Tag Archives: Saint of the Day

Faith, Feast Days, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Assumption of Mary, Feast Day August 15

 


The Assumption of Mary by Palma il Vecchio Public Domain Image
The Assumption of Mary by Palma il Vecchio

 

 

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated on August 15. While this is a belief which goes back to the apostolic age, it was proclaimed dogma on Nov. 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII.

The word assumption means “to take up.” It is believed that Mary was assumed into heaven by the power of God. This is not the same as the Ascension of Jesus. Jesus ascended into heaven by His own power. The assumption of Mary into heaven gives glory to God by whose power she was taken into heaven.

Pope Pius XII in the papal document, Munificentimus Deus gives four reasons why we believe in the dogma of Assumption of Mary. He explained that the uninterrupted tradition about Mary’s death and assumption began in the first century. The belief is expressed in all the ancient liturgies of the Church. He added that the negative evidence is the absence of veneration of a tomb of Mary while most of the apostles have tombs.

In the Old Testament there is the possibility of bodily assumption in the cases of Enoch (Gen. 5:24), Moses (Deut. 34:5) and Elijah (IIKg. 2:1)

The theological reasons for believing in the Assumption of Mary are twofold.

First; Mary was “immaculately conceived”.  This means she was born without the consequence of “original sin” and is exempted from the postmortem decay of the body.   She is sometimes referred to as “The Second Eve“.

Second; Mary received the fullness of grace and holiness as the mother of Jesus. Her place is with her son Jesus, the redeemer in heaven.

 

Good Lady, bearer of our good Lord,

watch over us…lead us to the safe harbor

of God’s will.

 Quote of St. John Damascene

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

 

 

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Faith, Franciscan Saints, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips, and Quotes: St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Feast Day August 14



St. Maximilian Kolbe Public Domain Image
St. Maximilian Kolbe

 

The Feast Day of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe is celebrated on August 14.  He was born in Poland in 1894.  His father ran a religious book store before enlisting in the army.  His mother later became a Benedictine Nun.  St. Maximilian is the patron saint of drug addicts, prisoners, families, and the pro life movement.

At the young age of 12, Maximilian experienced a vision from the Virgin Mary.

 

“That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.”

 

Maximilian entered the minor seminary of the Conventual Franciscans in Lviv (formerly Poland, now the Ukraine) becoming a novice at 16.  He studied science as well as philosophy and theology.  He was ordained a priest at the age of 24.  His mission was to fight against indifference towards God.  He founded the Militia of the Immaculata which fought evil and promoted prayer, work and suffering.  He became known as the Apostle of Consecration to Mary.

When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, Kolbe and his friars were arrested and then released after 3 months on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

He was arrested a second time in 1941.  After three months a prisoner escaped and ten men were ordered to be executed.  St. Maximilian Kolbe offered to take the place of a man about to be executed.   When asked who he was he replied, ” a priest”.  The commandant allowed the exchange.  He was stripped naked and given no food.  The prisoners sang.  On the eve of the Feast of the Assumption the jailer came to inject the remaining prisoners with a needle with carbolic acid.  The bodies of the prisoners were burned.

Maximilian Kolbe was canonized in 1982.

 

No one in the world can alter the truth,

all we can do is seek it and live it.

Quote of St. Maximilian Kolbe

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Faith, Featured, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Maximus the Confessor, Feast Day August 13


The Feast day of St. Maximus the Confessor is celebrated on August 13.  He was born in 580 in Constantinople to a noble family.

After serving as secretary to Emperor Heraclius, Maximus became a monk and abbot at Chrysopolis, which is now Turkey.

St. Maximus attended the Lateran Council which condemned Monotheism.  Monotheism believed Jesus Christ had a divine nature not a human nature.  After returning from the council St. Maximus refused to accept Monotheism which was a heresy prevalent at the time.  He was arrested and charged with treason.  After six years in prison he was brought back to Constantinople with two of his disciples to be tortured and mutilated.   Their tongues and right hands were cut off.  They were then sent to Skhemaris on the Black Sea where he died in the year 662

St. Maximus is considered a mystic and honored for his theology of the Incarnation and the two natures of Christ…human and divine.  He wrote over 90 works on the faith.

