Anthony or Antony, † 356 at age 105; born in upper Egypt; hermit and early founder of religious life; called the "Patriarch of Monks"; aided St. Athanasius of Alexandria (2 May) in combating Arianism

At Cana in Galilee, Jesus performed the first of his signs, revealing his glory to his disciples (3), and later to all the nations (1, Ps). He has revealed as well the manifestation of the Spirit who distributes different gifts as he chooses (2). Is 62:1-5 Ps 96:1-3, 7-10 1 Cor 12:4-11 Jn 2:1-11

Sebastian, † 288? at Rome under Diocletian; chief of the Praetorian cohort whose acta tell of his being pierced by arrows, later being clubbed to death; patron of archers, soldiers, and police associations.

Agnes, † beginning of 4th c. under Diocletian at the age of twelve (so Augustine and Ambrose report); patroness of Christian virtue confronted by political and social violence; represented with a martyr's palm and a lamb (her name in Latin [agnus] = lamb); the wool from two lambs blessed today will be used to make the pallia which will be blessed by the pope on 29 June; Metropolitans, however, will receive those pallia in a separate ceremony within their home dioceses from the Apostolic Nuncio; mentioned in the Roman Canon

Vincent, † in early 4th c., in the persecution of Diocletian at Valencia; deacon of the church of Saragossa; protomartyr of Spain; Prudentius (384 c. 410), Spanish-born poet, sings his praises in his narrative poem Peristephanon; patron of wine producers (Vincent/vin assonance in French).

Francis de Sales, † 1622; bishop of Geneva; sought to bring many back to the Church through his personal life and writings, especially his Controversies and several devout treatises, including his Introduction to the Devout Life; co-founder with St. Jane Frances de Chantal (12 Aug.) of the Visitation Order; patron of writers, journalists, and the deaf.

Paul is converted (1a-b) and becomes the apostle sent to proclaim to all the nations (Ps) the saving gospel (2). [See also under 29 June.] Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 Ps 117:1b-2 Mk 16:15-18

Ezra proclaims the word of the Lord (1) which gives spirit and life (Ps). Jesus proclaims himself the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets (3). In him we have become one body with many members (2). Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 Ps 19:8-10, 15 1 Cor 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27 Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Angela Merici, † 1540 at Brescia; orphaned at ten; foundress of the Ursulines, the first teaching order especially for poor young girls; sought re-evangelization of families through the education of future wives and mothers.

Thomas Aquinas, † 1274; O.P.; the "Angelic Doctor" who wrote the Summa Theologiæ and, at the request of Pope Urban IV (1261-1264) authored eucharistic hymns Adoro te devote, Pange lingua, Sacris solemniis, Verbum supernum, and Lauda Sion; patron of Catholic schools, colleges, and universities; of philosophers, theologians, and booksellers.

John Bosco, † 1888 at Turin; founded (1859) the Salesians [S.D.B.], today numbering over 15,270 members; dedicated to educating youth; with St. Mary Mazzarello (14 May), founded the Salesian Sisters; a pioneer in vocational training; first saint in history to submit to a press interview; forty thousand people filed past his body at his death; first canonized saint in whose honor a national holiday was declared in Italy; patron of editors; known as the "Apostle of Youth."

Jesus, the King of glory (Ps), yet like us in all things (2), comes to his temple (1) to be a light for all the nations (3). Mal 3:1-4 Ps 24:7-10 Heb 2:14-18 Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

Blaise, believed martyred in the persecution of Licinius, early 4th c.; bishop of Sebaste in Armenia; associated with the healing of throats (see PN below); venerated as well by the Eastern Church.

Agatha, † probably under Decius (c. 251) in Sicily; patroness of Palermo and Catania; invoked for protection against volcanic eruptions and fires; mentioned in the Roman Canon.

Paul Miki, Jesuit scholastic, and his twenty-five companions, including two other Jesuits, six Franciscans, fifteen tertiaries, and two laymen, were crucified by order of the ruler Hideyoshi 5 Feb. 1597 at Nagasaki; among them, the Mexican, Felipe de Jesús, the first martyr from the Americas to be beatified; protomartyrs of the Far East (canonized in 1862 by Pope Pius IX).

Isaiah, a man of unclean lips, beholds the Lord's glory in the temple and is sent on mission (1, Ps). Simon, a sinner, responds to the mission of Jesus by becoming a disciple (3). Paul, the persecutor, speaks of his call to preach nothing but Christ crucified and risen (2). Is 6:1-2a, 3-8 Ps 138:1-5, 7-8 1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11 Lk 5:1-11

Scholastica, † c. 543 at Monte Cassino; twin sister of St. Benedict; eventually interred in the same grave with her brother; most of what we know of Scholastica comes from the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great (3 Sept.), who wrote, "so death did not separate the bodies of these two, whose minds had ever been united in the Lord"; invoked against storms; patroness of Benedictine nunneries.

According to St. Bernadette (16 Apr.), the visionary at Lourdes in 1858, the Virgin Mary proclaimed herself "The Immaculate Conception"; patroness of Portugal and the Philippines.

Cyril, † 869, and Methodius, † 885; brothers known as the "Apostles to the Slavs"; prepared Slavic liturgical texts; served as the "spiritual bridge between Eastern and Western traditions" (Pope John Paul II); patrons of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and of all Europe.

Blest are they who trust in the Lord (1, Ps). Blest are they who are poor and who endure insult, for their reward shall be great (3): eternal life (2). Jer 17:5-8 Ps 1:1-4, 6 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 Lk 6:17, 20-26

The Order of Friar Servants of Mary or Servites [O.S.M.], founded by seven Florentine cloth merchants in 1223, today number about 785 religious; they popularized devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows (see 15 Sept.).

Peter Damian, † 1072; indefatigable defender of the Gregorian reform; O.S.B. monk, later Cardinal bishop of Ostia; promoter of religious life.

La fiesta de hoy, atestiguada ya a mediados del siglo IV (en la Depositio martyrum), tiene sus raíces en la conmemoración de los parientes y amigos muertos (Parentalia), celebrada en Roma entre el 13 y el 22 de febrero. En esta conmemoración, se dejaba vacía una silla (cátedra) para personas fallecidas en particular. Dado que se desconocía la fecha real de la muerte de San Pedro, se conmemoró el 22 de febrero, celebrando finalmente su toma de responsabilidad pastoral de la Iglesia de Roma

In baptism we are called to mirror and image (2) the mercy and forgiveness the Lord has won for us (Ps). As David would not harm Saul, his enemy (1), so we are challenged to love and pardon those who wrong us (3). 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13 1 Cor 15:45-49 Lk 6:27-38

Gregory of Narek (c. 950-1003/1011) was an Armenian mystical and lyrical poet, abbot, and theologian. He is venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015 and added to the General Roman Calendar in 2021 as an Optional Memorial. He is best known for his Book of Lamentations, a major work of mystical literature.