Pre-Congregation is my term for the Beatification and/or Canonization of saints prior to the institution of the modern investigations performed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. It designates those who were canonized by local bishops, primates, or patriachs, often as a result of popular devotion. … [Read more...]
St. John Chrysostom
St. John was born at Antioch in 344. In order to break with a world which admired and courted him, he in 374 retired for six years to a neighboring mountain. Having thus acquired the art of Christian silence, he returned to Antioch, and there labored as priest, until he was ordained Bishop of Constantinople in 398. The effect of his sermons was everywhere marvellous. He was … [Read more...]
St. Blaise
Feast Day: February 3rd Patron of Throat & Illness Earthly Life: Died 316 Cannonized: Pre-Congregation St. Blaise devoted the earlier years of his life to the study of philosophy, and afterwards became a physician. In the practice of his profession he saw so much of the miseries of life and the hollowness of worldly pleasures, that he resolved to spend the rest of his … [Read more...]
St. Veronica of Milan
Feast Day: January 13th Early Live: Died 1445 - 1497 Cannonized: Pre-Congregation VERONICA'S parents were peasants of a village near Milan. From her childhood she toiled hard in the house and the field, and accomplished cheerfully every menial task. Gradually the desire for perfection grew within her; she became deaf to the jokes and songs of her companions, and sometimes, … [Read more...]
St. Sebastian
Feastday: January 20th Earthly Life: Died 288 Cannonized: Pre-Congregation ST. SEBASTIAN was an officer in the Roman army, esteemed even by the heathen as a good soldier, and honored by the Church ever since as a champion of Jesus Christ. Born at Narbonne, Sebastian came to Rome about the year 284, and entered the lists against the powers of evil. He found the twin … [Read more...]