Today the Church honors St. Hilary of Poitiers, a bishop and Doctor of the Church whose courage and clarity helped defend the divinity of Jesus Christ during the height of the Arian controversy. At a time when many leaders compromised the truth to avoid conflict, St. Hilary chose fidelity to Christ, even at the cost of exile and suffering.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 in-depth reflections on the life of St. Hilary of Poitiers. You will learn about his adult conversion to Christianity, his role as a married bishop in the early Church, why he was exiled for defending the Trinity, and how his theological writings helped preserve the Church’s teaching about who Christ truly is.

St. Hilary reminds us that doctrine is not abstract. What we believe about Christ shapes how we live, worship, and understand salvation. Defending the truth is an act of love for the Church and for souls.

💬 Thought to Remember

“I am well aware that I owe my life to Him, so that every word and thought of mine should speak of Him.”

St. Hilary of Poitiers

Reflection:

This quote shows that Hilary understood faith as total belonging to Christ. He did not separate belief from daily life. It invites us to ask whether our words, priorities, and choices truly reflect the Lord we profess.

📖 Bible Verse

“I and the Father are one.”

John 10:30

🙏 Prayer to St. Hilary of Poitiers

St. Hilary of Poitiers,

faithful bishop and defender of the truth,

pray for us.

Help us love Christ without compromise,

speak the truth with courage,

and remain faithful even when it is difficult.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #StHilaryOfPoitiers #DoctorOfTheChurch #DefenderOfTheFaith #CatholicSaints

Today the Church honors St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, a missionary and educator whose faith helped build the Church in North America through patience, courage, and trust in God’s providence. Leaving everything behind, she served the early Church in Montreal by forming children, families, and communities through education rooted in the Gospel.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 in-depth reflections on the life of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. You will learn why she felt called to teach rather than live in the cloister, how she founded the first school for girls in Montreal, why her approach to religious life was questioned, and how her Marian devotion helped sustain the Church in an uncertain and difficult mission territory.

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys reminds us that building the Church often happens quietly. Faithfulness in daily service, especially in forming the young and strengthening families, can shape generations.

💬 Thought to Remember

“We must be ready to be what God wishes us to be.”

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys

Reflection:

This quote reveals Marguerite’s deep openness to God’s will. Rather than clinging to her own plans, she allowed God to guide her vocation step by step. It invites us to trust that God knows where our gifts are most needed, even when the path is uncertain.

📖 Bible Verse

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

Psalm 127:1

🙏 Prayer to St. Marguerite Bourgeoys

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys,

faithful servant of God and teacher of the young,

pray for us.

Help us serve with patience,

trust God in uncertainty,

and build His Church through faithful daily work.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #StMargueriteBourgeoys #CatholicSaints #ChristianEducation #MissionarySaints

Today the Church honors St. Paulinus of Aquileia, a bishop and missionary who helped rebuild the Church during a time of invasion, confusion, and spiritual crisis. Serving in a wounded region of northern Italy, St. Paulinus defended the faith, restored Christian life, and patiently guided the Church back to unity and truth.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 in-depth reflections on the life of St. Paulinus of Aquileia. You will learn how he rebuilt the Church after devastation, defended orthodox teaching against error, evangelized pagan peoples, and balanced firmness with pastoral mercy. His life shows how courage and patience work together in times of rebuilding.

St. Paulinus reminds us that rebuilding the Church is holy work. Faithfulness, clarity, and trust in God can restore what fear and division attempt to destroy.

💬 Thought to Remember

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

1 Corinthians 16:13

Reflection:

This verse reflects how St. Paulinus lived as a shepherd of the Church. He remained alert against error, firm in truth, and courageous in leadership. It invites us to remain steady in faith, especially when rebuilding feels slow or difficult.

🙏 Prayer to St. Paulinus of Aquileia

St. Paulinus of Aquileia,

faithful bishop and defender of the Church,

pray for us.

Help us remain firm in faith,

patient in rebuilding what is broken,

and courageous in proclaiming the truth of Christ.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #StPaulinusOfAquileia #CatholicSaints #ChurchHistory #DefendersOfTheFaith

Today the Church honors St. Gregory of Nyssa, a bishop and Doctor of the Church whose theology teaches us how to seek God with humility, depth, and wonder. Living during a time when the Church was defining how to speak about the mystery of God, St. Gregory helped protect the truth of the Trinity while reminding believers that God is always greater than our understanding.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 in-depth reflections on the life and teaching of St. Gregory of Nyssa. You will learn about his early struggles as a bishop, his growth into one of the Church’s greatest theologians, his defense of the divinity of Christ, and his teaching that the Christian life is a continual journey deeper into the mystery of God.

St. Gregory of Nyssa reminds us that faith is not about mastering God through ideas, but about being transformed by Him through prayer, humility, and awe.

💬 Thought to Remember

“Concepts create idols. Only wonder understands anything.”

St. Gregory of Nyssa

Reflection:

St. Gregory teaches that when we reduce God to explanations alone, we risk losing reverence. True understanding begins with wonder and humility. This quote invites us to approach God not as a problem to solve, but as a mystery to love and enter more deeply.

📖 Bible Verse

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God.”

