Category Archives: Saint of the Day

Faith, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Jeanne Jugan, Feast Day August 30




 

St. Jeanne Jugan Public Domain Image
St. Jeanne Jugan

The Feast Day of St. Jeanne Jugan is celebrated on August 30.  She was born in 1792 in a small port town in the region of Brittany, France.

By the age of four her father had died at sea.  Her mother struggled to support her and her siblings.  She learned to knit and spin wool.  Eventually, she worked as a kitchen maid for a wealthy family.  Jeanne felt called to serve Christ while still in her teens.  She began by working in a local hospital.

At age 25, Jeanne joined the Third Order of St. John Eudes.  She worked as a nurse for six years but left for health issues.   Her spirituality focused on her devotion to Mary, her desire to be one with the poor and trust in Divine Providence.

Jeanne was sharing an apartment with an older woman and an orphaned younger woman.  One day, she met an elderly woman named Anne Chauvin.  Anne was blind, partially paralized and had no one to care for her.  She carried her home, up the flight of stairs to her apartment.  She gave her bed to Anne, deciding to sleep in the Attic.   By 1841, she had rented a room to provide housing for a dozen elderly people.  The next year, she acquired an unused convent which was able to house 40.  Many young women joined her to help.  The Community which she formed became known as The Little Sisters of the Poor.  Jeanne became known as Sister Mary of the Cross.

An ambitious priest eventually had her forced out of her leadership role and placed in retirement.  In retirement, Sister Mary continued to pray for the order which had 2400 members.  She was not known to be its foundress.  The priest was eventually disciplined and St. Jeanne Jugan acknowledged as the foundress.

St. Jeanne was considered a true friend of the poor.    She died in 1879 at the age of 86.  She was beatified by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 11, 2009.

What happiness for us, to be a Little Sister of the Poor!  Making the poor happy is everything!
Quote of St. Jeanne Jugan
 
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Baptism, Faith, Featured, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Beheading of John the Baptist, Feast Day August 29




 

Martyrdom of John the Baptist Public Domain Image
Martyrdom of John the Baptist

The Feast day of the Beheading of John the Baptist is celebrated on August 29.

John the Baptist is the last prophet proclaiming the coming of the Lord. We actually meet John when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry,

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.”( Luke1: 39)

John was actually about six months older than his cousin Jesus.

The next time we hear of John the Baptist he comes out of the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  John  proclaimed:

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”(Matthew 3: 11)

In Matthew 3: 13,  Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying,

“I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

But Jesus answered him,

“Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”

After Jesus had been baptized, the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of

Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist Public Domain Image
Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist

God descending like a dove and a voice from heaven said,

“This is my Son, the Beloved,

with whom I am well pleased.”

We learn in Mark 1:14 that it is after the arrest of John the Baptist by King Herod, that Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near, repent, and believe in the good news.”

Why was John arrested? The story is told in Mark 6: 17-29. John was arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so because Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. On Herod’s birthday Herodias’ own daughter came in and performed a dance that so delighted Herod and his guests that Herod promised her whatever she requested. She went to her mother asking “What shall I ask for?” Herodias replied,

“The head of John the Baptist.” 

The girl hurried back to King Herod saying

“I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

King Herod was distressed at the request, but because of his oaths in front of guest he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back John the Baptists’ head. The head, on a silver platter, was given to the girl. In turn the girl gave it to her mother.

When the disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

John the Baptist is most remembered for his call to repentance and baptism. The following is one of his last statements before his death.

We are travelers, hastening to go back to our own country.

Quote of St. Leo the Great;  Feast day November 10
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; Feast Day of Augustinian Martyrs of Gafsa (Africa)




 

Symbol of the ]Augustinian Order
Symbol of the
Augustinian Order

The Feast Day of  the Martyrs of Gafsa is celebrated on August 26.

St. Augustine founded several monasteries on Northern Africa.  After the death of St. Augustine in 484, King Hunmeric ordered all monasteries abolished and the monks and nuns turned over to the Moors.

