Family Faith on the Go!
On July 31 we celebrate the feast day of Ignatius of Loyola, who was born into a family of Basque nobility in the family castle of Azpeitia. He was the youngest of the 13 children of Beltran de Loyola and Marina Saenz de Licona.
Not much is known about the parents of our Blessed Mother and the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Joachim and Anne, but there are simple ways to remember these special saints by honoring and spending time with those who bless us daily.
“Mom! Where’s my _______?” Sound familiar? Instead of calling on Mom, try Saint Anthony!
Jesus said, “Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist”. Each year on June 24 the Catholic Church honors the birth of John by reflecting on his unique role as the precursor of Jesus. The solemnity held on that date praises John as a worthy example of what it means to be a follower of Christ. A solemnity is the most significant feast the Church can establish. While other saints are remembered with feast days to remember their deaths, St. John the Baptist, like Our Lady, is honored with solemnities to recall both his birth and his death.
Have one of your brothers or sisters or even a friend gotten really sick? Were you told to stay away from them so you wouldn’t get sick? St. Aloysius Gonzaga took that risk! He grew up in a very wealthy family. His father wanted him to be a soldier “just like him!” In fact, at the age of 4 years old, he began his training as a soldier and a courtier (a person who works as an advisor or companion to the king or queen). Granted, Aloysius lived 450 years ago. But still that was a young age to begin training.
