04 October - Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro Bernardone in Assisi in 1181, was the son of a rich merchant family in Umbria. At his birth, while his father was in France, his mother had him baptized under the name Giovanni (John). On returning from his trip, his father gave him the name Francesco (Francis).

03 October - Saint Gerard was born around 890 in Stave, a small village in the canton of Florennes. Through his father Sancius, Gerard was related to the family of the Duke of Austrasia, and through his mother, he was the nephew of Etienne, Bishop of Liège. Among other estates, Gerard's parents owned the land of Brogne.

02 October - A guardian angel is a form of guardian spirit in the tradition of Catholicism but its existence is not part of the articles of faith. It is an angel assigned to protect the salvation of one or more individuals.

11 October - Marie-Françoise Thérèse Martin, also known as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus or little Thérèse was born in Alençon on 2 January 1873. Thérèse's father, Louis Martin, was a watchmaker. Her mother, Zélie-Marie Guérin is a lace-maker.

30th September - Jerome is born in Stridon, on the border between Pannonia and Dalmatia (in present-day Slovenia or Croatia), in the middle of the 4th century. His parents are Christians and from a well-to-do background, they own an estate. In accordance with the customs of the time, he was not baptised but was registered as a catechumen. He left for Rome at the age of twelve to continue his studies.

September 29 - Archangels are a category of angels. They are one of the nine choirs of angels. In the hierarchy of angels, archangels form the second level, just above the angels themselves. There are several archangels, but the three most familiar to us are Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

28 September - Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia, born around the year 907 in Stochov near Libušín, was the son of Prince Vratislav I of Bohemia and his pagan wife Drahomíra of Stodor, daughter of a prince of the Slavic tribe of the Velatians on the Elbe. He would have been baptized by a Slavic priest who was a disciple of the Apostle Saint Methodius.

27 September - Vincent de Paul was born on April 24, 1581, on the Ranquines farm near the village of Le Pouy, near the town of Dax in the Landes department. Vincent was brought to help his parents at a very early age. So he spends his first years as a shepherd tending sheep, cows and pigs.

September 26 - Saint Cosmos, patron saint of surgeons, born in Arabia, practiced medicine in Aigéai, Cilicia, along with his twin brother Damien, patron saint of pharmacists. They were born in Cilicia or Arabia and practiced medicine in the seaport of Aegean and later in the Roman province of Syria.

25 September - St. Hermann or Hermann of Reichenau, born on 18 July 1013, was the son of Count Wolverad II von Altshausen, belonging to a noble family from Swabia, the Counts Altshausen.

24 September - Thècle d'Iconium or saint Thècle is a saint from the early days of the Church. She belonged to a wealthy pagan family of Iconium, the present Konya in Turkey. She is said to have lived in the first century.

23 September - Padre Pio is the name of an Italian Capuchin and priest born Francesco Forgione on 25 May 1887 in Pietrelcina in the province of Benevento, Campania, Italy. Son of Grazio "Orazio" Maria Forgione, a farmer, and Maria Giuseppa "Peppa" Di Nunzio Forgione, Francesco Forgione was baptised the day after his birth in the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Pietrelcina.

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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