My last name was fashioned in Calabria... A crossroads of Greeks and Italians, Arabs and Ottomans, Egyptians and Normans, Jews, Muslims, and a few others. But what's most important, To me at least, are the Romans and Byzantines. My middle name was formed in a family... Over many centuries and Passed from generation to generation In Italy and now America. Worn by tribulation, Buffeted by triumph, and And most importantly, Inspired by saints... Specifically, the one who founded

Heavenly Father ... Through the life of St. Anthony the Great, You reveal the beauty of Complete surrender. He heard Your call, Left everything behind, and Sought You alone In the silence of the desert. Though tempted and Tested by the enemy, His heart remained fixed on You. Grant us, O Lord, Even a measure of his courage, To release our attachments To embrace simplicity, and To trust in Your provision. May his example kindle deep within us A deeper hunger for prayer and Stil

Intercede for me and pray for my spiritual sons and daughters so that we may have a stable foundation of deep prayer and a ministry of healing the afflicted. Please keep me close so that I may have strength to walk with everyone who comes for confession and spiritual guidance. Thank you for guiding me during the earliest days of my life. You have always exemplified for me a life of contemplative prayer and servant leadership. A depiction of St. Hugh of Lincoln.

Intercede for me and pray for my spiritual sons and daughters so that we may have a stable foundation of deep prayer and a ministry of healing the afflicted. Today, I am reminded of the motto of your Carthusian Order: "Stat crux dum volvitur orbis" (Latin for "The Cross is steady while the world turns"). Saint Bruno of Cologne, by Nicolas Mignard.

Intercede for me and pray for my spiritual sons and daughters so that we may have a stable foundation of deep prayer and a ministry of healing the afflicted. Please keep me close so that I may have strength to walk with everyone who comes for confession and spiritual guidance. "Thomas, the faithful servant and disciple of Christ, filled with divine grace, cried out from the depth of his love: 'You are my Lord and my God!'" (Kontakion — Tone 4). Icon depicting the Theotokos gi

Intercede for me and pray for my spiritual sons and daughters so that we may have a stable foundation of deep prayer and a ministry of healing the afflicted. "In you, o venerable Father Paul, the image of God shone forth, for you carried your Cross and followed Christ. By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away, and to care instead for the soul since it is immortal, wherefore your soul forever rejoices with the angels" (Troparion — Tone 8). An icon of

I like places with long, deep Christian histories Where the faithful dead Guard and guide pilgrims of every generation. I like places...

Pray for me St. Symeon and lead me along the paths of prayer in solitude and the building up of a community of faithful who desire to...

"Saint Thomas pretends to be deranged For the sake of Christ, his Savior, And God, he glorifies in his heart, The only One, the Creator...

Today, we commemorate Martyr Thomais of Alexandria who was beheaded by her father-in-law for refusing to give into his lustful demands....