Jan 27 2009
Memorial of St. Angela Merici
St. Angela Merici
Born in 1470 she became a Secular Franciscan at age 15. Later went on to found the Ursulines, an active teaching order for women(unheard of at that time). Read more about her here.
Archive for January, 2009
Jan 23 2009
Memorial of St. Ildephonsus
- St. Ildephonsus(607-667)
St. Ildephonsus was born in Spain in 607 and entered the Benedictine Monastery of Agalia near Toledo while still young and later became its Abbot. He attended the Council of Toledo in this capacity in the year 653 and 655. He was elected the Archbishop of Toledo in 657 succeeding his uncle, St. Eugenius.
Today is also one of our Sisters’ feast day. Have a blessed feast day, Sister M. Ildephonsa. May God grant you every grace and blessing on this day and always. We send you our love and prayers from the House of Formation. Dear readers, please join us in praying for Sister today.
St. Ildephonsus, pray for us!
Jan 21 2009
Memorial of St. Agnes of Rome
St. Agnes
 Not much is known about her except that she was 13 or 14 when she was martyred because she refused to marry the Prefect Sempronius’s son. Read more on her here.
Sister Agnes Joseph and Sister Diane Marie
Also, please join us in prayer today for our Sister, Sister Agnes Joseph(on the left in picture above) whose feast day is today. Our custom is to offer one Mass/Holy Communion, and the days work, prayers, joys, and sufferings for the Sister celebrating a Freast day/birth day, etc. (We call it a “Franciscan Day”)Â
Thanks in advance and have a blessed day! 
Jan 20 2009
Memorial of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian
- St. Fabian(236-250AD)
St. Fabian was elected Pope in an amazing way. He happened to be in Rome shortly after Pope Anteros died. He was elected unamiously after a dove landed on his head. Beware of birds? Read more about St. Fabian here.
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St. Sebastian
St. Sebastian was believed to be born in Norbonne, Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army to protect the confessors and martyrs of his day without drawing attention to himself. Read more about him here.Â
Jan 16 2009
Memorial of St. Anthony of Egypt
- St. Anthony of Egypt(251-356)
St. Anthony of Egypt was born in 251 in Coma in Lower Egypt to wealthy parents who died when Anthony was 18 years old. He is known as Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Abba Antonius, and Father of All Monks.
Read more about him here.
Jan 14 2009
Spiritual Reading
 Spiritual reading is an important part of growth in the spiritual life. It is a most valuable resource in learning about God, the Saints, and about the spiritual life in general. Our Constitutions oblige us to spend at least 15 minutes a day in spiritual reading. (how could one limit oneself to just 15 minutes?)
So, I’d like to hear from you… What are you all reading these days. Personally there are at least 5-6 books at a time that I’m working on. Some of them include the Autobiography of Dina Belanger, The True Spouse of Christ by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, a book on prayer by Fr. Benedict Groeschel… Ok, I admit it, that was only three, but right this second I can’t think of the names of the rest. Needless to say, my visiting a library is a great temptation
Jan 13 2009
Memorial of St. Hilary of Poitiers
St. Hilary
St. Hilary was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church and is best known for fighting the Arian heresy. Read more about him here.
Jan 09 2009
Franciscan Fellowship
L to R: Sr. Rose Therese, Sr. Faustina, Fr. Larry, Fr. Bert, Sr. Mary John, Sr. Veronica(Novice), Fr. Aquinas, Fr. Luis, Sr. Agnes Joseph, Sr. Magdalene, Sr. Mary Stephanie
Last evening the House of Formation had the pleasure of hosting the Franciscan Fathers from Sacred Heart Church here in Peoria. (link here) They prayed the Rosary and Evening Prayer with us in the convent chapel and then we enjoyed light refreshments and lively and inspiring conversation. Before concluding their visit they were so generous to bless the convent and all of us. It was truly a most blessed and grace-filled time to share with our Franciscan Fathers. May God bless them with many holy vocations.
Pax et Bonum, Sr. Veronica
Jan 07 2009
Memorial of St. Raymond of Penyafort
St. Raymond of Penyafort(1175-1275)
A Dominican and an expert in Canon Law. He was Pope Gregory IX’s confessor and was asked by him to organize all the decrees of the Popes and Councils. This collection was seen to be the best collection of Church law until Canon Law was extablished in 1917. Read more about him here.
Jan 06 2009
Memorial of Blessed Andre’ Bessette
Blessed Andre Bessette was a Holy Cross Brother in Canada. He was known for his devotion to St. Joseph and for curing the ill. Read more here.
Blessings to our beloved Bishop Daniel Jenky, CSC on this day.
Blessed Andre’ Bessette, pray for us.