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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, patron saints

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Apollonia, Feast Day February 12

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The feast day of St. Apollonia is celebrated on February 12. She is the patron saint of dentists and invoked by those suffering from toothaches.

St. Apollonia died a martyr in the year 149.  She suffered under the persecutions of Emperor Philip.  She was tortured in the attempt to make her renounce her faith.  When she refused, her persecutor hit her in the face, knocking out all of her teeth.

When the torture continued, she was threatened with death by fire.  She willingly jumped into the flames to her death.

“The prize with which God rewards our self-abandonment is Himself.”

Quote of St. Teresa of Calcutta, Feast Day September 5

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Bosco, Feast Day January 31

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The feast day of St. John Bosco is celebrated on Jan. 31.   St. John Bosco is the patron saint of boys and young people.

St. John Bosco was born in Piedmont, Italy in 1815. His father died when he was two years old. God spoke to John in his dreams. The first of his many dreams occurred when he was only nine years old. John found himself fighting a large crowd of rowdy boys. They were cursing and acting badly. They refused to listen to him. Suddenly a man appeared saying;

“Not with blows will you help these boys, but with goodness and kindness.”

Who are you?” John asked.

Then a woman appeared to him saying,;

“Watch what I do, John.”

As John watched, the boys changed to a pack of growling wild animals. Then the woman put out her hand. The wild animals changed again…into a flock of lambs.

“But what does it mean? I’m just a farm boy. What am I to do?”

John cried out, and he burst into tears. The Lady answered him,

“This is the field of your work. Be humble, steadfast and strong!”

John knew he must become a priest. He attended a boarding school and then began studying for the priesthood. John was ordained on June 5, 1841. He said his first Mass at the church of St. Francis of Assisi. He said that he had prayed for the gift of effective speech and believed his prayer was answered.

The ministry of Don Bosco began with a group of teenage boys. (Don is the title given to priests in Italy.) He began by teaching them catechism after Sunday Mass. It began a youth group which would spend each Sunday together beginning with Mass, catechism and a day in the country. They would end the day with another talk before returning to their homes. The group grew quickly. Most of the boys were quite poor. In 1846 Don Bosco bought an old shed in Turin. It became a chapel they named The Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, a saint admired by Don Bosco.

An orphanage and a trade school were also soon established by Don Bosco. More and more priests were beginning to help John in his ministry. Together they founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales in 1859 also known as the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Don Bosco died on Jan. 31, 1888 at the age of 73. Thousands attended his funeral and there was a demand for his canonization. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI.

 

What tenderness there is in Jesus love for man!
In His infinite goodness,
He established, with each of us,
bonds of sublime love!
His love has no limits.

Quote of St. John Bosco

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Faith, Franciscan Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Hyacintha, Feast Day January 30

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St. Hyacintha of Manincotti

The feast day of St. Hyacintha is celebrated on January 30.

St. Hyacintha was born near Viterbo, Italy in 1588. Her father was a count and her mother was from a Roman family. Her birth name was Clarice.

Clarice entered the convent of the Tertiearies at Virterbo as a Third Order Franciscan Sister. However, she did not in the beginning embrace the love of poverty which St. Francis called for. She supplied herself with material goods to live life in comfort. When she became seriously ill a confessor brought her Holy Communion to her room. When he noticed her material possessions he advised her to live more humbly. Hyacintha rid herself of her fine clothes and special foods. She began to live a simple life which included penances. She developed a special devotion to the sufferings of Christ and inspired others by her acts of penance. She had a special devotion for Mary, the Mother of Mercy.

St. Hyacintha died at the age of 55 in 1640. Many miracles were reported at her grave site. She was canonize by Pope Pius VII in 1807.

 

Lord, give me the grace

to work to bring about

the things I pray for.

Quote of St. Thomas More; Feast day June 22

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Carmelite Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Archangela Girlani, Feast Day January 29

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Bl. Archangela Girlani

The feast day of Bl. Archangela Girlani is celebrated on Jan. 29.