The seven brothers from the Gafsa, Tunisia monastery were arrested.  They were:  Deacon Boniface, Subdeacons Scrvus and Rusticus; Abott Liberatus and Monks:  Rogatus, Septimus and Maximus.

After being taken prisoner they were taken to Carthage.  They were offered bribes to renounce Christianity.  When they refused they were thrown into prison.  Christians living in Carthage bribed the jailers who let them offer support to the prisoners.  However, the King was informed and he then ordered the prisoners burned to death.  The youngest monk, Maximus was given a second chance to renounce Christianity.  He refused and pledged his allegiance to God and his Augustinian brothers.

The soldiers tied bundles of dry wood to the monks and placed them on an old raft.  They were however, unable to make the wood burn.  The King became infuriated and ordered the monks to be beaten to death.

The seven Augustinian brothers are honored as martyrs of the faith.

What unites our soul most closely to God is self-denial; 
that is, joining our will to the will of God. 
That is what makes the soul truly free.
Quote of St. Faustina;  Feast day October 5
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Genesius of Rome, Feast Day August 25




 

St. Genesius of Rome Public Domain Image
St. Genesius of Rome

The Feast Day of St. Genesius of Rome is celebrated on August 25.  St. Genesius is the patron saint of actors, comedians and clowns.

St. Genesius was a legal clerk who also performed as an actor.  He lived in the third century.  St. Genesius performed for Emperor Diocletian.

One of the plays he performed in was about a catechumen (student of Christianity) who was about to be baptized.  It was a satire which mocked the sacrament.  However, it was influencing St. Genesius to desire baptism.  During the play, he saw angels around him and requested baptism.

The emperor was so outraged, he had Genesius arrested and tortured.  He was eventually beheaded.

God calls me now, tomorrow will be too late.
Quote of St. Peter Julian Eymard; Feast Day August 2
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Our Lady, Saint of the Day, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Our Lady of Fatima, Feast Day May 13

 

 

Our Lady of Fatima

 

The Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima is celebrated on May 13.

In 1917, an angel and Our Lady appeared six times to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. Jacinta (7 years old) and Francisco (9 years old) were brother and sister. Lucy Dos Santos (14 years old) was their cousin. Jacinta and Francisco both died several years after the apparitions.

Francisco was born on June 11, 1908. During the apparitions Francisco could see but not hear what was being said. He had a great love of praying before the Blessed Sacrament. He also had a great devotion to praying the Rosary. He received his first communion on the day of his death, April 4, 1919.

Jacinta was born on March 11, 1910. Jacinta could both hear and see what was said during the apparitions. She was profoundly affected when Our Lady told her that Jesus was very offended by sin. After seeing a vision of hell, she decided to offer herself completely to the salvation of souls. She offered her suffering to free souls from the fires of hell. A year after the apparitions she came down with bronchial pneumonia, an abscessed lung and then was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She offered all of her suffering to Jesus. She was rushed to a hospital in Lisbon. The Blessed Virgin visited her their three times. She died without the presence of her parents or Lucy on Feb.20, 1920.

Lucy was born on March 22, 1907. After the apparitions Our Lady told her that her cousins would soon be in heaven and that Lucy should spread the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady said “My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way which will lead you to God.” It was Lucy who requested a miracle so people would believe in the apparitions. During the investigations surrounding the apparitions, Lucy was harassed. She entered the Sisters of St. Dorothy as Sister Mary of the Sorrowful Mother. Later she became a Carmelite Sister taking the name Sister Maria Lucia. She had several more visions of Our Lady. Lucy died on Feb. 3, 2005 at the age of 97.

The children saw a brilliant flash of lightning. A beautiful Lady appeared clothed in white and she asked the children to return on the thirteenth of each month. She asked the children to pray the Rosary daily and for devotion to her Immaculate Heart. She also requested prayer for Russia. Our Lady of Fatima spoke of observing the first Saturdays of each month by going to confession and receiving Holy Communion as a devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

On the final visit, a dramatic “dance of the sun” took place. It was witnessed by thousands of people. The sun seemed to tumble from the sky.

