Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica, Nov. 9

Quote November 13, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica is celebrated on November 9.

St. John Lateran Basilica is the oldest of the four great basilicas in Rome. The four basilicas are:

The Basilica of St. Peter
The Basilica of St. Mary Major
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wallls
The Basilica of St. John Lateran

Originally, the site was occupied by the palace of the family of the Laterani. The term “Lateran” does not refer to a saint but to the church’s ancient origins as the the Lateran palace, which once belonged the Roman noble family of the Laterni.

Constantine acquired the old palace through marriage. Not only did Constantine end the persecution of the Church he also gave the palace to the Church as a gift and it was enlarged. It became the residency for the Pope. The Basilica has been dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

Until the 14th century popes resided in the Lateran palace. It’s official title is:

“Mother Church of the whole world.”

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the official seat of the Pope (the Pope’s Cathedral).
Pope Sylvester officially dedicated the basilica in the year 324 declaring it a house of God.
The Basilica has been dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

“Little children, love one another.”

Quote of St. John the Evangelist; Feast Day Dec. 27

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

Carmelite Saints, Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Feast Day Nov. 8

Quote November 7, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity is celebrated on Nov. 8. She is the patron saint of the sick and the loss of parents. St. Elizabeth was born into a military family in 1880. She was strong willed and exuberant. When seven, her father died and her family moved to Dijon.

From her bedroom window, she could see the monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns. After the death of her father she experienced outbursts of anger. She experienced both conversion and peace from the sacrament of confession.

At the age of 14 she received her first communion. From that time on she was no longer angry. She developed a great devotion to the Eucharist. It was on her first communion day that she met the prioress of the monastery for the first time. The prioress explained to her that the meaning of the name Elizabeth is “house of God”.

While Elizabeth had an early desire to become a Carmelite nun, she was delayed by her mother’s objections until she was 21. Until then, she sang in two choirs and helped students prepare for their first communion.

In 1901, she finally entered the Carmel monastery taking the name Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity. She had a great devotion to the Carmelite saints but was also drawn to the teachings of St. Paul. She believed the core of his teaching was the love of Christ. St. Elizabeth was a contemplative who wrote many poems and prayers including her famous Prayer to the Trinity.

St. Elizabeth died from Addison’s Disease in 1906 (kidney disease) at the age of 26. Elizabeth viewed suffering as a gift; a way to share in the redemptive suffering of Jesus.

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity was canonized by Pope Francis on October 16, 2016.

“Jesus gives His cross to His true friends
so he can come even closer to them.”

Quote of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Carina, Feast Day Nov. 7

Quote November 7, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast day of St. Carina and companions is celebrated on November 7.

Very little is known about St. Carina other than her martyrdom. Under the rule of Emperor Julian the Apostate in the city of Ankara, she and her husband and thirteen year old son, Melasippus, were arrested in the year 360 for being Christian. They refused to renounce their faith. St. Carina and her husband were tortured to death. Their son was beheaded.

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues,

but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”

Quote of C. S. Lewis

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Theophane Venard, Feast Day Nov. 6

Quote November 6, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Theophane was born in France in 1829. He entered the Foreign Mission of Paris. He was ordained a priest in 1852 and became a missionary. He worked for 15 months at Hong Kong before going to West Tonkin which is now Vietnam.

In Vietnam, he taught seminary and ministered to the people of Tonkin for four years. He was arrested on Nov. 30, 1860 and tried for being a Christian.

During his trial he refused to renounce his faith. St. Theophane was caged for several months before he was beheaded in 1861. While being caged he was allowed to write many letters. Some of them survived. In a letter to his father he wrote,

“We are all flowers planted on this earth, which God plucks in His own good time; some a little sooner, some a little later…Father and son may we meet in Paradise. I, poor little moth, go first. Adieu.”

He was an inspiration to St. Thérèse of Lisieux who is known as the Little Flower.

On June 19, 1988 St. Theophane Venard was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II. He is considered one of the martyrs of Vietnam.

Guide your ship well.

Let prudence take the helm,

let humility be the rudder,

God your compass,

Mary, your anchor of hope.

Quote of St. Theophane Venard

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Feast Days, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Elizabeth, Feast Day Nov. 5

Quote November 6, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Elizabeth is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. She is a relative of the Virgin Mary and the wife of Zachariah. Elizabeth was considered barren due to old age. However, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah while he was at the temple. He told him not to be afraid, that he was to have a son and was to name him John. Zachariah questioned the angel and the angel said he would be mute because of his doubt.

Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, came to visit her. It is Elizabeth you greeted Mary by saying,

“Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

When her son was born Zachariah asked for a tablet and wrote

“His name is John”.

Immediately, he was able to speak again. Their son was John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist and Jesus are considered cousins.

“When a nation lacks saints,

darkness invades peoples minds.”

Quote of Bl. Bronislaw Markiewiez; Poland, (1842-1912)

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Charles Barromeo, Feast Day Nov. 4

Quote November 5, 2016 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. Charles Borromeo was born into a noble family in 1528. He was the nephew of Pope Pius IV. When he was twelve he was sent to a Benedictine Abby to be educated. St. Charles Borromeo is the patron saint of catechists, catechumens and seminarians

St. Charles was an active leader in the Council of Trent. He was ordained a priest while the Council was in progress. That same year he became the Bishop of Milan. At the age of 22, he was named a Cardinal. While serving as the Cardinal of Milan, he enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent. He established seminaries and hospitals. During the plague of 1576, he worked with the sick and helped to bury the dead. For three months he fed 3000 daily with his own money. He founded a society for secular priests called the Oblates of St. Ambrose in 1578. It is now known as the Oblates of St. Charles.

St. Charles was very active in the Catholic Reformation, working to rid the church of corruption. He was the teacher and confessor to St. Aloysius Gonzaga.

St. Charles Barromeo died at the age of 46 in 1584.

“The candle that gives light to others must itself be consumed, Thus we also have to act. We ourselves are consumed to give a good example to others.”

Quote of St. Charles Borromeo

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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The Mystery of Faith

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica, Nov. 9

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Feast Day Nov. 8

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Carina, Feast Day Nov. 7

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Theophane Venard, Feast Day Nov. 6

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Elizabeth, Feast Day Nov. 5

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Charles Barromeo, Feast Day Nov. 4

Discovering the Spirituality of Catholicism