Tag Archives: Saint of the Day

Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Laurence O’Toole, Feast Day Nov. 14




 

St. Laurence O'Toole
St. Laurence O’Toole

 

The Feast Day of St. Laurence O”Toole is celebrated on November 14.  He is the patron saint of the archdiocese of Dublin, Ireland.

St. Laurence was born in County Kildare, Ireland.  At the age of ten, Laurence became a hostage of Dermod Mac Murchad, King of Leinster. The king gave him permission, when he was twelve, to enter the monastic school of Glendalough, where he studied for thirteen years. When he was only 25 years old, he became the abbot of the Abby of St. Kevin in 1150. He governed the monastery with virtue and prudence.

In 1162, St. Laurence was unanimously chosen as the Archbishop of Dublin. As Archbishop he focused on the reformation of the clergy. He spent much time in prayer, fasted often and prayed for those who had died. He was known for feeding the hungry and aiding the homeless.

St. Laurence participated in the Lateran Council which was held in 1179 by Pope Alexander III. He died in 1180 at the age of 52. Miracles were recorded after his death at his tomb. He was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1226.

There is One very near you who

knocks at your door every hour of the day,

who begs you to listen to Him

and to keep silence… in order to hear Him.

Quote of St. Just Bretenie’res: Korean Martyr; Feast day March 7

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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patron saints, Sacred Heart, Saint of the Day, United States

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Feast Day November 13

 

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

 

The Feast  Day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is celebrated on November 13.  She is the patron saint of immigrants, orphans and against malaria.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was born in Lombardi, Italy in 1850. She wanted to become a nun but was hindered by poor health. She became a teacher, teaching at a girl’s school for six years.

Frances took religious vows in 1877, adding Xavier to her name to honor St. Francis Xavier.

At the request of her bishop she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children.

At the urging of Pope Leo XIII, she immigrated to the Unites States with six nuns to work with Italian immigrants.  She crossed the Atlantic ocean in spite of her great fear of water.

She founded many schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the United States, England, France, Spain and South America. In New York City, St. Frances Cabrini founded Columbus Hospital and Italian Hospital. In the 1980’s they merged into Cabrini Hospital.

In 1909 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini became a naturalized United States citizen. She died from malaria at the age of 67, on December 22, 1917, at Columbus Hospital in Chicago, IL.

In 1931, her body was exhumed, found partially incorrupt, and is now enshrined under glass in the altar at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan.

The  National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini   was dedicated in 1955. It is located in Chicago at Lincoln Park. Chicago is the city where she primarily lived, worked and died.

The following prayer was written by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.

Fortify me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will.  Amen

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Stretch every fiber of my being, dear Lord, that I may more easily fly towards you.  May your Spirit, which once breathed over the chaos of the earth, give life to all the powers of my soul.

Quote of St. Frances Cabrini

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Incorruptables, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Josephat, Feast Day Nov. 12




 

St. Josaphat
St. Josaphat

The Feast day of St. Josephat is celebrated on November 12.  He is a martyr of the church.

St. Josephat was born in Vladimir, Poland, in 1584. His birth name was Ioann Kuntsevych.  He was ordained a priest and became head of a monastery at Byline.  In 1604, in his early 20s, Kuntsevych entered the Monastery of the Trinity of the Order of Saint Basil the Great in Vilnius, at which time he was given the religious name of Josaphat.  He restored sanctuaries, built a convent and converted many souls. He became Archbishop of Polotsk in 1617 at the age of 38. He restored five cathedrals and aided the poor.

St. Josephat  sought to bring an end to the divisions which were dividing the church. However, six years after becoming bishop he was assassinated. His body was profaned. He was 44 years old. When his body was recovered nine days later it emitted a fragrance of roses and lilies. This caused many people to abandon the schism.

Five years after his death, St. Josephat’s body was found intact although his clothes had disintegrated.  He was canonized in 1867 by Pope Leo XIII.

“Learn to live at God’s hands.”

Quote of St. Edith Stein;  Feast day August 9

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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patron saints, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Martin of Tours, Feast Day Nov. 11




 

St. Martin of Tours
St. Martin of Tours

The Feast day of St. Martin of Tours is celebrated on November 11.  He is the patron saint of soldiers and beggars.

St. Martin was born in 315 in Pannonia, a Roman Province. Martin’s father was an army officer. Secretly he became a catechumen (a student preparing to become Catholic) at the age of ten. He longed to be a monk so that he could be alone with God in prayer. He was forced to join the army at the age of 15 before he had been baptized. His job was to protect the emperor. He became an officer and was assigned garrison duty in Gaul.

