All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Apollenaris, Feast Day January 8

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St. Apollinaris

The feast day of St. Apollenaris is celebrated on January 8. 

St. Apollenaris was a bishop during the second century. What we know about him we learned from St. Jerome, Theodoret and Eusebius. Each spoke highly about him.

Apollenaris wrote an ‘Apology’, which is a defense of the Christian faith. He wrote it to Emperor Marcus Ayrelius trying to protect his flock from persecution. The emperor’s army, which was in dire need of water, fell on their knees and invoked the aid of God. Rain began to fall and with the help of the storm his army defeated the Germans. The emperor gave his legion the name “Thundering Legion” and ended his persecution.

St. Apollenaris died about the year 175.

 

“The Lord was Baptized not to be cleansed Himself,

but to cleanse the water so that those waters

cleansed by the flesh of Christ which knew no sin,

might have the power of Baptism.”

Quote of St Ambrose; Feast day December 7

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Dominican Saints, Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Raymond of Penyafort, Feast Day January 7

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St. Raymond of Penyafort

The feast day of St. Raymond is celebrated on January 7.  He is the patron saint of canon lawyers.

St. Raymond was born in Spain in 1174.  He was related to the King of Aragon. After becoming a well-known teacher, he decided to join the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans.

Thousands of Muslims are believed to have been converted to Christianity by his influence. St. Raymond had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin. He founded the Order of Our Lady of Ransom. The order devoted itself to helping Christians who had been captured by the Moors during the crusades.

St. Raymond compiled Church decisions and decrees for the Pope. His collection filled five books. He is the patron saint of canon lawyers.
For two years Raymond was the leader of the Dominicans. After he resigned the position, he devoted himself to what he loved most; praising God and preaching about him to the people.

St. Raymond died in the year 1275 at the age of 100.

 

“We can do no great things;

only small things with great love.”

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

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Peter of Canterbury, Feast Day January 6

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St. Augustine’s Abbey

The feast day of St. Peter of Canterbury is celebrated on January 6.  He was a Roman monk and missionary.

St. Peter of Canterbury accompanied St. Augustine of Canterbury on a missionary journey to England in 597. Peter was chosen to deliver a letter detailing the success of the mission to Pope Gregory the Great.

St. Peter of Canterbury was the first Abbot of what became known as St. Augustine’s Abbey.

The death of St. Peter of Canterbury in 607 was due to drowning off the shore of France. The local people, not knowing who he was, buried him without honor. An unexplained light appeared over his grave on a nightly basis. When the people investigated and learned who he was his body was moved to a church in Boulogne.

Behold him,

consider Him

contemplate Him

and desire to imitate Him.

Quote of St. Clare; Feast day, August 11

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John N. Neumann, Feast Day January 5

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St. John N. Neumann

The feast day of St. John N. Neumann is celebrated on January 5.  He was a Redemptorist priest and bishop.  He is the  patron of sick children and of immigrants and  Catholic education.

St. John Neumann was born in Bohemia in 1811. Due to the shortage of priests in the colonies, he traveled to New York to be ordained a priest and worked in an isolated parish.  Father John eventually joined the Redemptorists who were dedicated to helping the poor and abandoned. In 1852, he was appointed Bishop of Philadelphia. He increased the number of Catholic schools from two to a hundred.

The desire to hear confessions led St. John Neumann to learn at least six languages. He knew Spanish, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Gaelic.

While doing errands on January 5, 1860, Neumann collapsed and died on a Philadelphia street. He was 48 years old.  After his death the National Shrine of St. John Neumann was constructed at the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia.  Our Lady of the Angels College, founded by the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters which he had founded was renamed.  It became known as  the  Neumann College. It was later given University status.

St. John Neumann was beatified on Oct. 13, 1963 by Pope Paul VI.  He was canonized on June 19, 1977 by Pope Paul VI.

“A man must always be ready for death,
for death comes when and where God wills it.”

Quote of St. John N. Neumann

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Feast Day January 4

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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

 

The feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is celebrated on January 4.  She is the patron saint of in-law troubles and loss of children.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first native born American to be canonized a saint.

Elizabeth was born on Aug. 28, 1774 in New York City. She was raised in the Episcopal Church. At the early age of 3 her mother died. At the age of 19 she married William Seton, a wealthy businessman.

Within four years, she suffered the death of her father in-law which left William in charge, not only of his father’s business but the seven half-brothers and sisters as well. The business failed, forcing bankruptcy.

William became ill with tuberculosis. In an attempt to find a cure they moved to Italy. He died while living in Italy. Elizabeth grew very close to God. She accepted and embraced the will of God. Elizabeth eventually was led into the Catholic church. She had a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton established the first free Catholic school in America. On March 25, 1809 she took a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. She became the founder of the Sisters of Charity, which followed the rules written by St. Vincent de Paul for the Daughters of Charity in France. She became Mother Seton.

Her final years were spent leading and developing the new congregation. The sisters opened free schools and orphanages along the East Coast.

Elizabeth. died in 1821 of tuberculosis at age 46.

Pope John XXIII canonized her as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on Sept. 14, 1975. He stated,

“In a house that was very small, but with ample space for charity, she sowed a seed in America.”

 

“Be attentive to the voice of Grace.”

Quote of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Faith, Feast Days, Prayer, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Most Holy Name of Jesus, Feast Day January 3

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Most Holy Name of Jesus

.

The feast day of The Most Holy Name of Jesus gives us the opportunity to venerate and reflect on the holy name of Jesus. The devotion was begun primarily by St. Bernadine of Siena and the Franciscan and Dominican nuns and priests in the twelfth century. Later it was promoted by the Jesuits. The feast day was approved in 1721 by Pope Innocent XIII.

When we reflect on the name of Jesus it is a form of prayer. To invoke Jesus name is a powerful but simple way of praying to God ‘without ceasing’.

In the Gospel of John Jesus said to his disciples,

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14;6

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians he said,

“So great is the Most Holy Name of Jesus that God highly exalted Him and gave Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend; in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11

As we begin a new year, let us turn to Jesus for guidance in all we do. May Jesus bless our lives and grant us peace and healing.

“Jesus in the soul’s abyss is sweeter far than earthly bliss.

A flower strong is that name mild. Ne’er disturbed by tempest wild.

Far lovelier than a diamond bright.

That name adorns the soul with light.

The name of Jesus sweetly rings like rarest zither’s silver strings.

Ah, Jesus, for your names blest sake, forgive my sins, exceeding great.

Grant, dear Lord, that your fair name may wound my heart with holy pain.

Jesus, choicest love be ever thine.Bless me Jesus,

God of power, now and in death’s departing hour.”

Quote of Bl. Henry Suso; Feast day March 2

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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