Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ephrem of Syria, Feast Day June 9

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St. Ephrem of Syria Public Domain Image
St. Ephrem of Syria

The feast day of St. Ephrem of Syria is celebrated on June 9.  He was born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia in the 4th century.  At the age of 18 he was baptized.  Along with other Christians, he became a refugee in Edessa during the persecutions by the Persians.  He was ordained a deacon and served under four bishops.

St. Ephrem is most known for his prolific writing.  He wrote both hymns and poetic homilies.  Over 400 hymns still exist, earning him the title of “Harp of the Holy Spirit”.   The hymns he wrote were used to instruct the people against the heresies of the time.  He often used popular melodies, putting his own words to the music.    Because of his music he is credited with a spiritual awakening during that time period.  St. Ephrem was also a poet, writing many of his homilies as poetry.  His description of heaven and hell is said to have inspired Dante.  St. Ephrem had a special devotion to the humanity of Jesus.

St. Ephrem lived a very simple life, living in a cave with a view of Edessa.  During the great famine which occurred, he influenced those with money to help him establish a poor house for the sick and poor.  St. Ephrem died in June in 373.

 

O Giver of light!  Fulfill my supplications and grant me Your gifts according to my prayer; impart to my heart just one drop of Your grace, that the flame of Your love may begin to burn in my heart; and like a fire, may it consume evil thoughts like thorns and thistles!

 

Quote of St. Ephrem of Syria

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. William of York, Feast Day June 8

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St. William of York

 

St. William was born into a powerful family in England during the 12th century.  He was the son of Count Herbert.

In 1142 he was elected Archbishop of York, however his election was disputed on charges of simony and unchastity.  After proving his innocence he was finally consecrated Bishop in 1143.  Because of his charity and gentleness he was very popular.

When Eugenius II was elected Pope complaints again surfaced and he was suspended.  St. William went to Sicily where he lived as a monk devoting himself to a life of prayer.  After the death of Pope Eugene III Pope Anastastius IV restored William as Archbishop of York.  However just one month after he resumed office he died.  Many believed he was poisoned.  Many miracles took place at his tomb.   Pope Honorius III canonized William of York in 1227.

 

I have not even begun to think of unity when the Trinity bathes me in its splendor.

I have not even begun to think of the Trinity when unity grasps me.

Quote of St. Gregory of Nazianzus; Feast Day Jan. 2

 

Month of the Sacred Heart

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Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Paul of Constantinople, Feast Day June 7

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St. Paul of Constantinople

The feast day of St. Paul of Constantinople is celebrated on June 7.  St. Paul was elected the Bishop of Constantinople to succeed Alexander of Constantinople.  The Arian controversy was causing a great deal of turmoil at this time.  Arianism denied the divinity of Christ and the Trinity.

Emperor Constantus II was an Arian and did not approve of the election of St. Paul.  Because  St. Paul defended the belief that Christ is divine as well as human, he was exiled several times by the emperor.  The first time he was exiled but allowed to return in the year 338.  The second time he returned in the year 340.  The third time he was exiled to Mesopotamia, returning in the year 344.  His last time of exile was in the year 350 when he was exiled to Armenia.  Here, he died a martyr’s death.  He was starved and then strangled.

 

The man who has the mission of saying great things

(and all of us Christians have this sweet obligation)

is equally obliged to practice them.

Quote of St. Gregory the Great; Feast Day September 3

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Norbet, Feast Day June 6

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St. Norbet
St. Norbet

The feast day of St. Norbet is celebrated on June 6.

St. Norbet was born at Xanten in the Rhineland around 1080. He was born into a noble family and enjoyed luxury. While a young man he pursued worldly pleasures. He accepted orders as a sub deaconate to ensure his success at court, but he hesitated at becoming a priest.

This all ended after a near fatal accident during a thunderstorm. While riding in the rain, the thunder and lightning spooked his horse and he was thrown to the ground. He lay unconscious for about an hour. When he awoke he asked the Lord, “Lord, What do you want me to do?”  These were the same words of Saul before his conversion. God’s response to Norbet was:

“turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.”

St. Norbet embraced a life of prayer and penance. He now wanted to become a priest. he was ordained in 1115 at the age of 35. He gave everything he owned to the poor. After receiving permission from the pope he traveled throughout Europe preaching the gospel. He was known for his intense devotion to the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. The bishop of Laon requested his aid in reforming the canons, which he willingly did.

At the request of Pope Calictus II Norbet founded a religious order in France, called Canons Regular of Premontre. They followed the Rule of St. Augustine. He continued to preach in France, Belgium and Germany.

St. Norbet eventually became the archbishop of Magdebury however he died on June 6, 1134 soon after his election.

 

Oh, how good and pleasant a thing it is to dwell in the Heart of Jesus!

Who is there that does not love a heart so wounded?

Who can refuse a return of love to a heart so loving?

Quote of St. Bernard; Feast day August 20

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart.

 

Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Boniface, Feast Day June 5

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St. Boniface Cutting Down Tree

 

The feast day of St. Boniface is celebrated on June 5.

St. Boniface was born in Wessex, England in 675. After studying in English monasteries he became a missionary traveling to Europe where he converted pagans in what today is Germany and the Netherlands.

St. Boniface became the bishop of Mainz in 722. He is remembered for cutting down an oak tree which was associated with the god Thor. Those who witnessed the event expected him to be punished by Thor. When nothing immediately happened many people converted.

The pope wanted St. Boniface to reform the German Church. St. Boniface organized the German Church solving many of the existing problems which included the education and proper ordination of the clergy.

On his final mission, at the age of 80, he and 53 companions were martyred while he was instructing converts for the sacrament of confirmation. The date of his martyrdom was June 5, 754. He is referred to as the Apostle to the Germans.

 

In her voyage across the ocean of this world,

the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves

of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship

but to keep her on her course. Let us stand fast in what is right

and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God’s strengthening

aid and say to him “O Lord, You have been our refuge in all generations.”

Quote of St. Boniface

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart.

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Francis Caracciolo, Feast Day June 4.

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St. Francis Caracciolo
St. Francis Caracciolo

The feast day of St. Francis Caracciolo is celebrated on June 4.

St. Francis Caracciolo was born at Villa Santa Maria, Italy in 673. He was born into a noble family. While still young he came down with a skin disease that resembled leprosy. Already a very pious child, he vowed to devote his life to God if he was cured. After making the vow the skin disease was cured. At the age of 22, he began studying for the priesthood at Naples. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament spending many hours in prayer before Our Lord. He also visited those in prisons and hospitals.

St. Francis was ordained in 1587. He soon joined a confraternity known as “The White Robes of Justice”. They visited the criminals sentenced to die. Together with two other devout men he started a religious order called the Minor Clerks Regular. They were very strict. They fasted and did penitential acts. Two years later Francis became the Superior of the Order.

St. Francis spent many hours in the confession. He was known for his gift of discerning hearts and prophecy, foretelling the date of his own death. St. Francis died surrounded by his community on the Vigil of Corpus Christi, June 4, 1608 after coming down with a fever.

 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is not only the temple and the altar,

but also the censer of divine love….In that precious censer

all the worship, praise, prayers, desires, and affections

of all the saints are placed, like so many grains of incense

to be offered to God.

Quote of St. John Eudes; Feast day August 19

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart.

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