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Doctor of the Church, Featured, Pope, Quotes of the Saints, Spirituality, St. Leo the Great

Twenty Five Quotes from St. Leo the Great

Pope St Leo I was the 45th pope of the Catholic Church and the first to use the name Leo, which was also his birth name. He has earned the titles of Doctor and Father of the Church.

Pope Leo I was known for convincing Attila the Hun to not invade Italy. Historians know much about his life and papacy, which lasted for more than two decades.

St Leo the Great or Pope Leo I was born in 400 AD in Tuscany, Italy. He served as Bishop of Rome from 440 to 461, when he died on November 19, 461. His feast day is celebrated on November 10. He is the patron saint of Church Unity, Popes, Confessors and Theologians.

The following quotes reflect the spirituality of St. Leo the Great.

1. No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ.

St. Leo the Great

2. Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.

St. Leo the Great

3. Peter has spoken by the Mouth of Leo!

St. Leo the Great

4. Let no one be ashamed of the cross by which Christ has redeemed the world. None of us must be afraid to suffer for the sake of justice or doubt the fulfillment of the promises, for it is through toil that we come to rest and through death that we pass to life.

St. Leo the Great

5. Let the Saint exult in that he draws near to victory. Let the sinner be glad in that he is invited to pardon. Let the Gentile take courage in that he is called to life.

St. Leo the Great

6. Beyond our grasp, He chose to come within our grasp. Existing before time began, He began to exist at a moment in time.

St. Leo the Great

7. Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace is the mother of unity. Peace is the rest of the blessed souls. Peace is the dwelling place of eternity.

St. Leo the Great

8. Those who are not good to others are bad to themselves.

St. Leo the Great

9. The religion established by the sacrament of the Cross of Christ cannot be destroyed by any kind of cruelty.

St. Leo the Great

10. Our sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ has no other purpose than to transform us into that which we receive.

St. Leo the Great

11. The Cross of Christ is the True Ground and Chief Cause of Christian Hope.

St. Leo the Great

12. The faith of those who live their faith is a serene faith. What you long for will be given to you, what you love will be yours forever.

St. Leo the Great

13. Invisible in His own nature (God) became visible in ours. Beyond our Grasp. He chose to come within our grasp.

St. Leo the Great

14. The birthday of the Lord is the birthday of Peace.

St. Leo the Great

15. Without God there is no virtue, nor does a man obtain what is proper to divinity unless he be enlivened by the Spirit of his Author. Since the Lord said to His disciples, “Without Me you are able to do nothing”, there is no doubt that when a man does good works he has from God both the carrying out of the work and the beginning of his will to do so.

St. Leo the Great

16. Out of the world one man, Peter, is chosen.

St. Leo the Great

17. The faith by which we live shall never vary in any age…for one is the faith which sanctifies the Just of all ages.

St. Leo the Great

18. The devil is always discovering something novel against the truth.

St. Leo the Great

19. Let the Saint exult in that he draws near to victory. Let the sinner be glad in that he is invited to pardon. Let the
Gentile take courage in that he is called to life.

St. Leo the Great

20. Grant to us, O Lord, not to mind earthly thins but rather to love heavenly things that while, all things around us pass away, we my even now, hold fast to those things which last forever. Amen

St. Leo the Great

21. Teach nothing new but instill into all men’s breasts those things which the Fathers of revered memory have with harmony of statement taught. Preach nothing else than what we received from our forefathers…Accordingly, both in the rule of faith and in the observance of discipline, let the standard of antiquity be maintained throughout.

St. Leo the Great

22. I have neither permitted, nor shall I permit, the things which have been settled by the holy fathers to be violated by any innovation.

St. Leo the Great

23. The works of mercy are innumerable. Their very variety, brings this advantage to those who are true Christians, that in the matter of almsgiving not only the rich and affluent but also those of average means and the poor, are able to play their part. Those who are unequal in their capacity to give can be equal, in the love within their hearts.

