Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Romanus, Feast Day Feb. 28




St. Romanus

The Feast Day of St. Romanus is celebrated on Feb. 28.  St. Romanus is the patron saint against mental illness.

St. Romanus was born in 390 in Upper Bugey, France.  He decided to live as a hermit in the Jura Mountains. His brother St. Lupieinus followed in his footsteps. Together they established two monasteries at Condat Leuconne. They also founded a convent at La Beaume which was led by their sister.

St. Romanus was ordained a priest by St. Hilary of Arles in 444.  St. Romanus is known for the healing of two lepers by embracing them.   He died of natural causes in 460. St.   Romanus is buried at the Abby of Beaume.

“We have only one evil to fear and that is sin.”
St. Alphonsus Liguori; Feast day August 1

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Benedictine Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Marie Adcodata Pisani; Feast Day Feb. 25




Bl. Marie Adeodata Pisani

 

The Feast day of Bl. Marie Adcodata Pisani is celebrated on February 25.   She was born in Naples, Italy on Dec. 29, 1806 to a noble family.

Her childhood was quite troubled.   Her father was alcoholic, which led to marriage problems.  She was raised by her grandmother.  She was ten when her grandmother died.  She then entered a boarding school known as Istituodi Madama Prota which was in Naples.

 

After an uprising in Naples, her father was sentenced to death.  The sentence was suspended and he was expelled from Naples and deported to the island of Malta.  Maria and her mother went to Malta an lived in Rabal.  Maria Terese wished to become a nun rather than marry.  She enjoyed helping the poor and attending church.

 

At the age of 21 she entered the Benedictine Community in St. Peter’s Monastery.   She took the name Maria Adeodata (given by God).  She worked as a teacher, seamstress , sacristan and writer.  Her most well known work is The Mystical Garden of the Soul That Love Jesus and Mary, which was a collection of reflections.

 

Bl. Marie served as the abbess for several years but retired due to heart problems.  She died on Feb. 25, 1855 at the age of 48.

 

In 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified Bl. Marie Adcodata Pisani citing a miracle of the healing of a stomach tumor after a request for her intercession.

 

My daughters, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate!

 

Quote of St. Margaret of Cortona
February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord.

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

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




 
Bl. Luke Belludi
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.

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Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

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



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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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Polycarp, Feast Day Feb. 23




St. Polycarp
St. Polycarp

The Feast Day of St. Polycarp is celebrated on Feb. 23.

St. Polycarp was born around the year 70. He is considered an Apostolic Father of the Church because he was an actual disciple of the apostles.

St. Polycarp was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist. He became Bishop of Smyrna, (now Turkey).  He was friends with St. Ignatius of Antioch.

St. Polycarp was martyred for his faith. Three days before his martyrdom, he had a vision in which he saw his pillow on fire. He told his companions he would be burnt alive. St. Polycarp was arrested. When told he must swear allegiance to Caesar, he refused, professing that he was a Christian. He was threatened with death by wild beasts, but still refused. He was 86 years old when he was taken to the Smyrna stadium and an attempt was made to burn him alive in the year 156. The flames did him no harm, and so he was killed by a dagger.

The body of St. Polycarp was ordered to be burned.

 

“Help one another with the generosity of the Lord,
and despise no one.
When you have the opportunity to do good,
do not let it go by.”
Quote of St. Polycarp

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord
Faith, Jesuit Saints, Martyr, Saint of the Day

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




St. Robert Southwell
St. Robert Southwell

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

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 < 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 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 0px 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.

  1.   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.

  2.   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.
Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

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




St. Gertrude
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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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Onesimus, Feast Day Feb. 16




St. Onesimus


The feast day of St. Onesimus is celebrated on Feb. 16.   We learn about St. Onesimus in St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. He had fled from his master, Philemon, after robbing him.  St. Onesimus met St. Paul, who was a prisoner in Rome at the time.  After meeting St. Paul, Onesimus converted to Christianity.

St. Paul sends him back to Philemon armed with the letter we read in the Bible. In the letter St. Paul pleads for love and forgiveness.  Philemon is persuaded to pardon Onesimus who then returns to help St. Paul.

Under the instruction of St. Paul, Onesimus is believed to become a priest and then a bishop.  St. Paul has him deliver his Epistle to the Colossians and St. Onesius helps St. Paul to spread the Good News!

