Category Archives: Faith

Carmelite Saints, Faith, Our Lady, Saint of the Day, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Simon Stock, Feast Day May 16

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St. Simon Stock Public Domain Image
St. Simon Stock

The feast day of St. Simon Stock is celebrated on May 16.

Little is known about the early life of St. Simon Stock. Legend has told us that from the age of twelve he lived as a hermit in a hollow tree trunk. As a young man he went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There, he joined a group of Carmelites. They returned together to Europe.

St. Simon was elected Superior General of his Order in London in 1254. St. Simon founded many Carmelite Communities in Cambridge, Oxford, Paris and Bologna. He was instrumental in the transition from a hermit Order to an Order of mendicant friars.

In 1251 he experienced an apparition during a time when the order was being oppressed. The Virgin Mary appeared to him holding the brown scapular in one hand. She told him,

“Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy Order; it is a special sign of my favor which I have obtained for thee and thy children of Mt. Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger and a pledge of special peace and protection.”

The scapular is made of two squares of cloth connected by strings. It is worn over the shoulders, one on the chest, one on the back.

The promise from the Virgin Mary is believed to mean that Carmelites who live their vocation well, with love and sincerity will be saved. It is a reminder that Mary is their role model in love. The Carmelite Order is a contemplative Order which focuses on contemplative prayer. Mary leads those in the Carmelite Order to a deeper love of Jesus Christ, the Eucharist and the Beatitudes. The role models for the Carmelite Order are the Virgin Mary and the prophet Elijah. It was Elijah who heard the voice of God in the whisper of the gentle breeze.

St. Simon Stock was known to have a special gift of miracles and prophecy. St. Simon Stock. died on July 16, 1265 in Bordeaux, France.

 

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience,
but shouts in our pain.
It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

Quote of C.S. Lewis

 

May is the Month of Mary

 

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Isidore the Farmer, Feast Day May 15

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St. Isidore the Farmer

The feast day of St. Isidore is celebrated on May 15.

He is the patron saint of farmers. St. Isidore was born to poor parents at Madrid, Spain in the 12th century. As a young boy he worked for a wealthy farmer in Madrid. He married Maria de la Cabeza who also became a saint. They had one son who died as a child.

Isidore was very religious. He attended daily Mass before going to work in the fields. This sometimes caused complaints that he spent too much time in church. He prayed as he worked in the fields. It is said that angels sometimes helped him with his work. On holidays he would visit the many churches in Madrid. He loved the poor, often giving those more poor than himself food to eat. He also cared for animals. His concern that they be treated well was well known. He was kind and generous.

St. Isidore is a role model for everyone. He practiced his faith always and showed kindness and generosity to those he met.

St. Isidore died on May 15, 1130 after living a simple but holy life. He was canonized in 1622.

 

Like a tree in spring the cross has burst into flower…
the cross on which the Lord of glory hung.

Quote by St. Bernard; Feast day August 20

May is the Month of Our Lady

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Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Matthias, Feast Day May 14

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St. Matthias Public Domain Image
St. Matthias

 

The feast day of St. Mathias is celebrated on May 14. St. Mathias was not one of the original twelve Apostles. He was not present at the Last Supper.

After the suicide by hanging of Judas Iscariot, the Apostles decided to choose either Mathias or Joseph called Barsabbas to replace Judas Iscariot. They prayed, saying. “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Acts (1:24) They drew lots and chose Mathias to replace him.

Mathias preached in Judea, Egypt and Ethiopia. Stories of his martyrdom vary. It is believed he was stoned and beheaded.

St. Mathias is the patron saint against alcoholism and smallpox. He is also the patron of carpenters.

 

Who except God can give you peace? 
Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?

Quote of St. Gerard Majilla;  Feast day October 16

 

May is the Month of Mary

Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Carthusian Martyrs, Feast Day May 11

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Carthusian Martyrs Public Domain Image
Carthusian Martyrs

The feast day of the Carthusian Martyrs is celebrated on May 11. The Carthusian Order was founded in 1084 by St. Bruno of Cologne. It was a strict order. Its members lived as hermits, focusing on contemplative prayer. It consisted of 25 houses with 350 male and 75 female members. They came under attack during the Hessite Revolution in Bohemia in the 15th century.

In 1537 during the English Reformation the London Charter house was dissolved. Its members were put in prison and later executed when they refuse to declare King Henry the head of the Church of England. King Henry issued the “Act of Supremacy” declaring any who refused to take an oath recognizing him as head of the Church of England to be guilty of high treason. Eighteen Carthusians refused and were sentenced to death.