Bl. Archangela Girlani was born to a noble family at Trino, Italy in 1460. She was educated by the Benedictines. From early childhood she wished to become a Benedictine Nun. However, on the way to the convent her horse refused to cooperate and take her there. She took this as a sign and decided to follow in the footsteps of her two sisters Maria and Frances (Scholastica) who had joined the Carmelite Order. At the age of 17, she enter the Carmelite Order, taking the name Archangela. In time she became the prioress, a position she held until her death.

Bl. Archangela was known for her mystical visions. While meditating on the mysteries of the faith, she experienced ecstasies and miracles. She had a special devotion to the Holy Trinity.

After three years as prioress, she became seriously ill.   Bl. Archangela died peacefuly after saying the following words;

“Jesus my Love”.

My God,

may everything

I do and suffer today

be for love of You.

Quote of St. Bernadette; Feast day April 16

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Dominican Saints, Faith, Featured, patron saints, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Aquinas, Feast Day January 28

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St. Thomas Aquinas

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Aquinas,

Feast Day January 28

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Thomas Aquinas, Feast Day January 28

The feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas is celebrated on Jan. 28.  He is the patron saint of students and universities and a Doctor of the Church.    He was ordained as a Dominican Priest.

St. Thomas was born in Roccasecca, Sicily in 1225. His parents were from Italian nobility. St. Thomas was well educated. He was raised in a Benedictine monastery at Monte Casino. He finished his studies at Naples.

Against his families wishes he joined the Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers and was ordained a priest.  His brothers followed careers in the military. In an attempt to end his desires to become a Dominican, his brothers hired a prostitute to seduce him. According to legend, two angels appeared to Thomas to strengthen him and increase his determination to remain celibate. He thus became known as the “Angelic Doctor”.

While he was still a student, St. Thomas was given the nickname “the dumb ox” due to his large size and silent nature. However, he was actually quite gifted and intelligent. He is considered one of the most influential theologians in the history of the Church.

After he was ordained a priest, Pope Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach. St. Thomas turned down an offer from Pope Clement IV to be the Archbishop of Naples.

St. Thomas published many books. He also wrote many hymns which are still sung today. One of St. Thomas most famous works, Summas Theologica was never completed. He fell ill and died before he could finish it in 1274.

St. Thomas was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V.   He is the patron saint of students and universities.

O Lord my God, make me submissive without protest,
poor without discouragement, chaste without regret,
patient without complaint, humble without posturing,
cheerful without frivolity, mature without gloom,
and quick witted without flippancy.

Quote of St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas

January is the Month of the Holy Name.

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Angela Merici, Feast Day January 27

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St. Angela Merici

The feast day of St. Angela Merici is celebrated on Jan. 27.  St. Angela is the patron saint of the sick and disabled.

St. Angela Merici was born in 1474. She lived primarily in Brescia, Italy. Her parents read to Angela when she was young, teaching her about the saints and martyrs. She lost both of her parents when she was about ten years old. She also lost her sister to death. They were quite close and her grief was great. It was made worse because her sister had not received the Last Sacraments. In spite of being reassured by the parish priest concerning her sister’s salvation, Angela prayed to Jesus for consolation. She experience a vision of a company of Angels surrounding her sister, escorting her to Heaven. She no longer had any doubt about her sisters entry into heaven.

On a trip to the Holy Land St. Angela became blind. She refused to end the pilgrimage, continuing to visit the shrines and praying with enthusiasm. On the return trip her vision was restored while praying before a crucifix.

St. Angela became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and served the marginalized, the poor, the orphans and the sick. She had a special desire to educate the poor.

At the age of 57, Angela organized twelve girls to help her teach catechism. The group grew to 28 and they formed The Company of Saint Ursula. It was named after St. Ursula who was an early martyr and patron of education and the youth. They later became known as the Ursulines. It was the first group of women religious to work outside the cloister and the first teaching order of women. The order impressed many people with its work including Pope Clement. He requested that she take charge of a religious order of nursing sisters, however she turned him down. She knew her calling was to teach the poor and uneducated.

