Et
álibi
aliórum
plurimórum sanctórum
Mártyrum
et Confessórum,
atque sanctárum Vírginum.
23,658
Lives Saved Since 2007And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins. Пресвятая Богородице спаси нас! (Santíssima Mãe de Deus, salva-nos!) R.
Deo grátias. R.
Thanks be to God.
2023November is the month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory since 1888; Mary Mediatrix of all Graces Mary the Mother of Jesus Saint Josaphat{1623 first Oriental Catholic formally canonized
in Rome}>
By giving yourself to God, you not
only receive Himself in exchange, but eternal life as well.-- St Francis
de Sales
CAUSES OF SAINTS Our Bartholomew Family Prayer List Here Joyful Mystery on Monday Saturday Glorius Mystery on Sunday Wednesday Sorrowful Mystery on Friday Tuesday Luminous Mystery on Thursday Veterens of War Acts of the Apostles Nine First Fridays Devotion to the Sacred Heart From the writings of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque How do I start the Five First Saturdays? Mary Mother of GOD 15 Promises of the Virgin Mary to those who recite the Rosary . Every Day, Every Hour Billions
of people all over the world become Saints
As the Holy Eucharist enters their bodies from the Sanctified hands of Priests. Marian occurrences of Lipa Mary Mediatrix of all Graces Philippines November 12 November 12 – Holy Miraculous Icon (Russia) In 1948, from September 12th to November 12th in the Philippines… On Sunday, September 12, 2015, the Archbishop
of Lipa in the Philippines, His Excellency Ramon Argüelles Cabrera,
officially recognized the 1948 apparitions of the Virgin Mary to the
young religious sister Teresita Castillo, at the Carmel of this city
south of Manila.
"The events and apparitions of 1948, known as the
Marian occurrences of Lipa, and their results, even in recent times, truly
have a supernatural character and worthy of belief," the archbishop said
in his decree. From September 12th to November 12th in 1948, the Virgin appeared a dozen times to Teresita Castillo, a 21-year-old Carmelite novice, presenting herself as "Mary Mediatrix of all Graces." The idea that Mary is a mediatrix is sometimes
criticized within the Catholic Church. The decree of Bishop Argüelles
Cabrera recalls, however, that it is rooted in the writings of Saint
Louis de Montfort and Saint Alphonsus Liguori, and has been defended
in the 20th century by Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines-Brussels.
According to the Philippine press, Archbishop Arguelles
approved the apparitions of Lipa after obtaining the approval of the Congregation
for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.www.la-croix.com
November
12 - Our Lady of the Secret Tower (Turin, Italy, 1863) The Blessed
Virgin's Predestination (I)
I saw in my mind how his Majesty is in himself; infinite in his substance and attributes, united in essence and in the trinity of Persons, eternally equal yet distinct. I first beheld him in a vast desert void of all the creatures of whom he had no need, and I witnessed his decree to accomplish works ad extra, i.e. to draw out of nothingness all the beings present in his mind. At that moment I had the boldness to ask his majesty what hierarchy he chose in that desert so as to know what rank the Mother of God was to occupy. He deigned to satisfy this desire and I will now tell the order I discovered in his thoughts. Excerpts from City of God or the Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God (Part 1, chapter I) manifested to Mary of Agreda November 12 - Our Lady of the Tower (Eriburg,
Germany) A Son of Israel Converts (II)
From that day on his entire life was devoted
to the love of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady,
in particular the apostolate of the Scapular of Our Lady of Carmel
Mount. He established an association whose mission was the exposition
and nocturnal adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He entered the order
of Carmel on October 6, 1849, and received the habit under the name of
