Category Archives: Incorruptible

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Anthony Zaccaria, Feast Day July 5




St. Anthony Zaccaria Public Domain Image
St. Anthony Zaccaria

The feast day of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria is celebrated on July 5.

 

St. Anthony of Zaccaria is known for beginning the devotion of Eucharistic adoration and founding the religious order of the Society of Clerics.

St. Anthony was born in Cremona, Italy in 1502 into a noble family. His father died when he was still an infant. His mother was 18 and chose to devote herself to charity and caring for her son. Anthony studied philosophy in Pavia and then medicine at the University of Padua. He returned to Cremona with a degree at the age of 23.

 

St. Anthony not only practiced medicine, he taught catechism and then began teaching adults. Eventually he decided to study for the priesthood. He was ordained at the age of 26. At his first Mass, he experienced the presence of angels around the altar and supernatural light during the consecration of the Eucharist. Many witnessed and testified about this event after his death.

 

St. Anthony was an eloquent preacher. It was the time of the counter-reformation which was begun after Martin Luther began the Reformation.  He founded a priestly society the Clerics Regular of St. Paul  to combat  the  corruption which surrounded him. They were inspired by the Apostle Paul and sought humility, poverty and preaching. Their society became known as the Barnabites named after the companion of St Paul…St. Barnabas. They were active at a well known church named St. Barnabas.

St. Anthony encouraged the “40 hours” devotion which involved continuous prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

 

St. Anthony died at his mother’s house in 1539 after he became seriously ill. He was only 36 years old. Thirty years after his death St. Anthony’s body was found to be incorrupt. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1897.

 

 

Jesus is happy to come with us…
as truth is to be spoken, as life is to be lived,
as light is to be lit, as love is to be loved,
as joy is to be given, as peace is to be spread.

Quote of St. Francis of Assisi; Feast day Oct. 4

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Bernadino, Feast Day July 2




St. Bernadino
St. Bernadino

The feast day of St. Bernadino Realino is celebrated on July 2.

St. Bernadino was born to a noble family of Capri, Italy in 1530. He studied medicine and law at the University of Bologna. He received his doctorate in 1563. After attending a retreat giving by the Jesuits, Bernadino realized he had a religious calling. He joined the Society of Jesus and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1567. After ministering to the poor and the youth of Naples for several years he was sent to Lecce where he served for 42 years.

St. Bernadino was a powerful preacher and confessor. He was known for his acts of kindness and serving the poor. He died in 1616. His fame occurred after his death when his body was found to be partially incorrupt when his tomb was opened in 1711.

St. Bernadino Realino was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947.

 

It has hands to help others.

It has feet to hasten to the poor and the needy.

It has eyes to see misery and want.

It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of women and men.

That is what love looks like.

Quote of St. Augustine; Feast day August 28

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Audrey, Feast Day June 23




St. Audrey

The feast day of St. Audrey is celebrated on June 23.

St. Audrey was also known as Etheldreda. She was born an English princess. At her parents insistence, she married a prince named Tonbert. He permitted her to keep the vow of virginity which she had earlier made. However, after three years she was a widow.

She was later forced to marry a king from Northumberland, named Egfrid. After twelve years he tried to change her mind about living as brother and sister. When she refused he tried to bribe the bishop St. Wilfred of York, asking him to release her from her vows. St. Wilfrid refused.

With the permission of her husband St. Audrey became a nun and founded the Abbey of Ely. She died from an enormous growth on her neck in 679. She was not yet 50 years old.

Sixteen years later her body was found to be incorrupt. 

 

Charity is the sweet holy bond that binds the soul with the Creator.

Quote of St. Catherine of Siena

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Germaine Cousins, Feast Day June 15




 St. Germaine Public Domain Image

St. Germaine

The feast day of St. Germaine Cousins is celebrated on June 15. St. Gemaine was born in the small village of Pebrac, France in 1579.  Her mother died soon after her birth.  Germaine was born with a paralyzed right arm and a disease which caused abscesses around the neck.

Her father  soon remarried.  The step-mother treated her harshly, refusing to let her sleep in the house.  Germaine slept on a mattress of hay in the stable or in the cupboard under the stairs.  She was underfed being given only scraps of food and forbidden to play with her step-siblings.

At an early age, Germaine was given the chore of caring for the family sheep.  While caring for the sheep, Germaine developed a relationship with God, attending Mass whenever possible.  When she heard the nearby church bells ring, she entrusted the sheep to her guardian angel so that she could receive communion.  The sheep were always found safe on her return.

