Tag Archives: Featured

Faith, Featured, Martyr, Saint of the Day

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




Bonifatius_Donareiche
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.
Faith, Feast Days, Featured, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Feast of the Visitation, Feast Day May 31



The Visitation Public Domain Image
The Visitation

The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin is celebrated on May 31.

We celebrate Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth while she was pregnant with Jesus. Elizabeth was six months pregnant with St. John the Baptist. When they met, the baby lept for joy in Elizabeth’s womb.

Not only the baby, but Mary and Elizabeth were filled with joy. Elizabeth tells Mary:

“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Mary responds with the Magnificat which has become a beautiful hymn of praise and thanksgiving.

Magnificat
My soul does magnify the Lord:
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid:  for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty has done great things to me: and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation until generations, to them that fear Him.
He has showed might with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He has received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy:
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

The Visitation Public Domain Image
The Visitation

As we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation let us reflect on how important our families are to us. Imagine the joy Elizabeth and Mary shared together as they anticipated the birth of their babies! It is important that we too, give thanks to God for the many blessings he has bestowed on us and our families.

God hugs you.

Quote of St. Hildegarde of Bingen; Feast day Sept. 17

May is the Month of Our Lady

Faith, Featured, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Bona of Pisa, Feast Day May 29




St. Bona of Pisa
St. Bona of Pisa

The Feast Day of St. Bona of Pisa is celebrated on May 29. She is the patron saint of flight attendants, travelers, pilgrims and travel guides.

St. Bona of Pisa was born in 1156 in Pisa, Italy. She was the child of a single mother. She was told that her father had vanished during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. As a child she was very pious. In a vision while praying before the crucifix, Jesus reached out his hand and touched her. By the age of ten she had become an Augustinian tertiary. (A tertiary is a lay member of a monastic order).

In another vision she learned that her father was still alive and fighting in the Crusades in Jerusalem. St. Bona decided to make a trip to Jerusalem to find her father. After finding him she returned home, only to be captured by pirates on the Mediterranean Sea!  Countrymen came to her rescue and she eventually arrived home safely.

St. Bona was appointed the official pilgrimage guide by the Knights of St. James.  She made nine trips to Spain and Santiago de Compostella, always leading a group of pilgrims. On her final trip she became very ill. She died at the age of 51 after returning home from the pilgrimage.

Pope John XXIII named her the patron saint of flight attendants, travel guides, couriers and travelers.

The greatest method of prayer is to have none.
If in going to prayer one can form in oneself a pure capacity
for receiving the spirit of God, that will suffice all method.
Quote of St. Jane Francis de Chantal; Feast day December 12

May is the Month of Our Lady.

Save

Save

Eucharist, Faith, Featured, Prayer, Spirituality

Catholics Nourished by Living Bread



Monstrance Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Monstrance
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

At the center of the Catholic faith is its’ belief in the Eucharist. Jesus Himself said:

“I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6, 35).

In John 6.53 He states,

“Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day, for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.”

The church has always interpreted this statement to be literally true. How is this possible? All things are possible with God!!

In the Old Testament, God rained down manna from the sky to feed the Israelites in the desert for forty years. The Eucharist is modern day manna. Our faith is nourished and kept alive by living bread… the body and blood of Jesus Christ. St. Paul teaches us that the church is the Body of Christ. In I Corinthians 12-13 St. Paul states:

“For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

The Saints in the early church all professed a belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.   Justyn Martyr (100-165) was one of the first to try to explain this belief.

Next Sunday, we celebrate Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ). It is important for us to reflect on how Jesus came to nourish us, not only by scripture but by being true food for us.

Through God all things are possible. When we read the bread of life discourse (John 6), we need to ask ourselves, do we truly believe what Jesus tells us, or like the disciples who turn away do we pick and choose the teachings of Jesus we want to believe.

To quote St. Augustine ((354-430),

“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it’s not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

To be true disciples of Jesus, we must get to know Him, to love Him and let ourselves be fed by Him.

 

Benedictine Saints, Faith, Featured, Saint of the Day

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




St. Augustine of Canterbury Public Domain Image
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

Faith, Featured, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Baptist Rossi, Feast Day May 23




St. John Baptist Rossi
St. John Baptist Rossi

The Feast Day of St. John Baptist Rossi is celebrated on May 23.

St. John Baptist Rossi was born in Voltaggio, Italy in 1698. He was one of four children. He studied in Rome. Suffering from epilepsy, he was forced to leave college. However, he eventually finished his studies. He was ordained a priest at the age of 23.

St. John Baptist Rossi worked in Rome for 40 years. He served the sick, homeless and prisoners. He earned a reputation for being a good confessor. He especially supported the hospice of Saint Gala which gave overnight shelter to the poor. It was founded by Pope Celestine III.

In 1764, St. John died from a stroke. The papal choir sang at his choir and 260 priests attended his funeral. He was canonized by Pope Leo XII in 1881.

From silly devotions and sour faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!
St. Teresa of Avila; Feast day October 15
May is the Month of Our Lady
Apostle, Faith, Feast Days, Featured

The Catholic Church Celebrates its Birthday on Pentecost Sunday




Pentecost Public Domain Image
Pentecost

Many people falsely believe the church began when Christ rose from the dead.  However, the official beginning of the church is celebrated on Pentecost Sunday.

