February 16 — St Julienne is a virgin and martyr living at the beginning of the fourth century in Nicomedia, capital of Bithynia.

According to the Golden Legend, Julienne was engaged to the Prefect of Nicomedia but refused to unite with him as long as he remained a pagan.

Her own father, therefore, had her beaten and delivered her to the said rejected prefect, who had her whipped and hung by the hair, before pouring molten lead over her head, then, as it had no effect, chained her up and thrown her in prison.

There she defeats by prayer a demon who tries to persuade her to sacrifice to the gods.

The prefect then had her torn apart, but an angel healed her, and this prodigy allowed the conversion of a great number of people. The prefect then gave her a bath of molten lead, which seemed to the saint to be a bath of lukewarm water. He then had her beheaded.

 

 

Message from the Bishops at the end of the Pilgrimage

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, You who have come in such large numbers to take part in this national pilgrimage, as well as all of you who are following it from home through the media. We, the bishops of Madagascar, would like to express our deep gratitude to you for having responded to our invitation and for having brought this jubilee initiated by Pope Francis to life spiritually. With you, we take up Mary's song: ‘My soul exalts the Lord’ and we repeat with her: ‘What shall I repay the Lord for all the good he has done me?’....

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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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