00 08/01/2013 17:28


I was wrong = the Vatican considers the Christmas season to end on the Feast of the Lord's Baptism, not the Epiphany, and so it continues to use the Christmas 2012 banner on its website.

January 8, Tuesday after Epiphany
BLESSED ANGELA da FOLIGNO (Italy, 1248-1309), Widow, Franciscan Tertiary, Mystic, Author. 'Teacher of Theologians'
Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis on Oct. 13, 2010, to Blessed Angela
www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20101013...
Born to a wealthy family in Foligno, near Assisi, she married early and had children but lived a life described as 'wild, adulterous and sacrilegious'. She reportedly converted after praying to St. Francis who came to her in a dream. Shortly afterwards, her husband and children died and she joined the Franciscan Third Order for lay people. She wrote an account of her conversion and the temptations she met with afterwards: The Book of Visions and Instructions continues to be published in modern editions), and for this, she has been called 'mistress of theologians'. She organized a community of Third Order Franciscan sisters who worked for the poor. Her increasing fame for sanctity attracted many women to the order. After she died, many miracles were attributed to her. Her incorrupt body lies in the Church of St. Francis in Foligno.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010813.cfm
NB: Blessed Angela died on January 4, which is her feast day elsewhere but in the United States where American St. Elizabeth Seton takes precedence, and Blessed Angela's feast day is marked instead on January 7. As the US calendar for saints of the day is blank for January 8, I am using Blessed Angela's story for today. [Yesterday, her feast day was 'overshadowed' by the Orthodox Christmas and by St. Ramon Penyafort... BTW, I do not understand why any day of the year should be left blank on a calendar of feast days, since the Church has more than enough saints and blesseds whose feast days fall on the same day of the year, and I also still have to find out what the criterion is (other than traditional importance and/or personal history bound to the local Church] used by each national Church to designate which saint to highlight on each calendar day.


AT THE VATICAN TODAY

The Holy Father met separately with the two other new archbishops he ordained on Sunday, accompanied
by their respective families:

- Mons. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua

- Mons. Nicolas Henry Marie Denis Thevenin, Apostolic Nuncio to Guatemala.

He met yesterday afternoon with Archbishops Angelo Zani and Georg Gaenswein, with their respective families.

The Vatican released the text of the Holy Father's message for the next World Day for the Sick observed
annually by the Church on February 11, feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 08/01/2013 20:28]