After his death miracles were reported to have occurred at this tomb.

 
“Be on guard lest the vice
that separated you from your brother
be not found in your brother, but in you; 
and hasten to be reconciled to him
lest you fall away from the commandment of love.”
Quote of St. Maximus the Confessor

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Featured, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips, and Quotes: St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Feast Day August 12

 



 

St. Jane Frances de Chantal Public Domain Image
St. Jane Frances de Chantal

The Feast Day of St. Jane Frances de Chantal is celebrated on August 12. Jane was born on Jan. 18, 1572, in Dijon, France. She was born into a family of nobility. Her father was the president of the parliament of Burgundy. At the age of 29 she married Baron Christophe de Chantal. Their marriage lasted seven years during which they had three daughters and a son. Jane became a widow when Christophe died tragically in a hunting accident when Jane was 28 years old. Although her husband forgave the man who shot him, Jane struggled for a long time to forgive him. With time and God’s grace she was finally able to do so. Because she was able to forgive him, she became the godmother of his child.

To support her children, Jane moved home with her father-in-law. For seven years she managed his estate bearing patiently his abusive behavior. Jane turned to God for guidance. In a vision she saw the person who was meant to be her spiritual director. When she met St. Francis de Sales while he was preaching, she recognized him as the person in her vision. He soon became her spiritual director. They corresponded by letter. Many of the letters have survived.

With the guidance of St. Francis de Sales, Jane opened the Congregation of the Visitation in 1610. They focused on uniting their will to the will of God; trusting in Him and seeking to please Him. After the death of St. Francis de Sales, St. Vincent de Paul became her spiritual director. By the time of her death 86 convents were opened. The Order welcomed women who had been rejected from entering other orders due to health and age. When St. Jane died at the age of 69 she was known for her sanctity. She was credited with miracles before and after her death. St. Jane was canonized in 1767.

We should throw ourselves into God as

a little drop of water into the sea,

and lose ourselves indeed,

in the ocean of the divine goodness.

Quote of St. Jane Frances de Chantal

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Faith, Featured, Franciscan Saints, Incorruptible, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Clare of Assisi, Feast Day August 11




 

St. Clare of Assisi Public Domain Image
St. Clare of Assisi

 

The Feast day of St. Clare of Assisi is celebrated on August 11. St. Clare was born to a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy on July 16, 1194. At the age of 15 she refused to marry as her parents wished her to do. When she heard St. Francis speak on Palm Sunday, she left home to join him at San Damiano. She took a vow of poverty after which St. Francis cut off her long hair and gave her a brown habit to wear. She was later followed by her sister Agnes and her mother. The ladies who followed St. Francis became known as “The Poor Ladies.” After Clare eventually was named Abbess they became known as “The Poor Clares.”

The Poor Clares went barefoot, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence. They lived an enclosed life, away from the world. The Poor Clares actually predated the Franciscans which was later founded by St. Francis. St. Clare saw St. Francis as a spiritual father figure and cared for him during his illness and at the end of his life in 1226.

St. Clare died  in Assisi on August 11, 1253.  She was discovered to be incorrupt on September 23,1850 when her coffin was opened.  Her body can be viewed in the crypt at Santa Chiara, Italy.

St. Clare was canonized by Pope Alexander in 1255.

Love Him totally
who gave Himself totally
for your love.
Quote of St. Clare of Assisi
St. Clare of Assisi in Art

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Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Lawrence, Feast Day August 10




St. Lawrence of Rome Public Domain Image
St. Lawrence of Rome
Public Domain Image

 

The Feast day of St. Lawrence is celebrated on August 10.  St. Lawrence is the patron saint of deacons, librarians, and the poor.

St. Lawrence served as a deacon in Rome in the third century. He was a disciple of Pope Sixtus II (251-258). The Pope chose him as one of seven deacons to serve in Rome. He eventually became an archdeacon. As archdeacon of Rome he served at the altar with the Pope and was his assistant serving the poor.

