For Christina:
St. Christina was the daughter of a rich and powerful magistrate. Her father, who was a heathen, had several golden idols. Christina destroyed the idols and gave the pieces to the poor. This infuriated her father who then began to persecute his daughter. He had her whipped with rods and thrown into prison. When her faith was still not shaken, he then had her flesh torn by iron hooks and fastened her to a rack beneath which a fire was kindled. But God watched over her and turned the flames back onto the onlookers. She was then thrown into a lake with a heavy rock tied around her neck, but she was saved by an angel and even outlived her father. The judge who succeeded her father continued to torture Christina - she was thrown into a burning furnace, thrown into a pit of serpents, had her tongue cut out and was pierced by arrows, earning her martyr's crown. Her feast day is July 24.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
St Lambert
Thank you for all the Saint suggestions in response to my last post. I will start with a suggestion from my cousin Lambert.
Saint Lambert was a native of Maestricht. His father intrusted his education to the holy Bishop St. Theodard, and on that good man being assassinated, Lambert was chosen his successor. A revolution overturned the kingdom and Lambert was banished from his see on account of his devotion to his sovereign. He took refuge in a monastery, where he observed the rule as stringently as the lowest novice.
The martyrdom of St. Lambert seems to be obscured by legend since I found several different versions. However, it appears that he was martyred for defending the sanctity of marriage. His feast day is September 17.
Saint Lambert was a native of Maestricht. His father intrusted his education to the holy Bishop St. Theodard, and on that good man being assassinated, Lambert was chosen his successor. A revolution overturned the kingdom and Lambert was banished from his see on account of his devotion to his sovereign. He took refuge in a monastery, where he observed the rule as stringently as the lowest novice.
The martyrdom of St. Lambert seems to be obscured by legend since I found several different versions. However, it appears that he was martyred for defending the sanctity of marriage. His feast day is September 17.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
All Saints Day / St. Jerome Hermosilla
Happy Feast of All Saints! If you have been my FB friend for a year or more, you know that I celebrate All Saints Day for the full month of November (actually, I celebrate year round, but only subject you to it for 30 days!). If you have a favorite Saint or Blessed of the Catholic Church that you would like to hear about, let me know - or if you just want to know "Who is the patron Saint of _____?" I will try to honor all requests -- and I already have a couple that I will get to over the next few days.
For today, however, I got to thinking about all the poor Saints and Blesseds who never get their Feast Day honored on the Liturgical Calendar because they are always trumped by a major Solemnity such as All Saints. According to Catholic Online (catholic.org), one of my primary sources, there are no less than 25 Saints and Blesseds whose Feast Day is November 1, so they have to share their day with all the saints. One of these is St. Jerome Hermosilla.
St. Jerome was born in La Calzada, in old Castile. He joined the Dominicans and was sent first to Manila where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1828. He was then sent as a missionary to Vietnam. The Catholic Church was devastated by rebellion and persecution in the late 18th century, but it had revived by the time of St. Jerome Hermosilla in the 19th century. However, Converts began to be harassed without official edicts in the late 1820s, by local governments. In 1831 the emperor passed new laws on regulations for religious groupings in Viet Nam, and Catholicism was then officially prohibited. Both Missionaries and converts suffered persecution and martyrdom throughout the next 10 years until the emperor's death in 1841. However, some persecution still continued after the new emperor took office. Catholic villages were forced to build shrines to the state cult.
St. Jerome survived this period of persecution. He was eventually Consecrated a bishop and succeeding St. Ignatius Delgado as vicar apostolic, Jerome was arrested by Vietnamese authorities and was horribly tortured and then beheaded. He was canonized by St. John Paul in 1988 along with thousands of other Vietnamese martyrs.
For today, however, I got to thinking about all the poor Saints and Blesseds who never get their Feast Day honored on the Liturgical Calendar because they are always trumped by a major Solemnity such as All Saints. According to Catholic Online (catholic.org), one of my primary sources, there are no less than 25 Saints and Blesseds whose Feast Day is November 1, so they have to share their day with all the saints. One of these is St. Jerome Hermosilla.
