This past Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. Sunday was also, appropriately, the feast day of Blessed Miguel Pro, who died proclaiming, "Vive Christo Rey!" Instead of trying to give his story in my own words, I am just going to post bits from the catholic.org website because I can't tell the story any better than they already have . . .
"Born on January 13, 1891 in Guadalupe, Mexico, Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez was the eldest son of Miguel Pro and Josefa Juarez.
Miguelito, as his doting family called him, was, from an early age, intensely spiritual and equally intense in hi mischievousness, frequently exasperating his family with his humor and practical jokes. As a child, he had a daring precociousness that sometimes went too far, tossing him into near-death accidents and illnesses.
Miguel was particularly close to his older sister and after she entered a cloistered convent, he came to recognize his own vocation to the priesthood. Although he was popular with the senoritas and had prospects of a lucrative career managing his father's thriving business concerns, Miguel renounced everything for Christ his King and entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1911.
He studied in Mexico until 1914, when a tidal wave of anti-Catholicism crashed down upon Mexico, forcing the novitiate to disband and flee to the United States, where Miguel and his brother seminarians trekked through Texas and New Mexico before arriving at the Jesuit house in Los Gatos, California.
In 1915, Miguel was sent to a seminary in Spain, where he remained until 1924, when he went to Belgium for his ordination to the priesthood in 1925. Miguel suffered from a severe stomach problem and after three operations, when his health did not improve, his superiors, in 1926, allowed him to return to Mexico in spite of the grave religious persecution in that country.
The churches were closed and priests went into hiding. Miguel spent the rest of his life in a secret ministry to the sturdy Mexican Catholics. In addition to fulfilling their spiritual needs, he also carried out the works of mercy by assisting the poor in Mexico City with their temporal needs. He adopted many interesting disguises in carrying out his secret ministry. He would come in the middle of the night dressed as a beggar to baptize infants, bless marriages and celebrate Mass. He would appear in jail dressed as a police officer to bring Holy Viaticum to condemned Catholics. When going to fashionable neighborhoods to procure for the poor, he would show up at the doorstep dressed as a fashionable businessman with a fresh flower on his lapel. His many exploits could rival those of the most daring spies. In all that he did, however, Fr. Pro remained obedient to his superiors and was filled with the joy of serving Christ, his King.
Falsely accused in the bombing attempt on a former Mexican president, Miguel became a wanted man. Betrayed to the police, he was sentenced to death without the benefit of any legal process.
On the day of his execution, Fr. Pro forgave his executioners, prayed, bravely refused the blindfold and died proclaiming, "Viva Cristo Rey", "Long live Christ the King!" "
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
St. Euphrasia of the Sacred Heat of Jesus
As I wind down my November tribute to the Communion of Saints, I think it is so appropriate to give honor to one of our newest Saints (thanks for the suggestion, Becky Miller).
St. Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart was just canonized two days ago on the Feast of Christ, King of the Universe. She was born as Rosa Eluvathingal in India on Oct 17, 1877 to Syro-Malabar Catholic family. Her father initially opposed her entry into the Sisters of Mt. Carmel because he wanted to marry her to the son of another wealthy families in the region. He eventually relented because of her resolve. When she entered the convent, she took the name Sr. Euphrasia of the sacred Heart of Jesus. However, ill health threatened her stay in the convent. She is said to have had a vision of the Holy Family, at which point the illness she had long felt ceased.
In 1913, she was made Mother Superior of St. Mary's Convent, Ollur, where she was to spend the rest of her life. Despite her many duties, she strove to lead a life of constant prayer and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, becoming known as the Praying Mother. After her death on August 29, 1952, her tomb became a pilgrimage site and many people reported miracles.
Her feast day is Aug. 29.
St. Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart was just canonized two days ago on the Feast of Christ, King of the Universe. She was born as Rosa Eluvathingal in India on Oct 17, 1877 to Syro-Malabar Catholic family. Her father initially opposed her entry into the Sisters of Mt. Carmel because he wanted to marry her to the son of another wealthy families in the region. He eventually relented because of her resolve. When she entered the convent, she took the name Sr. Euphrasia of the sacred Heart of Jesus. However, ill health threatened her stay in the convent. She is said to have had a vision of the Holy Family, at which point the illness she had long felt ceased.
In 1913, she was made Mother Superior of St. Mary's Convent, Ollur, where she was to spend the rest of her life. Despite her many duties, she strove to lead a life of constant prayer and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, becoming known as the Praying Mother. After her death on August 29, 1952, her tomb became a pilgrimage site and many people reported miracles.
Her feast day is Aug. 29.
Monday, November 24, 2014
St. Mary MacKillop
On the main website I use for my Saint research, they list about 2 dozen St. Marys . . . that's not counting all the St. Maries and St. Marias . . . . yet we most often only hear about the one St. Mary - our Blessed Mother. Today we will profile one of the "forgotten" St. Marys.
Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Australia in 1842 to Scottish immigrant parents. She was the oldest of 8 siblings. Because their father was never able to make a success of the farm - or any other profession he tried, the children went to work at early ages to help support the family. Mary started working as a clerk at 14 and later worked as a teacher and a governess. She opened her own boarding school for young ladies in 1864. Two years later, a priest friend invited Mary and her sisters to open a Catholic School.
