Category Archives: Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Anthony of Padua, Feast Day June 13




Bartolome_Esteban_Murillo_-_'The_vision_of_Saint_Anthony_of_Padua'._61_x_39.7_cm public domain image
The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua by Bartolome Esteban Murillo

The feast day of St. Anthony of Padua is celebrated on June 13. He is the patron saint of sailors, lost articles and fishermen.

St. Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195. His name at Baptism was Fernando. At the age of 15 Fernando entered the Augustinian Monastery. He did not focus on his studies and prayer, but spent time with friends and enjoyed political discussions. He was sent to Coimbra where he studied for nine years. He was ordained a priest during this time.

A turning point occurred in Fernando’s life after the massacre of five Franciscans. They had been tortured and beheaded. Their bodies were returned from Morocco and carried in a solemn procession to Fernando’s monastery. He was inspired to change orders and become a Franciscan, taking the name Anthony.

St. Anthony was sent to Morocco. but decided to return after becoming ill. He never arrived. His ship was hit by stormy weather and sent off course. He eventually landed on the East coast of Sicily. He was nursed back to health by the friars. While still ill, he attended the great Pentecost Chapter of Mats which was attended by 3000 Friars including St. Francis. Anthony was asked to give a short simple sermon. From then on he became a public preacher. The fire and knowledge with which he spoke inspired many to conversion.

St. Anthony made over 400 trips across Italy and France preaching against heresies. He presented the Christian faith in a positive light. Anthony became the teacher of sacred theology to the friars.

In 1226, St. Anthony was appointed provincial superior at the age of 31. It was in Padua that St. Anthony preached his last and most famous Lenten sermon. The crowds were near 30,000 so he preached in open fields. He was exhausted after the sermon. He knew death was near and received the last rites in the town of Arcilla singing with the friars there.

Shortly before he died he exclaimed,

“I see my Lord!”

He died in 1231 at the age of 36 after serving as a Franciscan for ten years.

St. Anthony is often shown in art holding the child Jesus in his arms. Tradition tells us that one night as Anthony was praying the room was filled with brilliant light. Jesus appeared to St. Anthony as a little child.

St. Anthony was canonized in 1232 by Pope Gregory IX. In 1946 Pope Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church.

 

Poverty is an easy way to God…

Poverty is the mother of humility.

It is as difficult to preserve humility amid riches

as purity in the midst of delights and luxury.

Quote of St. Anthony of Padua

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart.

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gaspar Bertoni, Feast Day June 12




St. Gaspar Beroni Public Domain Image
St. Gaspar Beroni

The feast day of St. Gaspar Bertoni is celebrated on June 12.

St. Gaspar was born in Verona in the Republic of Venice on Oct. 9, 1777 into a wealthy family. His baby sister died leaving him an only child. After his 1st communion at age 11, St. Gaspar was called into a mystical union with Christ. He entered the seminary at 18. During his first year as a seminarian the French army invaded his country. He dedicated himself to caring for the sick and wounded, becoming a member of a Gospel Fraternity for the Hospitals.

St. Gaspar was ordained a priest on Sept. 20, 1800. He was put in charge of youth formation. He also became the spiritual director of the religious community of St. Joseph’s convent. Here he met Leapoldina Naudet and was her spiritual guide. He helped her found the Sisters of the Holy Family. St. Gaspar also directed Servant of God Teodora Compostrini who founded the Community “Sorelle Minime” of the Charity of the Sorrowful Mother.  By 1810, he became the spiritual director of the diocesan seminary.

St. Gaspar kept a spiritual diary in which he tells of his mystical gifts and his call to form a religious family. With the help of two companions he began the order in a church named “The Stigmata of St. Francis.” They began a tuition free school. They lived together in common, living a life of penance and contemplation.

St. Gaspar almost died from military fever. While he was sick he continued to counsel many people. The Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ was also known as the Stigmatines. It gradually spread from Verona to the United States, Brazil, Chile, The Philippines, south Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand.

St. Gaspar died in 1836 after the cholera outbreak of 1836. During his lifetime he was attributed with many miracles. He was canonized in 1954.

Love and fear…

Love will make us quicken our steps,

while fear will make us look where we are

setting our feet so that we shall not fall.

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

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart.

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Barnabas, Feast Day June 11




The feast day of St. Barnabas is celebrated on June 11.

St. Barnabas was Jewish. He was given the name of Joseph at birth. He sold his property and gave the proceeds to the Apostles who named him Barnabas. Barnabas means ‘son of consolation’ or ‘man of encouragement’. The bible tells us he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. He lived in common with the earliest Christian converts. While he was not one of the original apostles, he is believed to be one of the 72 commissioned by Jesus to preach. He is given the honorary title of Apostle.