St. Jerome was born in La Calzada, in old Castile. He joined the Dominicans and was sent first to Manila where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1828. He was then sent as a missionary to Vietnam. The Catholic Church was devastated by rebellion and persecution in the late 18th century, but it had revived by the time of St. Jerome Hermosilla in the 19th century. However, Converts began to be harassed without official edicts in the late 1820s, by local governments. In 1831 the emperor passed new laws on regulations for religious groupings in Viet Nam, and Catholicism was then officially prohibited. Both Missionaries and converts suffered persecution and martyrdom throughout the next 10 years until the emperor's death in 1841. However, some persecution still continued after the new emperor took office. Catholic villages were forced to build shrines to the state cult.
St. Jerome survived this period of persecution. He was eventually Consecrated a bishop and succeeding St. Ignatius Delgado as vicar apostolic, Jerome was arrested by Vietnamese authorities and was horribly tortured and then beheaded. He was canonized by St. John Paul in 1988 along with thousands of other Vietnamese martyrs.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Communing with Grandma
Through the week, my television fast has not been too much of a challenge. I have had someplace to go most evenings and even when I am home, I can find things to occupy myself for the few hours before bed time. The weekends are harder. Sometimes I wonder what single women who lived alone did in the days before television and radio. I know that their housekeeping chores took much longer than mine do (and their houses were likely much cleaner), but after the chores were done, what did those spinster schoolmarms living out on the plains miles from anyone do in their silent shanties?
Today was a particular challenge. I went to Mass and breakfast as usual this morning, but have not seen or spoken with anyone since then. I had planned to attend Vespers and Benediction at Church this afternoon, but it was cancelled due to the winter storm . . . which also kept me from going out anywhere else. I passed much of the day without much temptation to turn on the tube, but it gets harder toward evening. I had already walked on the treadmill, finished the Sunday paper and one of the book I was reading, spent an excessive amount of time on the internet (primarily listening to Contemporary Christian Artists on YouTube) and did Evening Prayer (since I missed Vespers), so I was ready for something new to do.
One of my breakfast companions, after hearing that I'm going to play games with my siblings next week, asked if I knew how to play Solitaire. She has it on her tablet and cannot figure it out. Of course I know how to play Solitaire, but I don't know how to explain the game without a deck of cards or the computer version in front of me.
This evening when I was thinking of what to do, I remembered the conversation and found a deck of cards. I used to know several solitaire games, but I don't know that I remember them. Actually, my parents - particularly Dad - are the only people that I know that still play solitaire on a regular basis with actual cards. It's a lost art. I played for an hour and while I was shuffling and dealing out the cards, I remembered Grandma Meyer. Widowed in her 50s, she lived alone for many years. Although I know that she had a TV, I'm sure she was not addicted to it as I have been. I remember Dad telling me once how many games of solitaire she knew (although I don't remember the exact number, I'm sure that it was six or more). I know that this was one way that she passed her time and kept her mind sharp. I know that the games I was taught as a child were ones that she knew and played as well.
As I played tonight, I talked a little with Grandma -- I don't remember her very well. I was about 12 when she died. But I know that she was a wonderful Mom and Grandma, a great cook and a lovely, devout woman. I hope that I have inherited some of that from her.
Today was a particular challenge. I went to Mass and breakfast as usual this morning, but have not seen or spoken with anyone since then. I had planned to attend Vespers and Benediction at Church this afternoon, but it was cancelled due to the winter storm . . . which also kept me from going out anywhere else. I passed much of the day without much temptation to turn on the tube, but it gets harder toward evening. I had already walked on the treadmill, finished the Sunday paper and one of the book I was reading, spent an excessive amount of time on the internet (primarily listening to Contemporary Christian Artists on YouTube) and did Evening Prayer (since I missed Vespers), so I was ready for something new to do.
One of my breakfast companions, after hearing that I'm going to play games with my siblings next week, asked if I knew how to play Solitaire. She has it on her tablet and cannot figure it out. Of course I know how to play Solitaire, but I don't know how to explain the game without a deck of cards or the computer version in front of me.
