Saint Eusebius of Vercelli

By
uCatholic
-
11

Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, originally from Sardinia, Italy, had a notable life that was marked by his strong faith and resilient stand against heresy. Following the martyrdom of his father, Eusebius’ mother relocated the family to Rome, where Eusebius spent his formative years and served as a lector. Subsequently, he moved to Vercelli in the Piedmont region of Italy, where his unwavering service to the Church resulted in his election as the city’s first Bishop.

In 355, Eusebius participated in a council in Milan, convened by Emperor Constantius. With the Emperor’s backing, the Arian bishops intended to label St. Athanasius, a staunch defender of Christian orthodoxy, as a heretic. Eusebius, together with St. Dionysius, staunchly opposed this wrongful condemnation.

Despite the Emperor’s pressure, Eusebius firmly refused to sign off on Athanasius’ condemnation. As a consequence, he was banished and first exiled to Scythopolis in Palestine. There, he endured intense persecution at the hands of the Arian bishop Patrophilus, who not only had him imprisoned but also starved him. Adding insult to injury, the Arians also paraded him semi-naked through the streets, heaping mockery and insults upon him.

Further periods of exile followed in Cappadocia and then Thebaid in Upper Egypt. Yet, throughout these tribulations, Eusebius remained a steadfast advocate of the true Faith, maintaining correspondence with other bishops and urging them to stay faithful.

The tides turned in 361 when Emperor Julian ascended to power and allowed all the exiled bishops to return. Eusebius traveled to Alexandria to discuss with St. Athanasius the possibility of convening a synod. The synod was subsequently held there in 362 under their joint leadership.

After the synod, Eusebius journeyed to Antioch and Illyricum, reaffirming the wavering faithful and guiding those who had gone astray back to the fold. By 363, he returned to Italy and collaborated with St. Hilary of Poitiers, a passionate crusader against Arianism in the Western Church. Finally, after a prolonged absence, Eusebius returned to his Bishopric in Vercelli, where he passed away on August 1, 371.

In recognition of his enduring faith and the hardships he underwent, the Church bestowed upon him the title of martyr.

Photo credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

Mass Readings for August 2, 2025

By
uCatholic
-
0

Sirach 24:1-4, 16, 22-24
Psalms 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19
Galatians 4:3-7
Luke 1:26-33

Sirach 24:1-4, 16, 22-24
(1) Wisdom will praise her own mind, and she will be honored by God, and she will be glorified in the midst of her people (2) And she will open her mouth in the churches of the Most High, and she will be glorified in the sight of his virtue (3) And in the midst of her own people, she will be exalted. And she will be admired by the holy assembly (4) And she will have praise within the multitude of the elect. And she will be blessed among the blessed. And she will say (16) And I took root among an honorable people, within the portion of my God, within his inheritance. And so my abode is in the full assembly of the saints (22) I have extended my branches like a terebinth tree, and my branches are of honor and grace (23) Like the vine, I have born the fruit of a sweet fragrance. And my flowers are the fruit of honor and integrity (24) I am the mother of the beauty of love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope

Psalms 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19
(5) May they become like dust before the face of the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord hem them in (7) For, without cause, they have concealed their snare for me unto destruction. Over nothing, they have rebuked my soul (9) But my soul will exult in the Lord and delight over his salvation (10) All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you?” He rescues the needy from the hand of the stronger one, the indigent and the poor from those who plunder him (18) I will confess to you in a great Church. I will praise you among a weighty people (19) May those who are my unjust adversaries not be glad over me: those who have hated me without cause, and who nod agreement with their eyes

Galatians 4:3-7
(3) So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world (4) But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law (5) so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons (6) Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “Abba, Father. (7) And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God

Luke 1:26-33
(26) Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth (27) to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary (28) And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. (29) And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be (30) And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God (31) Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS (32) He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity (33) And his kingdom shall have no end.