He is portrayed in art helping a beggar who was freezing cold and in need of help. Martin removed his cloak, cut it in half with his sword and gave one half to the beggar. That night, Martin had a dream in which Jesus was wearing his cloak. The dream inspired Martin to immediately seek baptism. He was eighteen years old. Two years after his baptism Martin refused to fight any longer, saying,

I have served you as a soldier, now let me serve Christ.”

Martin was eventually ordained an exorcist. He was chosen as the Bishop of Tours because of his holiness. Martin lived outside the city because of his need for solitude.

St. Martin was known for his miracles and his compassion. St. Martin died on Nov. 8 and was buried at his request in the Cemetery of the Poor.  Near the time of his death, St. Martin prayed the following prayer:

“Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work.  Thy will be done.”
Quote of St. Martin of Tours
November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Doctor of the Church, Faith, Pope, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Leo the Great; Feast Day November 10



St. Leo the Great
St. Leo the Great

 

The Feast day of St. Leo the Great is celebrated on November the 10.

St. Leo was born in Tuscany. He lived during a time of great political chaos for the Church. Barbarian armies were ravaging the once mighty Roman Empire. Leo was an ordained a Deacon. He became the Bishop of Rome in 440. He was Bishop of Rome for 21 years, until his death in 461.

During his papacy, he was known for meeting Attila the Hun in 452 as he was preparing to invade Italy. Amazingly, he persuaded him to turn back, and avoided a war. Leo fought many heresies, including Pelagianism which teaches that grace was not necessary for salvation.

Leo is considered one of the great administrators of the Church. He also gave profound spiritual sermons. He presided over the fourth ecumenical council called the Council of Chalcedon. At this council the two natures of Christ was discussed and clarified. The faith teaches that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine.

St. Leo the Great also clarified the role of the pope, persuading Emperor Valentinian to recognize the primacy of the Bishop of Rome in 445.  His teaching focused on the scripture which had Jesus telling Peter:  “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.  What you forbid on earth shall be forbidden in Heaven.  What you allow on earth shall be allowed in heaven.’  (Matthew 16:19)

Leo was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in the eighteenth century. The title “Great” has been given to only three Popes. The three “Great popes are St. Leo the Great, St. Gregory the Greatand St. Nicholas the Great.  St. John Paul II is unofficially considered by some to be “great”.  The title “Great” means that the Pope has exercised great leadership and contributed greatly to the theology of the church.

If indeed we are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit lives in our
hearts…we must work with much vigilance to make the chamber of our heart
not unworthy of so great a guest.
 Quote of St. Leo the Great

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Feast Days, Pope, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica, Nov. 9




 

Basilica of St. John Lateran
Basilica of St. John Lateran

The dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica is celebrated on November 9.

St. John Lateran Basilica is the oldest of the four great basilicas in Rome.   The four basilicas are:

  • The Basilica of St. Peter
  • The Basilica of St. Mary Major
  • The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wallls
  • The Basilica of St. John Lateran

Originally, the site was occupied by the palace of the family of the Laterani. The term “Lateran”  does not  refer to a saint but to the church’s ancient origins as the the Lateran palace, which once belonged the Roman noble family of the Laterni.

Constantine acquired the old palace through marriage. Not only did Constantine end the persecution of the Church he also gave the palace to the Church as a gift and it was enlarged. It became the residency for the Pope.  The Basilica has been dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

Until the 14th century popes resided in the Lateran palace. It’s official title is:

“Mother Church of the whole world.”

The Basilica of St. John Lateran  is the official seat of the Pope (the Pope’s Cathedral).
Pope Sylvester officially dedicated the basilica in the year 324 declaring it a house of God.
The Basilica has been dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

“Little children, love one another.”

Quote of St. John the Evangelist; Feast Day Dec. 27

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

Carmelite Saints, Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Feast Day Nov. 8




 

Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity
Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity
 

The Feast day of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity is celebrated on Nov. 8.  She is the patron saint of the sick and the loss of parents.  St. Elizabeth was born into a military family in 1880. She was strong willed and exuberant. When seven, her father died and her family moved to Dijon.

From her bedroom window, she could see the monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns. After the death of her father she experienced outbursts of anger. She experienced both conversion and peace from the sacrament of confession.

At the age of 14 she received her first communion. From that time on she was no longer angry. She developed a great devotion to the Eucharist. It was on her first communion day that she met the prioress of the monastery for the first time. The prioress explained to her that the meaning of the name Elizabeth is “house of God”.