Fifty days after the crucifixion, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles.  They were transfigured from frightened, confused disciples of Jesus to men of courage and conviction.  Their confusion was removed by the Holy Spirit, or as Jesus called him…The Advocate.

The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity.  As Catholics, we believe in One God, manifest by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Belief in the trinity was passed on through church traditions.  Before every prayer, we begin with the sign of the cross,   praying in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The mystery of the cross (suffering) is important to our faith.  Without suffering, we cannot come close to Jesus on the cross.  Jesus told the Apostles He would not leave them orphaned.  He would send them the Advocate, to lead and guide them.  Today, we call the Advocate the Holy Spirit.

Trinity Crucifix
Trinity Crucifix

Just as each of us has more than one type of relationship (mother, daughter, sister)  God also shows Himself to us in different ways; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The Father is the creator of everything, Jesus is the Son, sent to redeem the world from the slavery of sin, and the Holy Spirit is the Advocate sent to guide and show us the way to the Father and Son.

The most important part of prayer is actually listening in quiet for guidance from God.  Sharing with him our pain, joy and needs is important, but we must also ask him to lead us by His Holy Spirit, so that we may know His will in our life.

The symbols of the Holy Spirit are the Dove, the wind, and the fire. God speaks to us in many ways.  Listen for him in the silence.

As Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said,

“In the silence of the heart God speaks.”

When you hear God in the silence of your heart, you are experiencing Pentecost…..the birth of your faith.

Faith, Featured, Incorruptible, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Zita, Feast Day April 27



St. Zita
St. Zita

 

The Feast Day of St Zita is celebrated on April 27.  St. Zita is the patron of maidservants and housewives.

Zita was born in Tuscany, Italy in 1212. At the age of 12, she became a servant for the Fatinelli household. She was mistreated by her employees and criticized for her hard work by her fellow servants. She continued to be meek and humble and had an inward peace that everyone could see. She was good and loving to everyone regardless of how they treated her. Eventually she gained everyone’s trust and was put in charge of the house.

Zita believed that her work was assigned to her by God. She always rose early to pray before work. She attended daily mass and spent the rest of the day working tirelessly.

When Zita died at the age of 60 on April 27, 1271 it is said that a star appeared above the attic where she slept. She had served the family for 48 years. Miracles reported at the time of her death numbered 150.

In 1580, the body of Zita was exhumed and found to be incorruptible.  Her body was put on display in a silver casket, as is tradition, in the church where she had prayed while alive.  Although her body is “incorruptible,” it is browned and wizened, probably the result of a form of natural mummification. Only her hands and face are uncovered for viewing.

St. Zita was canonized in 1696.

There is no place for selfishness…and no place for fear! Do not be afraid then,

when love makes demands. 

Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice.

Quote of St. John Paul II

 

April is the Month of the Eucharist.

Save

Faith, Featured, Prayer, Spirituality

Which person in the Trinity do you find it easiest to pray to?




 

 
 Many of our formal prayers end with the Glory Be prayer. I asked my friends which person in the Trinity they found it easier to turn to, and who they found it difficult to turn to in prayer. There is no wrong answer! After reflecting, I realized that during my prayer journey (my pilgrimage) I have come to know each of the persons in the Trinity in a more personal way.

Save

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Matilda, Feast Day March 14




St. Matilda in Art
St. Matilda

 

St. Matilda is the patron saint of widows and second wives.  Her feast day is celebrated on March 14.

 

St. Matilda was born in 895. She was raised by her grandmother, the Abbess of Eufurt Convent. Matilda married Henry the Fowler who was the son of the Duke Otto of Saxony, whose first marriage had been declared invalid. He eventually became the King of Germany.

Widowed in 936, St. Matilda was known for her generosity towards charities. This estranged her from her sons, Otto and Henry. They became angry and criticized her extravagance. She decided to retire to a country home. In time, her sons asked for forgiveness welcoming her back to the palace.

St. Matilda built many churches, convents and monasteries. She lived her final years at the convent at Nordausen. She died at the monastery at Quedlinberg on March 14, 968 where she is buried.

 

Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.

 

Quote of St. Rose of Lima; Feast day August 23

 

 

March is the Month of St. Joseph

Save

Save

Save

Save

Faith, Featured, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gregory of Nyssa, Feast Day March 9


St. Gregory of Nyssa

 

The Feast Day  of St. Gregory of Nyssa is celebrated on March 9.  

St. Gregory was born in 335 in Cappadocia, Asia Miner. He came from a family of at least five saints. St. Basil and St. Emmilia were his parents. He was raised by his brother St. Basil the Great and his sister Macrina in what is today known as Turkey.

St. Gregory married but continued studying for the priesthood which at that time allowed married priests. In 372 he became the Bishop of Nyssa. He taught against many false doctrines, defending the divinity of Christ. He defended the orthodox beliefs on the Trinity, Incarnation and Redemption.

St. Gregory was arrested briefly and falsely accused of embezzlement. He was restored as bishop in 378. St. Gregory attend the first Council of Constantinople in 381 and settled many disputes within the church. He was a philosophical theologian and mystic. He became known as the “Father of Mysticism.”   St. Gregory died in the year 395.

 

 

May what is pleasing to God be always in your mind and heart and in mine.

Quote of St. Gregory of Nyssa

 

March is the Month of St. Joseph.

Save

 

Save

Faith, Featured, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. David of Wales, Feast Day March 1




St. David of Wales Public Domain Image
St. David of Wales