- December 3, 2023
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
Francisco and Jacinta were born about two years apart to a Catholic couple in Fatima, Portugal, in the early twentieth century. The two siblings and their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, spent much of their time tending their families’ sheep. On May 13th in the year of Our Lord 1917, when Francisco was almost nine years old and Jacinta seven, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the three children, having been heralded by three apparitions of the guardian angel of Portugal the previous year. Our Lady of Fatima visited the three children five more times, though only Jacinta and Lucia heard her voice. The apparitions culminated in the Miracle of the Sun on October 13th, 1917, witnessed by thousands of people. Francisco and Jacinta took Our Lady’s messages to heart, offering many sacrifices despite their youth, and within a year of the miracle Our Lady visited the two and told them that she would soon take them to heaven. After long and painful illnesses, Francisco died in 1919, and little Jacinta died on February 20th, 1920. They were beatified and canonized together, and share a feast day today.
AT Tyre, in Phoenicia, the commemoration of many blessed martyrs, whose number is known to God alone. Under the emperor Diocletian, they were put to death after a long and varied series of torments by the military commander Veturius. They were first lacerated with whips, and then delivered to several kinds of beasts. But, through the interposition of Providence, remaining unhurt, they consummated their martyrdom by the torment of fire and by the sword. This glorious multitude were incited to victory by the bishops Tyrannio, Silvanus, Peleus, and Nilus, and the priest Zenobius, who, together with them, won the palm of martyrdom by a successful combat.
In the island of Cyprus, the holy martyrs Pothamius and Nemesius.
At Constantinople, St. Eleutherius, bishop and martyr.
In Persia, in the time of king Sapor, the birthday of St. Sadoth, bishop, and one hundred and twenty-eight others, who refused to adore the sun, and by a cruel death purchased for themselves bright crowns.
At Catania, in Sicily, St. Leo, bishop, illustrious for virtues and miracles.
The same day, St. Eucherius, bishop of Orleans, whose miracles increased in proportion to the slanders of the envious.
At Tournai, in Belgium, St. Eleutherius, bishop and confessor.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.