During the reign of Emperor Valerion in 258 he was arrested. While in prison it is believed that St. Lawrence cured a blind man named Lucillus and several other blind people. Because he refused to cooperate with his captors he was martyred. He was roasted alive on a gridiron. St. Lawrence died joyfully proclaiming his faith. He prayed for the conversion of the city of Rome and the world.

Before his death St. Lawrence remarked;

“At last I am finished; you may now take from me and eat!”

He then turned to God in prayer saying,

“I thank You, O Lord;
that I am permitted to enter Your portals.”
My body is well done.
Turn it over.
it is roasted enough on that side.

 

Quote of St. Lawrence

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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Carmelite Saints, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Edith Stein, Feast Day August 9




 

 

St. Edith Stein Public Domain Image
St. Edith Stein
Public Domain Image

The Feast day of St. Edith Stein is celebrated on Aug. 9. St. Edith Stein was also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She is the patron saint of loss of parents and converts. Edith Stein was born in Breslav, Germany on Oct. 12, 1891. She was the youngest of a large Jewish family.  Her father ran a timber business but he died when she was only two years old. Her mother was hard working and devout. Edith, however, lost her faith when she was in her teens.

Edith studied at the University of Breslav where she studied German and history as well as philosophy and women’s issues. She considered herself a radical suffragette. When World War I began she completed a course in nursing and served in an Austrian field hospital, caring for wounded soldiers. After the war she received her degree, writing her thesis on “The problem of Empathy.“

Witnessing a person kneeling for a brief prayer while holding a shopping basket in the Frankfurt Cathedral Edith had a great impact on her faith. In 1917, Edith visited a widow who had converted to Protestantism. It was during this visit that she was introduced to the cross of Christ. Edith began reading the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. She then read the Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila. St. Teresa described God not as a God of knowledge but as a God of Love. Edith decided to study the Catholic Catechism. Soon after she decided to become Catholic. She was baptized on Jan. 1, 1922.

St. Edith felt called into the Carmelite way of life but decided to wait. She accepted a position teaching German and history at a Dominican Sister’s school. She also translated the letters and diaries of Cardinal Newman. Edith joined the Carmelite Convent of Cologne at the age of 42. She took the name Teresa, Benedicta Cruce; Teresa of the Cross. She believed it was her vocation to intercede for others through prayer. As a Carmelite she wrote several books, including The Science of the Cross.

Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was arrested by the Gestapo on Aug 2, 1931 while she was in the chapel. She was taken with other Jewish Christians to Amersfoort and then to Westerbork. They were then deported to Auschwitz. On Aug. 9, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross died in the gas chamber of Auschwitz at the age of 51. She was canonized as a martyr by Pope John Paul II.

If we place our hands of the divine Child,
if we say “Yes” to the “Follow me”,
then we are His, and the way is free
for His divine life to flow into us.
Quote of St. Edith Stein

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Dominican Saints, Featured, patron saints, Prayer, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Dominic, Feast Day August 8

El_Greco,_St_Dominic_in_Prayer Public Domain Image

The Feast Day of St. Dominic is celebrated on August 8th. He was born in 1170 to Felix Guzman and Blessed Joan of Aza in Caleruega, Spain. After studying at the University at Palencia he was ordained a priest at the age of 25. St. Dominic was known for self-denial, holiness, piety and apostolic zeal. He refused to eat meat or sleep on a bed. He also renounced wealth.

In 1215 he founded an order of Dominican Nuns. Their mission was to care for young girls. This was followed by the founding of the Order of Preachers, which became known as the Dominicans. The purpose of the order was to preach the Word of God. They were also known as the “Black Friars”. The rule followed the Rule of St. Augustine. Their focus was on liturgical prayer and lifelong study.

The primary heresy the Dominicans preached against was Albigensianism. This was the belief that there are two dueling principles, good and evil, and that all matter was regarded as evil. They also taught that the devil is the creator of the material world.

