All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

Vicki Scheenstra is a former Catholic Bookstore owner and has been active in Catholic Education.

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Baptist de la Salle, Feast Day April 7

April 6, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. John Baptist de la Salle is celebrated on April 7. He is the patron saint of teachers.

St. John Baptist de la Salle was born on April 30, 1651 at Rheims, France. He was the oldest of ten children in a noble family. He studied in Paris and was ordained a priest in 1678 at the age of 27. Father John’s first assignment was as a spiritual director for the Sisters of the Holy Infant and their orphanage. They urged him to begin an orphanage for boys. Soon, a second orphanage was begun in the same diocese.

St. John knew he was called to educate the poor. During this time, education was only possible for the rich. Because he was in need of more teachers, Father John established two teachers colleges; Rheims and St. Denis. He emphasized classroom teaching over individual instruction and taught in the native language rather than Latin. He also began a reform school for boys at Dijon.

St. John Baptist de la Salle sold everything he owned and gave his large inheritance to the poor in the province of Champagne which was suffering from famine. He depended on Divine Providence for all his needs. St. John founded the Institute of the Brother of the Christian Schools. It was a group of lay men wishing to educate the poor. The Brothers founded a school in the U.S. in 1846.

On Good Friday in 1719, St. John died at the age of 68. He had been suffering from asthma and rheumatism.

You can work miracles by touching the hearts of those entrusted to your care.

Quote of St. John Baptist de la Salle

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

St. John Baptist de la Salle in Art

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Michele Rua, Feast Day April 6

April 5, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of Bl. Michele Rua is celebrated on April 6.

Bl. Michele Rua was born in Turn, Italy. He was the youngest of nine children. He attended Don Bosco Oratory as a boy where he met St. John Bosco. St. John was so impressed by Michele that he sent him to college. Later he became John Bosco’s assistant in youth ministry.

Bl. Michele was ordained a priest and was one of the first members of the Salesians of Don Bosco which focused on youth ministry for boys. John was the first successor to St. John Bosco as Superior General. Under his direction the community grew from 700 to 4,000 members, 64-341 houses in 33 countries.

Bl. Michele Rua was known for his gifts of reading hearts, healing and prophecy.

The soul hungers for God, and nothing but God can satiate it. Therefore He came to dwell on earth and assumed a Body in order that this Body might become the food for our souls.

Quote of St. John Vianney; Feast day August 4

April is the Month of the Eucharist

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Dominican Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Vincent Ferrer, Feast Day April 5

April 4, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Vincent Ferrer is celebrated on April 5.

St. Vincent Ferrer was born on Jan. 23, 1350 at Valencia, Spain. Before he was born his father had a prophetic dream in which a Dominican preacher told him his son would be famous. His mother was told by a blind woman that her son would restore her sight. (He did restore her sight.)

As a child St. Vincent had a devotion to the Passion of Christ and honored his spiritual mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. He chose to enter the Dominican Order. After making his profession he was appointed to lead lectures of philosophy and published a treatise at the age of 24.

During one period of his life, Vincent was tried by serious temptations of the flesh. Through prayer and penance he survived the ordeal.

St. Vincent encouraged praying the rosary by saying…

“Whoever observes this practice is beyond the reach of adversity!”

During the last twenty years of his life he preached in Spain, France, Switzerland, the Low countries and Lombardy. He stressed the need for repentance. He was known for his preaching and successfully converted many thousands of people. However he was always known for his humility. He was also known for his gift of healing; cripples walked, the mute spoke and the blind were able to see.

St. Vincent fell ill with fever and died in 1419.

Once humility is acquired, charity will come to life; a burning flame devouring the corruption of vice and filling the heart so full that there is no place for vanity.

Quote of St. Vincent Ferrer

April is the Month of the Eucharist

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Doctor of the Church, Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Isidore of Seville, Feast Day April 4

April 3, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra 1 Comment

The feast day of St. Isidore of Seville is celebrated on April 4.

St. Isidore was born in Cartagena, Spain in 560. He had two brothers and a sister. He was raised by his older brother, Leander, who was quite strict. Isidore had a great love of learning. He succeeded Leander as Bishop of Seville. As bishop he focused on reforming the clergy and fostering monastic life. He presided over the Second Council of Seville and the Fourth Council of Toledo.

St. Isidore was a prolific writer. His twenty volume set titled Etymologies was perhaps the first known encyclopedia. His writings also included a dictionary and books on the history of the world. For this reason, Pope John Paul II chose him to be patron of the internet.

After serving as bishop for 37 years, St. Isidore died in 636 nearing the age of 80. He was named a Doctor of the Church.

Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession.

Quote of St. Isidore of Seville

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Sts. Irene, Agape and Chiona, Feast Day April 3

April 2, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Sts. Irene, Agape and Chionia were sisters living in Salonika. Their feast day is celebrated on April 3. They lived during the reign of Emperor Diocilian in a pagan family. In 303 he issued a decree making it an offense punishable by death to possess sacred Christian writings. The sisters owned several volumes of Holy Scriptures which they kept hidden.

The three sisters were arrested for refusing to eat food that had been offered to the Gods. The governor (Dulcetius) questioned each of them. Agape answered his questions by saying…

“I believe in the living God and will not by an evil action lose all the merit of my past life”

St. Chionia and St Agape were sentenced to be burned alive. Irene, because of her age was to be imprisoned. After her sisters were executed, the house was searched and the forbidden books were found. Irene was sent to a brothel where she was forced to strip naked. Miraculously she was protected from harm. After once again refusing to conform she was sentenced to death. She died either by being forced to throw herself into flames or by being shot in the throat with an arrow. The books were publicly burned after her death.

The martyrdom of the three sisters is recorded in an existing document.

It is in loving the cross that one discovers his heart.

Quote of St. Bernadette; Feast day April 16

April is the Month of the Eucharist

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Doctor of the Church, Dominican Saints, Faith, Incorruptible, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Catherine of Siena, Feast Day April 29

April 1, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Catherine of Siena Public Domain Image — St. Catherine of Siena

The feast day of St. Catherine of Siena is celebrated by the Catholic Church on April 29. St. Catherine is the patron saint against fire, illness and miscarriage.

St. Catherine was the 25th child to Giacomo and Lapa Benincase. She was born in 1347. Her father was a wealthy wool dyer in Northern Italy. She began having mystical experiences at the age of six, seeing guardian angels clearly. She also had visions of Heaven, hell and purgatory. She consecrated herself to Christ at the age of seven.

At the age of 16, Catherine became a Dominican tertiary (lay Dominican), continuing to have visions of Christ, Mary and the saints. In many of her ecstasies, Catherine fell into fire; however, she was untouched by the flames. This is why she is the patron saint against fire.

St. Catherine received a divine call to enter the public life . She began writing letters to princes and republics of Italy. She was consulted by papal legates. She persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from Avignon and reform the clergy and the Papal States. She referred to the pope as “sweet Christ on earth”. St. Catherine also cared for the sick (working among lepers) , served the poor and worked tirelessly to convert sinners. St. Catherine’s reputation for holiness grew.

On the 4th Sunday of Lent, 1375, she received the Stigmata, (the wounds of Christ). They were only visible after her death.

St. Catherine’s writings are considered historical in the Church. They include: “The Dialogue, Letters of Catherine Siena and Little Talks with God.

At the age of 33, on April 29, 1380, Catherine died of a mysterious and painful illness which came on without notice. It was not diagnosed. Her body was discovered to be in-corrupt in the year 1430. In 1970, Pope Paul VI declared St. Catherine of Siena to be a Doctor of the Church.