During the apparitions in Fatima three secrets were revealed to the children.

  1. After being promised they would go to heaven the children saw a vision of hell which was filled with fire and demons.
  2. Mary instructed the children how to save souls from Hell and convert the world to Christianity. She asked them to spread the devotion to the Immaculate Heart and to pray the Rosary. She asked them to pray for Russia.
  3. The children had a vision of the assassination of the Holy Father.

Many believe the third secret was a prophecy of the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II canonized Francisco and Jacinta Marto on May 13, 2000.

Several chapels have been built at the site.

Pope John Paul II gave thanks to Our Lady of Fatima for her intercession after he survived an attempted assassination. He reminded the faithful that “the message of Fatima is a call to conversion and repentance, the nucleus of the message of the Gospel”.

 

“There is no queen like humility

to make the King surrender.

Humility drew the King from heaven

to the womb of the Virgin,

and with it, by one hair,

we will draw Him to our souls.”

 

Quote of St. Teresa of Avila; Feast day October 15

 

Our Lady of Fatima in Art

  • Our Lady of Fatima Public Domain Image

 

May is the Month of Our Lady.

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Apostle, Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Bartholomew, Feast Day August 24




 

St. Bartholomew Public Domain Image
St. Bartholomew
Public Domain Image

 

St. Bartholomew was born in Galilee.   He was also known as Nathanael.  Bartholomew was one of the original twelve Apostles  called by Jesus.   We know very little about Bartholomew except that he was faithful to Jesus and did his best to spread Christianity after the Resurrection of Jesus.  St. Bartholomew is the patron saint against neurological diseases and leather workers.

Bartholomew was present at the Last Supper and he witnessed the Ascension.

After the resurrection, Bartholomew preached in India, Ethiopia and Asia Minor. He was flayed and beheaded by King Astyages in Armenia for converting souls to Christianity.

The Feast Day of St. Bartholomew is celebrated on Aug. 24.

The only way to peace is forgiveness.
Quote of St. John Paul II
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Dominican Saints, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Rose of Lima, Feast Day August 23




St. Rose of Lima Public Domain Image
St. Rose of Lima

 

The Feast Day of St. Rose of Lima is celebrated on August 23.  She is the first saint of the Americas and known as the First Flower of America and the Patroness of the New World.  She is the patron saint of florists and gardeners.

St. Rose was born in April 1586 in Lima, Peru to Oliva and Gaspar Flores.  She was the 7th of 11 children.  Her birth name was Isabel.  However, her mother and friends witnessed a mystical rose descend from the air and light on her face while she was just an infant.  From then on she was called Rose.

Rose clearly had a religious calling from an early age.  After reading about St. Catherine of Siena, she decided to imitate her.  She fasted at least 3 times a week.  She found ways to do penance and offer her suffering for the good of others.   She understood redemptive suffering from an early age.  When given praise for her beauty, she cut her hair and disfigured her face by rubbing it with pepper.  She was also know for placing thorns under the garland of roses she wore in her hair to remind her of the crown of thorns Jesus wore.

St. Rose wished to enter the convent.  However, her parents refused to let her.  Finally, after ten years of struggle and refusal to marry she became a Third Order Dominican.  She lived in her home just as St. Catherine of Siena did.  St. Rose received the Blessed Sacrament daily and lived her life in silence and seclusion, enjoying the family garden.

St. Rose suffered from arthritis and asthma.  She was also disturbed by spiritual dreams.  Her friend Brother Martin de Porres reassured her that her visions were from God.    During the last three years of her life, St. Rose began caring for the elderly and sick.  she used a room in the house in which she lived.

During the inquisition, St. Rose faced an examination.  They found her to be in God’s favor in the midst of suffering.