The first Carthusians to be martyred were hanged, drawn and quartered. All were tortured before they were martyred. Eighteen were beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886. Three were canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.

Our Lord likes courage.  Get it from Him.  You won’t find it in yourself.

 

Quote of St. Katherine Drexel; Feast day March 3 


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Faith, patron saints, Sacred Heart, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; St. Damien of Molokai, Feast Day May 10

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St. Damien Public Domain Image
St. Damien

The feast day of St. Damien of Molokai is celebrated on May 10. He is the patron saint of leprosy and outcasts.

St. Damien of Molokai was born Josef de Veuster on Jan. 3, 1840 in Treinelo, Belgium.  His parents were farmers. He attended college at Braine-le-Comte. Josef became a novitiate at the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He took the name of Damien when he made his vows. As a missionary he arrived in Honolulu in 1864. He was ordained a priest on May 1864.

Hawaii was in the midst of a health crisis; primarily, influenza, syphilis and leprosy. The king of Hawaii, Kink Kamehameha IV created a leper colony on the island of Molokai. Fr. Damien requested to be sent to Molokai to tend to their spiritual needs. He arrived at Kalaupapa on May 10, 1873, where he cared for 600 lepers.

St. Damien Public Domain Image
St. Damien
Public Domain Image

Fr. Damien built the Parish Church of St. Philomena where he preached and taught the Catholic faith. He restored pride and dignity to the people in the settlement. He organized a band, horse riding and choir. He provided comfort to the people on the island for 16 years serving as priest, doctor and home builder. He built their coffins and dug their graves.

Father Damien said,

“My greatest pleasure is to go there (the cemetery) to say my beads, and meditate on that unending happiness which so many of them are already enjoying.”

Fr. Damien had a profound faith in the Holy Eucharist, believing his strength came from receiving the Eucharist on a daily basis. In 1885 he contracted the illness of leprosy, yet he continued to serve the people of the settlement. He died April 15, 1889 at the age of 49.  St. Damien is known as the Apostle of the Lepers.

 

“Without the constant presence of Our Divine Master upon the altar in my poor chapels, I never could have persevered casting my lot with the lepers of Molokai”

Quote of St. Damien of Molokai

 

St. Damien of Molokai Public Domain Image
St. Damien of Molokai

 

May is the Month of Our Lady

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Pachomius, Feast Day May 9

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St. Pachomius Public Domain Image
St. Pachomius

The feast day of St. Pachominus is celebrated on May 9.

St. Pachomius was born in Egypt in 298 and entered the army when he was twenty years old. The kindness of the Christians he met led to his conversion after he left the army. After his baptism he became a disciple of Palemon. They led a life of poverty and dedicated themselves to God and a life of prayer as hermits.

St. Pachominus built a monastery on the banks of the Nile river at Tabenisi. They soon had 100 monks join them; living a life in community and prayer. St. Pachomius established ten other monasteries and two nunneries for women. Over seven thousand monks were living in his monasteries at the time of his death in 346. He was the first to organize hermits into groups and write a Rule for them to follow.

If the highest aim of a Captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.

Quote of St. Thomas Aquinas; Feast day Jan. 28

 

May is the Month of Our Lady

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Benedictine Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Julian of Norwich, Feast Day May 8

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Bl. Julian of Norwich Public Domain Image
Bl. Julian of Norwich

 

The feast day of Bl. Julian of Norwich is celebrated on May 8.

Very little is actually known about Julian of Norwich. It is believed her birth name is Julian and that she was born to a privileged family in Norwich in 1341. She lived as a recluse, probably as a Benedictine Nun.

At the age of 30, she became deathly ill. Near death she experienced visions of Christ. She wrote about her visions immediately in her book Revelation of Divine Love. The book has been translated into many languages.

Bl. Julian believed in God’s love and mercy. She believed sin brings someone to self knowledge which leads to acceptance of the role of God in their life. She believed the pain caused by sin is a reminder of the passion of Christ. Bl. Julian saw God as both Father and Mother which was controversial.  Bl. Julian always accepted the authority of the Church.

Bl. Julian of Norwich died in the year 1416.

 

He did not say:  You will not be assailed,  You will not be belabored,  You will not be disquieted,  but He said….”You will not be overcome.”

Quote of Bl. Julian of Norwich

 

May is the Month of Our Lady

Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Rose Venerini, Feast Day May 7

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St. Rose Venerini Public Domain Image
St. Rose Venerini

The feast day of St. Rose Venerini is celebrated on May 7.

St. Rose was born at Viterbo, Italy in 1656. She was one of four children. Her father was a doctor. At an early age Rose was drawn to the religious life.

