St. Alphonsus Maria De Liguori was born Sept. 27, 1696, near Naples, Italy. He received a doctorate in law at age 16 and had his own practice by age 21. When he realized his call to the religious life, he studied theology and was ordained at the age of 29. This preacher and home missioner...Read More

VATICAN CITY - To help encourage prayers for a spiritually fruitful World Youth Day in Madrid, the Vatican announced Aug. 11 that Pope Benedict XVI had authorized a special indulgence for anyone who, “with a contrite spirit,” raises a “prayer to God, the Holy Spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given...Read More

St. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles and a friend of St. Philip, who brought him to Jesus. Local tradition says that he preached in Ethiopia, India and Armenia, possibly leaving his writings behind. The saint died for his faith when he was flayed alive in Armenia. St. Bartholomew is patron saint of Armenia.Read More

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) has published draft regulations that would more tightly regulate the state’s surgical abortion clinics. The regulations would require clinics to follow regulations similar to the ones already governing other outpatient ambulatory surgical centers.Read More

St. Bruno was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1030 and was ordained circa 1055. He taught theology, and one of his students became Pope Urban II. He presided at a school in Rheims between 1057 and 1075. He criticized worldliness among the members of the clergy. After having a vision, he moved to a mountain...Read More

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) has published draft regulations for sites performing surgical abortions that the Maryland Catholic Conference believes “will go a long way to protect the health and safety of women undergoing surgical abortions in Maryland.”Read More

St. Barlaam was born in Antioch sometime after 200. During the persecutions under Diocletian, this Christian peasant was jailed for his faith. At his trial in 304, he was tortured but refused to deny his faith. Barlaam lost his hand in fire when the judge tried to make it look like he was making a...Read More

WASHINGTON - The Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed “religious exemption” to the requirement that new or significantly altered health insurance plans cover contraceptives and sterilization for women is “so narrow as to exclude most Catholic social service agencies and health care providers,” according to the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life...Read More