20 October - Irene is born into a wealthy family in Nabância, now Tomar. She is sent by her parents to the local monastery where she is placed under the guardianship of a tutor, the monk Remigius.

One day, Britald, a young nobleman, sees her coming out of mass and falls in love with her. Irene rejects him because she wants to consecrate herself to God and Britald falls into a deep depression. Remigius, jealous of Britald's passion, prepares a herbal tea that puts Irene into a trance and leads to a nervous pregnancy. For this she is expelled from the monastery and Britald, jealous and aware of the incident, hires a soldier who disguises himself as an old vagrant and kills her with his sword.

The body is thrown into the river Nabão and is carried by the torrential river Zêzere to the sandy banks of the Tagus, to Scalabis, a town which, out of devotion and in her memory, changes its name to Santarém (Saint Irene). A church was built on the sandy mound where her body was found. The saint's body is miraculously preserved in a state of incorruptibility for several centuries.

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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