I realize that many of the Saints I have featured in "Fun With Saints" this month were clergy or vowed religious, so I want to conclude with a layperson, Bl. Eurosia Fabris.
Eurosia, popularly known as Mama Rosa, was born in 1866 in an agricultural area near Vicenza Italy. She was only able to attend school for two years because she needed to help her parents with farm work and domestic chores. She was still able to learn to read enough to read several religious texts during her youth, including the Bible, the Catechism, and Church history. She joined the Association of the Daughters of Mary in her parish church and developed a special devotion to Mary, the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist. She was active in parish life, teaching catechism to children and sewing to girls who came to her home.
At eighteen, Eurosia had received several offers of marriage, but she declined not feeling herself alled to the vocation of marriage. In 1885, a young mother who lived nearby died tragically leaving three young daughters. One of the girls died shortly after. The other two were 20 months and 2 months old. Their father was away caring for sick relatives, so Eurosia went to the home every day for six months to care for the children and maintain their home. After this act of charity, she contemplated, prayed and consulted relatives and the parish priest before deciding to marry their father. She considered this marriage as an act of sacrifice to follow the will of God and embrace a new mission. She adopted the two girls and had nine more children of her own. She also kept her home open to other children as well, who called her "Mama Rosa."
Mama Rosa lived an intense life of prayer and emulated the strong women of the Bible. She died on January 8, 1932 and was buried at the parish church. Her heroic charity and serenity, fidelity to prayer, and dedication to catechesis surely contributed to the fact that of her nine children, three entered the priesthood and another three entered the religious life.Her feast day is January 8 and she is a patron of catechists and families.
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Thursday, November 28, 2019
St. Ambrose
"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks." St. Ambrose
Aurrelius Ambrosius (c340-397), Ambrose in English, is one of the original four doctors of the Church. Legend is that as an infant, a swarm of bees settled on Ambrose's face and left behind a drop of honey. His father took this as a sign of future eloquence and a honeyed tongue.
In the late 4th century, there was a deep conflict in Milan between the Nicene Church and the Arians. In 374 when the bishop died, the Arians challenged the succession. Ambrose went to the church where the election was being held to prevent an uproar. His address was interrupted by calls for him to be the new bishop. At first, he refused - he was not baptized and had no formal training in theology. Upon accepting, within a week he was baptized, ordained and consecrated as bishop.
As bishop he adopted an ascetic lifestyle, giving money to the poor and donating all of his land. Bishop Ambrose was instrumental in the conversion of St. Augustine. His feast day is December 7. Among his patronages are bees, beekeepers and candle makers.
Aurrelius Ambrosius (c340-397), Ambrose in English, is one of the original four doctors of the Church. Legend is that as an infant, a swarm of bees settled on Ambrose's face and left behind a drop of honey. His father took this as a sign of future eloquence and a honeyed tongue.
In the late 4th century, there was a deep conflict in Milan between the Nicene Church and the Arians. In 374 when the bishop died, the Arians challenged the succession. Ambrose went to the church where the election was being held to prevent an uproar. His address was interrupted by calls for him to be the new bishop. At first, he refused - he was not baptized and had no formal training in theology. Upon accepting, within a week he was baptized, ordained and consecrated as bishop.
As bishop he adopted an ascetic lifestyle, giving money to the poor and donating all of his land. Bishop Ambrose was instrumental in the conversion of St. Augustine. His feast day is December 7. Among his patronages are bees, beekeepers and candle makers.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
St. Philip the Apostle
My Uncle Phil passed away one year ago today, so to day I will feature St. Philip the Apostle in his memory.
According to the New Testament, Philip was one of Jesus' twelve Apostles. He was from Bethsaida in Galilee and is connected in the Gospel with Peter and Andrew who were from the same town. He was the one who introduced Nathanael to Jesus.
Philip the Apostle is often confused with Philip the Evangelist who (in the Acts of the Apostles) was appointed with Stephen to oversee the charitable contributions and was the one who witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch on the road from Jerusalem. They are clearly not the same person in scripture, but this confusion has resulted in later traditions of Philip's life to be confused.
Church tradition is that Philip was sent with his sister, Mariamne, and Bartholomew to preach in Greece, Phrygia and Syria. He was martyred in the city of Hierapolis about the year 80. For some reason, he is another patron of pastry chefs. His Feast day is celebrated on May 3, in the General Roman Calendar -- the Eastern Orthodox celebrate on November 14 and the Anglicans and Lutherans on May 1.
According to the New Testament, Philip was one of Jesus' twelve Apostles. He was from Bethsaida in Galilee and is connected in the Gospel with Peter and Andrew who were from the same town. He was the one who introduced Nathanael to Jesus.
