All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

Vicki Scheenstra is a former Catholic Bookstore owner and has been active in Catholic Education.
Faith, Martyr, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Fabian, Feast Day January 19

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St. Fabian

 

The feast day of St. Fabian is celebrated on January 19.  He was the Bishop of Rome and a martyr.

St. Fabian was a Roman layman. He was visiting Rome after the death of Pope Anteros in 236. During a discussion about who the next pope should be, a dove landed on Fabian’s head, which was taken as a sign from the Holy Spirit. He was soon elected the next Bishop of Rome! He served as pope for 14 years and was known for his sanctity.

There was peace at the time of his election. However, after the death of the emperor Philip, Decius, the new emperor began to persecute Christians, demanding that they worship idols. Pope Fabian held fast to the faith and was martyred in the year 250. He is buried in the Catacombs of St. Callistus which he helped to restore. The stone on his grave has the following words in Greek: “Fabian, bishop, martyr”.

 

A bird can be held by a chain

or a thread,

still it cannot fly.

Quote of St. John of the Cross; Feast day December 14

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Doctor of the Church, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Hilary of Poitiers, Feast Day January 13

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St. Hilary St. Hilary of Poitiers

The feast day of St. Hilary of Poitiers is celebrated on January 13.

St. Hilary was raised a pagan; however, he was in search of God. After reading the story of Moses in the Old Testament he found a definition of God which inspired him. In Exodus 3:14 God told Moses:

“I am who I am.”

The simplicity of this statement led St. Hilary to study the bible further. He loved the psalms and stories about the prophets. After reading the Gospel of John he accepted Jesus as the Son of God.

St. Hilary was already married and had one daughter named Apra when he was elected Bishop of Poitiers. He defended the belief that Christ is both human and divine. The Arian heresy was growing which denied the divinity of Christ. He wrote about the Trinity and composed hymns.

When Emperor Constantius ordered the bishops of the West to sign a condemnation of Athanasius, Hilary refused and was banished to Phrygia (Turkey). He became known as “Athanasius of the West”. After seeking a public debate, he was allowed to return home where he was welcomed.

St. Hilary died in the year 368.  He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

 

“Satan once loved me ardently

in the death of sin;

let him behold me reigning with

You throughout the ages.”

Quote of St. Hilary of Poitiers

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name.

 

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Peter Donders, Feast Day January 14

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Bl. Peter Donders

 

The feast day of Bl. Peter Donder is celebrated on January 14.  He was a Redemptorist priest in Holland.

 

Bl. Peter Donder was born in Tilburg, Holland in 1809. His family was poor. From an early age he desired to become a priest. He was ordained on June 5, 1841. Father Peter Donder was drawn to serve the missions of the Dutch colony of Surinam. He ministered to many slaves. In 1856, he was sent to the leper station of Batavia where he served the people with leprosy for the rest of his life. He persuaded the authorities to provide more nursing services. When the Redemptorists arrived in 1866, taking charge of the mission, Father Donders joined their congregation. He learned the native languages to enable him to serve the Indian people there.

Father Donders was known for his holiness. He died after being confined to bed for two weeks on Jan. 14, 1887.

Bl. Peter Donders was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982.

 

“Meditate on an infinite God who made

earth and man, the absolute Master

of lands, rivers, and seas.

The One who in an instant, simply by

willing it, with but a thought, created all

that exists from nothing.”

Quote of Bl. Rafael Arnac Baron

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Dominican Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Margaret of Hungary, Feast Day January 18

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St.Margaret of Hungary

 

St. Margaret of Hungary was the daughter of King Bela IV of Hungary. Her grandfather was the Byzantine emperor. Her parents pledged their child to God and Margaret was placed in a Dominican convent.

Her father arranged a marriage for her to King Ottokar II of Bohemia, but she refused to cooperate. At the age of 18 she took her vows as a Dominican Nun. She lived in the Convent of the Blessed Virgin on an island on the Danube.

St. Margaret  wanted no special treatment because of her noble birth. She performed the same work as the other nuns in the convent. St. Margaret spent many hours in prayer and fasting. She died before reaching the age of 30 in the year 1271. Many miracles of healing are attributed to her.

 

“Jesus,

whom I know as my redeemer,

cannot be less than God.”

St. Athanasius; Feast day May 2

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Anthony of Egypt, Feast Day January 17

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St. Anthony of Egypt

The feast day of St. Anthony of Egypt is celebrated on January 17.  He was a hermit and monk.

St. Anthony of Egypt was orphaned at the age of 20. His inheritance was quite large. He was inspired by the Gospel of Mark 10:21:

“Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor.”

St. Anthony proceeded to do just that. He was drawn to a life of solitude, fasting and prayer. He eventually chose to go out into the desert to live in solitude. He was followed by other monks who turned to him for guidance. With them a monastery was founded. St. Anthony became well known for his teaching. He tutored Athanasius, Jerome, Basil and Augustine.

While it is known that St. Anthony wrestled with the devil to resist many temptations, he was also known for the healings which occurred through his prayers of intercession.

St. Anthony died in solitude at the age of 105 in the year 356.

“My secret is quite simple…..

I pray!”

Quote of St. Teresa of Calcutta; Feast day September 5

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Faith, Franciscan Saints, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Berard of Morocco, Feast Day January 16

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St. Berard of Morocco

St. Berard was born at Carbro, Umbria, Italy.  He became a Franciscan monk at the time of St. Francis in 1213. He spoke Arabic.

St. Francis sent him and other Franciscans to preach to Muslims in Morocco, (Peter Otho, Accursius, and Adjutus). When they arrived they began preaching in the marketplace. They were immediately arrested and told to stop. They refused which resulted in them being beaten.

After refusing to renounce Christ, the sultan beheaded them on January 16, 1220.  They are believed to be the first Franciscan martyrs. After viewing their relics, Anthony of Padua decided to join the Franciscans.

St. Berard was canonized in 1481 by Pope Sixtus IV.

 

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake

or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels

charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones,

O Lord Jesus Christ, rest your weary ones,

bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones,

shield your joyous ones,

and all for Your love’s sake.

Quote of St. Augustine: Feast day August 28

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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