Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Pope John XXIII, Feast Day October 11
The feast day of St. John XXIII is celebrated on October 11. He was known also known as “Good Pope John”.
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born in 1881 near Borgano, Italy. He was the oldest of 13 children. Angelo joined the Secular Franciscan Order. After he was ordained a priest in 1904, he returned to Rome to study canon law. He became the bishop’s secretary, Church history teacher in the seminary and publisher of the diocesan paper.
During World War I, he served as a stretcher bearer for the Italian army. During World War II he was a papal diplomat, serving in Bulgaria, Turkey and France. With the help of Germany’s ambassador in Turkey, Archbishop Roncalli, he helped save approximately 24,000 Jewish people from death.
In 1953 he was named a cardinal and Bishop. He was elected Pope at the age of 77, taking the name of John. He soon called an ecumenical council and presided over the first session of the Second Vatican Council. The purpose of the Council was to bring the church into the modern world. It also was an effort to end hostilities between religions. Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant religious leaders were invited to attend.
One quote he is remembered for is:
“The Church has always opposed errors. Nowadays, however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.”
Pope John XXIII earned the title Good Pope John because of his kind and cheerful demeanor.
He died on June 3, 1963. He was beatified November 15, 1881 by Pope John Paul II. He was canonized on the same day as Pope John Paul II by Pope Benedict on April 27, 2014.
In the Blessed Sacrament a heavenly school is open to me, with the best teacher one can possibly imagine…Jesus Christ himself.
The feast day of Bl. Mary Angela is celebrated on October 10.
Bl. Mary Angela Truszkowska was baptized as Sophia Camille after she was born in Kalisz, Poland on May 16, 1825. Her parents were well educated and devout Catholics.
As a child Sophia’s health was frail due to contracting tuberculosis. She was tutored at home. After the family moved to Warsaw in 1837, Sophia enrolled for a short time at the Academy of Madame Guerin until she withdrew due to health issues. She studied at home using her father’s library. She developed a great interest in social justice.
Sophia was drawn to a strong prayer life. She attended daily Mass and had a devotion to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. When she was 23 she experienced a conversion which changed her life. She considered joining the cloistered Visitation Sisters but was advised by her confessor not to leave her ailing father.
While traveling with her father in Germany, Sophia felt called by Our Lord to serve the suffering poor and aging. She became a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. She was constantly searching for God’s will while she served the poor. Eventually, Sophia began to teach the poor children and help the aging and homeless. Together with her cousin Clothilde they rented an attic with her father’s help and began the “Institute of Sofia Truszkowska”.
Both Clothilde and Sophia became Lay Franciscans. Sophia took the name Mary Angela. Their Franciscan spirituality led them to start a new order. On the feat day of the Presentation of the Bl. Virgin Mary, they dedicated themselves before an icon of Our Lady of Czestvehowa and founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice. St. Felix was the first Capuchin Franciscan to be canonized. The purpose of the order was that “in all and by all” God may be known, loved and glorified”. They became known as the “Felician Sisters”. Their ministry ranged from teaching to hospitals and caring for the poor and aging.
Mother Angela served for over 30 years. The sufferingshe experienced from progressive deafness, malignant tumors and terrible headaches was mostly unknown by those she served. Her Eucharistic spirituality inspired many. She always tried to imitate Mary and was known for her great love.
Today the Congregation of Sisters of St. Felix are known for their devotion to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Mother Angela died on October 10, 1899. Her face changed from one of suffering to an expression of peace.
Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Denis and Companions, Feast Day October 9
The feast day of St. Denis and Companions is celebrated on October 9. St. Denis is the patron saint of France and against headaches.
St. Denis was born and raised in Italy. He is also known as St. Dionysius. He was sent to Gaul by Pope St. Clement. He is probably the first Bishop of Paris. St. Denis was martyred along with two companions according to the writings of St. Gregory of Tours. His companions are believed to be St. Rustreus and St. Eleutherius, a priest and deacon. They were beheaded with a sword under the persecution of Emperor Valerius in 258. The head of St. Denis was carried into the nearby village before their bodies were thrown into the Seine River. St. Denis body was recovered and a chapel was built over his tomb.
