Category Archives: Saint of the Day

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

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

February 22, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

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.

Luke happened to hear St. Anthony of Padua preach. Afterwards, he approached him asking if he could become a Franciscan. St. Anthony recommended him to St. Francis. St. Luke became St. Anthony’s assistant while preaching and traveled with him. During St. Anthony’s dying days, Bl. Luke was at his side. After St. Anthony’s death, Bl. Luke was elected to take his place.

When a violent regime took control of Padua, Bl. Luke was exiled. He soon returned secretly. While he and another Franciscan were praying at the tomb of St. Anthony, they heard a voice which reassured them that their prayers for Padua would soon be answered. It was not long before Padua was liberated.

St. Anthony’s body is enshrined at the Basilica which was finished under the supervision of Bl. Luke. He became known as a miracle worker. Bl. Luke died of natural causes in 1285.

It is not enough to remove the arrow from the body. We also have to heal the wound caused by the arrow. It is the same with the soul after we have received forgiveness for our sins; we have to heal the wound that remains through penance.

Quote of St. John Chrysostom; Feast day September 13

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

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

February 21, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

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

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Faith, Jesuit Saints, Martyr, Saint of the Day

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

February 19, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

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

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

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

February 18, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli, Feast Day Feb. 18

February 17, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli is celebrated on Feb. 18.

St. Gertrude was born in Biennio Brescia, Italy in 1837 into a large family. From early childhood she was always aware of the presence of God, especially in the Eucharist. She was drawn to prayer in the presence of the tabernacle. At the age of 15, Gertrude wanted to join the convent. Because of illness she was forced to wait. She worked as a domestic worker for a priest.

St. Gertrude was concerned about the transition of Italy’s rural society into an industrial one. She gained a private audience with Pope Leo XIII who encouraged her to do something which focused on the education of young women.

On Dec. 15, 1882 she founded the Congregation of the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo. It’s focus was on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and education. The sisters committed their lives to prayer and helping those who were most in need.

St. Gertrude died of natural causes while praying in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in 1903.

Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword,
wear humility rather than fine clothes.

Quote of St. Dominic; Feast day August 8

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Peregrine, Feast Day Feb. 17

February 16, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites is celebrated on Feb. 17. St. Peregrine was a member of the Servite Order. He is the patron saint of cancer patients.

On the feast of the Assumption of Mary, the Virgin Mary surrounded by Angels appeared to seven men in Florence, Italy. She said,

“I would like you to leave the world and later I will tell you what I want you to do.”

They built a simple church and lived as hermits. Many years later, Mary appeared again, directing them to be called “Servants of Mary”.

“I have chosen you to be my first Servants and under this name you are to till my Son’s Vineyard.”

They followed the Rule of St. Augustine and dedicated themselves to spread the devotion to the Passion of Jesus and the Sorrows of Mary.

St. Peregrine is one of the most well know Servite saints. He was born in Forli, Italy. While still young he was active in politics and was a member of the anti-papal party. During a protest in which St. Philip Benzi was mediating, Peregrine, who was just 18 years old, repented when he saw the humility of St. Philip. He converted to the catholic faith and after receiving a vision from Our Lady he went to Siena and joined the Servites. As a priest he was a good preacher and known as an excellent confessor. He brought many people back to the faith through the sacrament of confession.

In his sixties, he developed a tumor on his leg which continued to worsen until the doctors decided it must be amputated. He prayed throughout the night, experiencing a vision of Jesus descending from the cross to heal his leg. When he awoke he was completely cured. The news of this miracle spread quickly.
St. Peregrine died at the age of 85 in 1345. The feast day of St. Peregrine is celebrated on May 1.

Loving God, in spite of all that you give us,
we still find suffering in our lives.
You generously offered healing to our Servite Brother Peregrine.
Following his example, we turn to you with our troubles.
Strengthen those who suffer from cancer and other serious diseases.
Look kindly upon us all and heal us.
Give us comfort in the troublesome moments of our personal lives.
Heal us of hurt and resentment. Give grace and joy to our spirit,
that we might continue to praise you.
We ask these things through Christ our Lord. Amen

Author unknown

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord.

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The Mystery of Faith

Category Archives: Saint of the Day

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

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

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

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli, Feast Day Feb. 18

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Peregrine, Feast Day Feb. 17

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