Category Archives: Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Peter Julian Eymard, Feast Day August 2




St. Peter Julian Eymard Public Domain Image
St. Peter Julian Eymard

The feast day of St. Peter Julian Eymard is celebrated on August 2.  Peter was born in 1811 in La Mure, France.  He worked with his father as a cutler until he was 18.

While he was still a teenager, St. Peter told his father of his desire to become a priest.  His father was adamantly against it, wanting him to stay in the family business.  Peter began to study Latin while continuing to work for his father.  Two years later, Peter’s father refused his request to attend college, wanting him to continue to work with him.  Peter managed to attend college by accepting a scholarship.  He also worked for a priest at a hospital for the insane.

While at college, his mother died.  A priest from the Oblates of Mary received permission at this time from Peter’s father for him to enter the Oblate novitiate.  His father died two years later.  Five months after entering the novitiate, Peter became very ill.  he struggled with illness throughout his life.  After his father’s death he entered the seminary at Grenoble.  After his ordination he joined the community of Marists.  His devotion to the Eucharist and perpetual adoration grew.  He helped to spread the devotion of perpetual adoration.  St. Peter became known as the Apostle of the Eucharist.  He wrote many different books about the Eucharist including How to get more out of Holy Communion.

St. Peter Julian Eymard died in 1868 and was canonized in 1962.

 

The Lord comes into us Sacramentally in order to live there spiritually.

Quote of St. Peter Julian Eymard

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Feast Day July 31




St. Ignatius Loyola by Miguel Cabrera Public Domain Image
St. Ignatius Loyola by Miguel Cabrera

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ignatius of Loyola,

Feast Day July 31

The feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola is celebrated on July 31. St. Ignatius of Loyola was born the youngest of 13 children in a family castle in Guipuzcoa, Spain. Until he was 30, he served as a courtier and soldier in Spain.

St. Ignatius was wounded when a cannonball shattered his leg. While in the hospital he spent a great deal of time studying the lives of the saints. When he was finally released from the hospital, he decided he should try to imitate the saints. He went to confession, and then lived in a cave for about a year while caring for the poor and sick.

He entered school at the age of 35. After studying Latin and theology in several different schools, he received his degree in Paris. While in Paris, he met St. Francis Xavier who was one of his followers. Ignatius, with five followers founded the Order of the Society of Jesus, which came to be known as the Jesuits. They offered themselves to the Pope, for any work he wanted them to do. The Jesuits were known for their missionary work. They were a great influence during the Counter Reformation.

St. Ignatius was a mystic. He had several visions. His spirituality focused on the Trinity, Christ and the Eucharist. His motto was “All for the greater glory of God.”  In 1548, his book The Spiritual Exercises was printed. This introduces the concept of a 30-day retreat.

St. Ignatius died of Roman Fever, almost blind, at the age of 65 on July 31, 1556. St. Ignatius is the patron saint of Catholic soldiers, and retreats.

The Basilica of St Ignatius of Loyola was built next to the house where he was born in Azpeita, the Basque Country. The house itself is now a museum. St. Ignatius’ legacy includes many Jesuit schools and educational institutions. In the U.S. alone there are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities. There are more than 50 Jesuit secondary schools.

 

Lord Jesus Christ
take all my freedom
my memory
my understanding
and my will.
All that I have and cherish
You have given me.
I surrender it all
to be guided by Your will
Your grace and Your love
are wealth enough for me.
Give me these, Lord Jesus
and I ask for nothing more.

Prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Alphonsa, Feast Day July 28

St. Alphonsa Public Domain Image
St. Alphonsa

The feast day of St. Alphonsa is celebrated on July 28.  She was born in Muttahupadathu, India in 1910.  She is the second canonized saint of India.

Baptized with the name Anna, she had a difficult birth and childhood.  Her mother died three months after she was born.  She was raised by her maternal Aunt.  After falling into a pit of burning chaff, her feet were badly burned leaving her disabled. At an early age, after reading the biography of St. Therese of Lisieux, she had a great desire to become a saint.

