<p>All historical sources are unanimous in stating that the author of the third gospel and of the Acts of the Apostles is a physician named Luke. He was undoubtedly a Gentile (that is, non-Jewish) Christian and he wrote for other Gentiles who did not have the background of the Old Testament in which to root their faith. His writings show him to be an educated man with considerable literary skill. He is a patron of the medical profession.<br /></p>

<p>Very little is known about the early life of Ignatius. He is believed to have been a convert to Christianity and a disciple of John the Evangelist. Bishop of Antioch for 40 years, he was arrested during the persecution under Trajan, condemned for confessing Christ and taken in chains to Rome. The ship in which he was sent travelled along the coast of Asia Minor and at every port crowds of Christians would greet him. While on this journey, Ignatius dictated seven letters on Church matters which are counted among the treasures of early Christianity.

<p>Between 1225 and 1227, seven young men from the city of Florence joined the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin whose members were popularly known as the Praisers. Inspired by visions of Our Lady, they decided to dedicate themselves to lives of prayer and service.</p>

<p>Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais was born at Varennes, Quebec, on October 15, 1701. Following the death of her father in 1708, Marguerite's family lived in poverty. Thanks to generous relatives, Marguerite was able to study at the Ursuline Convent in Quebec for two years. When she returned home, she taught her five younger brothers and sisters.</p>

<p>Teresa was born in Avila, Spain, on March 28, 1515, and died in 1582. Of the many women who have exercised leadership roles in the Church, Teresa must surely be considered among the greatest.</p>

<p>Most of what we know about Callistus, an early pope, was written by a hostile opponent, Saint Hippolytus, and must be carefully interpreted. From his early years, Callistus was the slave of a Christian. Honest and intelligent, he was put in charge of a bank which eventually failed. For this and other incidents, he was arrested and sentenced to forced labour in Sardinian mines.</p>

<p>Peter was born in 1007 into a large family in Ravenna, Italy. His parents died while he was still very young, and at first he was cared for by one of his married brothers. Later, another older brother, a priest in Ravenna named Damian, undertook to care for and educate Peter, who appreciated this so much that he took on his brother's name and called himself Peter Damian. He became a hermit monk and was eventually chosen as the superior of his community. In 1057 he was appointed the bishop of Ostia.

<p>Little is known about the life and death of Denis, first Bishop of Paris. During a 3rd century persecution, the missionary Denis was preaching at Lutetia Parisorum (now Paris) when he and two companions, perhaps a priest and a deacon, suffered martyrdom. Later, a chapel was built over their tomb (on Montmartre, "the mount of martyrs") and grew into the great abbey of Saint Denis. During the Middle Ages the cult of Saint Denis was extremely popular. Denis is patron saint of France.</p>
<p><strong>Saint John Leonardi</strong></p>

<p>In ancient times, Marian feasts of the Eastern Church centred on events in Mary's life. Since the 12th century, Marian feasts added to the Western calendar almost always commemorate a particular event of the times. This feast was celebrated in the late 15th century by some confraternities of the Rosary, and in 1571 was solemnized by Pius V in thanksgiving for a battle victory. In 1716, Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church.<br /></p>

<p>Early Roman Christians celebrated on this day a feast in honour of their departed loved ones, including their predecessors in the faith, Peter and Paul. When, in the 4th century, the feast of these two saints was moved to June 29th, this day in February focused on celebrating Peter and his successors as bishops of Rome and expressing our gratitude for their service.</p>