St. Leo the Great

24. Lowliness was taken in majesty, weakness by strength, mortality be eternity.

St. Leo the Great

25. The life of believers contains in itself the mystery of Easter.

St. Leo the Great

Faith, Martyr, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Fabian, Feast Day January 19




St. Fabian

 

The Feast Day of St. Fabian is celebrated on January 19.  He was the Bishop of Rome and a martyr.

St. Fabian was a Roman layman. He was visiting Rome after the death of Pope Anteros in 236. During a discussion about who the next pope should be, a dove landed on Fabian’s head, which was taken as a sign from the Holy Spirit. He was soon elected the next Bishop of Rome! He served as pope for 14 years and was known for his sanctity.

There was peace at the time of his election. However, after the death of the emperor Philip, Decius, the new emperor began to persecute Christians, demanding that they worship idols. Pope Fabian held fast to the faith and was martyred in the year 250. He is buried in the Catacombs of St. Callistus which he helped to restore. The stone on his grave has the following words in Greek: “Fabian, bishop, martyr”.

A bird can be held by a chain

or a thread,

still it cannot fly.

Quote of St. John of the Cross; Feast day December 14

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Sylvester I, Feast Day December 31




St. Sylvester I

The Feast Day of St. Sylvester I is celebrated on December 31.

St. Sylvester I was the 33 pope, succeeding Pope Militades on Jan 31, 314. Although he became pope during peaceful times, his reign occurred during the persecutions of Diocletian. These persecutions came to an end when Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity.

A popular legend states that Constantine was cured of leprosy by Pope Sylvester, after which he converted to the faith. Constantine built several churches during his reign with the help of Pope Sylvester. These included the original St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Pope Sylvester served as the Bishop of Rome for 21 years. He was involved in the debate about Arianism at the Council of Nicea. The Arians believed that Jesus Christ was not fully divine but a created being. It was at this council that the Nicean Creed was proclaimed by the Catholic Church.  Pope Sylvester died in the year 335.

Nicean Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

Jesus calls Peter
Do not be afraid; from now on,
you will be catching people.
Quote of Jesus Christ (Luke 5:20)

Jesus calls Levi

“Follow me.”
Quote of Jesus Christ (Luke 5:27)

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

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Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers,Quips and Quotes: St. Damascus I, Feast Day December 11




 

The Feast Day of  St. Damasus is celebrated on December 11.  He was the Bishop of Rome.

Damasus was born in 306. His father was a Roman priest. Following his father’s footsteps, he began as a deacon. He served in the Basilica of San Lorenzo. He also served Pope Liberius following him into exile. When Pope Liberius died he was elected Pope. At the same time a minority elected Ursinus as the Pope. Ursinus was considered the anti-pope. Unrest and discord were constant during the reign of Pope Damasus.

Pope Damasus commissioned his secretary St.Jerome to translate the scripture into Latin, the Vulgate version of the Bible. He also changed the liturgical language of the Church from Greek to Latin. He worked to preserve the catacombs and the graves of the martyrs, and relics. During his reign, Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman state.

Pope Damasus I died of natural causes in Rome on Dec. 11, 384.

“For me, prayer means launching out

of the heart toward God;

a cry of grateful love from the

crest of joy or the trough of despair;

It is a vast supernatural force

that opens out my heart,

and binds me close to Jesus.”

Quote of St. Thérèse of Lisieux; Feast Day October 1

 

 December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

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Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gregory III, Feast Day December 10




St. Pope Gregory III

The Feast day of St. Gregory III is celebrated on December 10.  He was the Bishop of Rome.

St. Gregory III was born in Syria. His father’s name was John. Little is known about his childhood. He became a Syrian priest. He was proclaimed pope immediately after the death of Pope Gregory II. The most pressing problem was defending the veneration of holy images. Emperor Leo III considered it idolatry.

Pope Gregory called a synod during which he approved measures against anyone who destroyed images of Jesus, Mary or the saints. He taught that icons and images promote worship rather than being the object of worship themselves. He repaired many beautiful churches and promoted monasticism. Pope Gregory was known for his virtue and knowledge.