About this time, Mary made a declaration of her dedication to God and began wearing black. In 1867 she became the first sister an mother superior of a new religious order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the first religious order to be founded by an Australian) and she took the name Sister Mary of the Cross. The order adopted brown habits and the sisters became known as the Brown Joeys. By the end of 1869, more than 70 Josephite sisters were educating children at 21 schools - by 1871, 130 nuns were working in more than 40 schools and charitable institutions across South Australia and Queensland.
Unfortunately, the bishop at this time was often absent from his episcopate due to health reasons and without clear leadership, factions developed among the clergy. Through a complex series of events, involving both misunderstanding as well as vengeance, Mary MacKillop ended up on the wrong side of the Bishop and was excommunicated. She was forbidden to have contact with anyone in the Church, so she lived with a Jewish family. The Bishop lifted the excommunication on his deathbed and a later Episcopal Commission completely exonerated her. Her order continued to thrive and expanded into New Zealand.
Mother Mary died in 1909 and was canonized in 2010. Her feast day is August 8.
Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Australia in 1842 to Scottish immigrant parents. She was the oldest of 8 siblings. Because their father was never able to make a success of the farm - or any other profession he tried, the children went to work at early ages to help support the family. Mary started working as a clerk at 14 and later worked as a teacher and a governess. She opened her own boarding school for young ladies in 1864. Two years later, a priest friend invited Mary and her sisters to open a Catholic School.
About this time, Mary made a declaration of her dedication to God and began wearing black. In 1867 she became the first sister an mother superior of a new religious order, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the first religious order to be founded by an Australian) and she took the name Sister Mary of the Cross. The order adopted brown habits and the sisters became known as the Brown Joeys. By the end of 1869, more than 70 Josephite sisters were educating children at 21 schools - by 1871, 130 nuns were working in more than 40 schools and charitable institutions across South Australia and Queensland.
Unfortunately, the bishop at this time was often absent from his episcopate due to health reasons and without clear leadership, factions developed among the clergy. Through a complex series of events, involving both misunderstanding as well as vengeance, Mary MacKillop ended up on the wrong side of the Bishop and was excommunicated. She was forbidden to have contact with anyone in the Church, so she lived with a Jewish family. The Bishop lifted the excommunication on his deathbed and a later Episcopal Commission completely exonerated her. Her order continued to thrive and expanded into New Zealand.
Mother Mary died in 1909 and was canonized in 2010. Her feast day is August 8.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
St. Martin de Porres
Tonya asked for St. Martin de Porres and I almost declined because I thought I did his profile last year - but that was Martin of Tours (understandable confusion).
St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, in the mid-1500s. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a free woman of color, exposing him to life-long discrimination both for being mixed race and for his birth status. He became a lay brother at the Dominican Friary at the age of 15, but his African heritage kept him in a status of near servant hood. He tasks at the Friary included barber, farm laborer, almoner, and infirmarian among other things. He accepted his status with humility and made a martyr out of his body, devoting himself to ceaseless and severe penances. In turn, God endowed him with many graces and wondrous gifts, such as, aerial flights and bilocation. (I think bilocation is one of the coolest gifts a saint can have.)
St. Martin's love was all-embracing, shown equally to humans and to animals, including vermin, and he maintained a cats and dogs hospital at his sister's house. He was also a good friend of another favorite saint of many of you, Rose of Lima. He is the patron saint against racial discrimination. His feast day is November 3.
Once again, I would like to note my sources: This Saint's for You by T. Craughwell and Catholic.org.
St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, in the mid-1500s. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a free woman of color, exposing him to life-long discrimination both for being mixed race and for his birth status. He became a lay brother at the Dominican Friary at the age of 15, but his African heritage kept him in a status of near servant hood. He tasks at the Friary included barber, farm laborer, almoner, and infirmarian among other things. He accepted his status with humility and made a martyr out of his body, devoting himself to ceaseless and severe penances. In turn, God endowed him with many graces and wondrous gifts, such as, aerial flights and bilocation. (I think bilocation is one of the coolest gifts a saint can have.)
St. Martin's love was all-embracing, shown equally to humans and to animals, including vermin, and he maintained a cats and dogs hospital at his sister's house. He was also a good friend of another favorite saint of many of you, Rose of Lima. He is the patron saint against racial discrimination. His feast day is November 3.
Once again, I would like to note my sources: This Saint's for You by T. Craughwell and Catholic.org.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Cosmos & Damian
Well, I have started to get a few Saint suggestions again, so today we will hear about Sts. Cosmos & Damian. (I was asked for St. Damian, so there were a couple of different ways I could go, and I chose these brothers. I may feature St. Damien of Molokai in a later post).
Cosmos and Damian are almost always listed together. They were brothers who lived in the third century in what is now Turkey. They were both noted physicians. As Christians, they never charged for their services, but took the opportunity while treating their patients to share their faith. In an era of widespread persecution of Christians, this got them into trouble. They were arrested along with their three younger brothers. They underwent several torments before being beheaded.
The brothers' reputations as physicians followed them even after death. Pilgrims traveled from miles around to sleep near their burial place. The pilgrims would have visions of the Saintly physicians come to them in the night, administer medicine or perform surgery and the pilgrims would awaken in perfect health. Sts. Cosmos and Damian are patron saints of physicians and pharmacists. Their feast day is Sept 26.
