Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Climacus, Feast Day March 30

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St. John Climacus

The feast day of St. John Climacus is celebrated on March 30. 

St. John Climacus was born in Syria in 525. He enjoyed studying science and the arts. In 547, at the age of 16 he dedicated himself to God. He went to Mt. Sinai to live as a hermit. His spiritual advisor was Martyrius. St. John lived in silence and solitude living with humility and obedience. He never argued with anyone. After four years of living as a hermit John made his profession at the age of twenty.

St. John had received from God the power to heal spiritual disorders. One person he healed was named Isaac who was on the verge of despair by temptations of the flesh. St. John could see that Isaac had faith and said to him, “My son, let us have recourse to God by prayer.” They both lay prostrated on the ground in fervent prayer and Isaac felt the despair leave and was filled with peace. Many others came to John for assistance. Due to jealousy, St. John was censored and accused of vanity. John imposed on himself a year of silence. Those who charged him asked him to resume giving advice and told him not to bury the talent given to him by God.

St. John Climacus 2

St. John became Abbot of Mt. Sinai and Superior General to all the monks and hermits in that country when he was 75. During a severe drought the people asked him to intercede on their behalf to God. His prayers were soon answered with large rain storms.

After four years as Abbot he resigned to prepare for death. St. John died on March 30, 605. After his death, his book Ladder of Divine Ascent became very popular making him very well known.

 

Humility is the only virtue no devil can imitate.  If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility can make angels out of demons.

Quote of St. John Climacus

 

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Mark of Arethusa, Feast Day March 29

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St. Mark of Arethusa
St. Mark of Arethusa

The feast day of St. Mark of Arethusa is celebrated on March 29.  

St. Mark was a priest in Syria during the reign of Constantine. He became the Bishop of Arethan. There were many conversions to Christianity during this time. Mark undertook the challenge of transforming pagan temples into Christian churches. He faced resistance, however his gentle demeanor, compassion and humility made it possible. However, when Emperor Julian the Apostate succeeded the throne the advances of Christianity came to a sudden halt and persecutions began.

A mob turned on St. Mark. The mob demanded that he pay to have the temple rebuilt. When he refused, they tortured him. They cut off his ears, stripped him naked, smeared him with honey and bound him to a tree for wasps, mosquitoes and hornets to eat. He still refused to pay for the temple to be rebuilt. His endurance impressed the people who began to feel sorry for him. They eventually set him free. Many people who had left the faith because of Emperor Julian began to return to the faith.

St. Mark died on March 28, 389.

Our discovery of God is, in a way, God’s discovery of us.  We cannot go to heaven to find Him because we have no way of knowing where heaven is or what it is, He comes down from Heaven and finds us.

Quote of Thomas Merton

 

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Faith, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Sixtus III, Feast Day March 28

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St. Sixtus III
St. Sixtus III

 

 

The feast day of St. Sixtus III is celebrated on March 28.

  St. Sixtus III was born in Rome, Italy. He became the Bishop of Rome on July 31, 432. While he was Pope he defended the authority of the Papacy. He approved the results of the Council of Ephesus.

Pope Sixtus fought against the heresies of Pelagianism and Nestorianism. While defending the teachings of the Church, Pope Sixtus was also sympathetic and tried to heal the divisions within the church.

Nestorianism denied that Jesus was both human and divine. It believed Jesus existed as two distinct persons: the man Jesus and the divine Son of God. It did not accept Mary as the Mother of God but did believe her to be the Mother of Christ.

Pelagianism did not believe in original sin. It also believed grace was not necessary for salvation; it could be attained by free will.

Pope Sixtus restored St. Peter’s Basilica and St. John Lateran Basilica. He died of natural caused on August 19, 440.

 

Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever, and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.

Quote of St. Augustine of Hippo; Feast day August 28

 

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John of Egypt, Feast Day March 27

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St. John of Egypt

The feast day of St. John of Egypt is celebrated on March 27.  

St. John of Egypt was born in Lycopolis, which is now Egypt, in 214. He worked with his father as a carpenter. He felt a call from God to live a solitary life of prayer in the desert. For ten years he was the disciple of an elderly hermit, whom he considered his spiritual father. When this man died he chose to live in various monasteries to learn the life of a monk.

Eventually, John decided to live in a cave he found in the desert rocks. The cave had three rooms; a living room, workroom and a chapel. He had a single window through which he would preach to people who sought his advice. He would spend five days of the week in solitude with God, but on Saturday and Sunday he would listen to and give advice to people who sought it. Emperor Theodosius the Elder is believed to have sought his advice twice. People brought him food and necessities. He attracted followers who became his disciples. They built a hospice nearby so people could seek his advice.

St. John was known for his gifts of prophecy and healing. He seemed to be able to look into people’s souls and know what they were thinking. Many people were cured after he anointed them with holy oil. In spite of his growing fame, St. John remained humble and lived a very frugal life. St. John died at the age of 90 from natural causes. He was found on his knees as if in prayer.

 

The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one things about reforming himself.

