The Feast Day of St. Macarius of Egypt is celebrated on January 15. He was and Egyptian priest and monk.
St. Macarius was born in Upper Egypt in the year 300. He went into the desert of Skete. He was falsely accused of assaulting a woman, but proven innocent. He was ordained a priest at the age of 40. St. Macarius was a student of St. Anthony the Abbot.
Because of his opposition to Arianism, which is the belief that Christ is not divine, he was sent into exile. He was known for his gift of healing and his sanctity. He believed in mercy and forgiveness.
St. Macarius died at the age of 90 in the year 391.
The Feast Day of St. Marguerite Bourgeoye is celebrated on January 12. She was a Canadian missionary.
St. Marguerite Bourgeoye was born in Troyes, France in 1620. She died in 1700. After her mother’s death at the age of 19, she consecrated herself to the service of God. Eventually she became a missionary in Canada. She established a school for Indian girls in Montreal and became known as “Mother of the Colony”. She spent her time teaching the poor, the natives and young girls.
St. Marguerite co-founded the Congregation of Notre-Dame. St. Marguerite Bourgeoye was canonized on October 31, 1982.
It seems to me that we do not pay enough attention to prayer, for unless it arises from the heart which ought to be its center, it is no more than a fruitless dream. Prayer ought to carry over into our thoughts, our words and our actions.
The Feast Day of Bl. William Carter is celebrated on January 11. He was born in London, England in 1548. He was a book publisher and a martyr. Bl. William Carter was a married bookseller living in London. He owned his own printing press. The press was so small he could only produce one page at a time. He used the press to publish Catholic literature. He was always in danger from the Elizabethan authorities.
When the authorities searched his house they found vestments and chalices put in his care. They also found prayer books which contained Catholic prayers, meditations and spiritual exercises. He was charged with printing and publishing the Treatise of Schisme which allegedly incited violence by Catholics and was said to have been written by a traitor.
After the trial, the jury met for 15 minutes before finding him guilty. While the jury was deliberating, William had his final confession heard by a priest who was also on trial. The next day, which was January 11, 1584, he was executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered. Bl. William Carter was beatified in 1987.
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
The Feast Day of Bl. Eurosia is celebrated on January 9.
Bl. Eurosia was born in Quinto Vicentino, Italy in 1866. Her parents were farmers. She was called Rosina by her family. At age four they moved to Marola where she attended school for only two years before stopping to help with the farm work and domestic chores. She joined the Association of the Daughters of Mary and taught catechism. She had a devotion to the infant Jesus, the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary and the souls in purgatory.
After the death of a neighbor, Rosina began caring for the two children left with no mother. Eventually, she married the father, Carlo Barban. They had nine children, Bl. Eurosia became known as “Mama Rosa”. She became a member of the Franciscan Third Order. She was known for feeding the hungry and nursing the sick.
In Jan, 1932, Bl. Eurosia died surrounded by family.
“I want to spend my heaven in doing good upon earth.”
The Feast Day of St. Apollenaris is celebrated on January 8.
St. Apollenaris was a bishop during the second century. What we know about him we learned from St. Jerome, Theodoret and Eusebius. Each spoke highly about him.
Apollenaris wrote an ‘Apology’, which is a defense of the Christian faith. He wrote it to Emperor Marcus Ayrelius trying to protect his flock from persecution. The emperor’s army, which was in dire need of water, fell on their knees and invoked the aid of God. Rain began to fall and with the help of the storm his army defeated the Germans. The emperor gave his legion the name “Thundering Legion” and ended his persecution.
St. Apollenaris died about the year 175.
“The Lord was Baptized not to be cleansed Himself,
but to cleanse the water so that those waters
cleansed by the flesh of Christ which knew no sin,
The Feast Day of St. Raymond is celebrated on January 7. He is the patron saint of canon lawyers.
St. Raymond was born in Spain in 1174. He was related to the King of Aragon. After becoming a well-known teacher, he decided to join the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans.
Thousands of Muslims are believed to have been converted to Christianity by his influence. St. Raymond had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin. He founded the Order of Our Lady of Ransom. The order devoted itself to helping Christians who had been captured by the Moors during the crusades.
St. Raymond compiled Church decisions and decrees for the Pope. His collection filled five books. He is the patron saint of canon lawyers. For two years Raymond was the leader of the Dominicans. After he resigned the position, he devoted himself to what he loved most; praising God and preaching about him to the people.
St. Raymond died in the year 1275 at the age of 100.
The Feast Day of St. Peter of Canterbury is celebrated on January 6. He was a Roman monk and missionary.
St. Peter of Canterbury accompanied St. Augustine of Canterburyon a missionary journey to England in 597. Peter was chosen to deliver a letter detailing the success of the mission to Pope Gregory the Great.
St. Peter of Canterbury was the first Abbot of what became known as St. Augustine’s Abbey.
The death of St. Peter of Canterbury in 607 was due to drowning off the shore of France. The local people, not knowing who he was, buried him without honor. An unexplained light appeared over his grave on a nightly basis. When the people investigated and learned who he was, his body was moved to a church in Boulogne.
The Feast Day of St. John N. Neumann is celebrated on January 5. He was a Redemptorist priest and bishop. He is the patron of sick children and of immigrants and Catholic education.
St. John Neumann was born in Bohemia in 1811. Due to the shortage of priests in the colonies, he traveled to New York to be ordained a priest and worked in an isolated parish. Father John eventually joined the Redemptorists who were dedicated to helping the poor and abandoned. In 1852, he was appointed Bishop of Philadelphia. He increased the number of Catholic schools from two to a hundred.