It is believed that Onesimus is arrested during the persecutions, brought to Rome in chains and stoned to death in the year 95.

I know of one means only by which to attain perfection:
Love! Let us love,
since our heart is made for nothing else.

Quote of St. Thérèse of Lisieux; Feast day October 1

 

Feb. is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith, Featured, Prayer, Spirituality

How Much Do You Know About The Sacraments Of The Catholic Church?




Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church
Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church
 

There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church. A sacrament is described as “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.”

Grace is a gift from God. We can ask for it, but it cannot be forced. God gives us his grace by his own free will. Imagine Christmas. The gifts under the tree are presents freely given. God’s grace is the present of God’s presence.

Each sacrament is an opportunity to receive God’s grace (His presence in our life). When we receive the grace of God through the sacraments, we become more open to the presence of God in our life.

 

The seven sacraments are  Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist,  Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. Test your knowledge to find out if you understand the sacraments.

 
 
  1. Which sacrament can be received as an infant?
  2. A deacon can be the minister in which sacraments?
  3. The Holy Spirit has three symbols. What are they?
  4. Extreme Unction is another name for which sacrament.
  5. Which sacrament makes us a member of the family of God?
  6. Before receiving the Eucharist, one must be in a state of _________.
  7. To have ones sins absolved, one should receive this sacrament.
  8. Water is the symbol of which sacrament?
  9. A priest or deacon must be a witness to this sacrament.
  10.  What is another name for the sacrament of Reconciliation.
  11. In which sacrament do we receive the Holy Spirit?
  12. Which three sacraments are called the sacraments of initiation?
  13. Which two sacraments are vocational sacraments?
  14. Which two sacraments are sacraments of healing?
  15. Which sacrament removes the stain of original sin?:
  16. Which sacrament requires an act of contrition?
  17. The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is also known as what?
  18. There is only one sacrament we are encouraged to receive often, even daily. Which one is it?
  19. In which sacrament do we choose a patron saint?
  20.  Which sacrament  must be administered by a bishop not a priest?

Each of the sacraments has a biblical beginning  Read the biblical text which refers to each sacrament. The last photo you will find the answers to the questions.

Sacrament of Baptism
Sacrament of Baptism
 

Sacrament of Baptism

Mathew 28:19-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Sacrament of Confirmation
Sacrament of Confirmation
 
                                                           
 

Sacrament of Confirmation

Acts 8:14

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then Peter and John laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
 
                                                          

Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Matthew 19:3-11

Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the creator made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, unless the marriage is unlawful, and marries commits adultery.”
His disciples said to him. “If that is the case of a man and his wife, it is better not to marry. He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom it is granted.”

 
Sacrament of Holy Orders
Sacrament of Holy Orders
 
                                                            
                                                                      

Sacrament of Holy Orders

Mark 3: 13

He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles to be with him and to be sent out and proclaim the message and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter) James, son of Zebadee and John the brother of James (Sons of thunder) and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew and Mathew and Thomas and James, son of Alphaeses and Thadaeus and Simon the Cananaen and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Sacrament of Reconciliation

Reconciliation

John 20:19

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you”.

After he said this he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.”

When he had said this he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them,  if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”

Sacrament of the Eucharist
Sacrament of the Eucharist
                                                           

Eucharist

Mathew 26:26

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples and said “Take and eat, this is my body”.

Then he took a cup and after giving thanks he gave it to them saying “Drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will never drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom.”

Sacrament of Annointing of the Sick
Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
                                                     

Anointing the sick

Mark 6:7

He called the twelve and began to send them two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.

He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church
Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church
                                   

The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church

1. The Sacrament of Baptism is often received as an infant.

2. A deacon may baptize, anoint the sick and witness a marriage.

3. The symbols of the Holy Spirit are wind, fire and a dove.

4. Anointing of the sick is another name for the sacrament formerly known as Extreme Unction.

5. Baptism initiates a person into the family of God.

6. One must be in a state of grace (free from grave sin) to receive the Sacrament or the Eucharist.

7. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation the priest (in the name of Christ) absolves (forgives) the person of his or her sins.