Pope Gregory III died of natural causes on November 28, 741.

When God is our strength,

it is strength indeed;

when our strength

is our own,

it is only weakness.

Quote of St. Augustine; Feast day August 28

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

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Martyr, patron saints, Pope, Saint of the Day

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




St. Clement of Rome
St. Clement of Rome

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
November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Doctor of the Church, Faith, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Leo the Great; Feast Day November 10



St. Leo the Great
St. Leo the Great

 

The Feast day of St. Leo the Great is celebrated on November the 10.

St. Leo was born in Tuscany. He lived during a time of great political chaos for the Church. Barbarian armies were ravaging the once mighty Roman Empire. Leo was an ordained a Deacon. He became the Bishop of Rome in 440. He was Bishop of Rome for 21 years, until his death in 461.

During his papacy, he was known for meeting Attila the Hun in 452 as he was preparing to invade Italy. Amazingly, he persuaded him to turn back, and avoided a war. Leo fought many heresies, including Pelagianism which teaches that grace was not necessary for salvation.

Leo is considered one of the great administrators of the Church. He also gave profound spiritual sermons. He presided over the fourth ecumenical council called the Council of Chalcedon. At this council the two natures of Christ was discussed and clarified. The faith teaches that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine.

St. Leo the Great also clarified the role of the pope, persuading Emperor Valentinian to recognize the primacy of the Bishop of Rome in 445.  His teaching focused on the scripture which had Jesus telling Peter:  “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.  What you forbid on earth shall be forbidden in Heaven.  What you allow on earth shall be allowed in heaven.’  (Matthew 16:19)

Leo was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in the eighteenth century. The title “Great” has been given to only three Popes. The three “Great popes are St. Leo the Great, St. Gregory the Greatand St. Nicholas the Great.  St. John Paul II is unofficially considered by some to be “great”.  The title “Great” means that the Pope has exercised great leadership and contributed greatly to the theology of the church.

If indeed we are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit lives in our
hearts…we must work with much vigilance to make the chamber of our heart
not unworthy of so great a guest.
 Quote of St. Leo the Great

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Feast Days, Pope, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica, Nov. 9




 

Basilica of St. John Lateran
Basilica of St. John Lateran

The dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica is celebrated on November 9.

St. John Lateran Basilica is the oldest of the four great basilicas in Rome.   The four basilicas are:

  • The Basilica of St. Peter
  • The Basilica of St. Mary Major
  • The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wallls
  • The Basilica of St. John Lateran

Originally, the site was occupied by the palace of the family of the Laterani. The term “Lateran”  does not  refer to a saint but to the church’s ancient origins as the the Lateran palace, which once belonged the Roman noble family of the Laterni.

Constantine acquired the old palace through marriage. Not only did Constantine end the persecution of the Church he also gave the palace to the Church as a gift and it was enlarged. It became the residency for the Pope.  The Basilica has been dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

Until the 14th century popes resided in the Lateran palace. Its official title is:

“Mother Church of the whole world.”

The Basilica of St. John Lateran  is the official seat of the Pope (the Pope’s Cathedral).
Pope Sylvester officially dedicated the basilica in the year 324 declaring it a house of God.
The Basilica has been dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

 

“Little children, love one another.”

Quote of St. John the Evangelist; Feast Day Dec. 27

 

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

Faith, patron saints, Pope, Prayer, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Paul II, Feast Day October 22




 


St. John Paul II

The Feast Day of St. John Paul II is celebrated on October 22.  He is the patron saint of youth.

Karol Jozef Wajtyla (pronounced Voy-tee-ya) was born to Karol and Emilia Wojtyla in Wodowice, Poland on May18, 1920. His mother died when he was nine years old. His sister Olga died before he was born. His brother Edmond, a doctor, died when he was twelve. He was very close to his father, who raised him. When he was 21, his father died, leaving him alone, with no family.