A devotion which St. Dominic helped to spread is the Rosary. a Marian devotion, which combines meditation on the life of Christ, with memorized prayer. Tradition tells us that when Dominic became discouraged with the slow progress of his work of preaching against the Abligensian heresy, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him with a beautiful wreath of roses. She asked him to say the Rosary every day and to teach the people to say the Rosary. Soon the heresy began to disappear. The devotion of the rosary continues today.

After forming his order Dominic had a dream vision in which he met another person, a beggar. The next day, Dominic recognized this man when he came into his church. It was St. Francis of Assisi the future founder of the Franciscan Order. Dominic embraced him saying,

“You are my companion and must walk with me. For if we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us.”

St. Dominic and St. Francis were lifelong friends. Their orders celebrate their meeting on the feast day of their saint.

The motto of St. Dominic is: “To praise, to bless, to preach”. St. Dominic once said;

“Arm yourself with prayer, rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.”

St. Dominic died on August 6, 1221 from a fever. Because of his love of learning and teaching, St. Dominic is known as the patron of astronomers.

Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you
after my death and I shall help you then
more effectively than during my life.
Quote of St. Dominic
St. Dominic in Art

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

  • St. Dominic Public Domain Image

 

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Apostle, Faith, Feast Days, Featured, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: The Transfiguration, Feast Day August 6




The Transfigurateion by Rubens Public Domain Image
The Transfiguration by Rubens

Has your faith in Jesus Christ transformed you?  The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord is celebrated on August 6.

On this feast day we remember the event which took place shortly after St Peter proclaimed his faith in the Lord, saying…  “You are the Messiah!”

Three Apostles accompanied Jesus into the mountains believed to be Mount Tabor.  They were the Apostles John, James and Peter

And he was transfigured before them and His face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white.  Appearing with Jesus were Moses and Elijah, talking with him.  (Matthew 17.2-4).

The Apostles heard a voice saying:

This is my Son, the Beloved;  with him I am well pleased listen to him!”” (Matthew 17:5)

The Apostles fell to the ground overcome by fear.  But Jesus came and said,

“Get up and do not be afraid”

How does your faith in Jesus change your life?  Does it take away your fear?  What is different in your life because of your faith?

Hopefully, our faith is alive and growing stronger.  It is only through a strong prayer life that we can develop a relationship with Jesus which is visible to other people.  When we let Jesus lead us through the dark times of our life, our trust in Him gives us strength.  Our joy becomes evident when our faith is real and we have let Jesus touch our hearts.  It is a joy we have a need to share with others!

The types of prayer styles are many.  Basically, prayer is turning to God.  It is a conversation we have with Him.  Learning which prayer style fits us can be difficult.  Meditation can help us come to know God better.  Another word for meditation is reflection.  Reflecting on scripture, art or music is a wonderful way to spend time with God.

Advent wreath

Don’t forget to listen!  After you tell God your troubles and count your blessings, sit quietly and let him speak to you in the silence.  Light a candle to help center yourself.  The light of a candle represents the Light of Christ.  Remember, Jesus himself said:

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of Life.” John 8:12

In order to let the light of Jesus shine in our life we must let him into our hearts.  With an  open heart reflect on the following quote.

Faith in action is love, and love in action is service.  
By transforming that faith into living acts of love,
we put ourselves in contact with God Himself, with Jesus our Lord.
Quote of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta;  Feast Day September 5

Transfiguration by David Gerard

The Transfiguration by Raphael

The Transfiguration by Giovanni Salvaldo

The Transfiguration by Rubens

 The Transfiguration by Perugino

The Transfiguration by James Tissot

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Feast Days, Featured, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Our Lady of the Snows, Feast day August 5

 

8Our Lady of the Snow

 

The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Snows is celebrated on August 5.  It is on this day the Basilica of Mary Major was dedicated.

A man by the name of John lived in the ancient city of Rome.  He and his wife were childless.  They chose to leave their fortune to Mary, the Mother of God.  Pope Liberius suggested that they pray for a sign to guide them in what she wished them to do.