Cosmos and Damian are almost always listed together. They were brothers who lived in the third century in what is now Turkey. They were both noted physicians. As Christians, they never charged for their services, but took the opportunity while treating their patients to share their faith. In an era of widespread persecution of Christians, this got them into trouble. They were arrested along with their three younger brothers. They underwent several torments before being beheaded.
The brothers' reputations as physicians followed them even after death. Pilgrims traveled from miles around to sleep near their burial place. The pilgrims would have visions of the Saintly physicians come to them in the night, administer medicine or perform surgery and the pilgrims would awaken in perfect health. Sts. Cosmos and Damian are patron saints of physicians and pharmacists. Their feast day is Sept 26.
Friday, November 21, 2014
St. Rita of Cascia
Today's Saint is St. Rita of Cascia (also known as Margarita). She was born in Italy in 1381 and at an early age expressed a desire to become a nun, However, her parents insisted that she marry and at the age of 12 she was married to a man that treated her cruelly. She spent 18 years in this unhappy marriage, giving birth to two sons, until she was widowed when her husband was killed in a brawl.
She still wanted to become a nun, and when her sons had also dies, she tried to enter the convent of Augustinians at Cascia. She was refused because she was a widow and the convent had a requirement that all sisters had to be virgins. She was finally given entrance in 1413 and gained a reputation for austerity, devotion to prayer, and charity. In the midst of chronic illnesses, she received visions and wounds on her forehead which resembled the crown of thorns.
She is honored in Spain as La Santa de los Impossibles and elsewhere as a patron saint of hopeless causes. Her feast day is May 22.
P.S. - I am still taking suggestions for saints to feature in my posts this month.
She still wanted to become a nun, and when her sons had also dies, she tried to enter the convent of Augustinians at Cascia. She was refused because she was a widow and the convent had a requirement that all sisters had to be virgins. She was finally given entrance in 1413 and gained a reputation for austerity, devotion to prayer, and charity. In the midst of chronic illnesses, she received visions and wounds on her forehead which resembled the crown of thorns.
She is honored in Spain as La Santa de los Impossibles and elsewhere as a patron saint of hopeless causes. Her feast day is May 22.
P.S. - I am still taking suggestions for saints to feature in my posts this month.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
St. Severus
Having a hard time choosing a Saint for today, so this one is for all you Harry Potter fans - St. Severus.
St. Severus was born in Gaul and worked as a missionary. He went to England with St. Germanus of Auxerre and St. Lupus of Troyes in 429 to combat heresy there. He also worked in the Moselle river area in Germany and was named Bishop of Treves in Gaul in 446. His feast day is Oct 15.
St. Severus was born in Gaul and worked as a missionary. He went to England with St. Germanus of Auxerre and St. Lupus of Troyes in 429 to combat heresy there. He also worked in the Moselle river area in Germany and was named Bishop of Treves in Gaul in 446. His feast day is Oct 15.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
St. Charles Lwanga and the Ugandan Martyrs
For a boy named Charles, for whom I have been praying, today I have chosen St. Charles Lwanga and Companions as my Saint of the day.
The Society of Missionaries of Africa (known as the White Fathers) evangelized Uganda and within 6 years had built up a strong community of converts. Many of these converts lived and taught at King Mwanga's court. The king was a violent ruler and pedophile who forced himself on the young men and boys who served as pages in his court. The Christians tried to protect the pages from the king.
When the chief steward, Joseph Mkasa, was killed for standing up to the king, Charles Lwanga took over the instruction and Christian leadership at court. He also took charge of keeping the pages out of King Mwanga's hands. When the king asked a young page what had been keeping him away, the page answered that he had been taking religious instructions. This infuriated the king, who had the court sealed off so that no one could leave and he summoned his executioners. Knowing what was coming, Charles Lwanga baptized four converts that night. The next day, the king separated out the Christians from the rest of the court. When they refused to renounce their faith, Charles and the others were marched 37 miles to their execution site (two were executed on the way), where they were burned to death.
The White Fathers were expelled from the country, but they returned after King Mwanga's death. They found that the faith had been kept alive and grown in their absence - 500 Christians and 1000 catechumens were waiting for them . . . planted there by the seed of the blood of the martyrs.
The feast day of the Ugandan Martyrs is June 3
The Society of Missionaries of Africa (known as the White Fathers) evangelized Uganda and within 6 years had built up a strong community of converts. Many of these converts lived and taught at King Mwanga's court. The king was a violent ruler and pedophile who forced himself on the young men and boys who served as pages in his court. The Christians tried to protect the pages from the king.
When the chief steward, Joseph Mkasa, was killed for standing up to the king, Charles Lwanga took over the instruction and Christian leadership at court. He also took charge of keeping the pages out of King Mwanga's hands. When the king asked a young page what had been keeping him away, the page answered that he had been taking religious instructions. This infuriated the king, who had the court sealed off so that no one could leave and he summoned his executioners. Knowing what was coming, Charles Lwanga baptized four converts that night. The next day, the king separated out the Christians from the rest of the court. When they refused to renounce their faith, Charles and the others were marched 37 miles to their execution site (two were executed on the way), where they were burned to death.
The White Fathers were expelled from the country, but they returned after King Mwanga's death. They found that the faith had been kept alive and grown in their absence - 500 Christians and 1000 catechumens were waiting for them . . . planted there by the seed of the blood of the martyrs.
