Category Archives: Saint of the Day

Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Mark, Feast Day April 25

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St. Mark the Evangelist
St. Mark the Evangelist

 

 

The feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist will be celebrated on April 25.

 

St. Mark was born into a Jewish family. St. Mark was one of the first disciples of Jesus. He was not one of the original twelve apostles. St. Mark is the patron saint of notaries and lawyers.

St. Mark accompanied St. Paul and Barnabas (his cousin) on their missionary journey to Cyprus. St. Mark is the author of the second gospel. This gospel is the oldest gospel and was written in Greek for Gentile converts. It is believed St. Peter requested him to write this gospel.

Much of what we know about St. Mark we have learned from tradition. It is believed that Mark is the man who carried water to the house where the Last Supper took place. It is also possible he was the man who ran away naked when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52) St. Mark is believed to have been present at the Wedding at Cana when Jesus turned the water into wine. (John 2:1-10)

When St. Peter escaped from prison he went to the home of Mark’s mother. Mark went to Alexandria to preach. He then founded the church in Alexandria.

St. Mark died a martyr, being dragged through the streets with a rope around his neck in the year 68.

The symbol of St. Mark is a winged lion. The lion represents the way the gospel should be preached. St. Mark is the patron saint of lawyers.

On the feast day of St. Mark let us pray:

O God, who exalted blessed Mark the Evangelist, by the grace of preaching the Gospel, grant that we may profit by his teaching and be defended by his prayers. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

The Bible is a letter from the Almighty God to His creatures.

Quote of St. Gregory the Great

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

St. Mark the Evangelist in Art

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Mary Pelletier, Feast Day April 24

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St. Mary Pelletier Public Domain Image
St. Mary Pelletier
Public Domain Image

 

The feast day of St. Mary Pelletier is celebrated on April 24.

 

Rose Virginie Pelletier was born on July 3l, 1796 on the island of Noirmoutier, Vendée,  off the west coast of France. She was the eighth child of Dr. Julian and Anne Pelletier.

It was wartime in France during her childhood. Her family became isolated because her father had treated an enemy soldier. As a child she was very independent but quite compassionate. Her father died when she was only ten years old. Rose was not able to attend school until the Ursuline Sisters opened a school in 1808 in Noirmoutier. While she enjoyed school she also clashed with authority. She was sent to a boarding school in 1810 where she experienced not only the loss of her freedom but loneliness. The boarding school was very strict. When her mother died in 1815 she was not told until after the funeral had taken place. She experienced profound grief.

Near the school was the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge which had been founded by St. John Eudes. It provided care for women and girls who were homeless. Rose was attracted to their mission and wanted to join the convent. Both her guardian and the boarding school disapproved. Rose, however, persisted and eventually she was allowed to join on the condition she would not make her vows until she was 21. When she made her vows she took the name Sister Mary of St. Euphrasia. She carried out her mission with great enthusiasm.

The mission grew rapidly and Mary saw the need to change the governmental structure in order to deploy sisters to other countries. After much struggle her plans were approved by the Pope. She then founded the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd of Angers. They became known as the Good Shepherd Sisters.

The following quote is attributed to St. Mary Pelletier:

 It is well known that I had neither riches nor talent, nor external charm, but I always loved, and I loved with all the strength of my soul.

 

St. Mary Pelletier eventually established 110 new convents in six continents before her death on April 24, 1868. She was known for her fortitude, cheerfulness and her trust in God.

St. Mary Pelletier was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1910.

 

It is human to fall, but angelic to rise again.

 

Quote of St. Mary Pelletier

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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Faith, Martyr, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Cletus, Feast day April 26

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St. Cletus

The feast day of St. Cletus is celebrated on April 26.

St. Cletus was a Roman by birth. He was ordained by St. Peter the Apostle. He served as the third bishop of Rome, succeeding St. Linus who followed St. Peter. According to tradition, Pope Cletus divided Rome into 25 parishes. Records show that he ordained 25 priests.

The name Cletus means “one who has been called”. Pope Cletus served as pope for twelve years before he was martyred in the year 92 during the persecutions of Domitian. His relics are buried near St. Linus in St. Peter’s Basilica.

 

The humility of our divine Savior and His most blessed Mother was always accompanied by a perfect obedience.

Quote of St. Francis de Sales; Feast day Jan. 24

 

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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Faith, Franciscan Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Giles of Assisi, Feast Day April 23

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The feast day of St. Giles of Assisi is celebrated on April 23.