Love MASS READINGS?
Subscribe To Get The Daily Mass Readings Delivered Directly To Your Email.

Prayer Petitions for August 2, 2025

By
uCatholic
-
6

Please comment below to leave your prayer request. As your request will be prayed for, please also pray for the petitions of others! Remember in your prayers, those in purgatory, all those suffering around the world, and for the intentions of the Pope! Lord, hear our prayer!

Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

Saint Alphonsus Liguori

By
uCatholic
-
18

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, born in 1732 near Naples, Italy, was known for his studious nature and diligent work ethic. He earned a law degree and went on to establish a notable legal career. However, a legal mistake prompted a significant shift in his life. It validated his inner thoughts that he was meant for a different calling – priesthood.

Despite his father’s pleas to reconsider, Alphonsus was resolute in his decision. He embarked on his journey into priesthood, a journey filled with ceaseless activity. Alphonsus preached, penned books, and even founded a religious group, the Redemptorists.

Known for his wise spiritual guidance, he brought solace to people through the sacrament of Reconciliation. His talents went beyond preaching and counseling; he wrote hymns, played the organ, and even painted. The breadth of his accomplishments is made even more remarkable by his output of sixty books, despite being frequently unwell with headaches and other illnesses.

In terms of his temperament, Alphonsus was naturally quick-tempered but strived for self-control. His humility was such that when offered the position of bishop by Pope Pius VI, he initially declined. When told he was the pope’s choice, the pope’s messengers addressed him as “Most illustrious Lord.” Alphonsus politely requested they refrain from using that title, saying it would “kill him.”

Eventually, he accepted the bishop’s role, understanding that it was the pope’s wish. He sent numerous preachers throughout his diocese to remind people of God’s love and the importance of their faith. Alphonsus always advised his priests to preach sermons that even the simplest congregation member could comprehend, stating, “I never preached a sermon that the simplest old woman in the church could not understand.”

As he aged, Saint Alphonsus was burdened by illness. Arthritis made him crippled, and he became nearly deaf and blind. Despite these hardships, his devotion to the Blessed Mother, as evidenced in his renowned book, the Glories of Mary, remained unwavering. His trials were met with peace, joy, and a holy death.

St. Alphonsus passed away in 1787, aged ninety-one. He was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839, and in 1871, Pope Pius IX declared him a Doctor of the Church.

Editorial credit: jorisvo / Shutterstock.com
Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

Mass Readings for August 1, 2025

By
uCatholic
-
0

Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37
Psalms 81:3-6, 10-11
Matthew 13:54-58

Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37
(1) And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying (4) Therefore, these are the feasts of the Lord, which you must celebrate in their times (5) The first month, the fourteenth day of the month, at evening, is the Passover of the Lord (6) And the fifteenth day of this month is the solemnity of the unleavened bread of the Lord. For seven days shall you eat unleavened bread (7) The first day shall be greatly honored and holy to you; you shall do no servile work in it (8) But you shall offer a sacrifice with fire, for seven days, to the Lord. Then the seventh day shall be more honored and more holy; and you shall do no servile work in it (9) And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying (10) Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: When you will have entered into the land which I will give to you, and you will have harvested your grain fields, you shall carry the sheaves of grain, the first-fruits of your harvest, to the priest (11) He shall lift up a sheaf before the Lord, on the day after the Sabbath, so that it may be acceptable for you, and he shall sanctify it (15) Therefore, you shall number from the day after the Sabbath, in which you offered a sheaf of the first-fruits, seven full weeks (16) all the way to the day after the completion of the seventh week, that is, fifty days, and then you shall offer a new sacrifice to the Lord (27) The tenth day of this seventh month shall be the day of atonement; it shall be most honored, and it shall be called holy. And you shall afflict your souls on that day, and you shall offer a holocaust to the Lord (34) Say to the sons of Israel: From the fifteenth day of this seventh month, there shall be the Feast of Tabernacles: seven days for the Lord (35) The first day shall be called most honored and most holy; you shall do no servile work in it (36) And for seven days you shall offer holocausts to the Lord. Likewise, the eighth day shall be most honored and most holy, and you shall offer holocausts to the Lord. For it is the day of assembly and gathering. You shall do no servile work in it (37) These are the feasts of the Lord, which you shall call most honored and most holy, and in them you shall offer oblations to the Lord: holocausts and libations according to the rite of each particular day

