Tag Archives: Egypt

Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Macarius of Egypt, Feast Day January 15

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St. Macarius of Egypt

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.

 

“When you hear that Christ, going down to hell,

freed the souls who were prisoners there,

do not think that these things are far removed

from what is being done now,

Believe me, the heart is a tomb.”

Quote of St. Macarius of Egypt

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Catherine of Alexandria, Feast Day Nov. 25

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St. Catherine Alexandria
St. Catherine Alexandria

 

The feast day of St. Catherine Alexandria is celebrated on November 25.  She is the patron saint of Christian philosophers, teachers and librarians.  She is considered a virgin and martyr.

While there is no historical evidence regarding St. Catherine of Alexandria there is a strong tradition about her martyrdom.  St. Catherine was born around 287 in Alexandria, Egypt.  She was the daughter of a wealthy pagan couple. She had a love of learning and studied philosophy and religion. After studying Christianity, she converted.

Legend tells us that she was imprisoned and tortured by Emperero Maxentius after she refused to marry him. He forced her to debate the most learned pagan philosophers hoping she would commit apostasy, however the debates resulted in many conversions to the Christian faith.

St. Catherine was tortured by being placed on a wheel full of spikes in an attempt to kill her. The wheel broke into two pieces and fell apart. She was then beheaded.

 

“Strength for a person who desires to acquire virtues,

consists in not losing heart when one happens to fall,

but in continuing once more on the way.

Not to fall is characteristic only of angels.”

Quote of St. Moses

 

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Pachomius, Feast Day May 9

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St. Pachomius Public Domain Image
St. Pachomius

The feast day of St. Pachominus is celebrated on May 9.

St. Pachomius was born in Egypt in 298 and entered the army when he was twenty years old. The kindness of the Christians he met led to his conversion after he left the army. After his baptism he became a disciple of Palemon. They led a life of poverty and dedicated themselves to God and a life of prayer as hermits.

St. Pachominus built a monastery on the banks of the Nile river at Tabenisi. They soon had 100 monks join them; living a life in community and prayer. St. Pachomius established ten other monasteries and two nunneries for women. Over seven thousand monks were living in his monasteries at the time of his death in 346. He was the first to organize hermits into groups and write a Rule for them to follow.

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 Jan. 28

 

May is the Month of Our Lady

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Doctor of the Church, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Athanasius, Feast Day May 2

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St. Athanasius of Alexandra Public Domain Image
St. Athanasius of Alexandra
Public Domain Image

The feast day of St. Athansius is celebrated on May 2.

St. Athanasius was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 295. He received a classical education. He was ordained a priest and then became bishop of Alexandria. He was a true defender of the Church’s teaching against Arianism, which held the belief that Christ was not divine. The heresy had just begun but became very controversial. During the Council of Tyre, Emperor Constantine exiled him to northern Gaul. Constantine’s son succeeded after his death and restored St. Athanasius as bishop. A year later he was exiled again by a coalition of Arian bishops. When St. Athanasius appealed to Rome, Pope Julius I called a synod to review the situation.

St. Athanasius was exiled five times for defending the divinity of Christ. Although he spent 17 years in exile, his final years were peaceful. He wrote the book, “The Life of St. Anthony”, which described the great monk’s struggles with demons. St. Athanasius died on May 2, 373. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world.”

Quote of St. Athanasius

 

May is the Month of Our Lady