The feast day of the Ugandan Martyrs is June 3
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Bl. Lucy de Freitas
One of my goals with the Saint stories is to give a sampling of the universal nature of the Church - featuring both men and women, young and old, those who walked with Christ in the flesh . . . and from every period since until our own day. I also like to feature Saints from all over the world. So far this month, I have many European and American Saints, some from the Middle East and North Africa, but I have yet to talk about an Asian - so today's Saint is Blessed Lucy de Freitas from Japan.
Japan was first evangelized in the 16th century. Christian converts were few in number but strong in faith. The earliest converts and their descendants were heavily persecuted by a shogun who aimed to wipe out Christianity. Pope Pius IX beatified 205 of the martyrs of this persecution in 1867 - including Bl. Lucy de Freitas.
Bl. Lucy was the widow of Philip de Freitas from Portugal. She was 80 years old at the time of the shogun's war on Christians. She had become a Franciscan tertiary and spent years in charitable work. She was executed because she had given shelter to a priest. She was burned to death in Nagasaki, Japan on September 10, 1622. September 10 is the feast day of Bl. Lucy and many of the other Japanese martyrs.
Japan was first evangelized in the 16th century. Christian converts were few in number but strong in faith. The earliest converts and their descendants were heavily persecuted by a shogun who aimed to wipe out Christianity. Pope Pius IX beatified 205 of the martyrs of this persecution in 1867 - including Bl. Lucy de Freitas.
Bl. Lucy was the widow of Philip de Freitas from Portugal. She was 80 years old at the time of the shogun's war on Christians. She had become a Franciscan tertiary and spent years in charitable work. She was executed because she had given shelter to a priest. She was burned to death in Nagasaki, Japan on September 10, 1622. September 10 is the feast day of Bl. Lucy and many of the other Japanese martyrs.
Monday, November 17, 2014
St. Veronica
On the Cum Christo Weekend these past three days, I spent what seemed like an extraordinary amount of time - and an extraordinary time - in the chapel praying for other team members as they gave their talks. There is a very moving picture in the chapel that depicts the face of Jesus -- I felt like I could just reach out and touch His face . . . and as I meditated on this picture, I thought of St. Veronica touching His face and wiping off the blood and sweat. St. Veronica be...came my personal Patron for the weekend.
The name Veronica is often said to mean "true image" for true (Latin: vera) and image (Greek: εικόνα), but the etymology is more likely a Latinisation of the Greek Verenice, meaning "bearer of Victory." St. Veronica is known from the devotion of the Stations of the Cross, where in the Sixth Station we meditate on her wiping the face of Jesus with her veil. Legend says that the image of Christ was left on the cloth - two churches in Italy claim to have this relic, but neither has been officially authenticated by the Church. Veronica remains one of the most popular Saints, even thought there is no historical or scriptural evidence of her life and no details known of her beyond the Stations of the Cross.
She is the Patron Saint of photographers. Her feast day is July 22.
She is the Patron Saint of photographers. Her feast day is July 22.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
St. Ivo
And the one I forgot to post yesterday:
I was talking with Natasha today about meeting with a lawyer and we discussed who would be the patron of lawyers. There are actually several. I like St. Ivo.
St. Ivo lived in the last half of the 13th century. He studied in Paris and Orleans and was a master of both civil and cannon law. A ditty about him, popular in the middle ages went, "St. Ivo was a Breton, a lawyer, but not a thief, which people say is a wonderous thing." He was known for defending the poor free of char...ge, prosecuting noblemen who charged their tenants exorbitant taxes, and trying to settle his cases out of court to save his clients money. He never took a bribe.
St. Ivo lived in the last half of the 13th century. He studied in Paris and Orleans and was a master of both civil and cannon law. A ditty about him, popular in the middle ages went, "St. Ivo was a Breton, a lawyer, but not a thief, which people say is a wonderous thing." He was known for defending the poor free of char...ge, prosecuting noblemen who charged their tenants exorbitant taxes, and trying to settle his cases out of court to save his clients money. He never took a bribe.
After practicing law for about 20 years, he began studying for the priesthood. As a lawyer, he had never turned away a poor client; as a priest he never refused help to the needy. It was said that during a famin, when everyone turned to Ivo for help, his own stores miraculously replenished until the famine was over,
St. Ivo's feast day is May 19.
St. Ivo's feast day is May 19.
St. Maurice and the Theban Legion
Since I will not be on line for the next three days, today I will leave you with a legion of spiritual helpers to see you through the weekend - literally a legion.
The Theban Legion, as its name suggests, came from in and around the Egyptian City of Thebes. They served in the army of co-Emperor Maximian, colleague of the famed hater of Christians, Emperor Diocletian. They were sent by the Emperor to Switzerland to crush a Gallic tribe that had rebelled against Rome. Before marching into battle, the emperor commanded that every soldier sacrifice to the pagan gods of Rome. With their chief officer, Maurice, acting as their spokesman, the legion refused as they were all Christians.
To break their spirit, Maximian had loyal Roman troops kill every tenth Christian Legionnaire. When the legion continued to stand firm in their faith, The emperor ordered a second decimation. The remaining Christian soldiers would still not obey and were themselves slaughtered.
St. Maurice and the Theban Legion are the patron saints of armies (fitting patrons for this week of Veteran's Day). Their feast is Sept. 22.