Quote of St. Peter of Alcantara; Feast day October 19

 

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Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Margaret Clitherow, Feast Day March 26

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St. Margaret Clitherow Public Domain Image
St. Margaret Clitherow

The feast day of St. Margaret Clitherow is celebrated on March 26.

 St. Margaret Clitherow was born in Middleton, England in 1555.  She was raised in the Anglican faith. Her father was Thomas Middleton, the Sheriff of York. She married John Clitherow who was a wealthy butcher. They had two children.

Margaret converted to the Catholic faith after several years of marriage. She began harboring fugitive priests during the persecution of Queen Elizabeth. She also was known to let the priest celebrate Mass on her property. St. Margaret was arrested and put into prison. She refused to deny her faith and sentenced to die by being ‘pressed to death’. At the trial Margaret’s only statement was…

“Having made no offense, I need no trial”.

The martyrdom of St. Margaret took place in 1586. St. Margaret was stretched on the ground with a sharp rock on her back and crushed under a door laden with heavy weights. She died within fifteen minutes. Many of her bones were broken. She was 33 years old.

St. Margaret was canonized in 1970 as one of the 40 martyrs of England and Wales.

Spirit of truth, You are the reward of saints, the comforter of souls, light in the darkness, riches to the poor, treasure to lovers, food for the hungry, comfort to the wanderer; to sum up, You are the one in who all treasures are contained.

Quote of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi; Feast day May 25

 

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Faith, Feast Days, Our Lady

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Annunciation, Feast Day March 25

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annunciation

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated on March 25.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the actual event of the Angel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary. He told her she would bear a son and name him Jesus. On this feast day we reflect on the humility of Mary who said yes to being the Mother of God. Just as Mary pondered what the angel told her, we too should ponder the mysteries of our faith.

The Incarnation (God becoming man) is a mystery of great importance. How wonderful that God loves us so much that he sent us his son, Jesus! Through Mary he became completely human giving us the gift of salvation. Unlike Eve who disobeyed God, Mary said yes to God’s plan for her. She trusted God, and as the mother of Jesus loved Him in a way no one else can. The love Jesus had for his mother is also something to be pondered.   It is a love like no other.

Gospel Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,

“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel,

“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”

And the angel said to her in reply,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said,

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”

Then the angel departed from her.

annunciation 2
The Annunciation in Art

 

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word.

Quote of Mary, Mother of God

 

March is the Month of St. Joseph

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Faith, Incorruptible, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Lucy Filippini, Feast Day March 25

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St. Lucy 2

The feast day of St. Lucy Filippini is celebrated on March 25.  

St. Lucy Filippini was born in Corneto-Tarquinia, Italy in 1672. Her mother died before she turned a year old. Her father died when she was seven years old.  Lucy was a very prayerful child. She was raised by her aunt and uncle who had her educated by the Benedictine nuns at Santa Lucia.

Cardinal Marcantonio Barbarigo made a great impression on Lucy when he visited her church. She turned to him for guidance. She had a devotion to Our Lady and wanted to leave the world behind her. The cardinal put Lucy in charge of opening new schools to teach girls.

St. Lucy and Rosa Venerini were Co founders of the Institute of the Maestre Pie which was dedicated to teaching girls, including poor girls. Young girls were taught domestic arts, weaving, embroidery, reading and Christian doctrine. Twelve years later the Cardinal devised a set of rules to guide Lucy and her followers in religious life. Lucy helped to found 52 schools. Pope Clement XI called Lucy to Rome in 1707 to start schools there.

St. Lucy died from breast cancer on March 25, 1732 on the Feast of the Annunciation. Her body lies incorrupt under the altar dedicated to her in the Cathedral of Montefiascone.

 

The Church of God is not a restful garden, but a working vineyard.

Quote of St. Lucy Filippini

St. Lucy 2

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Faith, Spirituality

Good Friday Comes Before Easter

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Christ crucified

Easter is actually the last day of Holy Week. It is the day celebrated every Sunday by Christians, and is the core of our faith. However, it is important to reflect on the entire meaning of Holy Week.

The Tridium actually begins on Holy Thursday. We remember the institution by Jesus of the Eucharist. At every Mass we repeat the words of Jesus at the Last Supper.

“This is my body. This is my blood.”

We are a Eucharistic people. When we receive the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist we become the Body of Christ. We are called to bring Jesus to the world by our actions.

On Good Friday, we remember the actual death and crucifixion of our Lord, Jesus Christ. How is it possible to put God to death? Why did Jesus have to suffer in such a terrible way? Unless we reflect on these questions, we miss an important part of our faith. In Luke 9:23 Jesus says,

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.”

Suffering is part of everyone’s life. How we react to suffering determines the quality of our discipleship. Jesus is telling us to be selfless. He then shows us how to suffer. Catholics, meditate on the Stations of the Cross during Good Friday services. This helps us to apply our faith to our daily life.

Good Friday is followed by Easter, truly a glorious and joyful day. The resurrection tells us that Jesus has conquered death. We are redeemed by the suffering, death, and resurrection Jesus Christ.

We celebrate Easter every week, never forgetting the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We must never forget that before he rose, he suffered and died…for us.

