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Saint Januarius lived in the 3rd century and was probably born in Naples. He was elected Bishop of Benevento and carried out his ministry with zeal, earning the esteem of both Christians and pagans for his charity and exemplary conduct.
A simple, humble and almost illiterate Franciscan friar, known for his mystical experiences, numerous miracles, and above all, for levitating during prayer. This is Saint Joseph of Cupertino, born on June 17, 1603, in Copertino, Apulia in southern Italy. He came into the world in extreme poverty, in a stable, and his childhood was marked by hardship and illness. With little formal education—he could barely read and write—he was rejected by several religious orders.
Saint Robert Bellarmine was born on October 4, 1542, in Montepulciano. He came from a large family—the third of twelve children—and his mother was the sister of Cardinal Marcello Cervini, who became Pope Marcellus II in 1555, although his pontificate lasted only twenty-one days.
Cornelius, possibly a member of the noble Cornelii family, was elected Pope in 251 for his renowned qualities of kindness, prudence, and humility. Before his election, during the period of the Sede Vacante, Novatian, an educated and influential priest, had temporarily led the Church. When Cornelius was appointed, Novatian opposed him, accusing him of being too lenient toward those Christians who, during the persecutions, had renounced the faith (the so-called lapsi), thus causing a rigorist schism.
In the Middle Ages, Christians began to reflect more deeply on the suffering of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, especially at the time of the Passion. Mary was the only person who remained completely faithful to Christ, from his birth to the Cross.
“We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our resurrection: through him we are saved and made free” (Gal 6:14), is the entrance antiphon for the Feast of the Exhaltation of the Holy Cross. This Feast celebrates Christ’s victory over sin and death and is shared by the Catholic and the Orthodox Church. Indeed, the Orthodox Church considers this Feast day to be almost as important as Easter. The origins of the Feast can be traced back to the first Christian communities of Jerusalem, when the faithful solemnly venerated the Holy Cross on Good Friday.
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