At the age of 31 St. Rose came down with a high fever.  She died from the fever and paralysis.  A multitude of people attended her funeral.

St. Rose was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671.

“Without the burden of afflictions,
it is impossible to reach the height of grace. 
The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.”
Quote of St. Rose of Lima

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Faith, Feast Days, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Feast of the Queenship of Mary, Feast Day August 22




 

The Coronation of the Virgin Mary by Pencz Public Domain Image
The Coronation of the Virgin Mary
by Pencz

 

The Feast day of The Queenship of Mary is celebrated on August 22.

Why is Mary called a Queen? What other title would you give to the mother of the Prince of Peace?  A prince grows up to become a King.  Jesus is often referred to as our Lord and King.  The mother of a King is given the title of Queen.

The title of Queen began as early as the sixth century.  Mary has been referred to as Queen in several hymns since the 11th century.  The prayer Hail Holy Queen is the prayer which finalizes the Rosary which was begun by St. Dominic.

When we think of Mary as the Mother of Jesus, our King, we should also reflect on our spiritual family as well.  We are all children of God,  Our Creator.  The Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph did not wear earthly crowns, but they reveal to us a kingdom of another kind…the kingdom of God.    In the Our Father, we pray…thy kingdom come.  We are meant to be a part of this kingdom.  As children of God, we are royal children.  Our relationship with God is meant to be that of a family.   God is our Father, Lord and King.  Mary is our Queen Mother and we are called to be royal children who will live in the kingdom of God.

Communication is the key to a happy family.  Prayer is how we communicate with our spiritual family.  We are not alone!   Not only can God hear our prayers, but the angels and saints can also hear our prayers.  When we join our prayers together they become much stronger.  Mary’s prayers especially have special meaning and power.  After all, she is the Queen mother!

As we journey through this earthly kingdom, let us strive to earn a place in the kingdom of God…where the virtues of humility and love are seen in everyone.

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.

Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.

Triumph, all ye cherubim,

Sing with us, ye seraphim,

Heaven and earth resound the hymn:

Salve, salve, salve Regina!

Our life, our sweetness, here below,O Maria!

Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!

Triumph, all ye cherubim,

Sing with us, ye seraphim,

Heaven and earth resound the hymn:

Salve, salve, salve Regina!

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To thee we cry, poor sons of Eve, O Maria!

To thee we sigh, we mourn, we grieve, O Maria!

Triumph, all ye cherubim,

Sing with us, ye seraphim,

Heaven and earth resound the hymn:

Salve, salve, salve Regina!

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Turn then most gracious Advocate, O Maria!

Toward us thine eyes compassionate, O Maria!

Triumph, all ye cherubim,

Sing with us, ye seraphim,

Heaven and earth resound the hymn:

Salve, salve, salve Regina!

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The cause of joy to men below, O Maria!

The spring through which all graces flow, O Maria!

Angels, all your praises bring,

Earth and heaven, with us sing,

All creation echoing:

Salve, salve, salve Regina!

 

“Who can appraise the jewels

that adorn Mary’s crown?”

Quote of St. Bernard; Feast Day August 20

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

 

 

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Incorruptible, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Pius X, Feast Day August 21




 

St. Pius X Public Domain Image St. Pius X

 

 

The Feast Day of St. Pius X is celebrated on August 21.

The birth name of St. Pius X was Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto.    He was born in Riese, Italy into a family of ten children.  His father was a poor parish clerk and hi mother was a seamstress.

At the age of 15, Giuseppe entered the seminary at Padua, Italy.  His father died before he had graduated.  His Mother would not let him return home to help the family, insisting he stay in school.  He was ordained a priest in 1858 and worked as a parish priest for 17 years.  Because of his many works of mercy, many were converted to the faith.