After her death on Jan. 27, 1540, the Company of Saint Ursula spread rapidly.

Remember, the Devil doesn’t sleep,

but seeks our ruin in a thousand ways.

Quote of St. Angela Merici

St. Angela Merici

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Michal Kozal, Feast Day January 26

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Bl. Michal Kozal

The feast day of Bl. Michal Kozal is celebrated on Jan. 26.

Bl. Michal Kozal was born in Nowy Folwark, Poland on Sept. 25, 1893. He came from a large family. They were poor but religious. Michal was ordained a priest on Feb. 23, 1918. He was appointed rector of the seminary where he served for ten years. In 1939 he became the auxiliary bishop of Wloclawek.

Soon after becoming Bishop the Nazi troops invaded Poland. For the next 22 months he served as pastor to the people during war. The Catholic press was suppressed, church buildings were seized and clergy arrested. Bishop Kozal protested in vain. Eventually Bishop Kozal was also arrested. Along with other clergy who had been arrested he was transferred to the Salesian a Lad where he was put under house arrest.

Secretly, Bishop Kozal made contact with the diocese. All except seven of the clergy arrested were sent to concentration camps. In 1941 the remaining priests and Bishop Kozal were transferred to camp Dachau. He was assigned the number 24544.

Father Kozal died in Camp Dachau on June 30, 1943. The total number of priests who died at Camp Dachau was 220.

Bl. Michal Kozal was beatified by Pope John Paul II.

The virtuous soul that is alone

and without a master,

is like a lone burning coal…

it will grow colder

rather than hotter.

Quote of St. John of the Cross; Feast day December 14

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Apostle, Faith, Feast Days, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Conversion of St. Paul, Feast Day January 25

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Conversion of St. Paul
Michelangelo

 

The feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul is celebrated on Jan. 25.  St. Paul is the patron saint of writers, publishers, musicians and evangelists. St. Paul was not one of the original twelve Apostles. He persecuted the early Christians. He was present at the stoning of St. Stephen, the first martyr. On the road to Damascus, he was struck by a heavenly light. He heard a voice saying to him,

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked “Who are you Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:4-6)

 

After three days of blindness, scales fell off his eyes. He joined the Apostles becoming known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. St. Paul convinced St. Peter that the Gentiles did not need to become Jewish to follow Jesus. Because of this decision they decided not to require Gentiles to be circumcised to become Christian.

St. Paul wrote many of the books in the New Testament. He was instrumental in the Council of Jerusalem His missionary journeys took him many places: Asia Minor, Macedonia, Jerusalem and Europe.

St. Paul spoke about the mystical body of the church. He taught that the church is the living Body of Christ. It is one body, made up of many parts. It’s members are given different gifts to serve the Lord.

St. Paul suffered many hardships including three shipwrecks.  St. Paul died a martyr. He was beheaded in Rome in the year 65.

St. Paul is the patron saint of writers, publishers, musicians and evangelists.

The Feast of Sts. Peter and St. Paul is celebrated June 29.

O my Jesus,

what a soul

inflamed in Your love

accomplishes!

Quote of St. Teresa of Avila; Feast day October 15

Conversion of St. Paul

The Month of January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Francis de Sales, Feast Day January 24

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St. Francis de Sales

 

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Francis de Sales, Feast Day January 24

The feast day of St. Francis de Sales is celebrated on Jan. 24. St. Francis was born in Savoy, France in 1567. His father wanted him to be a lawyer which led to his studies in Padua. After he received his doctorate, he told his parents he wanted to become a priest. Although his father initially opposed the idea, he eventually consented. He was ordained in the Diocese of Geneva.

Geneva was surrounded by Calvinist Protestants whom he tried persistently to convert. After three years without a single convert, Francis began writing pamphlets explaining the faith. He would slip his writings under doorways hoping they would be read.

St. Francis is also the author of several books and many sermons.
His writing was addressed to the lay people of the time.The most well known of his books are:

  • Introduction to the Devout Life
  • A Treatise on the Love of God.