This evening when I was thinking of what to do, I remembered the conversation and found a deck of cards. I used to know several solitaire games, but I don't know that I remember them. Actually, my parents - particularly Dad - are the only people that I know that still play solitaire on a regular basis with actual cards. It's a lost art. I played for an hour and while I was shuffling and dealing out the cards, I remembered Grandma Meyer. Widowed in her 50s, she lived alone for many years. Although I know that she had a TV, I'm sure she was not addicted to it as I have been. I remember Dad telling me once how many games of solitaire she knew (although I don't remember the exact number, I'm sure that it was six or more). I know that this was one way that she passed her time and kept her mind sharp. I know that the games I was taught as a child were ones that she knew and played as well.
As I played tonight, I talked a little with Grandma -- I don't remember her very well. I was about 12 when she died. But I know that she was a wonderful Mom and Grandma, a great cook and a lovely, devout woman. I hope that I have inherited some of that from her.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Into the COLD!
I took a day off work today. Yesterday, as I was leaving work, my lead was congratulating me about being able to stay inside and spend the whole day in my pajamas. Unfortunately, that is not happening, m friend.
I schedule a personal day the Friday before the Catholic Women's Conference so that I can get my Saturday chores and errands done and not have to worry about them after spending a long day at the conference. Thus, I was out in the cold more today than I would have been had I gone to work.
I got groceries, had my taxes done (not a banner tax year for me, but still on the plus side of things!), went to the Post Office to buy stamps, dropped off my recycling and went to Dollar General (forgot to get cat litter at the grocery) . . . in the midst of the errand running, I also discovered that I was low on gas. And when I say "low on gas" I mean very low . . . my gas gauge in my car no longer works, so I usually discover that I am low when the "idiot" light comes on. With the tank that low (and temps even lower), I don't dare park anywhere for any length of time or I will have a frozen fuel line. So this day off also found me jumping up and down beside my car, urging the pump to pump faster while it filled my tank . . . not quite thawed out yet.
I have also promised a couple of friends that I would meet them at the Fish Fry at church tonight - followed by Stations of the Cross. I could call and back out, but that would be cowardly and rude, so I will brave the outdoors again in just a couple hours.
I know winter cannot and will not last forever. But right now, I can hardly remember what it feels like to be too hot.
I schedule a personal day the Friday before the Catholic Women's Conference so that I can get my Saturday chores and errands done and not have to worry about them after spending a long day at the conference. Thus, I was out in the cold more today than I would have been had I gone to work.
I got groceries, had my taxes done (not a banner tax year for me, but still on the plus side of things!), went to the Post Office to buy stamps, dropped off my recycling and went to Dollar General (forgot to get cat litter at the grocery) . . . in the midst of the errand running, I also discovered that I was low on gas. And when I say "low on gas" I mean very low . . . my gas gauge in my car no longer works, so I usually discover that I am low when the "idiot" light comes on. With the tank that low (and temps even lower), I don't dare park anywhere for any length of time or I will have a frozen fuel line. So this day off also found me jumping up and down beside my car, urging the pump to pump faster while it filled my tank . . . not quite thawed out yet.
I have also promised a couple of friends that I would meet them at the Fish Fry at church tonight - followed by Stations of the Cross. I could call and back out, but that would be cowardly and rude, so I will brave the outdoors again in just a couple hours.
I know winter cannot and will not last forever. But right now, I can hardly remember what it feels like to be too hot.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Into the Wilderness
Welcome to Lent 2015. We observe Lent for 40 days because that is the symbolic time period of God forming his people. The Israelites were in the desert for 40 years in preparation to enter the promised land (Dt 8:2), Moses fasted and prayed for 40 days to prepare to meet the Lord and receive the commandments (Ex 24:18), Jesus went into the desert and fasted for 40 days before starting his ministry (Mk 1:13) . . . . etc. So welcome to the wilderness.
This does not mean that we have to all go out and become hermits until Easter. We live in the world and have our obligations. But we do need to separate ourselves in some way from the everyday demands on our lives so that we can find a quiet space in which we can be formed by God in preparation for the Resurrection. I am already beginning to wonder if I have found more quiet than I had bargained for.
I gave up TV for Lent.
Actually, I am just curtailing my TV watching for Lent . . . limiting myself to just the morning news so that I know what to wear and if I need to leave for work earlier than usual (weather and traffic, in other words). I have actually done this before, but that year I was gone to some meeting or event almost every weeknight, so I really didn't give up much. This winter, I have cut back on many of my outside activities (some by design, others just didn't pan out) and have been home in the evenings more than not. So, day 1, and I already don't know what to do with myself.
