January 07

Born Ugo Boncompagni in 1502, Pope Gregory XIII was elected in 1572 and oversaw major reforms in the Catholic Church. His most enduring achievement was the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, realigning the liturgical year with astronomical events. He supported global missionary work, strengthening the Jesuit and Dominican orders. Gregory XIII reformed church administration and founded the Gregorian University in Rome. As a patron of the arts, he commissioned significant architectural and artistic projects in the Vatican.

Bernadette Soubirous was a French nun born in 1844 in Lourdes. At age 14, she reported eighteen visions of the Virgin Mary at the Massabielle grotto. Her accounts led to the establishment of Lourdes as a major pilgrimage site. Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers and lived a life of humility and prayer. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1933 and is venerated as Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. Her legacy endures in millions of pilgrims who visit Lourdes each year seeking spiritual and physical healing.

Vaklush Tolev was born in Bulgaria in 1923 and became a prominent theologian and lecturer. He founded the Society for Divine Wisdom, teaching a philosophy that combined Christian theology with universal human values. Tolev authored several works on spirituality, ethics, and social responsibility, advocating for a new ethical framework called the New Ethics. He lectured across Europe and America, influencing both scholars and lay audiences. As a public figure, he engaged in interfaith dialogue to foster understanding between different religious communities. Tolev also served as a prison chaplain, bringing education and hope to inmates. His emphasis on human dignity and love continues to inspire spiritual seekers. Vaklush Tolev died in 2013, leaving a lasting legacy in Bulgarian religious thought.