Saint Mary Magdalene Tours, Gifts and Books
Holy Doors of Mercy My first experience with a Holy Door of Mercy was on August 2, 1989, when I was visiting the charming city of Assisi, Italy, the home of the beloved “FRANCESCO.” I was so taken by Francis’ kindness and goodness and peacefulness that a year later, July […]
VATICAN CITY—June 10, 2016 . Vatican announced that a decree entitled: . “Mary Magdalene, apostle of the apostles” was issued in accordance with the will of Pope Francis raising the July 22nd memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene to a feast on the church’s liturgical calendar. In the Mass and in the […]
CAMARGUE CROSS is an emblem formed with a Latin cross whose upper ends represent a three-pronged fork or “trident” (a working tool used by “gardians” or cowboys) and whose lower end is a sea anchor topped by a heart. The Camargue Cross stands for the three cardinal virtues: cross of […]
Today, December 8th, the Holy Year of Mercy will begin with Pope Francis overseeing the opening of the Holy Door, an entrance in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome that is sealed, apart from during holy years. “I will have the joy of opening the Holy Door on the Solemnity of […]
Paul was an apostle (though not one of the Twelve Apostles) who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. Paul is one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. He used his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to his advantage in his […]
Matthias was born in Bethlehem. According to Acts of the Apostles, Matthias was one of the seventy-two disciples and had been with Jesus from His baptism by John in the Jordan River to His ascension. Matthias was witness to the many miracles Jesus performed during the three years of His […]
Simon Zelotes was also called “Simon the Canaanite” in Hebrew, not because he was from Cana or a Canaanite, but because “Canaanite” is the same word as the Greek word “Zelotes” and the English word “Zealot.” The Biblical meaning of the name Simon is: “That hears, that obeys.” Simon had the […]
Jude Thaddeus was born into a Jewish family from Paneas, a town in Galilee about 27 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, later rebuilt by the Romans and renamed Caesarea Philippi. Jude and his brother James the lesser were sons of Alphaeus (Greek) or Cleophas (Hebrew) and Mary of […]
James the lesser was the son of Alphaeus and Mary of Clopas (Maria Jacobi in Latin) and the brother of Jude Thaddeus. James the lesser was also called “the minor” and “the little,” to distinguish him from James the greater, who was the son of Zebedee. James the lesser came from Nazareth and was […]
Matthew, also known as “Levi,” was born in Galilee, son of Alphaeus. Matthew lived in Capernaum and worked at a nearby border crossing as a customs agent where it was his job to collect toll or duty on all of the people, animals, and goods. He worked under Herod Antipas, […]
Thomas is also called “Didymus” (the twin), yet it is unclear why he had that nickname. He was a Jew living in the Galilee. There are no recorded facts of how he met Jesus. Thomas first appears in the gospel as a symbol of strength, encouraging the others to follow […]
Bartholomew was born at Cana in Galilee and was the son of a farmer. He was living in Bethsaida. Bartholomew is sometimes referred to as “Nathanael” in the gospel. Philip was an old friend of Nathanael’s. . Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael John 1:43-51 The next day Jesus decided to leave […]
Philip was from Bethsaida, the same city as Andrew and Simon Peter, on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Philip was also present with John the Baptist when John pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God, and he attended the wedding at Cana. . The Wedding at Cana […]
John the beloved, also known as “John the Evangelist,” was the son of Zebedee and Mary Salomé and lived near Bethsaida. John’s older brother, James the greater, was also a disciple of Jesus. Zebedee and his sons were fishermen. Jesus Calls His First Disciples When he had gone a little […]
James the greater was the brother of John the beloved. James was the elder of the two brothers. James is named “the Greater” to distinguish him from the Apostle James “the Lesser” or “the Minor,” who was probably shorter in stature. Jesus knew the brothers’ nature when He first met […]