One day in the winter the village people saw the stepmother pursuing Germaine and accusing her of stealing bread and concealing it in her apron. She threatened to hit her with a stick and Germaine opened her apron.  Summer flowers fell to the ground.  After this incident the parents decided she had been touched by God and invited her to live in the house.  Germaine, however, refused.   She preferred to go on living as she had been.

One morning in 1601 she was found dead in the cupboard under the stairs at the age of 21.  After her death her body became very beautiful.  Word spread and many people  came to see the change.  She was buried in the church of Pibrac.  Forty three years later when a relative had died and was to be buried, her body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt and flexible.

St. Germaine was canonized on June 29 1867 by Pope Pius IX.

 

Most merciful heart, pitying heart,

loving heart of my Father and my Savior,

refuse not your help to my needy heart.

Quote of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque; Feast day October 16

 

June is the Mont of the Sacred Heart

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Zita, Feast Day April 27




St. Zita
St. Zita

 

The feast day of St Zita is celebrated on April 27.  St. Zita is the patron of maidservants and housewives.

Zita was born in Tuscany, Italy in 1212. At the age of 12, she became a servant for the Fatinelli household. She was mistreated by her employees and criticized for her hard work by her fellow servants. She continued to be meek and humble and had an inward peace that everyone could see. She was good and loving to everyone regardless of how they treated her. Eventually she gained everyone’s trust and was put in charge of the house.

Zita believed that her work was assigned to her by God. She always rose early to pray before work. She attended daily mass and spent the rest of the day working tirelessly.

When Zita died at the age of 60 on April 27, 1271 it is said that a star appeared above the attic where she slept. She had served the family for 48 years. Miracles reported at the time of her death numbered 150.

In 1580, the body of Zita was exhumed and found to be incorruptible.  Her body was put on display in a silver casket, as is tradition, in the church where she had prayed while alive.  Although her body is “incorruptible,” it is browned and wizened, probably the result of a form of natural mummification. Only her hands and face are uncovered for viewing.

St. Zita was canonized in 1696.

 

 

There is no place for selfishness…and no place for fear! Do not be afraid,then, when love makes demands.  Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice.

Quote of St. John Paul II

 

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Agnes of Montepulciano, Feast Day April 20




St. Agnes of Montepulciar
St. Agnes of Montepulciano

 

The feast day of St. Agnes is celebrated on April 20.

St. Agnes was born into a noble family in Gracciano, Italy in 1268. On the day of her birth burning torches appeared around her crib indicating that she was to live a special calling. At the age of 4 she began seeking solitude to pray to Jesus whom she loved. She decided at the age of nine that she wished to become a Dominican and join the monastery at Montepulciano. Her parents were opposed so she asked God to change their minds. Soon after she joined the convent, living under the rule of St. Augustine.

St. Agnes lived an austere life. She slept on the ground with a stone for a pillow and fasted on bread and water. She worked without complaint. Agnes reached a high degree of contemplative prayer and was favored with many visions. She was observed levitating while in prayer two feet above the ground. Violet, lilies or roses often were found growing up through the stones where St. Agnes had just prayed. Many miracles were recorded while Agnes lived in the monastery including the multiplication of loaves.

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Agnes several times. In the first vision Mary said that she would one day found a large monastery based on faith in God and the Trinity. An angel instructed her to build the convent in 1300. On the night of the Feast of the Assumption the Blessed Virgin Mary placed the Infant Jesus in St. Agnes’ arms. She encouraged Agnes to continue suffering for the love of Christ. Agnes had been sick most of her life. When the vision ended Agnes was holding the gold cross that the Infant Jesus had been wearing on a chain. Mary also appeared to Agnes on the Feast of the Purification while Agnes was at Mass. She again let Agnes hold the Infant Jesus.

Shortly before her death, Agnes bathed in a spring thought to have healing powers. Although it did not cure her a new spring appeared which healed many. It was named “the Water of St. Agnes.” While there Agnes prayed over a child who had just drowned, bringing the child back to life.

St. Agnes died at the monastery in 1317 at the age of 43. Many miracles occurred at her tomb. Her body is incorrupt. St. Agnes was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.

 

The life of Christ has furnished me with a pattern for living; but His death has delivered me from death.

Quote of St. Bernard; Feast day Aug. 20

 

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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