Category Archives: Saint of the Day

Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Casimer, Feast Day March 4




St. Casimer
The Feast Day of St. Casimer is celebrated on March 4. 

St. Casimer was born to the King of Poland, King Casimer IV and Elizabeth of Austria in 1469. He was the third of thirteen children.

From an early age, Casimer was drawn to a life committed to God. He rebelled against a rich lifestyle, wearing only plain clothes. He slept little, preferring prayer. When he did sleep, he slept on the floor rather than in a bed meant for royalty. He was mocked for his faith and lifestyle but he chose to ignore it.

Out of obedience to his father, he led an army to take over the throne of Hungary even though he felt it was wrong. After soldiers began to desert he turned the army around and returned home. His angry father banished him to a castle in Debski. Casimer refused to cooperate with his father anymore. He preferred to spend time in prayer to the true king in his life, Christ. Choosing to remain celibate, he refused to marry the emperor’s daughter.

For a short time St. Casimer reigned as king of Poland during his father’s absence.  St. Casimer was also the Grand Duke of Lithuania.

While visiting Lithuania, he died at the age of 23 from tuberculosis in 1482. He was buried in Vilnius, Lithuania with his favorite song; “Omni die die Mariae” which is Latin for “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary.” It became known as the Hymn of St. Casimer even though he had not written the hymn.

There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.

Quote of St. Augustine of Hippo; Feast day August 28

 

March is the Month of St. Joseph

Save

Faith, North America, patron saints, Saint of the Day, United States

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Katherine Drexel, Feast Day March 3




St. Katherine Drexel
The Feast Day of St. Katherine Drexel is celebrated on March 3.

St. Katherine Drexel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Nov. 26, 1858. She was the child of wealthy parents who taught her to be generous.  She is the patron saint of philanthropists and racial justice.

Katherine became a Sister in 1889 at the age of 31. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Native American people. She dedicated her life and great wealth to this work.  She helped to open the first mission school for Indians in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Other schools soon followed. She then founded Xavier University in New Orleans.

In 1935, St. Katherine Drexel suffered a heart attack. Two years later she retired from her leadership position. She died in 1955 at the age of 96. Her order had over 500 active members at the time of her death. They had opened 145 missions, 49 elementary schools and 12 high schools.

St. Katherine Drexel is the second recognized American born saint.   Katherine Drexel was beatified on Nov. 2, 1988, by Pope John Paul II. St. Katherine Drexel was canonized on Oct. 1, 2000, by Pope John Paul II.

O most merciful Jesus!  I embrace Your wounded hands and feet!

Quote of St. Katherine Drexel

March is the Month of St. Joseph

Save

Dominican Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Henry Suso, Feast Day March 2




Bl. Henry Suso Public Domain Image Bl. Henry Suso

 

The Feast Day of Bl. Henry Suso is celebrated on March 2.

Bl. Henry Suso was born Heinrich von Berg in Constance, Swabia in 1300. He became a Dominican at an early age, studying under Meister Eckhart in Cologne. After making his profession he returned to Constance to teach and write. He wrote many books which were popular during the middle ages. The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom was written by Bl. Henry Suso.

At the age of 18, Bl. Henry Suso had a mystical experience which changed his life. He was filled with divine light and joy which seemed to transport him out of the world. From this point on, he had a burning love for the Eternal Wisdom which dominated his thoughts and led his actions. He referred to himself as “the Servant of the Eternal Wisdom”.

Bl. Henry Suso also preached in Switzerland and was an adviser to the Dominican Order.

Bl. Henry Suso died in 1366.  Pope Gregory XVI beatified him in 1831.

 

A man who has not suffered, what does he know?
Quote of Bl. Henry Suso; Feast day, March 2

 

March is the Month of St. Joseph

 

Faith, Featured, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. David of Wales, Feast Day March 1




St. David of Wales Public Domain Image
St. David of Wales

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Romanus, Feast Day Feb. 28




St. Romanus

The Feast Day of St. Romanus is celebrated on Feb. 28.  St. Romanus is the patron saint against mental illness.

St. Romanus was born in 390 in Upper Bugey, France.  He decided to live as a hermit in the Jura Mountains. His brother St. Lupieinus followed in his footsteps. Together they established two monasteries at Condat Leuconne. They also founded a convent at La Beaume which was led by their sister.