Young Karol studied drama in Krakow’s Jagiellonian University. The university closed due to the Nazi occupation in 1939. In 1942, he had a call to the priesthood. He studied in an underground seminary in Krakow. At the same time he also was a member of the underground “Rhapsodic Theater”.

Karol was ordained on November 1, 1946. He was sent to Rome where he finished his doctorate in theology with a thesis on the works of St. John of the Cross, a Carmelite saint

He wished to become a Carmelite priest himself. However, he was turned down twice. The first time, he was denied entry due to the war. The second time he applied, his bishop told him, he was not meant to be a contemplative (private prayer) priest, his charismatic (public prayer) talent was needed working with the public. During his early priesthood he worked as a chaplain to university students as well as vicar to several parishes.

On Jan 13, 1964, he became a Cardinal. He was a participant in the Vatican Council II (1962-1965).

On October 16, 1978, he was elected Pope. As Pope he chose the name of John Paul II. As Pope of the Catholic Church, he will be remembered for many things. He established the World Youth Day Celebration. This event brought millions of young people together in a different country to celebrate their faith. In 1993, Youth Day was held in Denver, USA. In 2000 he led the celebration in Rome for the Great Jubilee year. Although unofficial, this is why he is considered the patron of youth.

As Pope he canonized many saints, including his fellow citizen Sister Faustina from Poland. John Paul II gave her Divine Mercy Devotion an official feast day, the Sunday following Easter. This devotion focuses on the mercy and forgiveness Jesus offers us.

Another Devotion John Paul II encouraged was the Rosary. The Rosary focuses on the life of Jesus. In 2002 he added a fourth set of mysteries to be meditated on which is called the Luminous Mysteries. This includes the Baptism of Jesus, The Wedding at Cana, The Institution of the Word, The Transfiguration, and The Eucharist.

In 1981 he survived an attempted assassination. He credited his devotion to Our Lady of Fatima for his survival. He publicly forgave his attacker.

John Paul II is remembered for his successful efforts to end communism, and for bringing together people of all faiths.

John Paul II died Parkinson’s disease on April 2, 2005.

John Paul II was Pope for 27 years. Many Catholics give him the title John Paul the Great, and Patron of Youth.   His message of hope often included  the message of Jesus when he stilled the water: “Be Not Afraid” (Mat: 14).

He received the title of Blessed in 2000. His first miracle was the cure of Sister Marie Perre Simon who was a French nun suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is the illness John Paul II died from on April 2, 2005.  The second miracle of Pope John Paul II was the curing of a brain aneurysm of Floribeth Mora Diaz of Costa Rica.

On  Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014, Pope Francis canonized Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI con-celebrated the Mass.

Place your talents and enthusiasm at the service of life.

Quote of St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II
World Youth Day
Public Domain Image
Mother Teresa with Pope John Paul II
Public Domain Image
Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II

St. John Paul II in Art

October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary.

Martyr, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St.Callistus I, Feast Day October 14




St. Callistus I Pope and Martyr
St. Callistus I
Pope and Martyr

The Feast day of St. Callistus I is celebrated on October I.  He is honored as a Pope and martyr of the faith.

St. Callistus was a slave for a Roman who worked for Caesar.  He was put in charge of the bank by his master.  He manged to lose the money deposited and in fear he fled.  He was caught and sent to prison.  He was released and told to try to recover the money.  This time, he was arrested after getting into a brawl in a Jewish synagogue.  He was then sent to Sardenia to work in the mines.  The mistress of the emperor was able to influence his release.

Callistus became superintendent of the cemetery of St. Callistus.  He was ordained a deacon by the Pope and became the friend and adviser of the Pope.  When the pope died, Callistus was elected to be Bishop of Rome with a majority vote.  This led to a schism with his rival St. Hippolytus who became the first anti-pope.  Hippolytus accused Pope Callistus of sympathizing with heretics.  He also disagreed with Pope Callistus’ teaching about the power of Divine Mercy in the sacrament of confession.

In the year 236, both Pope Callistus and Hyppolytus were martyred during an uprising in Rome.  They were both canonized as saints.  It is believed that Hyppolytus made peace with the church before his death.