8. Living water is the symbol of Baptism. It must be flowing water.

9. The sacrament of Holy Matrimony must be witnessed by a priest or deacon to be considered a sacramental marriage.

10. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also call the Sacrament of Confession or Penance.

11. We receive the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

12. The sacraments of initiation are Baptism. Eucharist, and Confirmation.

13. The vocational sacraments are Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony.

14. The sacraments of healing are Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.

15. Baptism removes the stain of original sin.

16. Reconciliation requires an Act of Contrition.

17. The belief that the bread and wine in the Eucharist become the body and blood of Jesus after being consecrated by the priest or bishop is known as “The Real Presence.”

18. We are encouraged to receive the Eucharist daily if possible.

19. When receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation we choose a patron saint.

20. Holy Orders must be received from a validly ordained Bishop. Every Catholic bishop can trace his ordination back to the original twelve Apostles.

.



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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Claude de la Columbiere, Feast Day Feb. 15





The Feast Day of St. Claude de la Columbiere is celebrated on Feb. 15.

St. Claude de la Columbiere was born near Lyon France in 1641.   He was educated in a Jesuit school and later joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits.   Early in his priesthood he was named preacher of the Avignon School.   He was a powerful preacher and his sermons were published.   He fought against the Jansenism heresy which believed in predestination. Jansenism  also believed that Christ died only for the elect, not for all of mankind.

While serving as Superior for the Parayle Monail School he met St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. She had received visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and sought his spiritual direction.  He became her spiritual director and confessor.  Father Claude advised her to receive the gifts of God with faith and humility. He considered the devotion to the Sacred Heart a remedy for the heresy of Jansenism.

St. Claude was arrested for converting Protestants.  He was imprisoned and then banished to England. When he returned to France he was terminally ill with kidney disease. he was sent to Lyon and Paray to recover his health. He died on Feb. 15, 1682.

No one can penetrate the mysteries of the Sacred Heart
without tasting the cup of bitterness
that Jesus drank from so deeply.
Quote of St. Claude de la Columbiere
February is the Month of the Passion of Our Lord

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Faith, Pope Francis, Spirituality

Pope Francis Describes the Beauty of Marriage




Pope Francis facebook 12 Pope Francis Facebook image

In a meeting with the bishops of Puerto Ricoon on Monday, Pope Francis described the beauty of Marriage, saying that the differences between man and woman are not for opposition or subordination, but for communion and generation. According to Zenit News Agency, the Pope was meeting with the bishops for their five year ad limina apostolorum visit.

The Holy Father emphasized the need to focus on family ministry, because of the serious social problems that afflict the family; the difficult economic situation, emigration, domestic violence, unemployment, drug trafficking and corruption.

“In this context,” Pope Francis said, “Allow me to call your attention to the value and beauty of marriage.”

He said: “The complementarity of man and woman, summit of divine creation, is being questioned by the so-called gender ideology, in the name of a more free and just society. The differences between man and woman are not for opposition or subordination, but for communion and generation, always in the ‘image and likeness’ of God. Without mutual self-giving, neither one can understand the other in depth>” (cf. General Audience, April 15, 2015).

The Sacrament of Marriage is a sign of the love of God for humanity and of Christ’s giving himself for his Bride, the Church. Look after this treasure, one of the ‘most important of the Latin American and Caribbean peoples’ (Aparecida, 433).”

Pope Francis also discussed the need for good confessors. He encouraged the bishops to be close to their priests. The Holy Father stressed that both bishops and priests must be faithful servants of God’s forgiveness. He said the upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, which will begin Dec. 8, will be a time to stress the sacrament of reconciliation, which enables one to experience in one’s own flesh the love of God and to offer each penitent the source of true interior peace.

He told them that because of the magnitude of the problems faced by pastors, a bishop needs to take recourse not only to prayer, but also to friendship and the fraternal help of his brothers in the episcopate.  Pope Francis cautioned the bishops not to waste energies in divisions and confrontations, but to build and collaborate. He added that they must be able to distance themselves from particular political tendencies, saying,

“Because of her mission, the Church is not linked to any political system, in order to be able to be always the ‘sign and safeguard of the transcendent character of the human person.'”

A Synod on the Family was begun in October 2014 to discuss how to minister to broken families. It will conclude with a second meeting in October 2015.

This article was originally published on June 9, 2015.

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