BAGHDAD (AP) — The toll from the bloody siege of a Baghdad church rose Monday to 52 dead with dozens more injured, Iraqi officials said.

The standoff began at dusk Sunday when militants wearing suicide vests and armed with grenades attacked the nearby Iraqi stock exchange and then entered the nearby Our Lady of Deliverance church — one of Baghdad’s main Catholic places of worship — taking about 120 Christians hostage.

Iraqi forces stormed – More …

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The Life of S. of God Didacus of Sinagra, Confessor, Third Order (d. 1612) for the Franciscan Saint of the Day for Dec 29. Didacus of Sinagra was born in Sicily and, after being captured by bandits in his youth, entered the Franciscans. Through all his difficulties, or rather because of them, he reached high levels of sanctity.

Reflection is on dispensations of providence
Job: Ways of god are difficult but salvific
Tobias: No better way than that given
Kempis: Commit to God’s ways

Also on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RIXOqESiK2I

Read by Fr. Ignatius Manfredonia, FI from Marion Habig’s ‘The Franciscan Book of Saints’ Revised Edition, Franciscan Herald Press, ISBN: 978-0819907516

Playlist of Franciscan Saints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TxcAETrU_k&list=PLejh_e0-LN4wErRczZGry4TXytCZFiLCm

Ave Maria!

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The post Dec 29 – S. of God Didacus of Sinagra – Franciscan Saint of the Day first appeared on AirMaria.com.