Of course, that is not strictly true. Having thought about this Lenten discipline for several weeks now, I do have some ideas of how I will better use my time while not watching TV . . . I just expected somehow to ease into these activities - not to try to do them all on Ash Wednesday. My plan? I will read more (done some of that), pray (done some of that), journal (started), craft and start Spring Cleaning. As it is almost 9:00, I think I will leave off the crafting and cleaning for another day. I think I will try also to dovetail blogging in with the journaling . . . we'll see which (if either) I can actually keep up with. I don't have a good track record with either.
This does not mean that we have to all go out and become hermits until Easter. We live in the world and have our obligations. But we do need to separate ourselves in some way from the everyday demands on our lives so that we can find a quiet space in which we can be formed by God in preparation for the Resurrection. I am already beginning to wonder if I have found more quiet than I had bargained for.
I gave up TV for Lent.
Actually, I am just curtailing my TV watching for Lent . . . limiting myself to just the morning news so that I know what to wear and if I need to leave for work earlier than usual (weather and traffic, in other words). I have actually done this before, but that year I was gone to some meeting or event almost every weeknight, so I really didn't give up much. This winter, I have cut back on many of my outside activities (some by design, others just didn't pan out) and have been home in the evenings more than not. So, day 1, and I already don't know what to do with myself.
Of course, that is not strictly true. Having thought about this Lenten discipline for several weeks now, I do have some ideas of how I will better use my time while not watching TV . . . I just expected somehow to ease into these activities - not to try to do them all on Ash Wednesday. My plan? I will read more (done some of that), pray (done some of that), journal (started), craft and start Spring Cleaning. As it is almost 9:00, I think I will leave off the crafting and cleaning for another day. I think I will try also to dovetail blogging in with the journaling . . . we'll see which (if either) I can actually keep up with. I don't have a good track record with either.
Friday, January 9, 2015
A birthday essay
Back in my early 30's, this often resulted in a time of depression for me (well, more often than not, really). I saw myself going nowhere in my life -- barely getting by financially, dead end job, little social life and no romance. Year after year, I reflected on a past year of no accomplishment and looked forward to a year of little prospect. I pretty much dreaded January and just held on until Ash Wednesday, when (oddly enough) I somehow felt was really a fresh start.
Strange how our outlook changes over time. Again in my life I have been alone for many years. There is minimal expectation of advancement at work and my finances are something I would rather not think about. But my perspective on life is vastly different. As I approached the turning of the year (both on the universal calendar and my own), I have been excited. I can count at least half a dozen people I know today as friends that I hadn't even met a year ago. There are also as many friends (if not more) that I am closer to today than I was last year. I look forward to another year of friendships and sharing my faith, hope and love with the people that God has put in my life.
Even in the dark days of dreading the onset of a new year, I never gave up celebrating my birthday and always welcomed the good wishes that came my way. I don't know if you have seen it, but I know several people who do not celebrate their own birthdays at all. I don't mean those who deny that they have had as many birthdays as they actually have -- the ones who are perpetually 29. No, these people (sadly enough, mostly women) not only do not acknowledge their age, but deny the option to age because they deny that there was a date in history when they were born - and they get mad (or at least disgruntled) if anyone else mentions such a possibility.
I find this so sad. We have come to a place in our culture where we worship youth to such an extent that people try (vainly) to stay forever young by never having a birthday. They miss out on the primary reason that we celebrate birthdays. We don't celebrate because of the number (think how odd it would sound if we celebrated Christmas by saying, "Happy two thousand fourteenth birthday Jesus!"). We celebrate birthdays as a recognition that the person having the birthday is valued simply for the fact that they ARE. Any other time that you are celebrated, your are celebrated for what you have done (graduation, promotion, championship, etc.). On your birthday, we celebrate you just because God thought that you would be a very good idea -- and we think so too! That is worth celebrating no matter your age, income, marital status, health, productivity, or any thing else that may be seen as worth while to others.
I am worth celebrating -- Happy Birthday to me!
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