Today is the Feastday of St. Pope Paul VI.
In 1965, he was the first Pope to visit the United States.
The second child of Giorgio and Giuditta Alghisi, Giovanni Battista Montini was born in Concesio, Brescia, on 26 September 1897. He was ordained to the priesthood on 19 May 1920. He studied philosophy, civil law and canon law. In 1923 he was appointed attaché at the Apostolic Nunciature in Warsaw and a year later returned and began serving in the Secretariat of State in the Vatican. During his service to the Holy See — under the Pontificates of Pius xi and Pius XII — he also taught the history of papal diplomacy at the Lateran University, until 13 December 1937 when Pius xi appointed him Substitute of the Secretariat of State. During World War II, he engaged in aiding refugees and Jews, also overseeing the Vatican Information Office. In November 1952 he was appointed Pro-Secretary of State for General Affairs and two years later he was appointed Archbishop of Milan. There, he employed new methods of evangelization in order to address the issues of immigration, materialism and Marxist ideology. On 21 June 1963 he was elected pope and took the name of Paul VI. Amid numerous challenges, he brought three periods of the Second Vatican Council to a successful conclusion, always encouraging the Church to be open in the modern world while respecting her tradition, always seeking communion among the Council Fathers. Paul VI began the practice of Apostolic Journeys beginning with the Holy Land, where his historic meeting with Athenagoras took place. His first encyclical, Ecclesiam Suam (1964), gave rise to the method of “the dialogue of salvation”. His other writings, include Populorum Progressio on the development of peoples. He also provided masterful teaching on the question of peace, also instituting the World Day of Peace. From the very beginning of his ministry, he had particular concern for the young, sharing with them the joy of faith. After a brief illness, he died on 6 August 1978 in Castel Gandolfo.
You can read his homilies, writings and exhortations here.
Today's saint is Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian slave. You can learn more about him here.
This Sunday is Pentecost; you can prepare for the weekend celebration with this resource.
Our exclusive Dynamic Parish presentation on Prayer with Matthew Kelly ends June 1. Don't miss it! Click here for access.
Today is the Feastday of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Apostle to England.
This weekend we celebrate Pentecost! Plan to wear red this weekend.
Here is a quick review of the birthday of the Church.
Today is the Feastday of St. Philip Neri. St. Philip was one of the first people to found a lay apostolate, and often combined his discussion groups with music and food and was known as a practical joker. What's your best practical joke?
Click this graphic for answers to this week's quiz!
Today is Memorial Day, a national holiday set aside to honor and pray for those who have died serving our country in the armed forces. Even though there won't be crowds this year, PBS will broadcast the Memorial Day Concert. Google has created a virtual tour of US Veteran Memorials.
Today is also the Feastday of the Venerable Bede, author of the Ecclestial History of the Western World. You can learn more about it here.
It's time for a new round of Trivia. This week's topic: Catholic Potpourri!
The Center for Action and Contemplation offers daily reflections from Franciscan Father Richard Rohr. Learn more here.
Looking for something different for family time? How about a twist on s'mores? Try these!