Philip the Apostle is often confused with Philip the Evangelist who (in the Acts of the Apostles) was appointed with Stephen to oversee the charitable contributions and was the one who witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch on the road from Jerusalem. They are clearly not the same person in scripture, but this confusion has resulted in later traditions of Philip's life to be confused.
Church tradition is that Philip was sent with his sister, Mariamne, and Bartholomew to preach in Greece, Phrygia and Syria. He was martyred in the city of Hierapolis about the year 80. For some reason, he is another patron of pastry chefs. His Feast day is celebrated on May 3, in the General Roman Calendar -- the Eastern Orthodox celebrate on November 14 and the Anglicans and Lutherans on May 1.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
St. Honoratus
Tonight, I am baking the pies for Thanksgiving Dinner, so it is appropriate to mention the patron saint of pastry chefs (not that I'm a chef, but I have to have a reason for picking a Saint today 😊).
St. Honoratus was born in Port-le-Grand near Amiens (France) in the sixth century. He was said to be virtuous from births -- which is one of those pious things said in biographies about Saints that annoy me. I prefer Saints who have human struggles. It gives me more hope.
He resisted being elected Bishop of Amiens believing himself unworthy of this honor. According to legend, his former nursemaid also felt that he was unworthy. When it was known in his hometown that he had been proclaimed bishop, she refused to believe that Honoratus had been elevated to such a position. She was baking bread and is said to have remarked that she would believe the news only if the peel she had been using to bake put down roots and turned itself into a tree. When the peel was placed into the ground, it was transformed into a mulberry tree that gave flowers and fruit. The miraculous tree was still being shown in the sixteenth century.
St. Honoratus' devotion is widespread in France. He has given his name to a popular French pastry, the St. Honore Cake. His feast day is May 16 and he is a patron Saint of bakers, confectioners, bakers of altar bread, candle-makers, florists, flour merchants, corn chandlers and oil refiners as well as pastry chefs.
St. Honoratus was born in Port-le-Grand near Amiens (France) in the sixth century. He was said to be virtuous from births -- which is one of those pious things said in biographies about Saints that annoy me. I prefer Saints who have human struggles. It gives me more hope.
He resisted being elected Bishop of Amiens believing himself unworthy of this honor. According to legend, his former nursemaid also felt that he was unworthy. When it was known in his hometown that he had been proclaimed bishop, she refused to believe that Honoratus had been elevated to such a position. She was baking bread and is said to have remarked that she would believe the news only if the peel she had been using to bake put down roots and turned itself into a tree. When the peel was placed into the ground, it was transformed into a mulberry tree that gave flowers and fruit. The miraculous tree was still being shown in the sixteenth century.
St. Honoratus' devotion is widespread in France. He has given his name to a popular French pastry, the St. Honore Cake. His feast day is May 16 and he is a patron Saint of bakers, confectioners, bakers of altar bread, candle-makers, florists, flour merchants, corn chandlers and oil refiners as well as pastry chefs.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Bl. Rosa Maria Benedetta Gattorno Custo
One of my cousins requested that I do a post on St. Rosemary. This is a very sweet gesture as she is aware that this is the first Thanksgiving week we will spend without my Mon (whose name was Rosemary, for any who may not know). I think that this will be the hardest holiday for me and my family as Thanksgiving was Mom's favorite holiday - and she owned it. She always started planning well ahead of time and she kept a schedule posted inside a cupboard door so that everything would be ready at the right time - and of course we all had are marching orders, too.
As for St. Rosemary - there isn't one. At least not officially. But there is a Blessed Rosa Maria, which works in my book. Rosa Maria Benedetta Gattorno was born in October 1831 in Genoa. At 21, she married Gerolamo Custo and moved to Marseille. They were forced to returned to Genoa after some financial problems. They had three children.
Gerolamo's death in March 1858 opened up the way to a new vocation for Rosa Maria Benedetta. She became a member of the Third Order of Franciscans and dedicated herself to the poor and children. IN 1862, she received the stigmata. Afraid that her new vocation would force her to abandon her children, she consulted with a Capuchin Friar, her confessor and the Archbishop of Genoa. She even obtained an audience with Pope Pius IX in 1866. He encouraged her to start her new order while remaining with her children. Rosa Maria established the Daughters of Saint Anne later that same year. She assumed the habit in 1867 and took the religious name Anna Rosa.
In the beginning of 1900, she contracted influenza and her health started to deteriorate. She died on May 6, 1900. Her feast day is May 6 and she is patroness of Widows and Mothers.
