillermo the hermit who
Saint Guillermo of Malavalle – 23rd October Read More »
We have two principal souces of information on the life of John Bono, the biography written by St. Anthony of Florence in the middle of the XV century, as also the process of his beatification (XIII century) which, through the large number of witnesses, gave more details regarding the life and evengelical spirituality which this hermit led in the XIII century. He was born in 1168 in Mantova and
Blessed John Bono – 23rd October Read More »
11 May: Blessed Gregory Celli, Religious Blessed Gregory’s life is a mixture of historical truth and legend. This because no documents of his time are available and biographies concerning him are comparatively recent. Thu, we have the ideal conditions so that, as is not unusual in writings on saints, we have an interesting mixture in which, as time passes, it becomes more difficult to distinguish between the truth and what
Blessed Gregory Celli – 11th May Read More »
Our celebration today honors the memory of two saints who were intimate friends of Saint Augustine and members of his religious community. Like him they were also called to ministry as bishops in North Africa and served the Church well especially in helping to reveal the fallacies of unorthodox teachings at the time. Their love for religious life according to the inspiration of Augustine helped to spread its influence in
Saint Alypius – 16th May Read More »
He was born in 1402 or 1404 at Mascioni (Aquila) in a good family and at the age of 14 he joined the Augustinian Monastery at Montereale. In 1431 he studied theology at Rimini and the following year at Padova and at Ferrara. He graduated as a lecturer and obtained his baccalaureate. In 1438 he was sent to the University of Siena to study and explain the books of verdicts
Blessed Andrea of Montereale – 18th April Read More »
We celebrate today the memory of Blessed Stephen Bellesini, a man who lived during a difficult period of the Church’s history at the turn of 19th Century Italy. His vocation as an Augustinian religious was severely tried by strong anticlerical government regulations. Nevertheless, he did not withdraw in shame, nor did he become embittered by external challenges. Rather, he redoubled his commitment and persevered in his resolved, giving himself generously
Blessed Stephen Bellesini – 3th February Read More »
Blessed Simon of Cascia, whom we commemorate today, was an Italian Augustinian particularly attracted to a life of contemplation and prayer but who, out of obedience, became well known as a gifted preacher, writer, and spiritual director. He died in the middle of the 14th Century, but his influence remained very strong long after, and is notable, among other ways, in the life and spirituality of Saint Rita of Cascia.
Blessed Simon of Cascia – 16th February Read More »
Christine of Spoleto, whom we remember today, suffered great losses early in life, causing her to reconsider seriously the goals and ambitions she had previously considered essential. Trials brought her to a deeper level of faith in God, renewed dedication to the Church, and generous service to others. She found in Augustinian spirituality a reliable guide and support in living the Christian life, while remaining a laywoman fully engaged in
Blessed Christine of Spoleto – 13th February Read More »
We are celebrating today the memory of an Augustinian friar of Spain who was called to become a bishop, and in the exercise of that ministry became a martyr of the Church, during a bloody civil war which saw hundreds upon hundreds of priests, religious and committed laymen and women give their lives in fidelity to their faith. Bishop Polanco and his fellow martyrs are not historical figures of the
Blessed Anselm Polanco – 7th February Read More »