St. Romanus was ordained a priest by St. Hilary of Arles in 444.  St. Romanus is known for the healing of two lepers by embracing them.   He died of natural causes in 460. St.   Romanus is buried at the Abby of Beaume.

“We have only one evil to fear and that is sin.”

St. Alphonsus Liguori; Feast day August 1

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

Save

Faith, Jesuit Saints, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, Feast Day Feb. 27




 

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of SorrowsSt. Gabriel 2

 

The Feast day of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on Feb. 27. St. Gabriel’s baptismal name was Francis Possenti. He was born into a large family living in Assisi, Italy on March 1, 1838. His father was a lawyer.  St. Gabriel is the patron saint of students, young people and of clergy.

The early life of Francis was filled with loss and suffering. Two siblings died in 1841 followed by the death of his mother soon after. He was only four years old. Years later, one of his brothers was killed in the Italian war with Austria and his brother Lawrence committed suicide.

Although as a teenager Francis was quite worldly, he felt a call to the religious life. He was educated by the Jesuits. After the death of his sister to cholera he decided to enter the Passionist Order. The religious order is dedicated to the veneration and meditation on the passion of Jesus Christ. He took the name Gabriel of the Our Lady of Sorrows.

St. Gabriel 1
While studying to become a priest he was known for his obedience, cheerfulness and humility. He was considered an outstanding student. Four years after becoming a novitiate he was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

St. Gabriel died in 1866 embracing an image of Our Lady of Sorrows before he could be ordained a priest. He was only 24 years old.

Many miracles are attributed to him after his death.   St. Gamma Galgani credited St. Gabriel with her cure from spinal meningitis which led her to a vocation as a Passionist.

Love Mary!  She is lovable, faithful, constant.  She will never let herself be outdone in love, but will ever remain supreme.  If you are in danger, she will hasten to free you.  If you are troubled, she will console you.  If you are sick, she will bring you relief.  If you are in need, she will help you.  She does not look to see what kind of person you have been.  She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her.  She comes quickly and opens her merciful Heart to you, embraces you, consoles and serves you.  She will even be on hand to accompany you on the trip to eternity.

Quote of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord



Save

Save

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Isabel of France, Feast Day Feb. 26




St. Isabel of France
St. Isabel of France

 

The feast day of St. Isabel of France is celebrated on Feb. 26.   St. Isabel was a princess. She was the daughter of King Louis VIII of France.  St. Isabel is the patron saint of the sick.

From an early age, Isabel was drawn to the religious life. Because of her special devotion to Our Lord, she received spiritual direction from the Franciscans. St. Isabel refused to marry. She consecrated herself to God. St. Isabel had a devotion to the Franciscans and wanted to build a convent of the Order of St. Clare. When it was built at Longchamp, France it was named the Monastery of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St. Isabel never became a Franciscan. She chose to live nearby living a life of solitude and following their rule in her home. She refused to be named Abbess of the monastery. She also spent her time ministering to the sick and the poor.

St. Isabel died on Feb. 23, 1270. Pope Leo X beatified St. Isabel in 1521.

 

 

Let us ask for remission of all our sins…laying open before our heavenly Physician all the wounds of our souls.

Quote of St. Peter of Alcantara; Feast day October 19

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord


 

Save

Save

Save

Benedictine Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Marie Adcodata Pisani; Feast Day Feb. 25




Bl. Marie Adeodata Pisani

The Feast day of Bl. Marie Adcodata Pisani is celebrated on February 25.   She was born in Naples, Italy on Dec. 29, 1806 to a noble family.

Her childhood was quite troubled.   Her father was alcoholic, which led to marriage problems.  She was raised by her grandmother.  She was ten when her grandmother died.  She then entered a boarding school known as Istituodi Madama Prota which was in Naples.

After an uprising in Naples, her father was sentenced to death.  The sentence was suspended and he was expelled from Naples and deported to the island of Malta.  Maria and her mother went to Malta an lived in Rabal.  Maria Terese wished to become a nun rather than marry.  She enjoyed helping the poor and attending church.

At the age of 21 she entered the Benedictine Community in St. Peter’s Monastery.   She took the name Maria Adeodata (given by God).  She worked as a teacher, seamstress , sacristan and writer.  Her most well known work is The Mystical Garden of the Soul That Love Jesus and Mary, which was a collection of reflections.