St. Giles was born in Assisi, Italy in 1190. He became one of the earliest followers of St. Francis of Assisi. He accompanied St. Francis on many missions. He visited the Tomb of the Apostle James in Spain and the holy city of Jerusalem. He also visited the sanctuary of the Holy Archangel Michael in Italy. During his travels, St. Giles earned his room and board by chopping firewood, sweeping rooms, washing dishes and other manual labor. He considered labor an opportunity for joy and purification. St. Giles encouraged penance and love of God.

St. Giles was known for his spiritual advice. His Franciscan spirituality is reflected in the many sayings that are collected in a book titled “The Golden Sayings”. St. Giles is referred to as one of the Little Flowers of St. Francis.

St. Francis also referred to him as his “Knight of the Round Table.” The life of St. Giles showed his spirituality. As St. Giles once said:

“The word of God does not belong to him who hears or speak it, but to him who puts it into practice.”

At the great chapter of 4,000 brothers, St. Francis sent Giles to Africa in 1219 with companions to preach the gospel. It never succeeded. As soon as they arrived in Africa, the Christians there led them to a different ship which returned them to Italy. After his return he lived in the convent in Perugia until his death by natural causes in 1262.

 

Whoever gives up prayer because of difficulties is like a man who runs away from battle.

Quote of St. Giles of Assisi

 

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Maria Gabriella, Feast Day April 22

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Bl. Maria Gabriella
Bl. Maria Gabriella

The feast day of Bl. Maria Gabriella is celebrated on April 22.

Bl. Maria Gabriella was born in 1914 in Sardinia, Italy. She was the fifth child of eight children. Her father was a shepherd. As a child she was strong willed and rebellious. At the age of 18 her temper calmed down. After the death of her younger sister she joined the “Azione Cattolic” which was a Catholic youth movement.

At the age of 21 she entered the Trappestine monastery of Grottaferrata. She offered her prayers to heal divisions and prayed for Christian unity. She is credited with the beginning of the ecumenical movement in Italy.

Bl. Maria came down with tuberculosis and 15 months later died in 1930 at the age of 25. She was beatified on Jan. 15, 1982 by Pope John Paul II on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

 

To come to possess all, desire the possession of nothing.  To arrive at being all,  desire to be nothing.  To come to the knowledge of all, desire the knowledge of nothing.

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

 

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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Dominican Saints, Faith, Incorruptible, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Agnes of Montepulciano, Feast Day April 20

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St. Agnes of Montepulciar
St. Agnes of Montepulciano

 

The feast day of St. Agnes is celebrated on April 20.

St. Agnes was born into a noble family in Gracciano, Italy in 1268. On the day of her birth burning torches appeared around her crib indicating that she was to live a special calling. At the age of 4 she began seeking solitude to pray to Jesus whom she loved. She decided at the age of nine that she wished to become a Dominican and join the monastery at Montepulciano. Her parents were opposed so she asked God to change their minds. Soon after she joined the convent, living under the rule of St. Augustine.

St. Agnes lived an austere life. She slept on the ground with a stone for a pillow and fasted on bread and water. She worked without complaint. Agnes reached a high degree of contemplative prayer and was favored with many visions. She was observed levitating while in prayer two feet above the ground. Violet, lilies or roses often were found growing up through the stones where St. Agnes had just prayed. Many miracles were recorded while Agnes lived in the monastery including the multiplication of loaves.

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Agnes several times. In the first vision Mary said that she would one day found a large monastery based on faith in God and the Trinity. An angel instructed her to build the convent in 1300. On the night of the Feast of the Assumption the Blessed Virgin Mary placed the Infant Jesus in St. Agnes’ arms. She encouraged Agnes to continue suffering for the love of Christ. Agnes had been sick most of her life. When the vision ended Agnes was holding the gold cross that the Infant Jesus had been wearing on a chain. Mary also appeared to Agnes on the Feast of the Purification while Agnes was at Mass. She again let Agnes hold the Infant Jesus.

Shortly before her death, Agnes bathed in a spring thought to have healing powers. Although it did not cure her a new spring appeared which healed many. It was named “the Water of St. Agnes.” While there Agnes prayed over a child who had just drowned, bringing the child back to life.

St. Agnes died at the monastery in 1317 at the age of 43. Many miracles occurred at her tomb. Her body is incorrupt. St. Agnes was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.

 

The life of Christ has furnished me with a pattern for living; but His death has delivered me from death.

Quote of St. Bernard; Feast day Aug. 20

 

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

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