Brother Augustine Mary of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Hermann aspired to a life completely hidden in God, but his Superiors sent him to travel throughout Europe to preach. He brought God back into the hearts of innumerable Jews, Protestants and nonbelievers. In 1868, he finally obtained permission from his superiors to withdraw into "solitude". However, he was struck by a new trial: an illness in his eyes. Placing his confidence in the Virgin of Lourdes, he made a novena in the grotto of the apparitions, washing his eyes every day at the miraculous spring. On the ninth day, he experienced a sudden and complete cure-it was an obvious miracle. He was the first Jew miraculously cured at Lourdes. In November 1870 he was sent as chaplain of the French prisoners in Berlin, where he contracted small pox administering Extreme Unction to prisoners. He died there in Berlin, a victim of his devotion and his immense charity. The evening of January 19, he made his confession peacefully, and received Holy Communion. His calm breathing continued until around 10 o'clock the next morning, when, as the nun who sat up with him sang the Salve Regina at his request, he gently expired. November 12 - Saint Josaphat (d. 1623) –
The Holy Miraculous Icon (Russia)
The Shrine of Lipa in the Philippines was built
to commemorate an apparition of the Virgin Mary, which took place
in 1948 and was accompanied by a shower of rose petals. November 12, 1948: I am asking the same thing here that I asked for in Fatima On September 12, 1948, around 5 pm, Sister Teresita Castillo, a young postulant in the Carmel of Lipa, was walking in the garden of her convent. Suddenly, (…) Teresita saw the Virgin. The apparition asked from the Community an individual consecration of its members to herself according to the spirit of Saint Louis de Montfort. On Sunday, September 26, 1948, the Virgin Mary repeated her request: (…) “Do not forget to consecrate yourselves to me on October 7th. (…) I am Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. Then on October 3th, a “shower of rose petals” occurred. On Friday, November 12, 1948, Teresita saw the Blessed Virgin again, after the holy Mass. “Pray and pray and pray, my daughters, because of the persecutions. Pray for priests. I am asking the same thing here that I asked for in Fatima. Do penance for those who do not believe. This is my last apparition in Lipa.” On December 6, 1948, Bishop A. Verzosa of Lipa blessed the site of the apparitions, appointed an investigation committee, and declared that the Blessed Virgin was the source of the “showers of petals.” The MDN team Adapted from an article by Patricia Viscomte
Our Lady of Modern Times (Notre-Dame des Temps Nouveaux) #1, 1973 As Saint Josaphat battled to bring back his straying sheep,
personal opposition against him became increasingly intense.
Surrounded one day by an angry mob, he said, "You people of Vitebsk
want to put me to death...I am ready to die for the holy union, for
the supremacy of St. Peter and of his successor, the Supreme Pontiff."
Sometime later a gang entered his church. Crying out, “Kill the papist,” they shot the archbishop,
crushed his skull, and threw his body into the river.
St. Josephat's death served only to encourage Ukrainians in their loyalty to the pope. In our own more ecumenical days, the Catholic Church is striving to reestablish unity with all the Orthodox churches through loving dialogue. “To the work of reconciliation, we may be sure, St. Josaphat is adding his own powerful prayers.” Father Robert F. McNamara The Prophet Ahijah
died in old age 960 years before the birth of Christ.
The Holy Prophet Ahijah, (cf. 1/3 Kgs 11:29 ff.) Contemporary
of Solomon, and was born in the city of Shiloh. The prophet predicted to
Jeroboam his kingly rule over the ten Tribes of Israel, which God would
grant him, snatching them away from the hands of Solomon. Afterwards
Ahijah predicted to Jeroboam the perishing of all his line. All the
predictions of the prophet were fulfilled. The Prophet Ahijah died
in old age 960 years before the birth of Christ.
Ahijah A prophet and chronicler of the times of Solomon and Jeroboam, 1 Kings 11:29 2 Chronicles 9:29. He is thought to be the person who spoke in God's name to Solomon while building the temple, 1 Kings 6:11; and again after he fell into sin, 1 Kings 11:11. He notified Jeroboam of the separation of Israel from Judah, and of the foundation of his house-the ruin of which he afterwards foretold, 1 Kings 14:1-14. Kykko_Theotokos.jpg This icon was painted, according to Tradition, by the holy Evangelist Luke. It received its name "Kykkiotisa" from Mount Kykkos, on the island of Cyprus. Here it was placed in an imperial monastery (so designated because it was built with donations from the Emperor), in a church named for it. Before coming to the island of Cyprus, the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God was brought throughout the region by the will of God. At first, it was in one the earliest Christian communities in Egypt, and then it was taken to Constantinople in 980, where it remained in the time of Emperor Alexius Comnenos (end of the eleventh to early twelfth century). During these years it was revealed to the Elder Isaiah through a miraculous sign, that by his efforts the wonderworking image painted by the Evangelist Luke would be transferred to Cyprus. The Elder exerted much effort to fulfill the divine revelation. When the icon of the Mother of God arrived on the island, many miracles were performed. The Elder Isaiah was instrumental in building a church dedicated to the Theotokos, and placing the Kykko Icon in it. From ancient times up to the present day, those afflicted by every sort of infirmity flock to the monastery of the Mother of God the Merciful, and they receive healing according to their faith. The Orthodox are not the only ones who believe in the miraculous power of the holy icon, but those of other faiths also pray before it in misfortune and illness. Inexhaustible is the mercy of the Most Holy Theotokos, Mediatrix for all the suffering, and Her icon fittingly bears the name, the "Merciful." The wonderworking "Kykkiotisa" Icon of the Mother of God possesses a remarkable peculiarity: from what time period is unknown, but it is covered by a half shroud from the upper left corner to the lower right, so that no one is able to see the faces of the Mother of God and the Divine Infant. The depiction of the Mother of God appears to be of the Hodigitria ("Directress") type, as is also the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The head of the Mother of God is adorned with a crown. A copy of this icon is particularly venerated
at the women's Nikolsk monastery in the city of Mukachev.
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Coptic St. Athanasius
and His Sister, Irene. Departure of Coptic
St. Cyriacus;
Departure of;
brought to Abba Peter, Bishop
of Corinth, his cousin,; he ordained him reader. Cyriacus read continually
searched interpretations of Holy Scriptures surpassed many in it;
went to Jerusalem, met bishop
Abba Cyril; sent to Euthymius (Otimus)
Palestine; lived virtuous life
much asceticism humility, godliness devoutness; God bestowed the
gift of healing; He healed all who came to the monastery all kinds
of sicknesses or infirmities; His virtues and holiness spread everywhere
They suffered many tortures at the hands of Maximianus. 150 St. Patiens Patron saint of Metz, France fourth diocesecan bishop 2nd v. Aurelius and Publius bishops who wrote against the Montanists or Cata-Phrygians BM (RM) 200 St. Rufus and Avignon first bishop of Avignon France 430 St. Nilus the Elder Bishop and friend of St. John Chrysostom 422 St. Renatus First bishop of Angers, France, and Sorrento, Italy 574 St. Emilian Cucullatus shepherd hermit priest patron saint of Spain favoured with many miracles 6th v. St. Machar founder of Aberdeen, Scotland companion of St. Columba 610 St Imerius of Immertal monk-hermit and a missionary in the district of the Swiss Jura Abbot (AC) 616-620 Saint John the Merciful, monk, Patriarch of Alexandria; spiritual exploits won honor among men, even the emperor; charitable to all; ransomed prisoners, Wed & Fri he received everyone in need; settled quarrels, helped the wronged, ;distributed alms. 3x's times a week visited the sick-houses, rendered assistance to the suffering. 633 St Cunibert of Trèves untiring builder of churches and monasteries B (RM) 650 St. Livinus Martyred Irish bishop 655 Complúti, in Hispánia, natális sancti Dídaci Confessóris, ex Ordine Minórum, humilitáte célebris; quem Xystus Quintus, Póntifex Máximus, Sanctórum catálogo adscrípsit. Ipsíus autem festum sequénti die celebrátur. At Alcala in Spain, the birthday of St. Didacus, confessor, a member of the Order of Friars Minor well known for his humility. Pope Sixtus V included him in the catalogue of the saints and his feast is celebrated on the day following. November 13 Pope St. Martin I defender of the faith buried in the church of Our Lady, called Blachernæ, near Cherson, many miracles are related wrought by St Martin in life and after death 665 St. Cummian