Bl. Marie served as the abbess for several years but retired due to heart problems.  She died on Feb. 25, 1855 at the age of 48.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified Bl. Marie Adcodata Pisani citing a miracle of the healing of a stomach tumor after a request for her intercession.

My daughters, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate!

Quote of St. Margaret of Cortona’

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord.

Save

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Luke Belludi, Feast Day Feb. 24




 
Bl. Luke Belludi
Bl. Luke Belludi
 
The Feast Day of Bl. Luke Belludi is celebrated on Feb. 24.   Bl. Luke was born in 1200 in Padua, Italy. In the year 1220 Bl. Luke was a student at the University in Padua.  Bl. Luke is the patron saint of students.

Save

Save

Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Agatha, Feast Day Feb. 5



St. Agatha Public Domain Image
St. Agatha
Public Domain Image

 

The Catholic Church will be celebrating the feast day of St. Agatha on Feb. 5.  She is the patron saint of breast cancer.

St. Agatha was born in Catania, Sicily.   She died a martyr in 251.  She is one of seven women memorialized in the cannon of the Mass.

Her legendary story tells us she was tortured for her faith. After being imprisoned in a brothel by Quintian, she was then sent to prison. When she persisted in the faith, she was tortured by having her breasts amputated. She was then martyred. During a vision she had of St. Peter, she was healed.

Because of this torture, she is considered the patron saint of breast cancer victims.

St. Agatha died while in prison. In art she is shown with her amputated breasts on a platter.

 

The following quotes are attributed to St. Agatha:

“My courage and my thought be so firmly founded upon the firm stone of Jesus Christ, that for no pain it may not be changed, your words be not wind, your promises be but rain, and your menaces be as rivers that pass, and how will that all these things hurtle at the fundament of my courage, yet for that it shall not move.”

Quote of St. Agatha

……….

“Jesus Christ, Lord of all things!

You see my heart; you know my desires.

Possess all that I am — you alone.     

I am your sheep; make me worthy to overcome the devil.”

Quote of St. Agatha

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Lord Jesus Christ, you created me,

you watched over me from infancy,

kept my body from defilement,

preserved me from love of the world,

made me able to withstand torture,

and granted me the virtue of patience

in the midst of torments.

   Quote of St. Agatha

……….

 

Prayer to Saint Agatha

O St. Agatha,
who withstood the unwelcome advances
from unwanted suitors,
and suffered pain and torture
for your devotion to Our Lord,
we celebrate your faith, dignity, and martyrdom.
Protect us against rape and other violations,
guard us against breast cancer
and other afflictions of women,
and inspire us to overcome adversity.
O St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr,
mercifully grant that we who venerate your sacrifice,
may receive your intercession.
Amen

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord


Save

Save

Faith, Jesuit Saints, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Robert Southwell, Feast Day Feb. 21




St. Robert Southwell
St. Robert Southwell

The Feast Day of St. Robert Southwell is celebrated on Feb. 21.

St. Robert Southwell was born in Norfolk, England in 1561 to a family of nobility. He attended the Roman Catholic college at Douai.

In 1580, St. Robert joined the Society of Jesus.   Robert studied theology in Rome.   He was ordained a priest in 1584, the same year an act was passed by the Elizabethan government forbidding Catholic priests to remain over 40 days in England. The punishment was death.

At his own request, St. Robert Southwell was sent to England as a missionary. He administered the sacraments for six years as the government kept him under surveillance. In 1572 he was arrested and tortured. St. Robert refused to reveal the names of fellow Catholics. He was imprisoned for three years before he was brought to trial. While in prison, he was allowed to write. He wrote many poems and essays which were published after his death.

St. Robert Southwell was tried for treason. The following day, he was hanged at Tyburn. He denied any evil intentions toward the Queen or her government.

Pope Paul VI canonized St. Robert Southwell as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales on Oct. 25, 1970.

Our life is but a warfare,
and we are always in the field
against our professed enemies;
for in our baptism, we bid them battle
by defying and renouncing them.

Quote of St. Robert Southwell

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

Save

Save

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Children of Fatima, Feast Day Feb. 20

The Feast Day of the Children of Fatima is celebrated on Feb. 20.

In 1917, an angel and Our Lady appeared six times to three shepherd children in < 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 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 there 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 0px 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.

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.

  1.   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.

  2.   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.

If men knew the meaning of eternity,
they would do anything to mend their lives.

Quote of St. Jacinta of Fatima

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord.