June 09 - Ephrem the Syrian, Ephrem of Nisibe or Ephrem the Syriac, born around 306 in Nisibe and died in 373 in Edessa, was a Syrian deacon and theologian of the fourth century in the region of Assyria. Based on Ephrem's hymnology, internal criticism suggests that both his parents were part of the city's growing Christian community.

08 June - Born of solid and austere Auvergne peasants on the Montlogis (Polminhac) estate, Jacques Berthieu completed his secondary school studies at the Pleaux minor seminary before moving on to the Saint-Flour (Cantal) major seminary to prepare for the priesthood.

07 June - Born in Auvergne at the end of the 11th century, Gilbert, known as de Neuffonts or de Neuffontaines, is a Norbertine religious, an order founded by Saint Norbert. He took part in the Second Crusade with King Louis VII of France in 1146.

06 June - Norbert is born in his father's castle in Gennep near Xanten in North Rhine-Westphalia. Around the age of nine, he was placed as a novice and then as an Oblate in the collegiate church of Xanten. He was then entrusted to the care of the ecolastic canon of the Xanten chapter to instruct him and prepare him for the priesthood through harsh discipline.

05 June - Boniface was born in Crediton, Wessex, and was christened Winfrid (or Wynfrith) at his baptism. He was from a good family and was admitted as an Oblate to the monastery of Exeter. A brilliant student, he was sent to the monastery of Nursling, renowned for the quality of its teaching. He became a priest at the age of thirty.

04 June - Clotilde, born around 474 or 475, is a Burgundian princess. She is the daughter of the Burgundian king Chilpéric II and Carétène. Clotilde's childhood and youth took place at the Burgundian court during the reigns of Gondioc, who died in the 470s, then of Chilpéric I, who died around 480, and then under the joint reign of Gondioc's four sons

03 June - Saint Charles Lwanga, born in 1865 and died on 3 June 1886, is a Ugandan martyr of the Baganda ethnic group. Born in the Buganda kingdom, in the south of present-day Uganda, he was the chief page in the court of King Mwanga II.

02 June - Saint Blandine, known as of Lyon, is a young Christian slave from Lugdunum (Lyon) who was martyred during the month of July 177 under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. After surviving her incarceration, Blandine is one of six of the forty-seven martyrs of Lyon to be condemned to the arena.

June 1 - Justin of Nablus or Justin of Neapolis, born in Flavia Neapolis (now Nablus in the West Bank) around the beginning of the 2nd century and died (executed) in Rome around 165, is a Christian apologist and philosopher. Of free birth, he was probably a Roman citizen and his family was polytheistic.

May 31 - The feast of the Visitation commemorates an episode from the Gospel according to Luke 1, 39-56: Mary's visit, pregnant with Christ, to her cousin Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist.

30 May - Joan of Arc, born around 1412 in Domrémy, a village in the Duchy of Bar, and died at the stake on 30 May 1431 in Rouen. Daughter of Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Rommée, Joan belongs to a family of five children.

29 May - Saint Maximin, born in Silly, Roman Gaul, becomes Bishop of Trier around 341/342 during the reign of the sons of Constantine the Great. He is an opponent of Arianism, and a friend of Athanasius of Alexandria, who takes refuge in his home in Trier during his exile in 336-37 and again in 343. Thanks to him, Athanasius met Caesar Constantine II before the latter became emperor.

Diocese of Miarinarivo

Pope Francis has accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Miarinarivo, presented by H.E. Mgr Jean Claude Randrianarisoa. At the same time, the Supreme Pontiff has appointed H.E. Mgr Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina, as Apostolic Admnistrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same Diocese.

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Love and Salvation

Christmas is a great joy, because it is the love of God that has come to us, proclaims Fr. Bizimana Innocent, Provincial Superior of the Salesians Don Bosco of Madagascar and Mauritius, presenting his Christmas greetings. Salvation is accomplished, so life is not in danger of disappearing. It is this love and this salvation that we wish to fill our life so that we have peace.

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Zatti, our brother

The short film "Zatti, our brother" (Argentina, 2020) focuses on one of the most difficult episodes of his life. We are in Viedma, in 1941: at the age of 60, Zatti is forced to leave the hospital he has attended for decades. His faith and strength are tested.

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