Father Sarto wished to work with the poor, however, he was named spiritual director of a major seminary and later became a bishop and then a cardinal.  In 1903, he was elected the Pope, the Bishop of Rome.  As Pope, he took the name of Pius X.  He emphasized the importance of the Eucharist becoming known as the Pope of the Holy Eucharist.  He allowed the Eucharist to be received at the age of seven.  He also encouraged the use of Gregorian Chant in the liturgy.

Pope Pius X sheltered refugees with his own resources and tried to prevent World War 1.  He died within two months after the war began on August 20, 1914.

The body of St. Pius X was exhumed 30 years after his death and discovered to be incorruptible.  His limbs were still flexible.  His body can be viewed at St. Peter’s Basilica.

 

I was born poor.  I lived poor.  I will die poor.
Quote of St. Pius X
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

 

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Benedictine Saints, Doctor of the Church, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Feast Day August 20

 

St. Bernard of Clairvaux Public Domain Image
St. Bernard of Clairvaux

 

The Feast day of St. Bernard of Clairvaux is celebrated on August 20.  He was born in a family castle in Dijon, Burgundy in 1090.  The family included six sons and one daughter.  He was raised by a pious French mother.  Bernard was also pious as a child, however the death of his mother caused a prolonged depression.

St. Bernard was drawn towards the Benedictine monastery at Citeaux.  One day, at the age of 19, he knelt and asked God for guidance.  All doubts vanished and he decided to follow the Cistercian way of life.  Bernard was so persuasive that 31 nobles, including his five brothers and two uncles, were convinced to follow him to Citeaux.

When they arrived at the monastery, Stephen Harding was the abbot and they were instructed,

“If you desire to live in this house,
leave your body behind; only spirits live here.”

After living a year at the monastery, he made his profession and continued living a cloistered life away from the world.

The monks lived a very simple life.  The land was poor and they ate barley bread, herbs and some vegetables.  The number of monks grew to 130.  Eventually the monastery became known as Clairvaux.

St. Bernard suffered stomach problems but never complained.  At one point he was near death because he became so ill.  He was ordered to live apart from the community to recover his strength.  He lived on a special diet under a doctor’s care and returned to the monastery with improved health.

St. Bernard received the gift of miracles.  The first witnessed miracle happened while singing at Mass.  He restored the speech to a relative named Josbert de la Forte who was near death.  Many miracles were witnessed where Bernard healed the sick by making a sign of the cross over a person and praying.

Because his health was frail, he was directed to preach and write rather than work in the field.  He was an eloquent preacher.  He fought for reform in the church clergy.  St. Bernard became well known as an arbitrator and counselor.  He settled many disputes including intervening during a church schism.

St. Bernard preached during the Second Crusade throughout Europe.  When the Crusade failed, St. Bernard attributed the failure to the sins of the Crusaders.

St. Bernard was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1830.

 

Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary,

that never was it known

that anyone who fled to your protection,

implored your help,

or sought your intercession was left unaided. 

Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto you,

O virgin of virgins, our mother.

To you we come,

before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. 

O mother of the Word Incarnate,

despise not our petitions,

but in your mercy, hear and answer me.

Prayer of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

 

 

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Faith, Jesuit Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Eudes, Feast Day August 19




St. John Eudes Public Domain Image
St. John Eudes

 

The Feast Day of St. John Eudes is celebrated on August 19.  St. John Eudes was born in Ri, France on Nov. 14, 1601.  At the age of 14 he took a vow of chastity.  He was ordained a priest in 1625 after studying at a Jesuit college at Caen, France.

As a priest, St John Eudes ministered to the victims of the plague.  He cared for the sick while at the same time becoming well known as a preacher in France and Normandy.  In 1641 he founded the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge.  Their purpose was to give aid to prostitutes.  He also founded the Society of Jesus and Mary for the education of priests.

St. John Eudes encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Heart of Mary writing the first book about the devotion.

St. John Eudes died at Caen on August 219, 1680.  He was canonized in 1925.

 

Faith is a beam radiating from the face of God.

 

Quote of St. John Eudes

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

 

 

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