Category Archives: Faith

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Basil the Great, Feast Day January 2

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St. Basil the Great

The feast day of St. Basil the Great is celebrated on January 2.  He is the patron saint of hospital administrators and a Doctor of the Church.  He was the Bishop of Caesarea

St. Basil was born in 330 at Caesarea of Cappadocia. He was born into a family of ten children. He studied at Constantinople and Athens where he met St. Gregory Nazianzen.

Before deciding to become a monk, he practiced law and opened a school. He directed the monastery in Pontus for five years. He eventually was ordained a priest. St. Basil became bishop in 370. He fought against Arianism ( the belief that Jesus was not divine in nature) at the Council of Constantinople. He also fought for reform of the clergy. He was known for his holiness and was tireless in caring for his people. He was known for preaching twice a day to huge crowds. The hospital that he built was a hospital that was called a wonder of the world.

Basil was best known for his preaching. Because of his writings he is considered a one of the great teachers of the Church.

Sickly since youth, the work of teaching, his life of abstinence, and the responsibilities and sorrows of pastoral service took their toll on him. Saint Basil died on January 1, 379 at age 49.

St. Basil is considered a Doctor of the Church. He is the patron saint of hospital administrators.

“Troubles are usually the brooms and shovels that

smooths the road to a good man’s fortune; 

and many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head,

and knows not that it brings abundance.”

Quote of St Basil the Great

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Faith, Feast Days, Our Lady

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Mary, Mother of God, Feast Day January 1

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Virgin Mary, Mother of God

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God is celebrated on New Years Day.   We continue to celebrate the joy of the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Mary was given the title Theotokos which means “God-bearer” in Greek during the third or fourth century.

The divinity of Jesus has been argued about throughout the ages. The church has declared that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine…He has two natures. The church also teaches that Jesus was begotten not made. This means that Jesus has always existed in the Trinity. He became Man to redeem us and to give us the gift of salvation.

Because the church teaches that Jesus is the Lord, our God, this means Mary is the mother of God.

The mysteries of our faith are many. This mystery is truly beautiful. Mary, who was born without sin ( like Eve) said yes to the Angel during the Annunciation. Although troubled by the news that she would bear a son, she said;

“Let it be”.

We are all called to imitate Mary who is the first disciple of Jesus. Mary loved Jesus in a way none of us are able. She cared for him and took care of all his needs while he was growing up. There can be no doubt that Jesus also loved and honored Mary.

We are also called to honor Mary, just as Jesus honored His Mother. If Jesus honored and loved his mother, why shouldn’t we do the same?

Why should we be astonished if the God

who could work marvels in the scripture

and through His saints should choose to

reveal Himself even more marvelous

by means of His Mother?

Quote of St. Bernard; Feast day August 20

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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