On the evening of August 5, Our Lady appeared to John, his wife and the Pope asking for a church to be built in her honor on the Esquiline Hill.  John and his wife asked for a sign.   She told them:

“Snow will crown the crest of the hill.”

Although it snows only on rare occasions in Rome the snow covered the hill during the summer night of August 5, 358.  The snow fell in a pattern showing the outline of the church soon to be built.

Mary soon became known as Our Lady of the Snows.  Snow symbolizes that Mary is as ‘pure as the driven snow’.  Her many blessings may be compared to the number and variety of snowflakes.

The church built is now known as Saint Mary Major.  It has since been enlarged and restored.  Other names it has been known as are Basilica of Liberius, Saint Mary of the Crib and finally Saint Mary Major.

A statue of Our Lady of the Snows is believed to have been produced by St. Luke the Apostle.

Mary is always performing these two movements:  absorbing grace from her most holy son, and pouring it forth on sinners.

Quote of St. Anthony Mary Claret;   Feast day October 24

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Basilica of St. Mary Major

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Faith, Incorruptible, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Vianney, Feast Day August 4




 

 

St. John Vianney Public Domain Image
St. John Vianney
Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Vianney, Feast Day August 4

 

The Feast day of St. John Vianney is celebrated on August 4.  St. John was born into a family of farmers on May 8 1786 in Dardilly, France.

St. John lived through the French Revolution.  Because their work had to be done in secret, he admired the courage of priests.  He received his first communion and confirmation in secret at the age of 13.

When John was 20, he left home to study in Ecully, struggling to learn Latin.  He was drafted in 1809 into Napolean’s army.  He soon fell ill and was hospitalized.  While praying in a church he met a man who led him into the mountains where deserters met.  He lived with them for fourteen months.  While living there he opened a school for the local children.

It wasn’t until 1810 that deserters were granted amnesty.  He returned to his studies and was ordained a deacon in June 1815.  On August 12, 1815 he was ordained a priest.  St. John Vianney became the parish priest of the Ars parish.  Father Vianney spent many hours hearing confessions.  He was also known for his sermons calling everyone to repent from their sins.  His fame as a confessor spread and soon pilgrims began arriving.  As many as 20,000 pilgrims a year came to confess their sins to hm.  He spent as many as 16 hours a day hearing confessions.

Father Vianney wanted to become a monk and spend his time praying alone.  He attempted to leave  Ars four times before deciding he was meant to stay and hear confessions.    He became known as the Holy Cure de Ars. He was always kind, patient, gentle and cheerful.

On August 4, 1859, St. John Vianney died peacefully fter serving as a parish priest for 41 years.

His body was exhumed in 1859 due to the impending beatification, and was found to be incorrupt. His heart, later removed,  is kept in a building known as the Shrine of the Cure’s Heart.

Pope Pius IX canonized St. John Vianney on May 31, 1925.  St. John Vianney is the patron saint of parish priest worldwide.

“The most Holy Virgin places herself between her Son and us.  The greater sinners we are, the more tenderness and compassion does she feel for us.  The child that has cost its mother the most tears is the dearest to her heart.”

Quote of St. John Vianney
 
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
 

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Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Lydia, Feast Day August 3




 

St. Lydia of Thyatira Public Domain Image
St. Lydia of Thyatira

 

The Feast Day of St. Lydia is celebrated on August 3.  St. Lydia is the first known convert of St. Paul.  

St.Lydia was a wealthy businesswomen who sold purple dye and fabric. She was from Thyatira which is in modern day Turkey. Around the year 50, St. Lydia encountered St. Paul near the river in the city of Philippi which was a Roman colony. St. Paul shared the gospel message with her and the group of women she was with. St. Lydia and her family were baptized in the river.

St. Lydia was known for her hospitality. She invited St. Paul and his companions to stay in her home. She continued to help them even after they were arrested and imprisoned. The home of St. Lydia became a place for community gatherings.

St. Paul referred to the Christian community at Philippi as his ‘joy and crown’.

If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,

come and stay at my home.

Quote of St. Lydia

 

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.