This Week

October continues its retinue of great saints. Sunday is new saint St. John XXIII, who was perhaps the funniest guy to occupy the Chair of St. Peter. Wednesday belongs to the little-known St. Callistus, but Thursday is a huge feast day: St. Teresa Avila, the beautiful sixteenth century nun whose autobiography converted the brilliant Jewish philosopher, Edith Stein, in one night 300 years later. Friday brings us St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The week concludes with the early Catholic martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch, who is generally thought to be a student of St. John the Apostle and who legend says is the child Jesus took in his arms and said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” (Mk. 9: 36-37)