Tag Archives: Dominican

Dominican Saints, Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Aquinas, Feast Day January 28

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




 

St. Thomas Aquinas

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Aquinas,

Feast Day January 28

The feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas is celebrated on Jan. 28.  He is the patron saint of students and universities and a Doctor of the Church.    He was ordained as a Dominican Priest.

St. Thomas was born in Roccasecca, Sicily in 1225. His parents were from Italian nobility. St. Thomas was well educated. He was raised in a Benedictine monastery at Monte Casino. He finished his studies at Naples.

Against his families wishes he joined the Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers and was ordained a priest.  His brothers followed careers in the military. In an attempt to end his desires to become a Dominican, his brothers hired a prostitute to seduce him. According to legend, two angels appeared to Thomas to strengthen him and increase his determination to remain celibate. He thus became known as the “Angelic Doctor”.

While he was still a student, St. Thomas was given the nickname “the dumb ox” due to his large size and silent nature. However, he was actually quite gifted and intelligent. He is considered one of the most influential theologians in the history of the Church.

After he was ordained a priest, Pope Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach. St. Thomas turned down an offer from Pope Clement IV to be the Archbishop of Naples.

St. Thomas published many books. He also wrote many hymns which are still sung today. One of St. Thomas most famous works, Summas Theologica was never completed. He fell ill and died before he could finish it in 1274.

St. Thomas was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V.   He is the patron saint of students and universities.

 

O Lord my God, make me submissive without protest,
poor without discouragement, chaste without regret,
patient without complaint, humble without posturing,
cheerful without frivolity, mature without gloom,
and quick witted without flippancy.

Quote of St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas

January is the Month of the Holy Name.

 

 

Save

 

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Raymond of Penyafort, Feast Day January 7

Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Raymond of Penyafort

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.

 

“We can do no great things;

only small things with great love.”

Quote of St.Teresa of Calcutta; Feast day Sept. 5

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

Save

Dominican, Dominican Saints, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Alcober, Feast Day December 30

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




Dominican Martyrs

The feast day of St. John Alcober is celebrated on December 30.  He was a Dominican Priest, a missionary to China and a Martyr of the Church.

St. John Alcober was born in Granada.in 1694.  He entered the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans, in 1709. When marooned for a time on Lorca, he became popular there as a preacher. He reached China in 1728 where he was a missionary for sixteen years. His ministry was done in secret. St. John is considered one of the Martyrs of China.

He, along with Francis Serrano and Father Francis Diaz, was tortured to disclose the location of Bishop Pere Sans Jorda and Father Joachim Royo, who surrendered to stop the torture.

St. John Alcober, St. Francis Serrano, St. Joachim Royo, and St. Francis Diaz were all martyred on October 18, 1739.

 

“The prayer of a good innocent,

and obedient child is like dew

from heaven falling upon

his whole family.”

Quote of St. John XXIII; Feast Day October 11

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

 

Doctor of the Church, Dominican, Dominican Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Albert the Great, Feast Day Nov. 15

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Albert the Great
St. Albert the Great

The feast day of St. Albert the Great is celebrated on November 15.  He is the patron saint of scientists and philosophers.

St. Albert the Great was born in Germany.   After experiencing an encounter with the Virgin Mary he was inspired to join the Dominican Order also known as the Order of Preachers.

St. Albert was well educated and respected for his knowledge of science and theology, He received his doctorate from the University of Paris in 1245.  He studied and commented on the works of Aristotle.   Eventually, he became a professor of theology the the University of Paris. He became bishop of Regenburg in 1260. Because he refused to ride a horse and traveled entirely by foot he became known as “boots the bishop”). St. Thomas Aquinas was one of his students, later becoming a good friend.

St. Albert was a prolific writer. His writings are compiled in 38 volumes. He wrote about many subjects including philosophy, geography, astronomy, law and love.

St. Albert became well known as a mediator of disputes.  He became ill and died on November 15, 1280.

St. Albert was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1931 and declared a Doctor of the Church.

Three years after his death his body was discovered to be incorrupt.  However, when his grave was opened centuries later, only a skeleton was found.  His relics are found in St. Andreas Church in Cologne.

 

It is by the path of love, which is charity,

that God draws near to man, and man to God.

But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell.

If, then, we possess charity, we possess God,

for God is Charity.

Quote of St. Albert the Great

 

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

 

Save

Save

Dominican Saints, Incorruptables, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Martin de Porres, Feast Day Nov. 3

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




 

St. Martin de Porres
St. Martin de Porres

 

St. Martin was born in Lima, Peru in 1579.  He was the son of the governor of Panama.  His mother Anna Martin was a freed black slave.  St. Martin is the patron saint of social justice and barbers.

When he was 15, he became a Dominican Friar. He worked as a barber, farm laborer and in the infirmary. In the infirmary he cared for the sick.  His medical knowledge regarding herbs was discovered and put to good use.

He begged from the rich to support the sick. His desire was to become a foreign missionary and earn martyrdom. Because this was not possible he offered his body to God. He received many spiritual gifts in return for his penances. Martin loved both humans and animals. He established an orphanage and children’s hospital. He also established a shelter for cats and dogs. He was a friend to St. Rose of Lima. St. Martin de Porres is the first black saint from the Americas.

St. Martin de Porres had many spiritual gifts.  He had healing power and a prophetic gift.  He could see into the future and read hearts.  St. Martin died Nov. 3, 1639.  His body is incorrupt.

Miracles were reported at his tomb.

St. Martin was canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1962.

.

Compassion is preferable to cleanliness,

With a bit of soap I can clean my bed,

but think of the flood of tears I would

require to clean from my soul

the stain that harshness against

this unfortunate would leave.

Quote of St. Martin de Porres

 

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

 

Save

Dominican, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Ambrose of Sienna, Feast day October 8

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




Bl. Ambrose of Sienna
Bl. Ambrose of Sienna

Bl. Ambrose of Sienna was born on April 16, 1220.  He was born with a congenital deformity.  Cared for by a nurse, she took him to Mass at The Dominican Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

It was noticed that little Ambrose was always calm near the altar.  When they left the altar he would cry.  At about the age of a year while they were near the altar Ambrose distinctly pronounced the sacred name of Jesus.  He was instantly healed of his deformity.

Not surprisingly, Ambrose was a very pious child.  At the age of seven he spent his time in meditation and praying the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin.  His Father was an illuminator of books.  One of the gifts he gave Ambrose was a book of saints.  It became Ambrose favorite book.

At the age of 17 Ambrose joined the Dominican Friars.  He was sent to Paris to study with St. Albert the Great.  St. Thomas Aquinas was a fellow student.  Ambrose was influenced by the writing of St. Thomas Aquinas which convinced him to preach rather than write.

Bl. Ambrose preached in Germany, France and Italy, living a life of constant prayer.  He became known as a peacemaker.  He restored peace between Venice and Genoa and also Florence and Pisa.  He was sent on many peacemaking missions.

Bl. Ambrose was given the gift of ecstasy and vision.  After his death  miracles were reported at his tomb.

 

If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship,

he would keep it in port forever.

Quote of St. Thomas Aquinas;  Feast Day January 28

 

October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary

 

Save

Save