Saints & Heroes

October 1: Marie-Françoise Thérèse Martin was born on January 2, 1873 in the town of Alençon in French Normandy. Called Thérèse, she was the last of nine children, five of which survived to adulthood.

During and after the apparitions, in the short time Francisco and Jacinta spent on earth, they had several private revelations–especially Jacinta.

Lucia dos Santos, Jacinta and Francisco Marto were the three young Portuguese shepherds Our Lady of Fatima appeared to in 1917.

October 15: Teresa was brought up by her saintly father, a lover of serious books, and a tender and pious mother. Several books were written by Teresa which give an account of her spiritual life. She is known as "The Big Flower."

July 4: Elizabeth, Princess of Aragon, was born in 1271. The young princess was also a grand-niece of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary after whom she was named.

August 27: Although St. Monica's parents were Christians, they gave her in marriage to a pagan who was a violent and immoral man, St. Augustine's father.

Vienna—A grave degeneration of faith and morals was already amply evident at the beginning of this troubled century.

A lot has been written about the intriguing prophecy of the three days of darkness but one needs to sift through them carefully lest one succumbs to exaggerated and sensational ideas.

Gabriel Garcia Moreno was a good Catholic who fought against corruption in Equador, at first through journalism, later as a military leader and president.