The Catholic Church

The readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday) remind us that Jesus Christ leads us through the gate of salvation. In the first reading Peter calls all to conversion. The psalm reminds us that God is always caring for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. The second reading tells us that when we stray, we can return to the Lord. And in the gospel Jesus promises to lead his people to safety and warns us to be cautious about who we follow. Jesus as the Good Shepherd: This image is meant to evoke the idea of a shepherd who knows his sheep by name and is willing to lay down his life for them. Jesus says that his sheep hear his voice and follow him, and that he knows them and they know him. This theme emphasizes Jesus’ love for his followers and his willingness to protect and guide them through life. Relationship between Jesus and his followers: This theme is closely related to the first one, as it also focuses on the idea of Jesus’ followers recognizing his voice a...

Saint Mark the Evangelist – Feast Day – April 25 Today is   Monday, April 24, 2023 St Mark the Evangelist was born in the early 1st century in North Africa. He is well known for being the author of the Gospel according to Mark and the founder and also bishop of the Church of Alexandria, Egypt. St. Mark died in the year 68 AD in North Africa. We celebrate his feast day on April 25 every year in the Catholic Church. He is recognized as one of the early bishops who became Saints.  Saint Mark the Evangelist Biography Date of Birth 1st Century AD Profession Author of the Gospel of Mark and founder and bishop of the Church of Alexandria Place of Work Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Libya Date of Death 68 AD Place of Death North Africa Feast Day April 25 Canonization Pre-Congregation Patron Saint of Barristers, Venice, Egypt, Mainar Saint Mark’s Life History Saint Mark is believed to be the cousin of Barnabas, a significant disciple in early Christianity who is mentioned in Acts 14:14. ...

Saint of the Day Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen April 24th 2023  Saint of the Day Image:  Painting of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen | photo by Andreas Praefcke Saint of the Day for April 24 (1577 – April 24, 1622) Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen’s Story If a poor man needed some clothing, Fidelis would often give the man the clothes right off his back. Complete generosity to others characterized this saint’s life. Born in 1577, Mark Rey became a lawyer who constantly upheld the causes of the poor and oppressed people. Nicknamed “the poor man’s lawyer,” Rey soon grew disgusted with the corruption and injustice he saw among his colleagues. He left his law career to become a priest, joining his brother George as a member of the Capuchin Order. Fidelis was his religious name. His wealth was divided between needy seminarians and the poor.  As a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, Fidelis continued his devotion to the weak and needy. During a severe epidemic in a city where he was g...

  AUTHORITY The weight of authority behind a teaching of the Papal Magisterium depends on the dogmatic history of the teaching and the intention of the Supreme Pontiff. Papal addresses and documents invariably contain teachings in several categories of authority. Some of these teachings will be “of the faith” (de fide), requiring the assent of Catholics by reason of the virtue of faith’s obligation to God revealing. Among such de fide teachings will be those which have been solemnly defined (such as the divinity of Christ or the Immaculate Conception of Mary), and those which, while they have not been solemnly defined, belong to the infallible ordinary Magisterium, having been taught “semper et ubique” (always and everywhere). Examples of the latter include the evil of certain sins, such as abortion or adultery, or the restriction of the priesthood to men. Papal addresses and documents may also contain teachings which come from the common teaching of the Church, but which cannot ye...

  Throughout history many of the Popes have been holy men. Indeed, of the 266 Popes up to Pope Francis, 83 are recognized as Saints and 9 as Blesseds. Included among these are the first 41 Popes. Of the first 32 popes, those who reigned during the age of Roman persecution (which formally ended in 313), fully 28 were martyrs. Click a name to view a brief biography. SAINT PETER SAINT LINUS SAINT ANACLETUS (CLETUS) SAINT CLEMENT I SAINT EVARISTUS (ARISTUS) SAINT ALEXANDER I SAINT SIXTUS I SAINT TELESPHORUS SAINT HYGINUS SAINT PIUS I SAINT ANICETUS SAINT SOTER SAINT ELEUTHERIUS SAINT VICTOR I SAINT ZEPHYRINUS (ZEPHYRIN) SAINT CALLIXTUS I SAINT URBAN I SAINT PONTIAN SAINT ANTERUS SAINT FABIAN SAINT CORNELIUS SAINT LUCIUS I SAINT STEPHEN I SAINT SIXTUS II SAINT DIONYSIUS SAINT FELIX I SAINT EUTYCHIAN SAINT CAIUS SAINT MARCELLINUS SAINT EUSEBIUS  SAINT LEO III SAINT STEPHEN IV (V) SAINT PASCHAL I SAINT LEO IV, O.S.B. SAINT NICHOLAS I SAINT ADRIAN III SAINT LEO IX SAINT GREGORY VII, O...