Psalms 81:3-6, 10-11
(3) Judge for the indigent and the orphan. Do justice to the humble and the poor (4) Rescue the poor, and free the needy from the hand of the sinner (5) They did not know and did not understand. They wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth will be moved (6) I said: You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High

Matthew 13:54-58
(54) And arriving in his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, so much so that they wondered and said: “How can such wisdom and power be with this one (55) Is this not the son of a workman? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude (56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Therefore, from where has this one obtained all these things? (57) And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house. (58) And he did not work many miracles there, because of their unbelief

Love MASS READINGS?
Subscribe To Get The Daily Mass Readings Delivered Directly To Your Email.

Prayer Petitions for August 1, 2025

By
uCatholic
-
5

Please comment below to leave your prayer request. As your request will be prayed for, please also pray for the petitions of others! Remember in your prayers, those in purgatory, all those suffering around the world, and for the intentions of the Pope! Lord, hear our prayer!

Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Jesuits

By
uCatholic
-
15

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, whose birth name was Íñigo Oñaz López de Loyola, was born into nobility and spent his early years in a prominent courtier’s household. In 1517, he made a shift from court life to the military. While recovering from a severe injury in 1521, he experienced a religious conversion after reading a biography of Jesus.

Following this transformation, Ignatius traveled to Montserrat for confession and absolution, then moved on to Manresa. In 1523, he attempted a journey to the Holy Land but was barred from entering Palestine. This setback led him to decide on pursuing an education.

Between 1524 and 1528, he studied at Barcelona, Alcalá, and Salamanca. His time in Alcalá and Salamanca included brief imprisonments due to suspicions raised by the Inquisition. His studies concluded in Paris. Rather than excelling in academics, Ignatius proved to be a spiritual guide. Despite further inquiries by the Inquisition, he was absolved of any wrongdoings.

Together with six others, including St. Francis Xavier and Diego Lainez, Ignatius pledged vows of poverty and chastity. This group would become the core of the Jesuits. Initially, they aimed to live in Christ’s footsteps in the Holy Land, seeking to convert Muslims. But the outbreak of the Turkish wars redirected them to Rome. Once in Rome, they were ordained in 1537 and commenced work under the pope’s direction in 1538.

In 1539, Ignatius outlined a new order’s formula, securing papal approval for it in 1540. This formula would later underpin the Jesuits’ governance Constitutions, published posthumously. In 1541, Ignatius was chosen as the order’s general, leading it from Rome until his passing. Despite the Jesuits playing a crucial role in the Counter Reformation, it was not their primary objective. Ignatius seemed more invested in foreign missions and youth education. During his life, numerous schools were established in Europe, and missions started in Japan, India, and Brazil.

Ignatius was driven by a lifelong wish to emulate Christ. His book, the “Spiritual Exercises”, written over many years, contains a range of reflections, conscience examinations, and prayers. These are organized into four stages towards achieving mystical union with God. The spirituality associated with Ignatius highlights the importance of human initiative. His book is a highly valued resource in Christian mysticism and continues to be a go-to guide for devout Catholics. His “soldier of Christ” idea, often perceived as overly militaristic, is more accurately an echo of St. Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:10-17. Ignatius’s final resting place is the Gesù in Rome. He was canonized in 1622.

