Tag Archives: Saint of the Day

Carmelite Saints, Faith, Our Lady, Saint of the Day, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Children of Fatima, Feast Day Feb. 20

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The feast day of the Children of Fatima is celebrated on Feb. 20.

In 1917, an angel and Our Lady appeared six times to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.  Jacinta (7 years old) and Francisco (9 years old) were brother and sister.   Lucy Dos Santos (14 years old) was their cousin. Jacinta and Francisco both died several years after the apparitions.

Francisco was born on June 11, 1908. During the apparitions Francisco could see but not hear what was being said. He had a great love of praying before the Blessed Sacrament. He also had a great devotion to praying the Rosary. He received his first communion on the day of his death, April 4, 1919.

Jacinta was born on March 11, 1910. Jacinta could both hear and see what was said during the apparitions. She was profoundly affected when Our Lady told her that Jesus was very offended by sin. After seeing a vision of hell, she decided to offer herself completely to the salvation of souls. She offered her suffering to free souls from the fires of hell. A year after the apparitions she came down with bronchial pneumonia, an abscessed lung and then was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She offered all of her suffering to Jesus. She was rushed to a hospital in Lisbon. The Blessed Virgin visited her there three times. She died without the presence of her parents or Lucy on Feb.20, 1920.

Lucy was born on March 22, 1907. After the apparitions Our Lady told her that her cousins would soon be in heaven and that Lucy should spread the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady said

“My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way which will lead you to God.”

It was Lucy who requested a miracle so people would believe in the apparitions. During the investigations surrounding the apparitions, Lucy was harassed. She entered the Sisters of St. Dorothy as Sister Mary of the Sorrowful Mother. Later she became a Carmelite Sister taking the name Sister Maria Lucia. She had several more visions of Our Lady. Lucy died on Feb. 3, 2005 at the age of 97.

During the apparitions in Fatima three secrets were revealed to the children.

1.  After being promised they would go to heaven the children saw a vision of hell which was filled with fire and demons.

2.   Mary instructed the children how to save souls from Hell and convert the world to Christianity. She asked them to spread the devotion to the Immaculate Heart and to pray the Rosary. She asked them to pray for Russia.
3.   The children had a vision of the assassination of the Holy Father.

Many believe the third secret was a prophecy of the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II canonized Francisco and Jacinta Marto on May 13, 2000.

Our Lady with children

If men knew the meaning of eternity,
they would do anything to mend their lives.

Quote of St. Jacinta of Fatima

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord.

 

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Faith, Prayer, Saint of the Day, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli, Feast Day Feb. 18

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St. Gertrude
The feast day of St. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli is celebrated on Feb. 18.

St. Gertrude was born in Biennio Brescia, Italy in 1837 into a large family. From early childhood she was always aware of the presence of God, especially in the Eucharist. She was drawn to prayer in the presence of the tabernacle. At the age of 15, Gertrude wanted to join the convent. Because of illness she was forced to wait. She worked as a domestic worker for a priest.

St. Gertrude was concerned about the transition of Italy’s rural society into an industrial one. She gained a private audience with Pope Leo XIII who encouraged her to do something which focused on the education of young women.

On Dec. 15, 1882 she founded the Congregation of the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo. It’s focus was on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and education. The sisters committed their lives to prayer and helping those who were most in need.

St. Gertrude died of natural causes while praying in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in 1903.

 

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

Quote of St. Dominic; Feast day August 8

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Peregrine, Feast Day Feb. 17

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St. Peregrine
The feast day of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites is celebrated on Feb. 17.  St. Peregrine was a member of the Servite Order. He is the patron saint of cancer patients.

On the feast of the Assumption of Mary, the Virgin Mary surrounded by Angels appeared to seven men in Florence, Italy. She said,

“I would like you to leave the world and later I will tell you what I want you to do.”

They built a simple church and lived as hermits.  Many years later, Mary appeared again, directing them to be called “Servants of Mary”.

“I have chosen you to be my first Servants and under this name you are to till my Son’s Vineyard.”

They followed the Rule of St. Augustine and dedicated themselves to spread the devotion to the Passion of Jesus and the Sorrows of Mary.

St. Peregrine is one of the most well know Servite saints. He was born in Forli, Italy. While still young he was active in politics and was a member of the anti-papal party.  During a protest in which St. Philip Benzi was mediating, Peregrine, who was just 18 years old, repented when he saw the humility of St. Philip.  He converted to the catholic faith and after receiving a vision from Our Lady he went to Siena and joined the Servites. As a priest he was a good preacher and known as an excellent confessor. He brought many people back to the faith through the sacrament of confession.

In his sixties, he developed a tumor on his leg which continued to worsen until the doctors decided it must be amputated. He prayed throughout the night, experiencing a vision of Jesus descending from the cross to heal his leg. When he awoke he was completely cured. The news of this miracle spread quickly.
St. Peregrine died at the age of 85 in 1345.   The feast day of St. Peregrine is celebrated on May 1.

Loving God, in spite of all that you give us,
we still find suffering in our lives.
You generously offered healing to our Servite Brother Peregrine.
Following his example, we turn to you with our troubles.
Strengthen those who suffer from cancer and other serious diseases.
Look kindly upon us all and heal us.
Give us comfort in the troublesome moments of our personal lives.
Heal us of hurt and resentment. Give grace and joy to our spirit,
that we might continue to praise you.
We ask these things through Christ our Lord. Amen

Author unknown

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord.

 

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Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Onesimus, Feast Day Feb. 16

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St. Onesimus
The feast day of St. Onesimus is celebrated on Feb. 16.   We learn about St. Onesimus in St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. He had fled from his master, Philemon, after robbing him.  St. Onesimus met St. Paul, who was a prisoner in Rome at the time.  After meeting St. Paul, Onesimus converted to Christianity.

St. Paul sends him back to Philemon armed with the letter we read in the Bible. In the letter St. Paul pleads for love and forgiveness.  Philemon is persuaded to pardon Onesimus who then returns to help St. Paul.

Under the instruction of St. Paul, Onesimus is believed to become a priest and then a bishop.  St. Paul has him deliver his Epistle to the Colossians and St. Onesius helps St. Paul to spread the Good News!

It is believed that Onesimus is arrested during the persecutions, brought to Rome in chains and stoned to death in the year 95.

I know of one means only by which to attain perfection:
Love! Let us love,
since our heart is made for nothing else.

Quote of St. Thérèse of Lisieux; Feast day October 1

 

Feb. is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith, Jesuit Saints, Sacred Heart, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Claude de la Columbiere, Feast Day Feb. 15

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The feast day of St. Claude de la Columbiere is celebrated on Feb. 15.

St. Claude de la Columbiere was born near Lyon France in 1641.   He was educated in a Jesuit school and later joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits.   Early in his priesthood he was named preacher of the Avignon School.   He was a powerful preacher and his sermons were published.   He fought against the Jansenism heresy which believed in predestination. Jansenism  also believed that Christ died only for the elect, not for all of mankind.

While serving as Superior for the Parayle Monail School he met St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. She had received visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and sought his spiritual direction.  He became her spiritual director and confessor.  Father Claude advised her to receive the gifts of God with faith and humility. He considered the devotion to the Sacred Heart a remedy for the heresy of Jansenism.

St. Claude was arrested for converting Protestants.  He was imprisoned and then banished to England. When he returned to France he was terminally ill with kidney disease. he was sent to Lyon and Paray to recover his health. He died on Feb. 15, 1682.

 

No one can penetrate the mysteries of the Sacred Heart
without tasting the cup of bitterness
that Jesus drank from so deeply.

 

 

Quote of St. Claude de la Columbiere

 

February is the Month of the Passion of Our Lord

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Faith, Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Valentine, Feast Day Feb. 14

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St. Valentine

The feast day of St. Valentine is celebrated on Feb. 14. St. Valentine is an actual saint. His relics are claimed by three churches in Rome. What we know about him has been passed down orally, so it is considered part legend.  St. Valentine is the patron saint of happy marriages and lovers because of his devotion to the Sacrament of Marriage.

St. Valentine was a Roman priest during the time of Emperor Claudias II, who persecuted the church. He actually prohibited the marriage of young people because he believed unmarried men were better soldiers. During the time of St. Valentine polygamy (multiple wives) was very common. St. Valentine encouraged couples to marry in the church in spite of the edict. He held the marriage ceremonies in secret.

Eventually Valentine was caught, imprisoned and tortured. One of his jailers had a daughter who was blind. After Valentine prayed with her, her sight was restored. This resulted in the jailer converting to the Christian faith. In 269 Valentine was sentenced to death .

The last words of St. Valentine were in a note to the girl he had healed signing it “from your Valentine”.

“Let your religion be less of a theory
and more of a love affair.”

 Quote of G. K. Chesterton

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Catherine dei Ricci, Feast Day Feb. 13

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St. Catherine dei Ricci 2

The feast day of St. Catherine dei Ricci is celebrated on Feb. 13.  She is the patron saint of the sick.

St. Catherine was born in 1522 in Italy. Her baptismal name was Alexandria, however she took the name Catherine when she joined the Dominican Order. As an infant her mother died and she was raised by her godmother. As a child she was known for her love of praying in solitude. She also talked to her guardian angel and learned to pray the rosary. At the age of six her father placed her in a convent in Florence, Italy, where her aunt was the Abbess.

Alexandria joined the Dominican nuns at Prat in Tuscany when she was 14 taking the name of Catherine. By he age of 25 she was the perpetual prioress. She had a great reputation for sanctity. Although they never met, she corresponded to St. Philip Neri, also known as the Apostle of Joy.

St. Catherine had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. In 1541 she had a heartbreaking vision of the crucifixion which confined her to bed for three weeks finally recovering on Holy Saturday by a vision of St. Mary Magdalene and the risen Jesus. For 12 years she experienced ecstasy every Thursday from noon until Friday at 4 p.m. During the visions she received the stigmata, the wound in the left side and the crown of thorns. She offered her suffering for the Holy souls in Purgatory.

Many people came to witness her ecstasy, even though she did not like the attention it caused. One of her visions was of receiving a ring from the lord as a sign of her espousal to him.

Three popes were known to have asked her for her prayers; Pope Marcellus II, Pope Leo XI and Pope Clement VIII.

St. Catherine is the patron saint of sick people because she cared for the sick while living in the convent. She died after a long illness at the age of 68 in 1590.

“If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.”

Quote of St. Teresa of Calcutta; Feast day Sept. 5

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February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Faith, Our Lady, Prayer, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Our Lady of Lourdes, Feast Day Feb. 11

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lourdes
The feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated on Feb. 11.

Our Lady of Lourdes is the patron saint of bodily ills. Our lady first appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France on Feb. 11, 1858. Bernadette was a poor shepherdess who was only 14 years old. Our Lady actually appeared to her eighteen times.

During the first vision Bernadette saw a bright light and a beautiful lady dressed in a brilliant white dress adorned with a blue ribbon. A long veil covered her body from her head to her feet. Her hands were clasped as if praying and she carried a white and gold rosary with a gold cross in her hands. Bernadette took her rosary out of her pocket and guided by Our Lady they prayed the rosary. After praying, the vision ended. Bernadette asked the girls with her if they had seen anything and they said no. She told them not to say anything however her sister told their mother who did not believe the story.

On Feb. 14, Bernadette returned to the Grotto where the vision had happened. She asked those with her to pray the rosary. When Our Lady appeared again, Bernadette’s face was transfigured. She sprinkled the holy water which had been given her and said, “If you come from God, come near us.” The holy water touched Our Lady and she smiled and came closer. They began to pray the rosary together.

On Feb.18, St. Bernadette was accompanied after Mass by a lady and a religious. When she began praying, Our Lady appeared again and they all prayed the rosary. Our Lady asked Bernadette to return for 15 consecutive days. Bernadette promised she would do so. Our Lady said, “I also promise to make you happy, not in this world, but in the next.”

Bernadette went to the Grotto with a lit candle for the next 15 days. Hundreds of people began coming with her. On Feb. 21. Bernadette observed that Our Lady seemed sad. She asked her “What is wrong? What can I do?” Our Lady said,

 

“Pray for sinners.”

A doctor examined Bernadette and concluded there was nothing wrong with her. Bernadette was ridiculed nonetheless. On Feb. 23, Our Lady requested that a Sanctuary be built on the site. She told Bernadette to talk to the priest. When the priest asked her the name of the lady Bernadette did not know. The priest told her he needed a miracle and she should ask the lady for the rose bush to blossom.

On Feb. 25, Our Lady told Bernadette to drink from the fountain. Puzzled, Bernadette looked around for water. She discovered water coming up from the ground which soon became a pool of water. On Feb. 26 Our Lady revealed to Bernadette her name saying, “I am the Immaculate Conception”. During one apparition people witnessed Bernadette praying for fifteen minutes with the candle flame burning through her fingers. She remained unharmed.

The last apparition occurred on the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Many miracles of healing have been attributed to he healing waters of Lourdes.
St. Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity seeking God in the silence of the convent. She died on April 16, 1879. The message of Our Lady of Lourdes is timeless…….Pray for sinners!

 

Death came through Eve,  Life through Mary.

 Quote of St. Jerome; Feast day September 30

 

lourdes8

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord



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Benedictine Saints, Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Scholastica, Feast Day Feb. 10

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St. Scholastica Public Domain Image
St. Scholastica         Patron Saint Against Storms

The feast day of St. Scholastica is celebrated on Feb. 10.   St. Scholastica was born in central Italy. She was the twin sister to St. Benedict who founded the Benedictine Order. Their parents were affluent. After Benedict left for the monastery, Scholastica founded a monastery for nuns within five miles of St. Benedict’s monastery. St. Benedict was the spiritual director for her monastery.