The Crucifixion in Art

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Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Turibius of Magrovejo, Feast Day March 23

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St. Turibius
St. Turibius

 

The feast day of St. Turibius of Magrovejo is celebrated on March 23.   St. Turibius was born in Mayorga, Spain in 1538 to a noble family. He was very prayerful as a child. He had a devotion to the rosary and The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He studied law at the University of Salamanca. He practiced law as a judge for five years. King Phillip II was impressed by his holiness and wanted him to become a missionary. Turibius protested but eventually he was ordained a priest and then a Bishop in 1581. He was sent to Lima, Peru in South America.

 

In Peru, St. Turibius established schools, seminaries and hospitals. He learned the native languages to enable him to teach and minister to the people. He made three visitations of the entire diocese staying several days in each community. He denounced the exploitation of the Indians by Spanish nobles and brought about administrative reforms. He was assisted by St. Francis Solarius and St. Rose of Lima.

 

In 1606 he became seriously ill. Sensing his death he gave all his possessions to the poor before he died. St. Turibius was canonized in 1726.

 

Christ said “I am the Truth”, He did not say “I am the custom”‘.

Quote of St. Turibius of Magrovejo

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Catherine of Sweden, Feast Day March 22

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St. Catherine of Sweden

The feast day of St. Catherine of Sweden is celebrated on March 22.

St. Catherine was born in 1331 in Sweden to St. Brigid and Ulfo. At the age of thirteen she was married to Egad, a German nobleman. Catherine convinced him to take a mutual vow of chastity with her. They dedicated themselves to serving God and to a life of prayer.

After Catherine’s father died in 1349 Catherine traveled with her mother to Rome. Shortly after arriving there she learned of the death of her husband. St. Catherine and St. Brigid stayed in Rome for several years making pilgrimages to various holy places. St. Catherine refused to marry again. After several years, her mother also died. St. Catherine brought the body of her mother back to Sweden. She promoted the cause for her canonization and the approval of the Rule her mother had written for a group of religious women. Catherine became the Abbess of the Convent of Wadstena.

 

St. Catherine  was known for daily participation in the Sacrament of Confession to purify her soul. St. Catherine wrote a book titled Consolation of a Soul.

Pope Innocent VIII assigned her the feast day of March 22. She was canonized by Pope Pius II in 1484.

 

If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire.
Let the truth be your delight…proclaim it…but with a certain congeniality.

 

Quote of St. Catherine of Sweden

 

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Carmelite Saints, Faith, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Maria Candida, Feast Day March 21

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Bl. Maria Candida

The feast day of Bl. Maria Candida is celebrated on March 21.   Maria Barba was born in Cantanzaro, Calabria. She was raised in Palermo, Sicily.

From the time of her first communion at the age of ten, Maria had a great devotion to the Eucharist. Her devotion grew when she read The Story of a Soul by a Carmelite nun, St. Thérèse of Lisiuex. At the age of 15 she wished to join a religious order, but her parents resisted. It was more than twenty years before her wish came true. Five years after the death of her mother she joined the Carmel of Ragusa in 1919, taking the name Maria Candida of the Eucharist. On April 23, 1924 she made her solemn profession as a Carmelite Nun. Within 6 months she became prioress of the Monastery.

As prioress Bl. Maria Candida worked diligently to revive the spirit of their foundress, St. Teresa of Jesus among the nuns of the monastery. The community grew under her leadership, making it possible to begin a new foundation in Syracuse.

Bl. Maria Candida shared her love of the Eucharist in the book she wrote: Eucharist; True Jewel of Eucharistic Spirituality.

Bl. Maria Candida of the Eucharist died from liver cancer in 1939 on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

 

 

Our Lord does not come from Heaven every day to stay in a golden ciborium.  He comes to find another heaven, the heaven of our soul in which He loves to dwell.

St. Thérèse of Lisiuex; Feast day October 1

 

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Dominican Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ambrose Sansedoni, Feast Day March 20

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St. Ambrose

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ambrose Sansedoni, Feast Day March 20

The feast day of St. Ambrose Sansedoni is celebrated on March 20.

St. Ambrose Sansedoni was born in Siena, Italy in 1220. At birth, he was very deformed. He needed the care of a nurse. The nurse found that he was most peaceful when he was in St. Mary Magdalene Church near the altar. She reported that an unknown pilgrim said,

“Do not cover that child’s face. He will one day be the glory of this city.”

A few days later the child stretched out his deformed limbs saying the name “Jesus” and was healed; all of his deformities were gone

.
As a child Ambrose was very devout. He prayed and meditated during the night. He was drawn to reading the lives of the saints and reciting from the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin.

At the age of 17, he joined the Dominicans in Siena, Italy. He was sent to study for the priesthood in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany with St. Thomas Aquinas. As a priest he devoted himself to preaching and teaching. He became well known for his elegant preaching. He also became a peacemaker; restoring peace between Venice and Genoa and also between Florence and Pisa.

St. Ambrose died of natural causes in 1287. His writings have not survived.

 

To be an angel in prayer, and a beast in one’s relations with people is to go lame in both legs.

St. Francis de Sales; Feast day January 24

 

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