The Basics: Born in 1238 in Italy; died March 12, 1253 in Italy; never formally canonized; feast day, March 12; laywoman. The Story: Seraphina’s early years were much like those of other girls in the town of San Gimignano. She was born into a family of the nobility that had fallen into hard times. The child… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: Blessed Seraphina
Category: Saints
Fact vs. Legend
Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there. Spoiler alert. Near the end of my favorite Western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Ransom Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart) finishes his confession to a newspaper editor that Stoddard,… Continue reading Fact vs. Legend
Wednesday’s Woman: St. Etheldreda
The Basics: Born 630 in England; died 679 in England; canonized precongregation; feast day, June 23; noblewoman and woman religious. The Story: Etheldreda’s relatively short life was full of intrigue and conflict. The daughter of a ruling-class family (four of her sisters, including Withburga, also are saints), her first husband agreed to her condition of virginity,… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Etheldreda
Wednesday’s Woman: St. Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas
The Basics: Born October 4, 1843, in what is now Israel; died March 27, 1927, in Israel; canonized May 17, 2015, by Pope Francis; feast day, March 25; woman religious. The Story: Marie-Alphonsine was born into a very large family–nineteen children, eight of whom lived beyond childhood. She felt called to the religious life, and in 1862… Continue reading Wednesday’s Woman: St. Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas