Quotes

Faith, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Our Lady of La Salette, Feast Day September 19

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




Our Lady La Salette Public Domain Image
Our Lady La Salette

On Saturday, Sept. 19, a globe of light opened to reveal a beautiful woman seated on a stone.  The woman appeared to two shepherd children in Salette, France.  The apparition was approved and is celebrated on September 19.

The children’s names were Melanie Calvat, age 15,  and Maiximin Graud, age 11.  The woman was gently crying and asking for the people and the priests to repent of their sins.   She called for penance.

Our Lady was tall, wearing a pearl studded dress and white shawl with a tiara on her head.  A crucifix was hanging from her neck.  She seemed to be made of light.  As she talked to the children she warned of coming war and famine.

Our Lady asked the children to pray day and night for the salvation of the world.

Our Lady of La Salette warned of chastisements that would fall upon humanity if they didn’t change their ways. Before ascending into heaven she urged the children to pray more and gave each of them a secret that was revealed to Pope Pius IX in 1851 concerning threats to the church and to the world.

While Our Lady’s message focused on conversion and penance she also gave the children a message of hope regarding the power of prayer saying:

“if they are converted, the stones and rocks will change into mounds of wheat, and the potatoes will be self-sown in the land”,

After the apparition many people made amends for the wrongs they had done.  Miracles began occurring at the site, as people were cured over various ailments from water from the spring there within weeks of Our Lady’s appearance. The Church officially approved of this apparition (deeming it worthy of belief) after much investigation and debate in 1851. Construction of a church at La Salette began in 1852 and was completed in 1865.  It was designated as the Basilica of Our Lady of La Salette in 1879.

Pope John Paul II made the following comment on the Apparition of La Salette:

 

“In this place, Mary, the loving Mother appeared manifesting her pain for the moral evil caused by humanity.  Her tears help us to understand the seriousness of sin and the rejection of God, and at the same time it is a manifestation of the passionate fidelity that her Son has for each person, even though His redemptive love is marked by the wounds of treason and abandonment by men.”

 

 

  Of all the virtues of the Virgin Mary, the most admirable is her great humility;  it is a virtue of which we ourselves have a great need.

Quote of Bl. Alphonsus de Orozco;  Feast Day September 19

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Faith, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Joseph of Cupertino, Feast Day September 18

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Joseph of Cupertino Public Domain Image
St. Joseph of Cupertino

The feast day  of St. Joseph of Cupertino is celebrated on September 18.  St. Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of air travelers, pilots, astronauts, and those with learning disabilities.

St. Joseph of Cupertino was born on June 17, 1603 in Puglia, Italy.  His father died before he was born leaving his mother destitute.  He was born in a stable.  As a child he was a slow learner, probably having a learning disability.  When he was 17 he was denied acceptance to the Order of the Friars Minor Conventuals due to lack of an education.  He was however, accepted into the Capuchins at Martino near Cupertino.  He gardened, tended the animals and worked in the kitchen.

Because of his learning disabilities St. Joseph could only study small amounts of material at a time.  He then prayed to remember the material for the test.  St. Joseph was ordained in 1628.

St. Joseph was a mystic with the gift of miraculous levitation and visions.  Anything religious could cause him to levitate.  During prayer he was known for his ecstasies and  suddenly levitating.  The first time levitation occurred was on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, October 4 1630.  During the procession he suddenly rose into the sky and hovered over the crowd.  He was so embarrassed he fled and hid.  The levitation happened so often he earned the title “The Flying Saint”.   

The most famous act of levitation occurred while he was in the presence of Pope Urban VIII.  He was filled with reverence and immediately was lifted into the air.  During the Inquisition he was confined for several weeks but released.  Crowds tried to meet him until he was place in seclusion…unable to speak to anyone other than the bishop the vicar general of the Order, his fellow friars and a doctor if needed.

After his death on Sept. 18, 1663, great crowds of people attended his funeral.  Pope Clement XIII canonized St. Joseph of Cupertino on July 16, 1767.

A movie has been made of his life named A Reluctant Saint.  St. Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of air travelers, pilots, astronauts, and those with learning disabilities.

 

“The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything.”

Quote of St. Catherine of Genoa;  Feast day September 15

 

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

 

Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Cyprian, Feast Day September 16

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Cyprian Public Domain Image
St. Cyprian

 

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Cyprian, Feast Day September 16

The feast day of St. Cyprian is celebrated on September 16.  Cyprian was born in North Africa in the 3rd century.  He is an important Christian writer.

At the age of 35, Cyprian converted to Christianity.   Soon after his baptism he was ordained, later becoming the Bishop of Carthage.  After his baptism he gave away his possessions.

When the persecutions of Christians began in Carthage,  Cyprian went into hiding rather than give sacrifices to pagan gods or face execution.  Fourteen months later he returned.  He called a council to determine the fate of those who had lapsed and denied their faith.  The council agreed with Cyprian who disagreed with both extreme answers.  He was against allowing anyone to return with little or no penance.  He was also against not allowing the lapsed Christians back at all.

Persecutions began again in 256.  St. Cyprian proclaimed his faith in Christ and refuesed to sacrifice to pagan gods.  He was banished to Curubis.  On September 13, 258, St. Cyprian was imprisoned and sentenced to die by the sword.

The execution of St. Cyprian happened in public very quickly.  He removed his clothing, knelt down, prayed and then blind folded himself.  He was then beheaded with a sword.

To him who still remains in this world, no repentance is too late.  The approach to God’s mercy is open.

Quote of St. Cyprian

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

Save

SaveSave

Save

Save

Faith

Pope Francis Reflects on Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




 

Our Lady of Sorrows Public Domain Image
Our Lady of Sorrows
Public Domain Image

Today, at Casa Santa Mara, Pope Francis reflected on the obedience and suffering of Mary at the foot of the Cross. The Mass commemorated the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrow. 

The Feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on September 15.  According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis said that in the liturgy we are shown the glorious Cross, then the meek and humble Mother.

 

During his homily, Pope Francis said that Paul emphasized three strong words. Jesus “learned, obeyed and suffered” It was the opposite of what had happened to our father Adam. Adam did not want to learn, obey or suffer. Jesus, even though He is God, humbles Himself on the glorious Cross and becomes a servant.

Continuing his homily, Pope Francis told how Jesus came into the world to learn how to be a man, and by being a man, he walked with men. He came into the world to obey, and He obeyed. He learned obedience from suffering. This obedience brings hope. People who walk with God walk with hope.

Pope Francis shared that Mary, Jesus’ Mother, was the New Eve (as Paul himself calls her), so that she too can learn, suffer, and obey. “Thus”, Pope Francis said, “She becomes Mother.” In the Gospel Mary is at the foot of the Cross at the crucifixion. Jesus says to John, “Behold your mother.”

“Mary, is anointed Mother.” Pope Francis said. “We are not orphans, we have Mothers; Mother Mary. But the Church is Mother and Mother Church is anointed when it takes the same path of Jesus and Mary: the path of obedience, the path of suffering, and when she has that attitude of continually learning the path of the Lord. These two women…Mary and the Church…carry on the hope that is Christ, they give us Christ, they bring forth Christ in us. Without Mary, there would be no Jesus Christ; without the Church, we cannot go forward. Two women and two mothers and next to them our soul, which in the words of Isaac, the abbot of Stella, is “feminine” and is like “Mary and the Church”. Pope Francis concluded his homily by saying:

“Today, looking at this woman by the Cross, steadfast in following her Son in His suffering to learn obedience, looking at her we see the Church and look at our Mother. And also, we look at our little soul that will never be lost, if it continues to be a woman close to these two great women who accompany us in life: Mary and the Church. And just as our fathers left Paradise with a promise, today we can go forward with a hope: the hope that our Mother Mary, steadfast at the Cross, and our Holy Mother, the hierarchical Church, give us. “

 

 

Mary, Mother of Jesus Good Friday Public Domain Image
Mary, Mother of Jesus Good Friday
Public Domain Image

This article was originally published on September 15, 2014.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Chrysostom, Feast Day September 13

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. John Chrysostom Icon Public Domain Image
St. John Chrysostom Icon

The feast day of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated on September 13. 

St. John was born to Christian parents about the year 344.  After studying law he became a deacon and was ordained a priest.  He served as a priest in Syria for 12 years before becoming Bishop of Constantinople.  St. John Chrysostom is the patron saint of preachers, speakers and  epilepsy.

St. John was known for his powerful sermons.  He believed in the need to help the poor and wanted the wealthy to  be generous with their money.  This was not appreciated by all who listened to him.

In 403 he was charged with heresy and sent into temporary exile.  He was recalled and then exiled permanently.  He died on Sept. 14, 407 while marching in the hot sun.  His last words were:

“Glory to God for all things.”

St. John Chrysostom (which means golden mouthed) has been given the title of Doctor of the Eucharist for his preaching on the belief in the Real Presence.  He is considered one of the four great doctors of the Eastern Church along with St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil

 

 Faithfulness in little things is a big thing.

Quote of St. John Chrysostom

 

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

    Save

Faith, Martyr, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Gabriel Perboyre, Feast Day September 11

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




st-john-gabriel-perboyre

The Feast day of St. John Gabriel Peboyre is celebrated on September 11.

St. John was the oldest son  of a farmer in Le Puech, France.  He had seven younger siblings. Three of the brothers joined the Vincentian Fathers and two of the Daughter became Daughters of Charity.

When his younger brother was accepted into the Vincentian Seminary, his parents asked him to accompany the brother until he was settled.  He was surprised to find that he was also drawn to join the Vincentians.  His parents supported his decision to join the order rather than return home to farm.

In 1820, St. John was ordained a Vincentian priest.  He hoped to become a missionary and travel to China, however he was assigned to be a supervisor of the mother-house in Paris.

In 1835, he began his journey to China as a missionary.  It took five months to arrive.  He served the poor in Ho Nan  China before being transferred to Hubei.

Persecution began in 1839 and St. John Gabriel was arrested.  After being tortured,  he was found guilty of preaching Christianity and condemned to death.  He was tied to a stake and strangled.  His body wa retrieved and buried in the mission cemetery.

Pope John Paul II canonized St. John Gabriel Perboyre in 1996.

 

O my Divine Savior,
Transform me into Yourself.
May my hands be the hands of Jesus.
Grant that every faculty of my body
May serve only to glorify You.
Above all,
Transform my soul and all its powers
So that my memory, will and affection
May be the memory, will and affections
Of Jesus.

I pray You
To destroy in me all that is not of You.
Grant that I may live but in You, by You and for You,
So that I may truly say, with Saint Paul,
“I live – now not I – But Christ lives in me.

Prayer composed by St. John G. Perboyre

 

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

Save

patron saints, Saint of the Day, Visionary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Feast Day September 10

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Nicholas of Tolentino
St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Prayers, Quips and Quotes:  St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Feast Day September 10

The feast day of St. Nicholas of Tolentino is celebrated on September 10.  He is the patron saint of the souls in purgatory and the dying.

The parents of St. Nicholas were childless when they visited the Shrine of St. Nicholas of Myrna at Bari, Italy.  The year after praying for a child they became parents.  They named their child Nicholas in gratitude for their prayer being answered.

At the age of 18, Nicholas became an Augustinian monk.  He was ordained a priest at 25.  St. Nicholas was known for his visions and gift of miracles.  He received a vision of angels reciting the phrase “to Tolentino”.  He decided to move to Tolentino in 1274 where he lived the rest of his life.

St. Nicholas was a peacemaker during a time of war.   He was also a miracle worker and healer.  He often visited prisoners and was known for his kindness.

Once after becoming ill, he had a vision in which the Virgin Mary, St. Augustine and St. Monica appeared to him.  They told him to eat a certain type of roll dipped in water.  He was healed after doing so.  He then began healing others by giving bread  to them and reciting Marian prayers.  The rolls become known as St. Nicholas Bread.

Many legends and miracles are credited to St. Nicholas.  Over 300 miracles have been recognized.

After a long illness in which he became bedridden and suffered greatly, St. Nicholas died in 1245, surrounded by his community.

St. Nicholas of Tolentino was canonized by Pope Eugene  IV in 1446.

 

There is no sin or wrong that gives a man a foretast of hell in this life as anger and impatience.

Quote of St. Catherine of Sienna;  Feast day April 29

 

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Save

Save

Save

Save

Jesuit Saints, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Peter Claver, Feast Day September 9

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Peter Claver Public Domain Image
St. Peter Claver

The feast day of St. Peter Claver is celebrated on September 9.  He is the patron saint of African missions.

St. Peter Claver was born at Verdu, Catalonia, Spain in 1580. He entered the Jesuit college of Barcelona, becoming a Jesuit novitiate, taking his final vows on Aug 8, 1604.
St. Peter Claver left his homeland to become a missionary in the colonies of the new world. He ministered to the slaves arriving daily in Cartagena (now Columbia). Over a thousand slaves arrived in Cartagena every month. He brought them food, ministered to their medical needs and prayed with them. He followed them to the plantation they were taken to.  St. Peter Claver declared himself to be the “slave of the Negroes forever.”

After instructing them in the faith, he baptized them. By 1651 he had baptized over 300,000 slaves into the faith.

After suffering from illness for four years, St. Peter Claver died on Sept. 8, 1654.
St. Peter Claver has been declared the patron saint of African Missions.

 

“Seek God in all things and you shall find God by your side.”

Quote of St. Peter Claver

 

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

Feast Days, Our Lady, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Nativity of Virgin Mary, Feast Day September 8

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints


St. Anne with the Virgin Mary
St. Anne with the Virgin Mary

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Nativity of Virgin Mary, Feast Day September 8

The feast day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8.  On this day the church reflects on the birth of Mary and her role in salvation.

Mary was the only child of St. Anne and St. Joachim.  They had been praying for a child and it seemed as if they would be unable to conceive.  However, although St. Anne was not young, she conceived and became the mother of the mother of God!

The feast day is celebrated nine months after the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.  The Immaculate Conception celebrates the belief that Mary was born without the stain of original sin.  She was the “second Eve”.  Eve, also was born without original sin but she chose to disobey God.  Mary, however, always said “yes” to God.

Reflecting on the life of Mary can take us in many directions.  How is it possible to become the Mother of God?  How is it possible to become the Grandmother of God as St. Anne did?   We know that Mary was chosen for the title of Mother of God.  St. Anne and St. Joachim were also chosen…to be the parents of Mary.

We too have been chosen.  Where is God leading you?  Is your family life holy?  What needs to improve in your life to help you grow closer to God?  Is your prayer life healthy?  Learning to communicate with God leads us to know his will in our life.    Just as Mary said “yes”, we too must try to do the will of God.

Each of us is unique in the way we communicate with God.  Exploring the different prayer styles can help us to find the type of prayer that suits us best.  To understand what God’s will is, we must discover how God is “present” in our life.  Making time for prayer is the first step.  Admitting that we need guidance (humility)  will help us to take the time to listen for the whisper that comes from God.

The Virgin Mother’s heart remained perpetually inflamed with the holy love which she received of her Son.

Quote of St. Francis de Sales;  Feast Day January 24

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Save

Save

Save

Save

Fb-Button

Martyr, patron saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Regina, Feast Day September 7

Quote Leave a comment
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




St. Regina
St. Regina

The feast day of St. Regina is celebrated on September 7.  She was born in Alise, France.  Her mother died at childbirth.  Regina’s father was a prominent man who was a pagan.  He hired a Christian nurse to raise Regina.  While Regina was quite young the nurse secretly baptized Regina.

St. Regina became more and more religious as she grew older.  When her father learned that she had been baptized, he disowned her.  She lived with her nurse and worked in the fields to earn money.  She also tended sheep.  While working, she meditated on the love and mercy of God.

When Regina was 15 years old, the prefect of Gaul named Olybrius noticed Regina and became determined to marry her.  He was unhappy that she was a Christian.  Olybrius tried to convince her to deny her faith but she not only refused but proclaimed her faith even louder.   Olybrius then had her imprisoned.  She was chained to the walls of the cell with an iron belt.  After she still refused to deny her faith, she was whipped and scourged.  Finally she was beheaded.  She died in the year 286.   Many were converted after seeing a solitary dove hover over her during the torture.

The relics of St. Regina are enshrined in Flavigini Abbey where many miracles have since occurred.

St. Regina is honored as a martyr for the faith.  She is the patron saint against poverty and for victims of abuse.

 

If the moon is beautiful as it reflects the light of the sun at so great a distance, what will be the beauty of the saints, who for all eternity and not at a distance, will reflect the divine image of God!

Quote of Ven. Solanus Casey

 

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

 

Dominican Saints, Incorruptible, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Bertrand of Garrigua, Feast Day September 6

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




Prayers, Quips and Quotes: Bl. Bertrand of Garrigua,

Feast Day September 6

Blessed Bertrand
Blessed Bertrand

 

The feast day of Bl. Bertrand of Garrigua is celebrated on September 6.  He was born in Garrigua, France in 1195. Bl. Bertrand was ordained a secular priest preaching with the Cistercians against the Albigenses.  In the year 1216 he met St. Dominic.  He soon joined St. Dominic helping him to found the Order of Preachers.

While St. Dominic was in Rome seeking approval of his new order he left Bertrand in charge.  He was an important part in the founding of the Order of Preachers, becoming known as the “second Dominic”.  He was known to be a traveling companion with St. Dominic.

Bl. Bertrand was known for continually weeping for his sins.  St. Dominic convinced him that it would be better to pray for ht sins of others instead.  Bertrand continued weeping, however, he was weeping for others sins instead of his own.  After having a vision he also began to pray for the souls in purgatory.

Bl. Bertrand fell sick while preaching a mission in 1230 and died at the age of 35.

The body of Bl. Bertrand was found to be incorrupt in 1881, 23 years after his death.

Bl. Bertrand was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1881.

 

A person who governs his passions is master of the world.  We must either rule them or be ruled by them.  It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.

Quote of St. Dominic;  Feast Day August 8

 

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

Save

Dominican Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ingrid of Sweden, Feast Day September 2

Quote
Follow Us @ Sacred Art and Quotes of the Saints




Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Ingrid of Sweden,

Feast Day September 2

St. Ingrid of Sweden
St. Ingrid of Sweden

 

St. Ingrid was born in Skanninge, Sweden in the 13th century.  Her spiritual directer was Father Peter of Dacia, a Dominican priest.

Ingrid married young.   However, she became a widow when her husband died.  After a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she gave all her possessions to God and became the first Dominican Nun in Sweden.  She also founded the first Dominican cloister in Sweden.

St. Ingrid was known for her holiness.  When she died in 1282, many miracles occurred, causing a cult to form calling for her to be named a saint.  The canonization process was begun in 1405 but formal canonization never occurred.  She is regarded a saint by many and has her feast day listed on the liturgical calendar.

 

Why should we mourn when those who have left us have suffered no loss, but have rather gained all?  Instead of earthly life they have gained eternal life;  they have exchanged a house on earth for a heavenly mansion; in place of the world they have found God.

Quote of Bl. Ildefonso Schuster

 

September is the Month of Our Sorrowful Mother

 

Save