Editorial credit: Zvonimir Atletic / Shutterstock.com
Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

Mass Readings for July 31, 2025

By
uCatholic
-
1

Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38
Psalms 84:3-6, 8, 11
Matthew 13:47-53

Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38
(16) And Moses raised it up, and he positioned the panels as well as the bases and the bars, and he set up the columns (17) and he stretched out the roof over the tabernacle, imposing a cover above it, just as the Lord had decreed (18) And he placed the testimony in the ark, applying the bars beneath, and the oracle above (19) And when he had brought the ark into the tabernacle, he drew the veil before it, in order to fulfill the commandment of the Lord (20) And he placed the table in the tabernacle of the testimony, at the north side, beyond the veil (21) arranging before it the bread of the presence, just as the Lord had instructed Moses (34) Whenever the cloud departed from the tabernacle, the sons of Israel set out by their companies (35) But if it remained hanging over it, they remained in the same place (36) Certainly, the cloud of the Lord lay over the tabernacle by day, and the fire by night, being seen by all the people of Israel throughout all their resting places

Psalms 84:3-6, 8, 11
(3) You have released the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sins (4) You have mitigated all your wrath. You have turned aside from the wrath of your indignation (5) Convert us, O God, our Savior, and turn your anger away from us (6) Will you be angry with us forever? And will you extend your wrath from generation to generation (8) O Lord, reveal to us your mercy, and grant to us your salvation (11) Mercy and truth have met each other. Justice and peace have kissed

Matthew 13:47-53
(47) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, which gathers together all kinds of fish (48) When it has been filled, drawing it out and sitting beside the shore, they selected the good into vessels, but the bad they threw away (49) So shall it be at the consummation of the age. The Angels shall go forth and separate the bad from the midst of the just (50) And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (51) Have you understood all these things?” They say to him, “Yes. (52) He said to them, “Therefore, every scribe well-taught about the kingdom of heaven, is like a man, the father of a family, who offers from his storehouse both the new and the old. (53) And it happened that, when Jesus had completed these parables, he went away from there

1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1
(31) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God (32) Be without offense toward the Jews, and toward the Gentiles, and toward the Church of God (33) just as I also, in all things, please everyone, not seeking what is best for myself, but what is best for many others, so that they may be saved (1) Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ

Love MASS READINGS?
Subscribe To Get The Daily Mass Readings Delivered Directly To Your Email.

Prayer Petitions for July 31, 2025

By
uCatholic
-
10

Please comment below to leave your prayer request. As your request will be prayed for, please also pray for the petitions of others! Remember in your prayers, those in purgatory, all those suffering around the world, and for the intentions of the Pope! Lord, hear our prayer!

Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

Saint Peter Chrysologus

By
uCatholic
-
10

A man who vigorously pursues a goal may produce results far beyond his expectations and his intentions. Thus it was with Peter of the Golden Words, as he was called, who as a young man became bishop of Ravenna, the capital of the empire in the West.

At the time there were abuses and vestiges of paganism evident in his diocese, and these he was determined to battle and overcome. His principal weapon was the short sermon, and many of them have come down to us. They do not contain great originality of thought. They are, however, full of moral applications, sound in doctrine and historically significant in that they reveal Christian life in fifth-century Ravenna. So authentic were the contents of his sermons that, some 13 centuries later, he was declared a doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII. He who had earnestly sought to teach and motivate his own flock was recognized as a teacher of the universal Church.

In addition to his zeal in the exercise of his office, Peter Chrysologus was distinguished by a fierce loyalty to the Church, not only in its teaching, but in its authority as well. He looked upon learning not as a mere opportunity but as an obligation for all, both as a development of God-given faculties and as a solid support for the worship of God.

Some time before his death, St. Peter returned to Imola, his birthplace, where he died around A.D. 450.

Photo credit: Jbribeiro1 via Wikimedia Commons
Love uCATHOLIC?
Get our inspiring content delivered to your inbox every morning - FREE!

123...347Page 1 of 347

Follow us on Instagram @ucatholic

Popular Posts

Latest Posts

© 2020, uCatholic Inc.