St. Denis is one of the 14 helperswho were invoked in the middle ages against the Black Plaque. It is for this reason he became the patron saint against headaches.
Remember that this life is short, and that eternity is very long.
Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Ambrose of Sienna, Feast day October 8
Bl. Ambrose of Sienna was born on April 16, 1220. He was born with a congenital deformity. Cared for by a nurse, she took him to Mass at The Dominican Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
It was noticed that little Ambrose was always calm near the altar. When they left the altar he would cry. At about the age of a year while they were near the altar Ambrose distinctly pronounced the sacred name of Jesus. He was instantly healed of his deformity.
Not surprisingly, Ambrose was a very pious child. At the age of seven he spent his time in meditation and praying the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. His Father was an illuminator of books. One of the gifts he gave Ambrose was a book of saints. It became Ambrose favorite book.
At the age of 17 Ambrose joined the Dominican Friars. He was sent to Paris to study with St. Albert the Great. St. Thomas Aquinas was a fellow student. Ambrose was influenced by the writing of St. Thomas Aquinas which convinced him to preach rather than write.
Bl. Ambrose preached in Germany, France and Italy, living a life of constant prayer. He became known as a peacemaker. He restored peace between Venice and Genoa and also Florence and Pisa. He was sent on many peacemaking missions.
Bl. Ambrose was given the gift of ecstasy and vision. After his death miracles were reported at his tomb.
If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship,
The Feast Day of the Most Holy Rosary is celebrated on October 7. Originally, it was known as the Feast day of Our Lady of Victory in memory of the naval victory which took place called the Battle of Lepanto in the 16th century. The Christian forces repelled a massive Turkish invasion after Pope St. Pius V urged Europe’s Christians to pray the Rosary. In 1573, St. Pius V established the feast day. It was extended to the universal church in 1716 by Pope Clement XI.
Devotion to the Rosary was begun by St. Dominic. The devotion combines meditation on the life of Christ, with memorized prayer. Tradition tells us that when Dominic became discouraged with the slow progress of his work of preaching against the Abligensianheresy, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him with a beautiful wreath of roses. She asked him to say the Rosaryevery day and to teach the people to say the Rosary. Soon the heresy began to disappear. The devotion of the rosary continues today.
The feast day of the Most Holy Rosary is a day we can take time to thank the Blessed Virgin Mary for all the times she has prayed and interceded for us. Our faith teaches us that Mary is our spiritual mother. Praying the rosary is actually a meditation on the life of Jesus. It consists of four sets of mysteries: The Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. Each set has five events in the life of Jesus to meditate on.
The Joyful Mysteries: 1. Annunciation 2. Visitation 3. Birth of Jesus 4. Presentation in the Temple 5. Finding the Child Jesus
The Luminous Mysteries: 1. Christ’s Baptism I the Jordan 2. Wedding at Cana 3. Proclamation of the Kingdom 4. Transfiguration 5. Institution of the Eucharist
Sorrowful Mysteries: 1. Agony in the Garden 2. Scourging at the Pillar 3. Crowning with Thorns 4. Carrying of the Cross 5. Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries: 1. Resurrection 2. Ascension into Heaven 3. Descent of the Holy Spirit 4. Assumption 5. Crowning of Our Blessed Lady
When we pray the rosary we dedicate the prayer for a certain intention such as healing the sick, guiding someone in need or peace in our family. It is a personal prayer based on the life of Jesus. Thank you Mary for listening to us!
Praying the rosary is not difficult. If you would like to learn how to pray the rosary, this article will lead you through it.
Remember, Jesus loved Mary. If we want to imitate Jesus we should honor His Mother.
“It could be said that each mystery of the rosary, carefully meditated,
The feast day of St. Bruno is celebrated on October 6. He is the founder of the Carthusian Order.
St. Bruno was born at Cologne, Germany in 1030. He studied in France and was ordained a priest. For 18 years he was a professor of theology. He then became the Chancellor of the archdiocese. He supported the reform of clergy by Pope Gregory VII and removed his own archbishop because of scandal.
