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Faith

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; St. John Henry Newman, Feast Day Oct. 9

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St. John Henry Newman

St. John Henry Newman was born in London in 1801.  He was raised in the Anglican faith.  He first studied law and then decided to become a priest.  He was ordained in the Anglican Church after studying at Trinity College in Oxford.  As an Anglican priest, John Henry was influential in the Oxford Movement.  Eventually, he converted to the Roman Catholic faith and was ordained a priest in Rome in 1848.   Pope Leo XIII named him a cardinal.

St. John Henry Newman was known for writing many books and poetry including the poem Lead kindly light.

He pondered and preached about many theological questions including:

  • significance of Our Lady
  • the authority in the church
  • spirituality during difficult times

St. John Henry Newman died in Birmingham in 1890.  He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.  He was canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019.

Lead Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead Thou me on;
I loved the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

So long Thy pow’r has blest me, sure it still
Wilt lead me on,
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile

Learn to do thy part and leave the rest to Heaven.

Quote of St. John Henry Newman

 

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary

 

 

 

Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. William Carter, Feast Day January 11

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Bl. William Carter

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.”

Quote of St. Augustine; Feast day August 28

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Becket, Feast Day December 29

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St. Thomas Becket

The feast day of St. Thomas Becket is celebrated on December 29. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury and a martyr.

 

St. Thomas Becket was born in 1118 in Normandy. He was the son of a wealthy merchant. He went to Paris to study law. After working in the field of law he decided to become a priest. He continued studying towards this goal. Thomas accepted the position of Bishop of Canterbury in 1162. After becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas gave up his worldly lifestyle. He lived an austere life and was generous with his time and money.

Many disputes arose between St. Thomas and King Henry II. Refusing to cooperate with the King, Thomas proceeded to resign as Archbishop, saying his election had been irregular. The Pope reinstated him as archbishop ordering him not to abandon his office. He then recommended Thomas to the Cistercian Abbot at Pontigny. Thomas followed the rules of the monastery after putting on the habit of a monk.

Troops soon appeared. The Cistercians were warned that they were harboring an enemy. No longer welcome there, the Archbishop turned to King Louis for refuge.

After three years of quarreling, Thomas was named the legate for the Pope for England except York.

St. Thomas was murdered with swords at his cathedral in Canterbury by knights of King Henry.

Many miracles were reported at his tomb. He is considered a martyr for the faith.

“I feel as though I am with Mary and Joseph beside the Crib.

It is good to be there. Outside are the cold and the snow,

images of the world, but in the little cave,

lit by the light of Jesus, it is sweet and warm and light.”

Quote of Bl. Charles de Foucauld; Feast day December 1

 

December is the Month of the Divine Infancy

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Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Edmund, Feast Day November 20

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes:

St. Edmund, Feast Day November 20

St. Edmund
St. Edmund

The feast day of St. Edmund is celebrated on November 20.  He is the patron saint of kings and against plaque and torture. St. Edmund is honored as a martyr of the church.

St. Edmund was crowned King of East Angles on Christmas Day in 855.  He was only fourteen years old.  He modeled himself after King David in the Old Testament.  He tried to serve God in a way similar to King David.  He memorized the psalms written by David and was known for his  piety.

Kind Edmund was a wise ruler.  He was a kind king who believed in justice.  He cared for and served all in his kingdom, including the poor, orphans and widows.

When the Danish attacked, he fought back valiantly.  However, he was outnumbered and eventually captured.  The king was offered freedom in exchange for the Christian people.  King Edmund refused, saying he would never offend God and his people in this way.  He was then executed.

St. Edmund was tied to a tree and whipped.  King Edmund called on Jesus for strength.  He was then shot with arrows into all parts of his body.  Finally, he was beheaded.

King Edmund died in 870.  Many miracles were attributed to him after his death.

 

Faith furnishes prayer with wings, without which it cannot soar to heaven.

Quote of St. John Climacus, Feast day March 30

 

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

 

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Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Roberts, Feast Day October 25

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes:

St. John Roberts, Feast Day October 25

St. John Roberts
St. John Roberts

 

The feast day of St. John Roberts is celebrated on October 25.  He is considered one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales whose joint feast day is October 25.

St. John Roberts was born to John and Anna Roberts in 1575 at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, North Wales.  He studied law.  While traveling in Paris he converted to Catholicism.    After studying at the English College at Vallodolid for a year he left to join the Abbey of St. Benedict.  He was ordained a priest and soon traveled to England.

While in England, St. John Roberts was arrested several times.  He returned to England and worked serving those afflicted by the plaque.  He was arrested a second time in 1604 while traveling to Spain.  Not knowing he was a priest he was soon released but he returned again.  On Nov. 5, 1605, he was arrested again and imprisoned at Westminster for seven months and exiled in 106 for 14 months.  He founded a house for English Benedictine monks during this time which eventually became known as the Monastery of St. Gregory.

Arrested again in 1607, he escaped after several months.  Knowing he would be executed if caught again, he still returned to England.   He was arrested on Dec. 2, 1610 as the Mass he was celebrating  came to an end.  When he refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy he was tried and condemned to death.

On Dec. 10, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.  His body disappeared during the French Revolution.

In 1970, St. John Roberts was canonized by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

“Were I to live longer, I would continue to do what I have been doing.”

Quote of St. John Roberts

 

October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary

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Faith, Martyr, Prayer, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Boste, Feast Day July 24

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St. John Boste

St. John Boste is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.  Their feast day is celebrated together on October 25.   The Feast Day of St. John Boste is celebrated on July 24, the anniversary of his death.

St. John Boste was born in Dufton Westmoreland in 1544.  He attended Queen’s College, Oxford.  He became the first headmaster to serve under Queen Elizabeth l.  He converted to Catholicism and was received into the Church in 1576.  After leaving England he was ordained a priest in Rheims in 1581.