Eventually, Francis met St. Jane Frances de Chantel and became her spiritual director. He helped her to establish the Sisters of the Visitation.

Francis designed a sign language to enable him to teach a deaf man. For this reason, he is also the patron of the deaf.

In 1602, he became the Bishop of the Diocese of Geneva. He had a great devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, helping to spread the devotion. Francis was well known for his excellent preaching and remembered for both his wit and his writing.

St. Francis died after having a stroke in Dec. 1622. He was buried on Jan. 24 which is his feast day.

We shall steer safely through every storm

so long as our heart is right,

our intention fervent, our courage steadfast,

and our trust fixed on God.

If at times we are somewhat stunned

by the tempest, never fear.

Let us take breath, and go afresh.

Quote of St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales

January is the Month of the Holy Name

 

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Marianne Cope, Feast Day January 23

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St. Marainne Cope        Patron Saint of Outcasts

The feast day of St. Marianne Cope is celebrated on Jan. 23. St. Marianne Cope was the first Franciscan woman from North America to become a saint.  St. Marianne Cope is the patron saint of outcasts.

The birth name of St. Marianne Cope was Barbara Koob (now officially Cope) She was born on Jan 23, 1838 in SE Hessen, West Germany. She was one of ten children. Her father was a farmer. The family moved to the United States one year after her birth.

Her vocation to the religious life was delayed by the necessity to support her family when her father became ill. At the age of 25, Barbara entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse, New York. She received her religious habit and the name of Sister Marianne. She served as a teacher and principal in several elementary schools in New York. She also helped establish two of the first hospitals in central NY. In 1870, she became a nurse administrator at St. Joseph’s in Syracuse, NY.

In 1882, a priest requested help managing hospitals and schools in Hawaii; primarily working with leprosy patients. She responded to his letter with the following words.

“I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen ones, whose privilege it will be to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders…I am not afraid of any disease, hence, It would be my greatest delight to minister to the abandoned lepers.”

Along with six other sisters of St. Francis, she arrived in Honolulu in Nov. 1833. Mother Marianne was the supervisor as they managed Kakóako Branch Hospital on Oahu which treated 200 leprosy patients. They began by thoroughly cleaning the hospital. They also opened a home for the healthy daughters of the patients who were ill. Mother Marianne met Fr. Damien (now St. Damien…the Apostle to Lepers) in January 1884 while he was still healthy.

In 1887 the new government in charge of Hawaii closed the Hospital. In 1888, she went to Kalaupapa several months before the death of St. Damien. She reassured him she would provide care for the patients at the Boy’s Home at Kalawao on the Island of Molokai. Three Sisters ran the Bishop Home for boys and girls.

Mother Marianne died in Hawaii of natural cause on August 9, 1918 and is buried on the grounds of Bishop Home. The Saint Marianne Cope Shrine and Museum was built to honor her memory.

Mother Marianne was beatified on May 14, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI. St. Marianne Cope was canonized on Oct 21, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.

“I am not thinking of reward.  I am working for God and do so cheerfully.“

Quote of St. Marianne Cope

 

January is the Month of the Holy Name

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Faith, Incorruptible, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Vincent Palliotti, Feast Day January 22

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St. Vincent Palliotti

The feast of St. Vincent Palliotti is celebrated on Jan. 22. St. Vincent Palliotti was born in Rome in 1795.

St. Vincent Palliotti  had a devotion to the Bl. Virgin from an early age. He also had a devotion to St. Francis of Assisi. He became a Franciscan Tertiary in 1816. After finishing his studies he was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1818. He was known for his zeal and was tireless in his work for the needy. He founded guilds for workers, agriculture schools, loan associations, orphanages, and homes for girls. This led to the foundation of the Society of Catholic Action. He founded the Pallottine Fathers and Pallottine Missionary sisters.

St. Vincent Palliotti died at the age of 55 in 1850 after coming down with a severe cold.

1906 the body of St. Vincent was exhumed and found to be incorrupt.

“Humility is nothing but truth,

while pride is nothing but lying.”

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

 

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