St. Bruno had a great love of silence and solitude. He received a vision from God showing him a hermitage where he should spend his life growing closer to God. Along with friends, St. Bruno opened a hermitage in Chartreuse. Their order became known as the Carthusians. The hermitage was in a mountainous, desert region which was very isolated. The hermits lived in private cells, coming together for Matins and Vespers each day. The rest of their day was spent in solitude. They ate together only on great feast days. Their time was spent copying manuscripts.
Pope Urban II requested St. Bruno to come to Rome as an advisor. When the pope fled Rome Bruno moved to Calabria after turning down an offer to become a bishop.
St. Bruno died of natural causes on October 6, 1101.
Although he was not formally canonized, Pope Clement X extended his feast day to the whole church in 1674.
Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Faustina, Feast Day October 5
The feast day of St. Faustina is celebrated on October 5. She is considered the Apostle of Mercy.
St. Faustina was baptized Helena Kowalska. She was born into a very poor family of ten children on August 25, 1905 in Glogowiec, Poland. She lived on a farm receiving only three years of education.
St. Faustina worked as a housekeeper before joining the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1925 at the age of 20. For 13 years she prayed in the convent and worked as a cook, gardener and porter.
St. Faustina grew in holiness. She had a very mystical interior life. She had the gifts of visions, prophecy, the stigmata , bi-location, the gift of reading hearts and mystical marriage.
The vision which impacted the world was a vision of Jesus. She tells the story in her Diary.
“In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me, ‘paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.'”
Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her:
“The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the cross….Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him.”
Divine Mercy
At the request of Jesus she willingly offered her sufferings in union with him to atone for the sins of others. He also asked her to remind the world of His Divine Mercy and He taught her a very special devotion to the Divine Mercy based on trust in Him. She had a special devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Eucharist and the Sacramentof confession which strengthened her.
One of the vision she experienced was a visit to hell, which she shares in her diary. She suffered greatly interiorly, however she only shared her suffering with her spiritual director. At the request of Jesus and her confessors, St. Faustina kept a diary in which she shared her visions.
St. Faustina died of tuberculosis in Krakow, Poland at age 33 in 1938. She was canonized by the first Polish Pope, Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000
Divine Mercy Sunday is now celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Easter.
The feast day of St. Francis of Assisi will be celebrated on October 4th. He is the patron saint of the environment, peacemakers, and animals.
St. Francis was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy. His father was Pietro di Bernardone, a wealthy cloth salesman. Francis was indifferent to school. He enjoyed good times with his friends. He was attracted to the military and was a prisoner of war for two years. He returned home, probably ransomed by his family, returning to his old life, however he became very ill. When he recovered, he returned to the military, however, in a dream he was told to return home. He was told to “serve the Master rather that the man.” His dream changed him. He turned from his wild ways and began to serve God. While praying in a neglected chapel in San Damiano, Christ spoke to him from the crucifix, saying;
“Francis, go out and build up My house, for it is nearly falling down.”
Francis took this quite literally, and began to repair the old chapel. In need of money, he took some of his father’s cloth and sold it. His father accused Francis of theft. At the hearing before the bishop, he was told to return the money. Francis obeyed; however, he also removed his clothes returning them to Pietro and declaring:
“I have called you father on earth, but now I say, “Our Father, who art in heaven.”
St. Francis embraced poverty. “Love of Lady Poverty” was how he described his belief that possessions were a detriment to his spirituality. After two years of living as a hermit and begging for money to repair the church, he began to attract followers to his way of living. He owned nothing, wanting to live a life of complete poverty. He lived his life caring for the poor and preaching the gospel, primarily through example. He once said;
“Preach always, and when necessary, use words.”
The heart of St. Francis message was joy, based on the love of Christ. He served primarily the poor, including the lepers of the time. He had a strong devotion to the Eucharist and the Cross.
By 1210 his group had grown to a dozen men. He received permission to form an order from Pope Innocent III. Originally it was called the Humbler Brethren, or Friars Minor. They became known for the brown robes they wore. By 1219 they numbered 5,000.