As for St. Rosemary - there isn't one. At least not officially. But there is a Blessed Rosa Maria, which works in my book. Rosa Maria Benedetta Gattorno was born in October 1831 in Genoa. At 21, she married Gerolamo Custo and moved to Marseille. They were forced to returned to Genoa after some financial problems. They had three children.
Gerolamo's death in March 1858 opened up the way to a new vocation for Rosa Maria Benedetta. She became a member of the Third Order of Franciscans and dedicated herself to the poor and children. IN 1862, she received the stigmata. Afraid that her new vocation would force her to abandon her children, she consulted with a Capuchin Friar, her confessor and the Archbishop of Genoa. She even obtained an audience with Pope Pius IX in 1866. He encouraged her to start her new order while remaining with her children. Rosa Maria established the Daughters of Saint Anne later that same year. She assumed the habit in 1867 and took the religious name Anna Rosa.
In the beginning of 1900, she contracted influenza and her health started to deteriorate. She died on May 6, 1900. Her feast day is May 6 and she is patroness of Widows and Mothers.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
St. Anastasia
This morning at Mass, Fr. Patrick used Eucharistic Prayer I. I like that he usually announces what Eucharistic Prayer he is using so that I can follow along in the missalette. In this prayer, we remember many of the early Saints and Martyrs by name - last on the list is St. Anastasia.
Anastasia lived in the second century. Little is known about her except that she died in the persecutions of Diocletian. She has long been venerated as a healer and exorcist, but most of the stories written about her date from centuries after her death.
Anastasia is one of seven women who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass. Her feast day is December 25. Prior to the liturgical reforms of the twentieth century, this martyr enjoyed the distinction, unique in the Roman liturgy, of having a special commemoration in the second Mass of Christmas day.
Anastasia lived in the second century. Little is known about her except that she died in the persecutions of Diocletian. She has long been venerated as a healer and exorcist, but most of the stories written about her date from centuries after her death.
Anastasia is one of seven women who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass. Her feast day is December 25. Prior to the liturgical reforms of the twentieth century, this martyr enjoyed the distinction, unique in the Roman liturgy, of having a special commemoration in the second Mass of Christmas day.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
St. Claude de la Colombiere
I have been busy trying to unwind from a stressful week today and am getting to this pretty late, so I will try to make my post brief.
St. Claude de la Colombiere was a Jesuit priest and the confessor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. He was born in 1641 and at the age of 18 entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Avignon. After professing the Fourth Vow of the Society in 1675, he was appointed rector of the Jesuit community at Paray-le-Monial, where he also became the Spiritual Director of the Monastery of the Visitation Sisters located next to the Church. This is how he came to know St. Margaret Mary. She had suffered greatly from the disbelief of her sisters in the Monastery regarding her visions. When Fr. Claude began to hear the confessions of the sisters, she felt that she had found someone who would understand and she opened her heart to him. After much prayer, he was convinced of the validity of her visions and became an ardent supporter of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In 1676, Fr. Claude was sent to England as preacher to the Duchess of York. He took up residence in the royal court while still observing all his religious duties as a Jesuit. In 1678, while awaiting recall to France, he was arrested and accused of being part of a Popish plot against the English throne. Caught up in the anti-Catholic hysteria, he was confined in severe conditions which aggravated his already fragile health. Thanks to his position at the Royal Court and the protection of the King of France, he escaped death and was expelled to France. He died in 1682 at the age of 41.
St. Claude is a patron of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His Feast Day is February 15.
St. Claude de la Colombiere was a Jesuit priest and the confessor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. He was born in 1641 and at the age of 18 entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Avignon. After professing the Fourth Vow of the Society in 1675, he was appointed rector of the Jesuit community at Paray-le-Monial, where he also became the Spiritual Director of the Monastery of the Visitation Sisters located next to the Church. This is how he came to know St. Margaret Mary. She had suffered greatly from the disbelief of her sisters in the Monastery regarding her visions. When Fr. Claude began to hear the confessions of the sisters, she felt that she had found someone who would understand and she opened her heart to him. After much prayer, he was convinced of the validity of her visions and became an ardent supporter of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In 1676, Fr. Claude was sent to England as preacher to the Duchess of York. He took up residence in the royal court while still observing all his religious duties as a Jesuit. In 1678, while awaiting recall to France, he was arrested and accused of being part of a Popish plot against the English throne. Caught up in the anti-Catholic hysteria, he was confined in severe conditions which aggravated his already fragile health. Thanks to his position at the Royal Court and the protection of the King of France, he escaped death and was expelled to France. He died in 1682 at the age of 41.
St. Claude is a patron of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His Feast Day is February 15.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)