It’s the Feast of St. Gregory the Wonderworker, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: “Our Lady of Fatima and the Souls in Purgatory”, today’s news from the Church: “New York Subscribes to Wokism”, a preview of the Sermon: “Essential Truths about Purgatory”, and today’s thought from the Archbishop.
Saint Gregory the Wonderworker — also known as Gregory Thaumaturgus — lived in the third century, a time when the Church was still young and often persecuted, yet alive with the fire of the Gospel. Born into a wealthy pagan family in Pontus, in what is now Turkey, Gregory seemed destined for a career in law or philosophy. But God had other plans. While studying in Caesarea, he encountered the brilliance and holiness of Origen, the great Christian teacher. Gregory intended only to observe the Christians out of curiosity, but Origen’s teaching opened his heart. By the end of his studies, he asked for baptism and offered his whole life to Christ.
When he returned home, he found that he had been chosen as bishop of his small and skeptical community. Reluctant at first, he allowed himself to be ordained, trusting God to provide what he lacked. From that moment, extraordinary signs seemed to follow him. Stories of his miracles spread widely even during his lifetime. He drove a demon from a pagan temple, causing the structure to fall into disuse and eventually become a Christian church. He stilled a rising river that threatened to sweep away workers. He prayed during a drought and brought rain. Once, when two brothers were fighting over a lake on their property, Gregory prayed and the lake dried up, quietly resolving the dispute.
But the greatest miracle was not these signs. It was the transformation of his diocese. When Gregory became...