St. Callistus is the first pope after St. Peter to be honored as a martyr.

“God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us.”
Quote of St. Augustine;  Feast Day August 28
October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary

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Franciscan Saints, patron saints, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Pope John XXIII, Feast Day October 11




St. John XXIII Public Domain Image
St. John XXIII

 

The Feast day of St. John XXIII is celebrated on October 11.  He was known also known as “Good Pope John”.

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born in 1881 near Borgano, Italy.  He was the oldest of 13 children.  Angelo joined the Secular Franciscan Order.  After he was ordained a priest in 1904, he returned to Rome to study canon law.  He became the bishop’s secretary, Church history teacher in the seminary and publisher of the diocesan paper.

During World War I, he served as a stretcher bearer for the Italian army.  During World War II  he was a papal diplomat, serving in Bulgaria, Turkey and France.  With the help of Germany’s ambassador in Turkey, Archbishop Roncalli, he helped save approximately 24,000 Jewish people from death.

In 1953 he was named a cardinal and Bishop.  He was elected Pope at the age of 77, taking the name of John.  He soon called an ecumenical council and presided over the first session of the Second Vatican Council.  The purpose of the Council was to bring the church into the modern world.  It also was an effort to end hostilities between religions.  Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant religious leaders were invited to attend.

One quote he is remembered for is:

“The Church has always opposed errors.  Nowadays, however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.”

Pope John XXIII earned the title Good Pope John because of his kind and cheerful demeanor.

He died on June 3, 1963.  He was beatified November 15, 1881 by Pope John Paul II.  He was canonized on the same day as Pope John Paul II by Pope Benedict on April 27, 2014.

In the Blessed Sacrament a heavenly school is open to me, with the best teacher one can possibly imagine…Jesus Christ himself.
Quote of Bl. John XXIII
October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gregory the Great, Feast Day Sept. 3




St. Gregory the Great Public Domain Image
St. Gregory the Great

The Feast Day of St. Gregory the Great is celebrated on September 3.

St. Gregory the Great was born in Rome, Italy around the year 550. He was born into a wealthy family. By the age of 23, he had become the prefect of Rome.  The following year his father died.  He decided to leave office and to become a monk.   St. Gregory is the patron saint of musicians, students, singer and teachers.

St. Gregory turned his family home into a monastery which he dedicated to St. Andrew.  He built six other monasteries on family land in Sicily and gave the remainder of his inheritance to the poor.  As a monk he devoted time to prayer, study and meditation.  He studied the writings of the Latin fathers.

After four years of prayer as a monk, Pope Pelagius II ordained Gregory a deacon and sent him to Constantinople.  He returned to Rome in 586 to serve Pope Pelagius until his death four years later.

Although Gregory was only a deacon he was elected Pope by popular acclaim.  His first act was to organize a three day penitential procession asking God to end the plague.  The plague ended after the procession reached the church of St. Mary Major.

As pope, Gregory negotiated for peace when the Lombards threatened Rome.

Over sixty of Pope Gregory’s sermons have survived, as well as over 80 letters he wrote.  He organized the liturgy and is given credit for the Gregorian Chant becoming popular.

Pope Gregory was well known for his compassion.  During a famine Pope Gregory ordered the church to use its assets to feed the poor.  He also ordered the clergy to go into the streets to help the poor.  If they did not they were replaced.

While Pope Gregory considered the Bishop of Rome to be the first among the bishops he also considered bishops to be equal.  Pope Gregory considered the Bishop of Rome to be likened to a final court of appeal.  He referred to himself as “the servant of the servants of God.”

Pope Gregory suffered from arthritis in his later years.   Pope Gregory was acclaimed a saint by popular decree.  St. Gregory the Great died on March 12, 604.

For it was not poverty that led Lazarus to heaven, but humility;  nor was it wealth that prevented the rich man from attaining eternal rest, but rather his egoism and his infidelity.
Quote of St. Gregory the Great
September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

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