Clare Sciffo was sixteen years old when she heard Francis preach. Against her parents will she became a nun under St. Francis care. Her order became known as the Poor Clares.
St. Francis became friends with St. Dominic, whom he met while begging. St. Dominic recognized him from a dream in which he had seen Francis. When Dominic met him he embraced him saying;
“You are my companion and must walk with me.
If we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.”
The Franciscans and Dominicans had different spiritualities, but Francis and Dominic were lifelong friends.
Some of the Franciscans wanted to change the rule of poverty. They wanted to own books so they could study scripture like the other monasteries of the time. This was contrary to Francis’ love of Lady Poverty. He went to see St. Dominic, who came up with a solution. The Franciscans were allowed to have a library, loaned to them by the Dominicans!
The Franciscans today have several different orders. There rule of poverty is not as strict as the original order.
Later, in his life, St. Francis received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ). These wounds were real and painful, a sign of how close he had come to the cross. He also suffered from a painful eye disease.
St. Francis composed several hymns, includingCanticle of the Sun. He is also known for his love of nature. Animals and birds had no fear of him and he was known for his friendships with traditionally wild creatures. It is St. Francis who started the tradition of a Christmas Crèche which honored the animals present in the stable when Christ was born.
St. Francis died in the year 1226 at the age of 45, praying the 141st Psalm and his Canticle of the Sun. His final prayer was:
“O Lord, I thank You for the pains which I suffer.”
Two years after his death, St. Francis was canonized on July 16, 1228 by Pope Gregory IX.
“My Lord, I am all yours. You know I have nothing besides my tunic, cord and underpants. And even these three things are yours.
So what can I give You?”
Quote of St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi in Art
St. Francis with Birds
St. Francis Embracing Crucifix
St. Francis in Ectasy by Caravaggio
St. Francis Christ on the Cross by Murillo
St Francis of Assisi Stigmata
St. Francis in Meditation
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis Preaching to the Birds
St. Francis Supported by an Angel by Orazio
Public Domain Image
The feast day of St. Theodore Guerin is celebrated on October 3. She is the patron saint of the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana.
St. Theodore Guérin’s birth name was Anne Thérése. She was born on Oct. 2, 1798 in Etables, France. Her father served in Napoleon’s navy. At the young age of 15 her father was murdered by bandits while traveling home for a visit.
Anne Thérése turned to God in the difficult years following his death. At the age of 25 she entered the Sisters of Providence to serve the poor, sick and dying. Anne Thérése became Sister Theodore. She was asked to lead a small missionary band of Sisters to the United States in Indiana.
Mother Théodore accepted the mission in spite of her fragile health. She could only consume soft, bland food and liquid. She traveled to the Unites States with five other sisters. After surviving a violent storm at sea in the trip Mother Théodore wrote the following:
“What strength the soul draws from prayer! In the midst of a storm, how sweet is the calm it finds in the heart of Jesus. But what comfort is there for those who do not pray?”
Mother Théodore established schools in Indiana and Illinois. She is described as saintly by people who knew her.
Sixteen years after coming to the United States she died. She is buried in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana.
St. Théodore Guérin was beatified on Oct. 25, 1998 by Pope John Paul II.
St. Théodore Guérin was canonized on Oct. 15, 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.
“If you lean with all your weight upon Providence,
The feast day of the Guardian Angels is celebrated on October 2. The feast day was added to the Church Calendar in the year 1615 by Pope Paul V.
References to angels occur frequently in the bible. Jesus himself refers to angels saying:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly father. ( Matthew 18:10)
An angel is mentioned at least 17 times in the New Testament. Two incidents which would indicate a guardian angel are the angel who delivered St. Peter from prison (Acts 5:19) and the angel who ministered to Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22:39)
THE ANGEL WITH ST. PETER
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.
CHRIST PRAYING IN GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.
The function of the guardian angels is to strengthen,lead and guide us to the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Are not all angels spirits in the divine service went to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? “(Hebrews 1:14)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares in section 336 about guardian angels: “From infancy to death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”
All of us at some time in our life need guidance and help during times of suffering and confusion. We turn to Jesus in prayer to lead us to everlasting life. Mary and the saints pray for us and are our role models. But we should also turn to our guardian angel and be grateful for all the unknown times we have been led down the correct path.