The Theban Legion, as its name suggests, came from in and around the Egyptian City of Thebes. They served in the army of co-Emperor Maximian, colleague of the famed hater of Christians, Emperor Diocletian. They were sent by the Emperor to Switzerland to crush a Gallic tribe that had rebelled against Rome. Before marching into battle, the emperor commanded that every soldier sacrifice to the pagan gods of Rome. With their chief officer, Maurice, acting as their spokesman, the legion refused as they were all Christians.
To break their spirit, Maximian had loyal Roman troops kill every tenth Christian Legionnaire. When the legion continued to stand firm in their faith, The emperor ordered a second decimation. The remaining Christian soldiers would still not obey and were themselves slaughtered.
St. Maurice and the Theban Legion are the patron saints of armies (fitting patrons for this week of Veteran's Day). Their feast is Sept. 22.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
St. Michael the Archangel
I had a military saint picked out in honor of Veteran's Day, and then got a special request from Shelli for St. Michael -- which also works as he is the patron of paratroopers and police (which would include military police).
St. Michael is an Archangel - one of nine divisions or orders of angels. And this would be a good time to point out that angels are NOT the souls of deceased humans, nor will you become an angel when you die. Angels are purely spiritual beings while humans are spirit and matter - which is why we profess a belief in the 'resurrection of the body.'
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" When Lucifer chose to try to make himself equal to God, Michael and his army of good angels drove him and his companions out of heaven (Rev 12:7-8). This is why St. Michael is seen as the protector of the Church and why those who serve to protect others (Police and military) invoke him as their patron.
St. Michael's feast day is Sept. 29.
St. Michael is an Archangel - one of nine divisions or orders of angels. And this would be a good time to point out that angels are NOT the souls of deceased humans, nor will you become an angel when you die. Angels are purely spiritual beings while humans are spirit and matter - which is why we profess a belief in the 'resurrection of the body.'
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" When Lucifer chose to try to make himself equal to God, Michael and his army of good angels drove him and his companions out of heaven (Rev 12:7-8). This is why St. Michael is seen as the protector of the Church and why those who serve to protect others (Police and military) invoke him as their patron.
St. Michael's feast day is Sept. 29.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Pope St. Leo the Great
In the time that I have been doing my "Saint of the Day" posts, I have rarely featured a Saint on his/her feast day . . . but hearing about Pope St. Leo the Great on the radio this morning inspired me.
St. Leo was Pope between 440 and 461. The commentator on the radio this morning likened him to Pope Francis in that his homilies were very easy to understand and accessible to the common Christian (in other words, you did not have to be a theologian to understand him). As testament to how much his homilies moved people, he was the first Pope whose homilies were written down and shared - leaving us a legacy of his teaching to this day. He was also the first Pope to be called "the Great."
One of the best known stories of Pope Leo, is how he faced Attila the Hun when Attila was preparing to sack Rome. At the request of the emperor, he traveled to northern Italy and met with the Hun, obtaining from him the promise that he would leave Italy and negotiating peace between the Hun and the emperor. He also saved the inhabitants of Rome when the city was captured by the Vandals. Although for a fortnight the town had been plundered, Leo's intercession obtained a promise that the city should not be injured and that the lives of the inhabitants should be spared.
Pope St. Leo's feast is Nov 10.
P.S. Source for this information has been NewAdvent.org, Catholic.org and the Son Rise Morning Show on EWTN. I have used these sources as well as AmericanCatholic.org and the book This Saint's for You by T. Craughwell for most of my posts.
St. Leo was Pope between 440 and 461. The commentator on the radio this morning likened him to Pope Francis in that his homilies were very easy to understand and accessible to the common Christian (in other words, you did not have to be a theologian to understand him). As testament to how much his homilies moved people, he was the first Pope whose homilies were written down and shared - leaving us a legacy of his teaching to this day. He was also the first Pope to be called "the Great."
One of the best known stories of Pope Leo, is how he faced Attila the Hun when Attila was preparing to sack Rome. At the request of the emperor, he traveled to northern Italy and met with the Hun, obtaining from him the promise that he would leave Italy and negotiating peace between the Hun and the emperor. He also saved the inhabitants of Rome when the city was captured by the Vandals. Although for a fortnight the town had been plundered, Leo's intercession obtained a promise that the city should not be injured and that the lives of the inhabitants should be spared.
Pope St. Leo's feast is Nov 10.
P.S. Source for this information has been NewAdvent.org, Catholic.org and the Son Rise Morning Show on EWTN. I have used these sources as well as AmericanCatholic.org and the book This Saint's for You by T. Craughwell for most of my posts.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Since I have a whole family of "Roses" that I honored the other day with my post on Rose of Lima, I will give you another St. Rose of a more recent vintage -- St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.
Rose Philippine was born in France in 1769. She joined a religious order against her family's wishes when she was a young women. However, during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, the Monastery where she was living was shut down and the sisters dispersed. She continued to live by the Rule of her order at home as she served her family and those suffering from the Reign of Terror, including those imprisoned in the former Monastery.
Once the Catholic Church was again able to operate openly, she tried to reestablish the monastery and later merged with the new order of the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1818, at the age of 49, she traveled to America to work as a missionary (yes, young ones, there is life after 40!). She built the first Sacred Heart convent outside of France in a log cabin in Missouri Territory and opened the first free school west of the Mississippi.