The desire to hear confessions led St. John Neumann to learn at least six languages. He knew Spanish, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Gaelic.
While doing errands on January 5, 1860, Neumann collapsed and died on a Philadelphia street. He was 48 years old. After his death the National Shrine of St. John Neumann was constructed at the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia. Our Lady of the Angels College, founded by the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters which he had founded was renamed. It became known as the Neumann College. It was later given University status.
St. John Neumann was beatified on Oct. 13, 1963 by Pope Paul VI. He was canonized on June 19, 1977 by Pope Paul VI.
“A man must always be ready for death, for death comes when and where God wills it.”
The feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is celebrated on January 4. She is the patron saint of in-law troubles and loss of children.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first native born Americanto be canonized a saint.
Elizabeth was born on Aug. 28, 1774 in New York City. She was raised in the Episcopal Church. At the early age of 3 her mother died. At the age of 19 she married William Seton, a wealthy businessman.
Within four years, she suffered the death of her father in-law which left William in charge, not only of his father’s business but the seven half-brothers and sisters as well. The business failed, forcing bankruptcy.
William became ill with tuberculosis. In an attempt to find a cure they moved to Italy. He died while living in Italy. Elizabeth grew very close to God. She accepted and embraced the will of God. Elizabeth eventually was led into the Catholic church. She had a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton established the first free Catholic school in America. On March 25, 1809 she took a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. She became the founder of the Sisters of Charity, which followed the rules written by St. Vincent de Paul for the Daughters of Charity in France. She became Mother Seton.
Her final years were spent leading and developing the new congregation. The sisters opened free schools and orphanages along the East Coast.
Elizabeth. died in 1821 of tuberculosis at age 46.
Pope John XXIII canonized her as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on Sept. 14, 1975. He stated,
“In a house that was very small, but with ample space for charity, she sowed a seed in America.”
The Feast Day of The Most Holy Name of Jesus gives us the opportunity to venerate and reflect on the holy name of Jesus. The devotion was begun primarily by St. Bernadine of Siena and the Franciscan and Dominican nuns and priests in the twelfth century. Later it was promoted by the Jesuits. The feast day was approved in 1721 by Pope Innocent XIII.
When we reflect on the name of Jesus it is a form of prayer. To invoke Jesus name is a powerful but simple way of praying to God ‘without ceasing’.
In the Gospel of John Jesus said to his disciples,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14;6
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians he said,
“So great is the Most Holy Name of Jesus that God highly exalted Him and gave Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend; in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11
As we begin a new year, let us turn to Jesus for guidance in all we do. May Jesus bless our lives and grant us peace and healing.
“Jesus in the soul’s abyss is sweeter far than earthly bliss.
A flower strong is that name mild. Ne’er disturbed by tempest wild.
Far lovelier than a diamond bright.
That name adorns the soul with light.
The name of Jesus sweetly rings like rarest zither’s silver strings.
Ah, Jesus, for your names blest sake, forgive my sins, exceeding great.
Grant, dear Lord, that your fair name may wound my heart with holy pain.
Jesus, choicest love be ever thine.Bless me Jesus,
The Feast Day of St. Basil the Great is celebrated on January 2. He is the patron saint of hospital administrators and a Doctor of the Church. He was the Bishop of Caesarea
St. Basil was born in 330 at Caesarea of Cappadocia. He was born into a family of ten children. He studied at Constantinople and Athens where he met St. Gregory Nazianzen.
Before deciding to become a monk, he practiced law and opened a school. He directed the monastery in Pontus for five years. He eventually was ordained a priest. St. Basil became bishop in 370. He fought against Arianism ( the belief that Jesus was not divine in nature) at the Council of Constantinople. He also fought for reform of the clergy. He was known for his holiness and was tireless in caring for his people. He was known for preaching twice a day to huge crowds. The hospital that he built was a hospital that was called a wonder of the world.
Basil was best known for his preaching. Because of his writings he is considered a one of the great teachers of the Church.
Sickly since youth, the work of teaching, his life of abstinence, and the responsibilities and sorrows of pastoral service took their toll on him. Saint Basil died on January 1, 379 at age 49.
St. Basil is considered a Doctor of the Church. He is the patron saint of hospital administrators.
“Troubles are usually the brooms and shovels that
smooths the road to a good man’s fortune;
and many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head,
The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God is celebrated on New Years Day. We continue to celebrate the joy of the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Mary was given the title Theotokos which means “God-bearer” in Greek during the third or fourth century.
The divinity of Jesus has been argued about throughout the ages. The church has declared that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine…He has two natures. The church also teaches that Jesus was begotten not made. This means that Jesus has always existed in the Trinity. He became Man to redeem us and to give us the gift of salvation.
Because the church teaches that Jesus is the Lord, our God, this means Mary is the mother of God.
The mysteries of our faith are many. This mystery is truly beautiful. Mary, who was born without sin ( like Eve) said yes to the Angel during the Annunciation. Although troubled by the news that she would bear a son, she said;
“Let it be”.
We are all called to imitate Mary who is the first disciple of Jesus. Mary loved Jesus in a way none of us are able. She cared for him and took care of all his needs while he was growing up. There can be no doubt that Jesus also loved and honored Mary.
We are also called to honor Mary, just as Jesus honored His Mother. If Jesus honored and loved his mother, why shouldn’t we do the same?