St. Barnabas Public Domain Image
St. Barnabas

St. Barnabas was one of the first to welcome St. Paul as a disciple of Jesus. He persuaded the community to accept Paul. Barnabas was sent to Antioch, Syria to investigate a community of non-Jewish believers there and brought Paul there from Tarsus. The followers of The Way were first called Christians at Antioch. Barnabas, his cousin John Mark and the Apostle Paul traveled together on their first missionary journey. They went to Cyprus, Perga, Antioch, and Iconium, and Lystra in Lycaomia. After being stoned they returned to Antioch.

Paul and Barnabas attended the counsel of Jerusalem which was discussing whether Christians needed to be circumcised before baptism.

St. Barnabas preached in Alexandria and Rome before being stoned to death at Salamis in the year 61. He is considered the founder of the Cypriot Church.

 

Let us be about God’s business and He will look after ours.

Quote of St. Vincent de Paul; Feast day September 27

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart.

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. John Dominic, Feast Day June 10




Bl. John Dominic

 

The feast day of Bl. John Dominic is celebrated on June 10. 

Bl. John Dominic is also known as Giovanni Dominici.  He was born in Florence, Italy in 1350 to a family with a humble background.  He suffered a speech impediment which caused him to stammer and stutter.  While young, Bl. John spent much time in prayer at the Dominican Church of Santa Maria Navella.

At the age of 17 he was accepted into the Dominican Order in spite of his speech impediment and lack of education.  He studied in Pisa, Florence and the University of Paris where he received his degree in theology.

As a priest he served as a preacher in Venice, Italy for twelve years.  He was appointed vicar-provincial of the Roman Province.  He labored to help those affected by the Black Plague.  He also successfully renewed the Dominican Order.  In 1407 he was made cardinal and confessor of the Pope.    He attempted to heal the Western Schism and convinced Pope Gregory XII to call the Council of Constance.

In 1420 Bl. John Dominic died from a fever on June 10.

 

In the light of faith, we can regard the altar as the heavenly Father does.  

What does he see upon the altar?  

He sees the Son of His love…the Son in whom He is well pleased.

Quote of Bl. Columba Marmion, Feast day October 3

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ephrem of Syria, Feast Day June 9




St. Ephrem of Syria Public Domain Image
St. Ephrem of Syria

The feast day of St. Ephrem of Syria is celebrated on June 9.  He was born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia in the 4th century.  At the age of 18 he was baptized.  Along with other Christians, he became a refugee in Edessa during the persecutions by the Persians.  He was ordained a deacon and served under four bishops.

St. Ephrem is most known for his prolific writing.  He wrote both hymns and poetic homilies.  Over 400 hymns still exist, earning him the title of “Harp of the Holy Spirit”.   The hymns he wrote were used to instruct the people against the heresies of the time.  He often used popular melodies, putting his own words to the music.    Because of his music he is credited with a spiritual awakening during that time period.  St. Ephrem was also a poet, writing many of his homilies as poetry.  His description of heaven and hell is said to have inspired Dante.  St. Ephrem had a special devotion to the humanity of Jesus.

St. Ephrem lived a very simple life, living in a cave with a view of Edessa.  During the great famine which occurred, he influenced those with money to help him establish a poor house for the sick and poor.  St. Ephrem died in June in 373.

 

O Giver of light!  Fulfill my supplications and grant me Your gifts according to my prayer; impart to my heart just one drop of Your grace, that the flame of Your love may begin to burn in my heart; and like a fire, may it consume evil thoughts like thorns and thistles!

 

Quote of St. Ephrem of Syria

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. William of York, Feast Day June 8




St. William of York

 

St. William was born into a powerful family in England during the 12th century.  He was the son of Count Herbert.

In 1142 he was elected Archbishop of York, however his election was disputed on charges of simony and unchastity.  After proving his innocence he was finally consecrated Bishop in 1143.  Because of his charity and gentleness he was very popular.

When Eugenius II was elected Pope complaints again surfaced and he was suspended.  St. William went to Sicily where he lived as a monk devoting himself to a life of prayer.  After the death of Pope Eugene III Pope Anastastius IV restored William as Archbishop of York.  However just one month after he resumed office he died.  Many believed he was poisoned.  Many miracles took place at his tomb.   Pope Honorius III canonized William of York in 1227.

 

I have not even begun to think of unity when the Trinity bathes me in its splendor.

I have not even begun to think of the Trinity when unity grasps me.

Quote of St. Gregory of Nazianzus; Feast Day Jan. 2

 

Month of the Sacred Heart

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