In 1841 - now 71 years old - she and other sisters from her order joined the Jesuits in a mission to serve the Potawatomi tribe in eastern Kansas. The children named her Quahkahkanumad, which translates as Woman Who Prays Always. She was only able to stay at the mission for a year before her health forced her to return to the convent in Missouri. She lived for another decade, dying on Nov 18, 1852. Her feast day is Nov. 18.
Rose Philippine was born in France in 1769. She joined a religious order against her family's wishes when she was a young women. However, during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, the Monastery where she was living was shut down and the sisters dispersed. She continued to live by the Rule of her order at home as she served her family and those suffering from the Reign of Terror, including those imprisoned in the former Monastery.
Once the Catholic Church was again able to operate openly, she tried to reestablish the monastery and later merged with the new order of the Society of the Sacred Heart. In 1818, at the age of 49, she traveled to America to work as a missionary (yes, young ones, there is life after 40!). She built the first Sacred Heart convent outside of France in a log cabin in Missouri Territory and opened the first free school west of the Mississippi.
In 1841 - now 71 years old - she and other sisters from her order joined the Jesuits in a mission to serve the Potawatomi tribe in eastern Kansas. The children named her Quahkahkanumad, which translates as Woman Who Prays Always. She was only able to stay at the mission for a year before her health forced her to return to the convent in Missouri. She lived for another decade, dying on Nov 18, 1852. Her feast day is Nov. 18.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Saint Turibius
Building off of yesterday's post on St. Rose of Lima, today we will hear about her Spiritual Director, St. Turibius. St. Turibius was born in Spain and educated as a lawyer (yes, a lawyer who became a saint!). He had no intention of a vocation to the priesthood or any thoughts of a career as a missionary, but God had other ideas. When the Spanish colony of Peru needed an Archbishop, Turibius was chosen as the man for the job. Although he strenuously objected, King Phillip would not take no for an answer. He was ordained a priest and then consecrated bishop in record time and sent half-way around the world to his new diocese.
Although his diocese covered eighteen thousand square miles (compare that to Toledo Diocese at 8,222 square miles), St. Turibius made the long and arduous visitation of his diocese three times in the quarter century that he was bishop. He visited every parish and mission -- traveling by foot the whole way, scaling the Andes and crossing rivers and jungles. He also had the catechism translated into the two most common native languages and insisted that priests assigned to Indian parishes be fluent in the native tongues to better serve his flock.
St. Turibius is an example for all of us in respecting the rights of native peoples. His feast day is March 23.
Although his diocese covered eighteen thousand square miles (compare that to Toledo Diocese at 8,222 square miles), St. Turibius made the long and arduous visitation of his diocese three times in the quarter century that he was bishop. He visited every parish and mission -- traveling by foot the whole way, scaling the Andes and crossing rivers and jungles. He also had the catechism translated into the two most common native languages and insisted that priests assigned to Indian parishes be fluent in the native tongues to better serve his flock.
St. Turibius is an example for all of us in respecting the rights of native peoples. His feast day is March 23.
Friday, November 7, 2014
St. Rose of Lima
At my Aunt Ginny's suggestion, and in honor of my Grandma Rose, my Mother Rosemary, my Godmother Roseanne and my sister and nieces who were blessed with Rose as a middle name -- you may have guessed that I am featuring St. Rose of Lima today.
St. Rose was christened Isabel, but she was such a pretty baby that the housemaid called her "Rose", and the name stuck so firmly that it was under this name that she was canonized. Her family was well off and she was brought up in a fine villa. She obeyed her parents in everything, except when they wanted her to make a good marriage. She wanted to be a nun. They compromised in that she would not have to marry, but she could not enter a convent. She joined the third order Dominicans and built herself a hermitage in the family garden. Soon after this, the family fortune went bust and Rose helped to support the family by making lace and selling the flowers she grew in her garden. She also started a clinic in one of the rooms of her family's villa and she was known among the locals for miracles performed with the sick.
St. Rose was the first American Saint. She is the patron saint of Latin America, the Philippines and gardeners. Her feast day is August 23.
St. Rose was christened Isabel, but she was such a pretty baby that the housemaid called her "Rose", and the name stuck so firmly that it was under this name that she was canonized. Her family was well off and she was brought up in a fine villa. She obeyed her parents in everything, except when they wanted her to make a good marriage. She wanted to be a nun. They compromised in that she would not have to marry, but she could not enter a convent. She joined the third order Dominicans and built herself a hermitage in the family garden. Soon after this, the family fortune went bust and Rose helped to support the family by making lace and selling the flowers she grew in her garden. She also started a clinic in one of the rooms of her family's villa and she was known among the locals for miracles performed with the sick.
St. Rose was the first American Saint. She is the patron saint of Latin America, the Philippines and gardeners. Her feast day is August 23.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
St. Cecilia
As I have received no further requests for Saint stories (the suggestion box is still open, by the way), today I will pick in honor of my niece, Cici, who is celebrating her birthday today.
St. Cecilia Is one of the four great virgin martyrs of the early Church (as mentioned in my earlier post on St. Lucy). Little is known about her life and death that was not enhanced and expanded in later centuries, so it is impossible to separate the fact from the fiction. The legend says that although Cecilia was born to Christian parents, they betrothed her to a pagan. She had taken a vow of perpetual virginity and prayed to the Saints and Angels to help her keep her vow. Upon her marriage, she told her husband that there was an angel guarding her that and that he would be able to see the angel if he believed in God and was baptized - which he did and could. None of my sources says how long they lived celibately as husband and wife before they were both martyred in a wave of anti-Christian persecution.