While Elizabeth had an early desire to become a Carmelite nun, she was delayed by her mother’s objections until she was 21. Until then, she sang in two choirs and helped students prepare for their first communion.

In 1901, she finally entered the Carmel monastery taking the name Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity. She had a great devotion to the Carmelite saints but was also drawn to the teachings of St. Paul. She believed the core of his teaching was the love of Christ.  St. Elizabeth was a contemplative who wrote many poems and prayers including her famous Prayer to the Trinity.

St. Elizabeth died from Addison’s Disease in 1906 (kidney disease) at the age of 26. Elizabeth viewed suffering as a gift; a way to share in the redemptive suffering of Jesus.

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity was canonized by Pope Francis on October 16, 2016.

“Jesus gives His cross to His true friends
so he can come even closer to them.”

Quote of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Carina, Feast Day Nov. 7




 

St. Carina and Companions
St. Carina and Companions

The Feast day of St. Carina and companions is celebrated on November 7.

Very little is known about St. Carina other than her martyrdom. Under the rule of Emperor Julian the Apostate in the city of Ankara, she and her husband and thirteen year old son, Melasippus, were arrested in the year 360 for being Christian. They refused to renounce their faith. St. Carina and her husband were tortured to death. Their son was beheaded.

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues,

but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”

   Quote of C. S. Lewis

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Theophane Venard, Feast Day Nov. 6




 

St. Theophane Venard
St. Theophane Venard

St. Theophane was born in France in 1829. He entered the Foreign Mission of Paris.   He was ordained a priest in 1852 and became a missionary.  He worked for 15 months at Hong Kong before going to West Tonkin which is now Vietnam.

In Vietnam, he taught seminary and ministered to the people of Tonkin for four years.  He was arrested on Nov. 30, 1860 and tried for being a Christian.

During his trial he refused to renounce his faith. St. Theophane was caged for several months before he was beheaded in 1861. While being caged he was allowed to write many letters. Some of them survived. In a letter to his father he wrote,

“We are all flowers planted on this earth, which God plucks in His own good time; some a little sooner, some a little later…Father and son may we meet in Paradise. I, poor little moth, go first. Adieu.”

He was an inspiration to St. Thérèse of Lisieux who is known as the Little Flower.

On June 19, 1988, St. Theophane Venard was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II.  He is considered one of the martyrs of Vietnam.

Guide your ship well.

Let prudence take the helm,

let humility be the rudder,

God your compass,

Mary, your anchor of hope.

Quote of St. Theophane Venard

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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Feast Days, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Elizabeth, Feast Day Nov. 5

 

Virgin Mary Visits Elizabeth
Virgin Mary Visits Elizabeth

St. Elizabeth is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. She is a relative of the Virgin Mary and the wife of Zachariah. Elizabeth was considered barren due to old age. However, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah while he was at the temple. He told him not to be afraid, that he was to have a son and was to name him John. Zachariah questioned the angel and the angel said he would be mute because of his doubt.

Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, came to visit her. It is Elizabeth you greeted Mary by saying,

“Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

When her son was born Zachariah asked for a tablet and wrote

“His name is John”.

Immediately, he was able to speak again. Their son was John the Baptist.  St. John the Baptist and Jesus are considered cousins.

“When a nation lacks saints,

darkness invades people’s minds.”

Quote of Bl. Bronislaw Markiewiez; Poland, (1842-1912)

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Charles Barromeo, Feast Day Nov. 4



St. Charles Borromeo
St. Charles Borromeo

St. Charles Borromeo was born into a noble family in 1528. He was the nephew of Pope Pius IV. When he was twelve he was sent to a Benedictine Abby to be educated.  St. Charles Borromeo is the patron saint of catechists, catechumens and seminarians

St. Charles was an active leader in the Council of Trent. He was ordained a priest while the Council was in progress. That same year he became the Bishop of Milan. At the age of 22, he was named a Cardinal. While serving as the Cardinal of Milan, he enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent. He established seminaries and hospitals. During the plague of 1576, he worked with the sick and helped to bury the dead.   For three months he fed 3000 daily with his own money.  He founded a society for secular priests called the Oblates of St. Ambrose in 1578. It is now known as the Oblates of St. Charles.

St. Charles was very active in the Catholic Reformation, working to rid the church of corruption. He was the teacher and confessor to St. Aloysius Gonzaga.

St. Charles Barromeo died at the age of 46 in 1584.

“The candle that gives light to others must itself be consumed, Thus we also have to act.  We ourselves are consumed to give a good example to others.”

Quote of St. Charles Borromeo

November is the Month of the Holy Souls

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

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




 

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

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