Category Archives: Martyr

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Andrew the Apostle, Feast Day Nov. 30

Quote November 29, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra 1 Comment

The Crucifixion of St. Andrew the Apostle by Mattia Preti — The Crucifixion of St. Andrew the Apostle
by Mattia Preti

The feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle is celebrated on November 30. He is the patron saint of fishermen. St. Andrew was the first of the twelve Apostles to be called by Jesus.

Mark 1:16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

St. Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter. He was a fisherman and a follower of St. John the Baptist. When he heard the call of Jesus, he immediately left everything and followed Him.

After the ascension of Jesus to heaven, Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel. In the year 70 he became a martyr. He was put to death on a cross to which he was tied, not nailed. It was a cross in the form of an X, which is now called “St. Andrew’s Cross”. He lived for two days, suffering, yet still preaching the gospel.

Three countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron: Russia, Scotland and Greece. He is also the patron of fishermen.

St. Andrew’s relics are kept at the Basilica of St. Andrew in Patras, Greece.

“How blind man is when he refuses to open his heart to the light of faith!”

Quote of St. Bernadette, Feast Day April 16

St. Andrew the apostle in Art

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Carmelite Saints, Martyr

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Denis of the Nativity, Feast Day Nov. 29

Quote November 27, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Bl. Denis of the Nativity and Bl. Redemptus of the Cross Public Domain Image — Bl. Denis of the Nativity and Bl. Redemptus of the Cross
Bl. Denis of the Nativity on the left

The feast day of St. Denis of the Nativity is celebrated on November 29. He was a Carmelite priest and a martyr.

Peter Berthelot was born on December 12, 1600 in Calvados, France. He became a sailor at the age of twelve, traveling to Spain, England and America. In 1619 he traveled to India where he was a cosmographer and first pilot of the Kings of France and Portugal. In 1635 he met his spiritual counselor Father Philip of the Most Trinity and decided to join the Discalced Carmelites. He chose the name Denis of the Nativity when he made his profession on Dec. 25, 1636. He was given the gift of contemplation and known for his holiness.

As a missionary, he and his companion Redemptus left for Goa in 1638 where they were taken prisoner. They were tortured in an attempt to force their conversion to Islam. During his captivity, Denis helped others by sacrificing his needs. He always had encouraging words and set a strong example.

Both Denis and Redemptus were condemned to die. He was killed by a sword that split his head in two.

Both Carmelites were beatified on June 10 1908 by Pope Leo XIII.

Prayer is a mighty weapon,

an unfailing treasure,

a wealth which is never expended,

a harbor that is always calm.

Quote of St. John Chrysostom; Feast day September 13

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Catherine of Alexandria, Feast Day Nov. 25

Quote November 23, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Catherine Alexandria is celebrated on November 25. She is the patron saint of Christian philosophers, teachers and librarians. She is considered a virgin and martyr.

While there is no historical evidence regarding St. Catherine of Alexandria there is a strong tradition about her martyrdom. St. Catherine was born around 287 in Alexandria, Egypt. She was the daughter of a wealthy pagan couple. She had a love of learning and studied philosophy and religion. After studying Christianity, she converted.

Legend tells us that she was imprisoned and tortured by Emperero Maxentius after she refused to marry him. He forced her to debate the most learned pagan philosophers hoping she would commit apostasy, however the debates resulted in many conversions to the Christian faith.

St. Catherine was tortured by being placed on a wheel full of spikes in an attempt to kill her. The wheel broke into two pieces and fell apart. She was then beheaded.

“Strength for a person who desires to acquire virtues,

consists in not losing heart when one happens to fall,

but in continuing once more on the way.

Not to fall is characteristic only of angels.”

Quote of St. Moses

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Faith, Feast Days, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Andrew Dung, Feast Day Nov. 24

Quote November 22, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Andrew Dung and companions is celebrated on November 24. St. Andrew Dung was a priest and martyr of Vietnam.

St. Andrew Dung represents the 117 martyrs of Vietnam; 97 of the martyrs were Vietnamese and 21 were foreign missionaries. The missionaries included 11 Spaniards and, 10 French; 8 were bishops, 50 were priests and 59 were lay people. They were martyred during a period of persecution between 1625 and 1886.

St. Andrew was the born in 1795 to a poor pagan family in North Vietnam. He moved to Hanoi when he was twelve. He was educated by a Christian and after three years was baptized. He became a catechist and continued to study theology.

In 1823, he was ordained a priest. He was imprisoned under Emperor Minh Mang. His congregation made donations to free him. He changed his name to Andrew Lac to avoid persecution and changed locations. He was arrested a second time along with Father Peter Thi another Vietnamese Priest. Again his freedom was bought. They were soon arrested a third time and beheaded after being brutally tortured.

The 117 martyrs were beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 27, 1900. The memorial celebrates all the Vietnamese Martyrs of the 17th, 18th and 9th centuries.

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who,

in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.

Quote by Dante Alighieri

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Martyr, patron saints, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Clement of Rome, Feast Day Nov. 23

Quote November 21, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Clement of Rome was the third successor of St. Peter and the fourth pope of the Catholic Church. He is the patron saint of mariners.

St. Clement was Jewish by birth. He converted to Christianity and became a follower of St. Paul and St. Peter. He was ordained a priest by St. Peter. Because he knew the Apostles he is considered one of the five Apostolic Fathers.

As Pope, St. Clement wrote a letter to the Corinthian Church. The Corinthian Church was in turmoil. He urged charity and obedience. His letter brought peace and order to the Church.

St. Clement lived during a time of persecution. He was banished and sentenced to work with other prisoners in a stone quarry. He continued to successfully convert people. Because of the success he had in converting people, he was sentenced to death. He was put to death by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea.

“Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints.”

Quote of St. Clement of Rome

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Cecelia, Feast Day November 22

Quote November 21, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Cecelia is celebrated on November 22. She is a martyr and the patron saint of musicians.

St. Cecelia by Guarino — St. Cecelia
by Guarino

St. Cecelia was born in Rome to an esteemed family late in the first century. She lived a life of prayer. She was given in marriage to a young pagan named Valerian. Cecelia shared her promise of celibacy and consecration to God with her husband. During the wedding, it is said that she sat apart, singing to God in her heart with thanksgiving.

Valerian converted to Christianity and he honored her desire to remain a virgin. He helped Cecilia in her charity toward the poor. Because of this, he was arrested and put to death.

Almachius, the Prefect of Rome, feared her nobility and charity to the poor. He had her imprisoned in the steam bath of her own home, trying to suffocate her. After a full day and night in stifling steam, Cecilia survived without harm. This resulted in Almachius sending an executioner to behead her. She was struck three times, but she was not beheaded. She fell to the floor. After several days of bleeding in her own bath, Christians rushed in to help her. On the third morning the venerable Bishop Urban visited Cecilia. As she lay dying, she requested that her palace be made into a church for the poor. She died praying, after receiving the Eucharist. Her body was buried in the Catacomb of Saint Callistus. The year of her death is unknown bu it is believed her martyrdom took place during the pontificate of Urban I (222-230).

In 817, her tomb was discovered by Pope Paschal I. Her body was one of the first of over a hundred saints whose bodies were discovered to be incorrupt. Her body remained as it was when she died. Her relics were put into the crypt in the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trasrevere. When her tomb was opened in 1599, her body was perfectly incorrupt. Her neck still had marks of being struck with a sword.

St. Cecelia is the patron saint of musicians, because of the zeal with which she sang the divine praises of thanksgiving. Her spirituality included a love of music. St. Cecilia is often venerated in poetry and music.