Cecilia is the patron Saint of music and musicians because she is said to have heard heavenly music at her wedding. She is often pictured playing an organ . . . however, the organ was not invented until centuries after her death. Her feast day is November 22.
St. Cecilia Is one of the four great virgin martyrs of the early Church (as mentioned in my earlier post on St. Lucy). Little is known about her life and death that was not enhanced and expanded in later centuries, so it is impossible to separate the fact from the fiction. The legend says that although Cecilia was born to Christian parents, they betrothed her to a pagan. She had taken a vow of perpetual virginity and prayed to the Saints and Angels to help her keep her vow. Upon her marriage, she told her husband that there was an angel guarding her that and that he would be able to see the angel if he believed in God and was baptized - which he did and could. None of my sources says how long they lived celibately as husband and wife before they were both martyred in a wave of anti-Christian persecution.
Cecilia is the patron Saint of music and musicians because she is said to have heard heavenly music at her wedding. She is often pictured playing an organ . . . however, the organ was not invented until centuries after her death. Her feast day is November 22.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
St. Simon the Apostle
Once again our Saint of the Day is thanks to a request from Lucy -- 'though I think she made the request on behalf of her little brother. Today we will hear about St. Simon the Apostle.
St. Simon was born in the first century in the area of Canaan (see the Gospels of Matt. and Mark). In Luke's Gospel, he is called "the Zealot" - we don't know if this was because of his political views or just because he was zealous for the Kingdom of God. Simon is one of the leas known of the Apostles -- probably because he shares his name with the much better known Simon, called Peter. Simon never speaks in the Gospels and he wrote no epistles, so he left no legacy aside from his status as one of the twelve. Some people also think that Simon the Apostle is the same person as the Simon who is called "brother of the Lord" in the Gospels, but there is nothing in the Gospels to support this.
Eastern traditions say that it was Simon's wedding feast that Jesus attended and tuned the water into wine.
After Pentecost, the Apostles took the Gospel message out to the ends of the known world. We do not know for certain where Simon went to preach, but legend says that he and St. Jude (also a lesser-known Apostle) teamed up to preach in Persia - present day Iraq. He is believed to have been martyred for the faith -- legends differ on whether it was by crucifixion or being cut in half.
Simon shares his feast day with St. Jude on Oct 28.
St. Simon was born in the first century in the area of Canaan (see the Gospels of Matt. and Mark). In Luke's Gospel, he is called "the Zealot" - we don't know if this was because of his political views or just because he was zealous for the Kingdom of God. Simon is one of the leas known of the Apostles -- probably because he shares his name with the much better known Simon, called Peter. Simon never speaks in the Gospels and he wrote no epistles, so he left no legacy aside from his status as one of the twelve. Some people also think that Simon the Apostle is the same person as the Simon who is called "brother of the Lord" in the Gospels, but there is nothing in the Gospels to support this.
Eastern traditions say that it was Simon's wedding feast that Jesus attended and tuned the water into wine.
After Pentecost, the Apostles took the Gospel message out to the ends of the known world. We do not know for certain where Simon went to preach, but legend says that he and St. Jude (also a lesser-known Apostle) teamed up to preach in Persia - present day Iraq. He is believed to have been martyred for the faith -- legends differ on whether it was by crucifixion or being cut in half.
Simon shares his feast day with St. Jude on Oct 28.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Servant of God Dorothy Day
It has been my practice with my November "Saint of the Day" posts to feature only Canonized Saints or those who have been declared Blessed. However, at the suggestion of my cousin Jill, today I will depart from my usual practice and feature Servant of God Dorothy Day.
Dorothy Day was born in 1897. Her family moved into a tenement flat in Chicago in 1906 because her father was out of work. This began her understanding of how people feel when they fail. Her father was anti-...Catholic, but in Chicago Dorothy met Catholics and formed a positive impression of the Church. As a young women, she moved to New York and worked for socialist publications and worked to change the social order. In 1926, she had a baby with her common law husband. She did not want her daughter to flounder as she had and arranged for her to be baptized in the Catholic Church. Later that year, she was received into the Church herself.
Dorothy Day was born in 1897. Her family moved into a tenement flat in Chicago in 1906 because her father was out of work. This began her understanding of how people feel when they fail. Her father was anti-...Catholic, but in Chicago Dorothy met Catholics and formed a positive impression of the Church. As a young women, she moved to New York and worked for socialist publications and worked to change the social order. In 1926, she had a baby with her common law husband. She did not want her daughter to flounder as she had and arranged for her to be baptized in the Catholic Church. Later that year, she was received into the Church herself.
In the winter of 1932, she traveled to Wash. DC to report on a radical protest called the Hunger March, calling for jobs, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, relief for mothers and children, health care and housing. Although she sympathized with these goals, she was kept on the sidelines by her Catholic Faith as the march was organized by the Communist Party. She prayed to be shown a way to use her talents to serve workers and the poor. She soon met Peter Maurin and together they started the Catholic Worker newspaper and soon after the Catholic Worker Movement.
Long before her death in 1980, Day was considered a saint by many. Her canonization process was started in 1997, the 100th anniversary of her birth.
