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.

May 28 - Germain de Paris, also called Germain d'Autun, born in Autun in 496. Born of Eleuthère and Eusébie in Autun, he escaped death as a child. The mother of his cousin Stratidius wants to poison him to take his inheritance, but the maid mistakenly gives the poison to Stratidius.

27 May - Augustine is a Benedictine monk. Prior in an abbey in Rome, he is chosen by Pope Gregory the Great to head the Gregorian mission. In 595, Gregory the Great chooses the monks who are to be part of the mission in Kent and asks Augustine, the prior of St. Andrew's Abbey in Rome, to lead them.

26 May - Philippe was born in Florence on 21 July 1515 in the neighbourhood of S. Pier Gattolini. He is the third child of Francesco di Filippo da Castelfranco, notary, and Lucrezia de Mosciano, daughter of a carpenter. His cheerful character earned him the nickname of "Saint of Joy".

25 May - Bède, known as the Venerable (in Latin: Beda Venerabilis), is an Anglo-Saxon monk and scholar born around 672/673 in Northumbria and died on 26 May 735. At the age of seven, Bede was sent to the monastery of Wearmouth by his family to receive the teaching of Benedict Biscop, then Ceolfrith.

May 24 - Mary Help of Christians is one of the titles under which the faithful venerate the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. First mentioned by John Chrysostom around 345, it became very popular after the victory of the coalition of Christian armies over the Turkish fleet, off Lepanto, in 1571.

23 May - Didier de Vienne or Didier d'Autun was bishop of Vienne, in the Dauphiné region, from the extreme end of the 6th century and the beginning of the following century. He would have left very young to join around 558 Namatius bishop of Vienne. Around 570, Bishop Philippe would have made him join the clergy of his church.

22 May - Margherita Manchini, commonly known as Sister Rita of Cascia commonly simplified into Rita, born in May 1381 in Roccaporena (Umbria, Italy) is the only daughter of Antonio Manchini and Amata Ferri. Little is known about Rita's parents, except that they were nicknamed "the peace-bearers of Jesus Christ".

May 21 - Christophe Magallanes Jara was born in Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico, on July 30, 1869. He was the son of Rafael Magallanes Romero and Clara Jara Sanchez, who were farmers. He worked as a shepherd in his youth and enrolled in the San José Conciliar Seminary in Guadalajara at the age of 19.

20 May - Bernardin was born on 8 September 1380 in Massa Maritima to an illustrious family from Siena, the Albizeschi. He loses his mother at the age of three and his father at the age of six, and is taken in by his aunt Diana.

The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth

At the end of its second General Assembly, held from 15 to 18 October 2024, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace sent a message to government officials at all levels, as well as to all Malagasy and all people of goodwill.

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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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