Romans 11:33

🙏 Prayer to St. Gregory of Nyssa

St. Gregory of Nyssa,

teacher of divine mystery and faithful servant of the Church,

pray for us.

Help us seek God with humility,

grow in prayer and wonder,

and trust Him even when we do not fully understand.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #StGregoryOfNyssa #DoctorOfTheChurch #ChristianTheology #CatholicFaith

Today the Church honors St. Adrian of Canterbury, a monk, abbot, and scholar whose quiet holiness shaped the spiritual and intellectual foundations of the early English Church. Rather than seeking authority or recognition, St. Adrian devoted his life to teaching, formation, and the faithful handing on of the Christian faith.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 in-depth reflections on the life of St. Adrian of Canterbury. You will learn how he humbly refused high office, helped transform Canterbury into a center of Christian learning, preserved Scripture and classical knowledge, and formed generations of clergy, missionaries, and future saints through patient teaching and discipline.

St. Adrian reminds us that the Church is built not only by martyrs and missionaries, but also by faithful teachers who quietly shape minds and hearts for Christ.

💬 Thought to Remember

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may walk in your truth.”

Psalm 86:11

Reflection:

This verse reflects the heart of St. Adrian’s life and mission. He devoted himself to learning God’s truth and carefully passing it on to others. It invites us to remain humble students of the faith, even as we are called to teach and guide others.

🙏 Prayer to St. Adrian of Canterbury

St. Adrian of Canterbury,

faithful teacher and humble servant of the Church,

pray for us.

Help us love the truth,

teach with patience and clarity,

and pass on the faith with fidelity and care.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #StAdrianOfCanterbury #CatholicSaints #ChristianEducation #ChurchHistory

Today the Church honors St. Severinus of Noricum, a missionary monk who became a protector of the poor, refugees, and prisoners during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. As civil authority disappeared and fear spread across central Europe, St. Severinus remained present, guiding communities through prayer, charity, and courageous faith.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 in-depth reflections on the life of St. Severinus of Noricum. You will learn how he chose to serve on the frontier rather than seek safety, how he warned towns of danger and saved lives, how he organized aid for refugees, and why he is honored as a patron saint of Austria and communities in crisis.

St. Severinus reminds us that when institutions fail, holiness does not. The Church is called to remain present in moments of instability, offering faith, protection, and hope rooted in trust in God.

💬 Thought to Remember

“The Lord is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:2

Reflection:

This verse reflects how St. Severinus lived in a world marked by fear and uncertainty. When political power collapsed and safety disappeared, he trusted God as the true source of protection. It challenges us to examine where we place our trust when stability is shaken.

🙏 Prayer to St. Severinus of Noricum

St. Severinus of Noricum,

faithful servant of God and protector of the poor,

pray for us.

Help us stand firm in faith during uncertain times,

serve those who are vulnerable,

and trust God when the world feels unstable.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #StSeverinus #CatholicSaints #FaithInCrisis #ChristianHistory

Today the Church honors St. Raymond of Penyafort, a Dominican friar, priest, and Doctor of the Church whose wisdom and obedience shaped Catholic life for centuries. Known as one of the greatest canon lawyers in Church history, St. Raymond served the Church quietly through teaching, confession, and faithful counsel to popes and kings.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 in-depth reflections on the life of St. Raymond of Penyafort. You will learn how his work organized Church law, why he entered religious life later in life, how he chose humility over authority, and why he is remembered as a model of obedience, moral clarity, and mercy in confession.

St. Raymond reminds us that holiness is often lived behind the scenes. Faithful obedience, intellectual honesty, and quiet service can shape the Church in powerful and lasting ways.

💬 Thought to Remember

“The greatest victory is obedience to the will of God.”

St. Raymond of Penyafort

📖 Bible Verse

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 14:15

🙏 Prayer to St. Raymond of Penyafort

St. Raymond of Penyafort,

faithful servant of truth and humility,

pray for us.

Help us love God’s law,

seek truth with mercy,

and obey God’s will even when it is difficult.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #StRaymondOfPenyafort #DominicanSaint #DoctorOfTheChurch #CatholicFaith

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord, the feast that proclaims Jesus Christ revealed as Savior to all nations. Through the visit of the Magi, the Church announces that Christ did not come only for one people, but for the entire world.

In this episode of Saints in a Year, Saul shares 7 reflections on the meaning of the Epiphany. You will learn who the Magi were, why they followed the star, how their gifts revealed Christ’s identity as King, God, and Savior, and why this feast completes the mystery of Christmas by showing Christ made known to the nations.

The Epiphany reminds us that faith is a journey. Like the Magi, we are invited to seek Christ, follow the light God gives us, and allow our encounter with Him to change the direction of our lives.

📖 Bible Verse

“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

Matthew 2:2

🙏 Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,

Light of the nations,

guide us by your truth.

Help us follow you faithfully,

worship you with humble hearts,

and share your light with the world.

Amen.

📅 Follow Saints in a Year daily as we walk through the Church calendar and learn from the feasts and saints who guide us to Christ.

📺 Subscribe to join the journey: @TravelingtoDamascus

📖 #TheRoadToDamascus #SaintsInAYear #EpiphanyOfTheLord #AdorationOfTheMagi #ChristmasSeason #CatholicFaith