St. John Boste returned to England as a missionary priest.  He evaded arrest for ten years.  After a betrayal, he was finally arrested.  He was found hiding behind a fireplace after celebrating a forbidden Mass.  He was taken to the Tower of London and interrogated on the rack.  He was then hung, drawn and quartered while reciting the Angelus prayer.

 

My function is to invade souls, not to meddle in temporal invasions.

Quote of St. John Boste

 

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

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Incorruptible, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Audrey, Feast Day June 23

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St. Audrey

The feast day of St. Audrey is celebrated on June 23.

St. Audrey was also known as Etheldreda. She was born an English princess. At her parents insistence, she married a prince named Tonbert. He permitted her to keep the vow of virginity which she had earlier made. However, after three years she was a widow.

She was later forced to marry a king from Northumberland, named Egfrid. After twelve years he tried to change her mind about living as brother and sister. When she refused he tried to bribe the bishop St. Wilfred of York, asking him to release her from her vows. St. Wilfrid refused.

With the permission of her husband St. Audrey became a nun and founded the Abbey of Ely. She died from an enormous growth on her neck in 679. She was not yet 50 years old.

Sixteen years later her body was found to be incorrupt. 

 

Charity is the sweet holy bond that binds the soul with the Creator.

Quote of St. Catherine of Siena

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas More, Feast Day June 22

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St. Thomas More

The feast day of St. Thomas More is celebrated on June 22.  St. Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers.

St. Thomas More was born in London, England in 1478. He wrote the famous book Utopia which was a work of fiction which depicted a pagan and communist island which was ruled by reason. It touched on many controversial issues and established him as a humanist.

St. Thomas More attended St. Anthony’s School in London and served as a page for the archbishop of Canterbury. He continued his studies at Oxford University eventually becoming a lawyer. He was tempted to become a monk and moved near to a Cathusian monastery near London. He participated as much as possible. Torn becoming a monk or working as a civil servant his desire to become a civil servant won. In 1504, he entered Parliament.
Life began to change in 1527 when King Henry tried to use the Bible to prove to Thomas More that his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, who failed to produce a male child, was void. St. Thomas More could not agree with King Henry’s plan to divorce Catherine.

In 1532, Thomas More resigned from the House of Commons because of his health. When More refused to swear to King Henry’s Act of Succession and the Oath of Supremacy he was refusing allegiance to the King.

St. Thomas More was sent to the Tower of London on April 17, 1534 and found guilty of treason. He was beheaded on July 6, 1535. His last words were:

“The king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

St. Thomas More is considered a martyr of the faith.
St. Thomas More was canonized in 1935 by Pope Pius XI.

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Quote of St. Thomas More

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Faith, Saint of the Day

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

 

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart

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Benedictine Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Augustine of Canterbury, Feast Day May 27

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St. Augustine of Canterbury

The feast day of St. Augustine of Canterbury is celebrated on May 27.

St. Augustine was the prior of the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew in Rome. Pope Gregory decided he needed to send missionaries to England. Augustine and 30 monks were who he chose to send. The mission was to unite the Christians after the Saxon conquest of England.

The King of England listened with curiosity to what the missionaries had to say. On Pentecost Sunday in 597, King Ethelbert was baptized. He believed in religious freedom and did not make his new religion mandatory however many followed his example and were baptized. St. Augustine was not successful in uniting the Anglo-Saxon Christians with the original Briton Christians (Celtics). He followed Pope Gregory’s advice to purify rather than destroy pagan temples and customs. As much as possible pagan rites and festivals were changed into Christian feasts.

St. Augustine died eight years after arriving in England. He died on May 26.

God’s works are not regulated by our plans and wishes.

Quote of St. Vincent de Paul; Feast day September 27

 

May is the Month of Our Lady

Doctor of the Church, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Bede the Venerable, Feast Day May 25

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St. Bede

The feast day of St. Bede the Venerable is celebrated on May 25.

St. Bede was born  in Sunderland, England in 672 or 673 near the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul.  At an early age he was sent there to be educated.  His entire life became a life of study and prayer.

At the age of 19, he ordained a deacon.  He became a priest at the age of 30.  After declining  a request to be abbot of his monastery he chose to instead focus on writing.  He wrote over 60 books, which have not survived.  He also translated writings of the early church Fathers from Latin and Greek into English.

St. Bede died on Ascension Thursday, May 26, 735 while singing to God.   Pope Leo XIII proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church in 1899.

 

Christ is the morning star, who, when the night of this world is past, brings to His saints the promise of the light of life and opens everlasting day.

Quote of St. Bede

May is the Month of Our Lady

Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Carthusian Martyrs, Feast Day May 11

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Carthusian Martyrs

The feast day of the Carthusian Martyrs is celebrated on May 11. The Carthusian Order was founded in 1084 by St. Bruno of Cologne. It was a strict order. Its members lived as hermits, focusing on contemplative prayer. It consisted of 25 houses with 350 male and 75 female members. They came under attack during the Hessite Revolution in Bohemia in the 15th century.

In 1537 during the English Reformation the London Charter house was dissolved. Its members were put in prison and later executed when they refuse to declare King Henry the head of the Church of England. King Henry issued the “Act of Supremacy” declaring any who refused to take an oath recognizing him as head of the Church of England to be guilty of high treason. Eighteen Carthusians refused and were sentenced to death.

The first Carthusians to be martyred were hanged, drawn and quartered. All were tortured before they were martyred. Eighteen were beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886. Three were canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.

Our Lord likes courage.  Get it from Him.  You won’t find it in yourself.
Quote of St. Katherine Drexel; Feast Day March 3 

May is the Month of Our Lady

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