In 1927 at the age of 17 she joined the Poor Clares at Christ Convent at Bharananganam.   She took the name Alphonsa.  She completed her permanent vows in 1936. After completing her own education. Alphonsa taught school but she was plaqued by illness.She became known for her willingness to accept suffering.  After enduring several different types of illnesses over many years St. Alphonsa died at the age of 35.  Her tomb is a site for pilgrims due to the many reported miracles at the site. The miracle which was approved by the Vatican for her canonization was the curing of a child with a club foot. St. Alphonsa was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

 

Since only grief and suffering have fallen to the lot of my Spouse, I too lovingly embrace them and my soul is at peace, though the body continues to be tormented.  For the last seven years I have ceased to be my own, being given over entirely to my Divine Spouse.  You know all that and now let the Lord do as He will with me.  It is not a cure I am anxious for but only that His Holy Will be fulfilled in me.

 Quote of St. Aphonsa

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Joseph Barsabas, Feast Day July 20




St. Joseph Barsabas
St. Joseph Barsabas

St. Joseph Barsabas was a follower and disciple of Christ.  In the Acts of the Apostles  St. Matthias was chosen over him to replace Judas after the crucifixion.

St. Joseph Barsabas, is also known as Barsabbas and Joseph the Just.  He is considered one of the 72 disciples sent out by Our Lord. (Luke 10:1)

He spread the good news of the resurrection after the crucifixion.

 

Why climb the mountains or go down into the valleys of the world looking for Him who dwells within us.

Quote of St. Augustine;  Feast Day August 28

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

 

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Camillus de Lellis, Feast Day July 18




St. Camillus Public Domain Image
St. Camillus

The feast day of St. Camillus de Lellis is July 18.

St. Camillus  was born on May 25, 1550 in Bucchianico, Abruzzo, Italy.  His mother died when he was a child and he received little attention.

As a teenager he was adventurous and a risk taker often losing his money and fighting.  During one fight he was wounded in his leg.  The wound did not heal but spread to his foot. It was during this time that his father also died.

Camillus continued to fight and gamble.  He became so destitute that he stopped at a church to request help.  Leaving the church, he met two monks.  He soon began working for a Capuchin monastery helping with construction projects.  After talking to a priest, he had a burning desire to become a Benedictine priest.  However, he was rejected due to lack of education.

At the age of 25, Camillus was admitted into a hospital for treatment of his leg.  To pay for the treatment he cared for the sick and dying in the hospital.  He was discharged form the hospital for gambling and fighting.  He decided to study to become a Benedictine, however his wound again needed treatment.  He returned to the hospital where he was hired to help reform the hospital.

At the age of 34 he became a priest and organized others to help.  They called themselves “Servants of the Sick.”

The Order of St. Camillus serves the sick and dying in 35 countries.  They care for both the physical and spiritual needs of the person in need.

 

It is always a feast where love is,

And where love is, God is.

Quote of Dorothy Day, Servant of God

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Veronica, Feast Day July 12




St. Veronica Public Domain Image
St. Veronica

The feast day of St. Veronica is celebrated on July 12.

St. Veronica is the patron saint of photographers. Little is known about Veronica. She was a follower of Jesus and present during his crucifixion. While Jesus carried the cross, she was moved with compassion. She knelt in front of Jesus and used her veil to wipe his face clean. Her kindness is commemorated on the sixth station of the cross prayed by the church. The soldiers pushed Veronica away and she later discovered the imprint of Christ’s face on her veil. It is believed that Veronica left her veil in the care of Pope Clement I, the successor to St. Peter. The veil known as Veronica’s Veil is on display at St.Peter’s Basilica.

The name Veronica means “true image”.

St. Veronica
St. Veronica

We are nothing without God…

but if we put our lives in God’s hands,

miracles happen.

Quote of St. Teresa of Calcutta; Feast day September 5

 

 

 

July is the Month of the  Most Precious Blood..

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