Guardian Angel with Children
The angels rejoice and celebrate with Christ over the return of the Lord’s sheep…He sought us on earth; let us seek Him in heaven.
Marie Therese Martin was born at Alencon, France on Jan. 2, 1873. St Thérèse of Lisieux is the patron saint of florists, missionaries, pilots and against tuberculosis.
The father of St. Thérèse, Louis Martin, was a watchmaker. Her Mother, Zelie was a lace maker. She died when Thérèse was four year old. Pope Francis canonized both Louise and Zelie as saints on Oct. 18, 2015. All five of their daughters entered religious life. The family attended daily Mass, visited the elderly and the sick and helped the poor.
St. Thérèse felt called into the religious life at the age of 15. She asked permission to enter the Carmel of Lisieux a Carmelite convent. She took the name of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.
St. Thérèse had a childlike trust in the providence of God and in His merciful love. Her life as contemplative Carmelite was short but it influenced many souls. She was declared a Doctor of the Church by St. Pope St. John Paul II in 1997.
During her nine years living as a Carmelite Nun St. Thérèse became known for her spirituality. Her love of God was profound and she wanted to share that love with others. She developed her “Little Way” which was her way of loving Jesus. When asked to explain it, she replied:
“It is the way of spiritual childhood, the way of trust and absolute self-surrender. I want to point out to souls the means that I have always found so completely successful…to tell them there is only one thing to do here below…to offer Our Lord the flowers of little sacrifices and win Him by our caresses.”
St. Thérèse’s spirituality began with scripture and the gospels. She offered any suffering in her life to God and trusted in Him completely. She found joy in suffering for it united her to the cross and the Passion of Our Lord. She also had a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“How little known is the merciful love of the Heart of Jesus! It is true that to enjoy that treasure we must humble ourselves, must confess our nothingness . . . and here is where many a soul draws back.”
St. Thérèse liked to use the image of flowers, especially roses, in her prayers. She considered each sacrifice a flower given to God. She compared souls to flowers, each one unique.
St. Thérèse came down with tuberculosis and died after several years of suffering at the age of 24 on Sept. 30, 1897. She was canonized in 1925.
The autobiography St. Thérèse wrote, The Story of a Soul, was published the year after her death.
“I want to suffer and even rejoice for love, for this is my way of scattering flowers. Never a flower shall I find but its petals shall be scattered for you, and all the while I will sing, yes sing, even when gathering my roses in the midst of thorns, and the longer and sharper the thorns may be, the sweeter shall be my song!”
The feast day of St. Jerome is celebrated on September 30. He is the patron saint of Bible scholars. He is considered one of the four great Doctors of the Church along with St. Ambrose, St. Augustine and St. Gregory of Nazianzus.
St. Jerome was born in Dalmatia around 340-342 A.D into a wealthy family. His father was a Christian and made sure he was well educated. His mother was a pagan. At the age of 20 he visited Rome. He enjoyed visiting the tombs of the martyrs and the Apostles and converted to Christianity. He was baptized by Pope Liberius in 360.
St. Jerome studied theology and then began life as a hermit in the Syrian desert. He was ordained a priest in Antioch at about the age of 40. He then went to Constantinople where he met St. Gregory of Nazianzus. He became the secretary for Pope Darnasus who commissioned him to translate the Bible. This project took him 30 years.
While living in Rome he was known for his personal holiness, learning and integrity. He was, however, disliked by many for his blunt sarcasm. He left Rome and went to Bethlehem where he established a monastery. He lived in prayer and study until the end of his life.
In art, St. Jerome is often shown with an angel with a trumpet. He was believed to have had a dream when he was seriously ill. In the dream he appeared before God’s judgment seat and was condemned for not being a Christian.
St. Jerome died peacefully on September 39, 420 after sufferingfrom an illness for two years.
“The letters of the apostles are spiritual rain for us.”