Benedict and Scholastica were only able to visit with each other once a year. Because she was not allowed in his monastery, they met in a farmhouse where they visited and discussed spiritual matters. According to the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great the two saints spent their last day together in prayer and visiting. Benedict refused her request to stay another day, however a thunderstorm arose preventing him from returning home. St. Scholastica claimed the storm was a result of her prayers. He stayed another day visiting through the night, returning to the monastery the next day.  St. Scholastica died three days later in 543. St. Benedict’s brethren brought her body to his monastery. She was buried in the tomb he had prepared for himself.

St. Benedict had a vision of her soul ascending to heaven in the form of a dove. St. Scholastica is the patron saint against storms.

Eternal praise and honor be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for each and every hour that you endured such great bitterness and anguish on the cross for us sinners.

 Quote of St. Bridget of Sweden; Feast day July 23

 

 February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Jerome Emiliani

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St. Jerome Emiliani

The feast day of St. Jerome Emiliani is celebrated on Feb. 9. St. Jerome was born in Venice in 1486.

St. Jerome had an adventurous youth and became a soldier.  Spending time in a dungeon after being captured he turned to a life of prayer and began studying for the priesthood. After his ordination, he devoted his time to works of mercy caring for orphans and the sick. He built three orphanages, a shelter for prostitutes and a hospital. His supporters formed a group which eventually became a religious order called the Clerks Regular of Samasca.

St. Jerome was also entrusted with the organization of the Hospital of the Incurables.  Jerome died in Samasca on Feb. 8, 1537 from the plague after caring for the ill during the epidemic.

 

God did not tell us to follow Him
because He needed our help,
but because He knew that
loving Him would make us whole.

Quote of St Irenaeus; Feast day June 28

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord



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Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Josephine Bakhita, Feast Day Feb. 8

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St. Josephine Bakhita
St. Josephine Bakhita

The feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita is celebrated on Feb. 8.

St. Josephine was born to a wealthy Sudanese family in southern Sudan in 1869. At the young age of seven she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Josephine was given the name ‘Bakhita’ which means ‘fortunate’. She suffered greatly, being beaten and sold multiple times. Eventually, an Italian consul named Callisto Legnani bought her. He treated her kindly, but after two years he took her with him to Italy and gave her to a friend, named Augusto Michieli. She worked as a nanny for him and met the Canossian sisters who taught at his daughter’s school. She was drawn to the Catholic faith and was baptized in 1890 taking the name Josephine.

 

When the Michieli’s wished to return to Africa, Josephine refused to go with them. The case went to court where it was determined that because slavery was illegal in Italy,  Josephine was a free woman. Free to do as she wanted after years of slavery, Josephine entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1893, making her profession 3 years later. For 45 years she supported the community by cooking, sewing, embroidery and being the doorkeeper.

 

When it became apparent that Bakhita had a great heart for the missions of Africa, her Superior asked her to visit convents to speak about her experiences, to prepare young sisters for missionary work in Africa, and raise funds for the missions. In her later years, she was confined to a wheelchair due to arthritis. She also suffered from bronchitis and pneumonia, however, she was always known for her holiness and cheerful spirit. One of her quotes is:

 

“The suffering caused by illness is more meritorious than any self inflicted mortification.”

 

St. Josephine Bakhita died in 1947. She was canonized on Oct. 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

 

 

Be good, love the Lord,
pray for those who do not know Him.
What a grace it is to know God!

 

Quote of St. Josephine Bakhita

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

Faith, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Luke the Younger, Feast Day Feb. 7

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St. Luke the Younger   public domain image

The feast day of St. Luke the Younger is celebrated on Feb. 7.

St. Luke the Younger was born on the Greek Island of Aegina. He was the third of seven children. His father was a farmer.

As a child St. Luke was very generous, often giving his own food to the hungry. After the death of his father he decided to be a hermit. His mother objected and he left home to find a monastery. Mistaken as a runaway slave he was captured and imprisoned.

After his release from prison, St. Luke joined a monastery in Athens only to be sent home after he claimed to have had a vision in which his mother was asking for help.  His mother no longer objected to his desire to live the life of a religious. He built his own hermitage in Thessaly, Greece. It was known as the Soterion, the place of healing.

St. Luke was known for his holiness and the many miracles attributed to him

Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.

Quote of St. Basil; Feast day January 2

 

February is the Month of the Passion of the Lord

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