In 1676, at the encouragement of her father she entered the Dominican Monastery of St. Catherine, planning to make her vows there. Several months later, her father died suddenly and she returned home to care for her mother. The following years were filled with grief. Her brother Domenico died at the age of 27. Her mother died a few months later suffering greatly from grief.

Rose formed a rosary group in her home. A Jesuit priest became her advisor and she decided to become a teacher rather than a contemplative nun. On August 39, 1685, she left home to open her first school. Soon the cardinal asked her to supervise the training of teachers in the Diocese of Montefiascone. She organized and opened many schools in many cities of Italy, including Rome.

St. Rose celebrated the Eucharist daily. She meditated on the crucifix and united her suffering to the suffering of Christ. When she died in 1728 a number of miracles were attributed to her. She was canonized in 2006. The Venerini Sisters which she founded can now be found in the United States.

I feel so nailed to the will of God that nothing else matters, neither death nor life. I want what He wants.  I want to serve Him as much as pleases Him and no more.

Quote by St. Rose Venerini

 

May is the Month of Our Lady




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Faith, Jesuit Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Francis de Laval, Feast Day May 6

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St. Francis de Laval Public Domain Image
St. Francis de Laval

The feast day of St. Francis de Laval is celebrated on May 6.

St. Francis de Laval was born in Normandy, France in 1628. He wished to become a priest at an early age. His Father placed him with the Jesuits where he lived for 14 years.

He eventually became the first bishop of New France, (Quebec). He served as Bishop for over 30 years before resigning due to age. He was known for living a holy and simple life, believing in a spirit of poverty. Under his leadership many new schools and churches were opened.

St. Francis de Laval died in 1708 from an ulcer which became progressively worse.

 

Trust the past to the mercy of God; the present o His Love, and the future to His Providence.

Quote of St. Augustine; Feast day August 28

 

May is the Month of Our Lady.

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Caterina Citadini, Feast Day May 5

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Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Florian, Feast Day May 4

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St. Florian Public Domain Image Patron Saint of Firefighters
St. Florian
Patron Saint of Firefighters

The feast day of St. Florian is celebrated on May 4.

St. Florian was born in the third century in what is present day Austria. He became a commander in the Roman army. One of his duties was leading the firefighting brigade. Florian was a Christian during a time of persecution. He refused to participate in the persecutions the army was ordered to do. He also refused to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods.

When Florian’s beliefs became known it was suggested that he be burned to death as many Christians were during that time.  Florian stated that he would climb to Heaven on the flames of the funeral pyre which was made for him. The soldiers then decided to use a different method to execute him. They flogged him and then flayed him. A large stone was tied around his neck and he was set on fire before being thrown into the Ennis River to drown.

St. Florian died in the year 304. His body was recovered and moved to the Augustinian Abbey of St. Florian near Linz, Austria.

St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters. Many miracles of healing are attributed to St. Florian. He is considered a protector from danger of both fire and water.

 

A great flame follows a little spark.

Quote by Dante Alighierri

 

May is the Month of Our Lady

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Apostle, Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Philip and St. James, Feast Day May 3

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Martyrdom of St. Philip by Jose Ribera Public Domain Image
Martyrdom of St. Philip
by Jose Ribera

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Philip and St. James, Feast Day May 3

The feast day of St. James the Lesser and St. Philip is celebrated by the Church on the same day, May 3. They are both Apostles and martyrs.

St. Philip was also one of the original apostles. He was born in Bethsaida, Galilee and was a follower of John the Baptist. He was present at the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. He was also present at the Last Supper. During the Last Supper, it was Philip who asked Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus responded by teaching them about the unity of the Father and the Son. After the resurrection Philip preached in Greece and Syria. St. Philip died a martyr. He was crucified upside down at Hierapolis under the rule of Emperor Domitian.

St. Philip is the patron saint of cooks and bakers.

St. James the Lesser was one of the original twelve apostles. The title Lesser probably meant he was younger than James the Greater. James was a cousin of Jesus and brother to St. Jude Thaddeus. St James the Lesser was the first Bishop of Jerusalem. He was known for his devotion to the poor. He was beaten to death with a club while praying for his attackers.

St.James the Lesser is the patron saint of fullers and pharmacists.

Martyrdom of the Apostle St. James the Less by Master of the Winkler Epitaph Public Domain Image
Martyrdom of the Apostle St. James the Less
by Master of the Winkler Epitaph

Teach us to be generous, good Lord.  Teach us to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing we do Your will.

Quote of St. Ignatius of Loyola; Feast day July 31

 

May is the Month of Our Lady.

 

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