Tag Archives: Greece

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Andrew the Apostle, Feast Day Nov. 30

Quote November 29, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra 1 Comment

The Crucifixion of St. Andrew the Apostle by Mattia Preti — The Crucifixion of St. Andrew the Apostle
by Mattia Preti

The feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle is celebrated on November 30. He is the patron saint of fishermen. St. Andrew was the first of the twelve Apostles to be called by Jesus.

Mark 1:16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

St. Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter. He was a fisherman and a follower of St. John the Baptist. When he heard the call of Jesus, he immediately left everything and followed Him.

After the ascension of Jesus to heaven, Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel. In the year 70 he became a martyr. He was put to death on a cross to which he was tied, not nailed. It was a cross in the form of an X, which is now called “St. Andrew’s Cross”. He lived for two days, suffering, yet still preaching the gospel.

Three countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron: Russia, Scotland and Greece. He is also the patron of fishermen.

St. Andrew’s relics are kept at the Basilica of St. Andrew in Patras, Greece.

“How blind man is when he refuses to open his heart to the light of faith!”

Quote of St. Bernadette, Feast Day April 16

St. Andrew the apostle in Art

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Luke the Evangelist, Feast Day October 18

Quote October 20, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Luke the Evangelist Public Domain Image — St. Luke the Evangelist

The feast day of St. Luke the Evangelist is celebrated on October 18. He is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons.

St. Luke was born in Antioch, Syria. He did not know Jesus. However, he converted from paganism and became a companion of St. Paul. He accompanied him on his missions and into prison two different times.

St. Luke is the author of the third Gospel. His gospel focuses on the merciful heart of Jesus. We also learn about the childhood of Jesus in his Gospel. Three canticles (hymns) were preserved by St. Luke: The Benedictus, the Magnificat and the Nune Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon).

Icon Painted by St. Luke

Legend tells us that St. Luke was also an artist and painted the portrait of the Blessed Virgin.

St. Luke became the patron saint of physicians because he was a physician.

St. Luke died in Achaia (Greece) at the age of 84. It is unknown if he was a martyr.

Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises man to heaven.

Quote of St. Ephrem; Feast day June 9

October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary

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Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Giles the Abbot, Feast Day September 1

September 1, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Giles, Abbot Public Domain Image — St. Giles, Abbot

The feast day of St. Giles the Abbot is celebrated on September 1. St. Giles is the patron saint of the mentally ill, the disabled, epileptics, childhood fears, and depression.

St. Giles was born into a noble family in Athens, Greece in the seventh century. After the death of his parents, he distributed his inheritance to the poor. He also became known for the gift of miracles and healing he had received. Giles longed to live a life of solitude, serving God as a recluse, away from all the praise and fame of the world.

He left Greece, sailing for France. Everywhere he lived he became known for his gift of miracles and healing. He would have to flee once again to find a place to live in peace and solitude. He first lived near the mouth of the Rhone River. Later he lived near the river Gard and finally he lived in the diocese of Nimes. His final dwelling place was deep in the forest in a cavern in a rock. He occupied his time in prayer, praising God and meditating. He was a vegetarian, living on herbs and roots. His only companion was a red deer, which provided him with milk to drink.

After several years of living in complete solitude, the King of France instituted a great hunt near where Giles lived. The hunters chased the deer which led them to the cave where Giles lived. They shot an arrow into the cave, wounding the holy hermit. They found him covered with blood with the deer lying at his feet. When the king was told what had happened, he ordered him taken care of. He came to see him offering him gifts. St. Giles refused the gifts and the King’s request to leave his solitude. Before leaving the king asked if there was anything he could do for him, St. Giles said he would like a monastery built where they were standing.

St. Giles became the Abbot of the monastery which was soon built. Several disciples joined him. His fame continued to spread because of his gift of miracles. The conversion of the King was one of these miracles.

St. Giles made a pilgrimage to Rome to see the Pope. He requested a blessing for his community which embraced the Rule of St. Benedict. Not only did he receive a blessing but he received the gift of two beautifully carved doors of cedar wood for his church.

Many sinners were converted because of the prayers and miracles of St. Giles. St. Giles died on September 1, 725. The miracles which took place near his tomb were so many that soon after his death a town began to grown and was named Giles.

I praise

Your humility that consoles me

Your patience that shelters me

Your eternity that preserves me

and……Your truth that rewards me.

Quote of St. Thomas Aquinas; Feast day January 28

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Luke the Younger, Feast Day Feb. 7

February 7, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Luke the Younger public domain image

The feast day of St. Luke the Younger is celebrated on Feb. 7.

St. Luke the Younger was born on the Greek Island of Aegina. He was the third of seven children. His father was a farmer.

As a child St. Luke was very generous, often giving his own food to the hungry. After the death of his father he decided to be a hermit. His mother objected and he left home to find a monastery. Mistaken as a runaway slave he was captured and imprisoned.

After his release from prison, St. Luke joined a monastery in Athens only to be sent home after he claimed to have had a vision in which his mother was asking for help. His mother no longer objected to his desire to live the life of a religious. He built his own hermitage in Thessaly, Greece. It was known as the Soterion, the place of healing.

St. Luke was known for his holiness and the many miracles attributed to him

Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.

Quote of St. Basil; Feast day January 2

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord