OXYGEN

09 Mar – Memorial for St Frances of Rome, Religious
St. Frances (1384-1440) was an aristocrat by birth. She married at the age of 12, and her marriage lasted 40 years. She was a mother of three before becoming a widow. She joined the Benedictines, and was the foundress of the “Oblates of the Tor de’ [...]

08 Mar – Memorial for St John of God, Religious
Juan (1495-1550) grew up working as a shepherd in the Castile region of Spain. He led a wild and misspent youth, travelling over much of Europe and north Africa as a soldier in the army of Charles V, and a mercenary. He fought through a brief [...]

04 Mar – Memorial for St Casimir
Casimir (1458-1484) was a 15th century Polish prince who became Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1471. He was third in line for the throne.
Hungarian nobles had prevailed upon Casimir’s father to send his 15-year-old son to be their king. Casimir obeyed, taking the crown, but refusing to exercise power. [...]

23 Feb – Memorial for St Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr
St. Polycarp (69-155) was an associate of, converted by, and disciple of St. John the Apostle. He was a friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and he fought Gnosticism. He was the Bishop of Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey), and was a revered Christian leader during the first [...]

11 Feb – World Day of Prayer for the Sick; Memorial for Our Lady of Lourdes
Today is an optional memorial for Our Lady of Lourdes. The apparitions concerned began on Feb 11, 1858, when St. Bernadette Soubirous, then a 14-year-old peasant girl from Lourdes admitted, when questioned by her mother, that she had seen a [...]

10 Feb – Memorial of St Scholastica, Virgin
Scholastica (480-543) was the twin sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. Born to Italian nobility, her mother died in childbirth. She became a nun and led a community of women at Plombariloa near Montecassino.
- Patron Saint Index
From her earliest years, she had been consecrated to God. She was [...]

09 Feb
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1 Kings 8:22-23.27-30
In the presence of the whole assembly of Israel, Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord and, stretching out his hand towards heaven, said, ‘Lord God of Israel, not in heaven above nor on earth beneath is there such a God as you, true to your covenant and your kindness towards [...]

08 Feb – Memorial for St Jerome Emilani; Memorial for St Josephine Bakhita, Virgin
Jerome (1481–1537) was born wealthy, the son of Angelo and Eleanor Mauroceni Emiliani. His father died when Jerome was a teenager, and he ran away from home at age 15. After a dissolute youth, he became a soldier in Venice in 1506. [...]

06 Feb – Memorial for Ss Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs
We have little reliable information about this martyr who has been honoured since ancient times, and whose name is included in the canon of the Mass. Young, beautiful and rich, Agatha (d.250) lived a life consecrated to God. When Decius announced the edicts against Christians, [...]

05 Feb – Memorial for St Agatha, Virgin, Martyr
We have little reliable information about this martyr who has been honoured since ancient times, and whose name is included in the canon of the Mass. Young, beautiful and rich, Agatha (d.250) lived a life consecrated to God. When Decius announced the edicts against Christians, the magistrate [...]