For more on her life and the Catholic Worker Movement, see http://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/ddbiographytext.cfm?Number=72
Long before her death in 1980, Day was considered a saint by many. Her canonization process was started in 1997, the 100th anniversary of her birth.
For more on her life and the Catholic Worker Movement, see http://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/ddbiographytext.cfm?Number=72
Bl. Nathalan
I put this on FaceBook yesterday, and forgot to copy it here:
On the third day of All Saint's, my Auntie gave to me . . . an apology. Sorry, Nathan, there is no St. Nathan that I can find . . . but I did find a Nathalan and two Nathaniels. Since I like my Saints obscure, in honor of my nephew, Nathan, I will tell you about Blessed Nathalan.
Bl. Nathalan was a hermit and a bishop -- I would think that it would be difficult for a hermit to fulfill the episcopal obligations of a Bishop, but what do I know? He was born near Aberdeen, Scotland to a noble family. As a hermit, he was known for performing several miracles during a famine. Later he became Bishop of Tullicht and built churches and conducted missionary activities.
His feast day is January 19.
On the third day of All Saint's, my Auntie gave to me . . . an apology. Sorry, Nathan, there is no St. Nathan that I can find . . . but I did find a Nathalan and two Nathaniels. Since I like my Saints obscure, in honor of my nephew, Nathan, I will tell you about Blessed Nathalan.
Bl. Nathalan was a hermit and a bishop -- I would think that it would be difficult for a hermit to fulfill the episcopal obligations of a Bishop, but what do I know? He was born near Aberdeen, Scotland to a noble family. As a hermit, he was known for performing several miracles during a famine. Later he became Bishop of Tullicht and built churches and conducted missionary activities.
His feast day is January 19.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
St. Bernard, man not dog
For our second Saint this month, we will visit with St. Bernard (the man, not the dog) at Natasha's request. As with Lucy, there are actually several St. Bernards, but I will focus on the one for whom the dogs are named as I have already mentioned the dogs and some may be wondering why we have dogs named after a Saint.
St. Bernard of Montjoux (sometimes called St. Bernard of Menthon) was born around the year 1000 (one source says 923, one says 1000, on says 1020 - who really knows?). His actual birthplace is also unclear. What is undisputed is that he was a priest whose "parish" seemed to be a good portion of the Alps. He ministered to and Catechized the people who lived in that area whose isolation, up until then, had kept them mostly pagan. He also opened hospices in the Alpine passes to minister to pilgrims from France and Germany who passed through the snowy Alps on their way to and from Rome. The canons who man these hospices, even today (although there were only about 35 left in the congregation as of 2012), often would have their dogs accompany them on rescues of stranded travelers -- giving us the distinctive St. Bernard breed of dogs we know today.
The dogs are still on site at the hospice today, but only as pets as helicopters are now used for rescues.
St. Bernard's feast day is May 28. He is the patron of mountaineers and rock climbers.
St. Bernard of Montjoux (sometimes called St. Bernard of Menthon) was born around the year 1000 (one source says 923, one says 1000, on says 1020 - who really knows?). His actual birthplace is also unclear. What is undisputed is that he was a priest whose "parish" seemed to be a good portion of the Alps. He ministered to and Catechized the people who lived in that area whose isolation, up until then, had kept them mostly pagan. He also opened hospices in the Alpine passes to minister to pilgrims from France and Germany who passed through the snowy Alps on their way to and from Rome. The canons who man these hospices, even today (although there were only about 35 left in the congregation as of 2012), often would have their dogs accompany them on rescues of stranded travelers -- giving us the distinctive St. Bernard breed of dogs we know today.
The dogs are still on site at the hospice today, but only as pets as helicopters are now used for rescues.
St. Bernard's feast day is May 28. He is the patron of mountaineers and rock climbers.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Saint Lucy
Since Lucy (via Theresa) was the first to ask, The first Saint I will profile this month is St. Lucy. There are actually several Saints with the name Lucy, but I will stick with the one that most everyone knows - and likely the first St. of that name.
St. Lucy was martyred during the persecutions of Christians at the beginning of the fourth century and she probably died in Syracuse (Italy, not NY). She has been venerated for 17 centuries along with Agatha, Agnes and Cecilia as one of the four great virgin martyrs of the early Church. There is not much that is known about her life, but many legends have sprung up about her. One legend says that a pagan suitor praised her beautiful eyes, so she plucked them out and handed them to him. Another is that her eyes were torn out by her executioner -- both would account for her being invoked as the patron saint of blindness and diseases of the eyes (and those pretty holy cards where she carries her eyes on a plate).
Her feast day is December 13, and is still celebrated in many European countries today . . . even in places that are primarily Protestant.
St. Lucy was martyred during the persecutions of Christians at the beginning of the fourth century and she probably died in Syracuse (Italy, not NY). She has been venerated for 17 centuries along with Agatha, Agnes and Cecilia as one of the four great virgin martyrs of the early Church. There is not much that is known about her life, but many legends have sprung up about her. One legend says that a pagan suitor praised her beautiful eyes, so she plucked them out and handed them to him. Another is that her eyes were torn out by her executioner -- both would account for her being invoked as the patron saint of blindness and diseases of the eyes (and those pretty holy cards where she carries her eyes on a plate).
Her feast day is December 13, and is still celebrated in many European countries today . . . even in places that are primarily Protestant.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)