Fada Irish monastic founder defender of Roman liturgical customs 689 St. Cadwallader king of Saxon peoples 726 St. Paternus Benedictine monk of Saint Pierre le Vif 773 St. Lebuin Benedictine called Leaf Wine in his native England 800 St. Namphasius Hermit monk Soldier and friend of Charlemagne 830 St. Ymar Benedictine martyred by marauding Danes of England 1005 St. Benedict Companions Italian Benedictine martyrs 1035 St. Astericus Benedictine bishop ambassador to King Stephen Hungary 1040 St. Anastasius XIX first Archbishop of Hungary companion of St. Stephen 1304 BD RAINERIUS OF AREZZO town altar set up in his honour records of attributed Miracles 1332 BD JOHN DELLA PACE founder of the Fraticelli delta Penitenza at Pisa was at one time a hermit 1433 Blessed John Cini "della Pace," bred to arms. In 1396 he became a Franciscan tertiary and founded several charitable organizations and a confraternity of flagellants OFM Tert. 1456 Blessed Gabriel Ferretti scion of the counts Ferretti OFM (AC) 1500 Blessed Christopher of Portugal beheaded for the faith by the Islamic prince of Ceylon M (PC) 1580 Blessed John the Merciful of Rostov (also known as "the Hairy") Living in humility, patience and unceasing prayer, he spiritually nourished many people 1623 St. Josaphat of Polotsk an Eastern Rite bishop martyr 1651 Saint Nilus
the Myrrh-Gusher of Mt Athos predicted telephone, airplane
submarine warned that people's minds would be clouded by carnal
passions, "dishonor lawlessness grow stronger." Men indistinguishable
from women because of "shameless dress and style of hair." Lamented
Christian pastors, bishops priests, become vain, morals and traditions
of the Church would change. Few pious God-fearing pastors remain, and
many people stray from the right path because no one would instruct them.
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Catholic
saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary
lives. Each saint the Church honors responded to God's invitation to use his or her unique gifts. God calls each one of us to be a saint in order to get into heaven: only saints are allowed into heaven. The more "extravagant" graces are bestowed NOT for the benefit of the recipients so much as FOR the benefit of others. |
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649-655 Pope
St. Martin I defender of the faith; buried in the church of Our Lady, called Blachernæ,
near Cherson
Last martyred Pope.Sancti Martíni Primi, Papæ et Mártyris, cujus dies natális sextodécimo Kaléndas Octóbris recensétur. The Feast of St. Martin I, pope and martyr, whose birthday is mentioned on the 16th day of September. Many miracles are related wrought by St Martin in life and after death; Pope St. Martin I of noble birth, great student, commanding intelligence, profound learning, great charity to the poor Saint Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome native of the Tuscany convened Lateran Council at Rome condemn Monothelite heresy; “The
saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs
of God, as John the theologian and evangelist says: ‘But as many as
received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....’
Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs,
ascetics and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let
us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering,
and perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns
of glory” Exposition of the Orthodox Faith
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St. Cyriacus.The Departure of; brought to Abba Peter, Bishop of Corinth, his
cousin,; he ordained him reader. Cyriacus read continually searched
interpretations of Holy Scriptures surpassed many in it; went to Jerusalem, met bishop Abba Cyril; sent to Euthymius (Otimus) Palestine; lived virtuous life much asceticism humility,
godliness devoutness; God bestowed the gift of healing; He healed
all who came to the monastery all kinds of sicknesses or infirmities;
His virtues and holiness spread everywhere On this day, the holy father, St. Cyriacus, departed. This striver was brought up in the city of Corinth in Greece. He was the son of Orthodox Christian parents, who taught him the church subjects. They brought him to Abba Peter, Bishop of Corinth, who was his cousin, and he ordained him a reader. Cyriacus read continually and searched in the interpretations of the Holy Scriptures until he surpassed many in it. Abba Peter appointed him to read to the people in the church and to him in his cell, and he was pleased with him. When he was 18 years old, his parents asked him if he wished to marry, but he refused. He asked them for permission to visit one of the monasteries in order to be blessed by the saints therein. He continued to visit the monastery from time to time and he longed for the monastic garb. He went to the Holy city, Jerusalem, and met its bishop, Abba Cyril. He presented to him his wish to become a monk. Abba Cyril approved his wish and prophesied of him saying that he would become a great father, would have many accomplishments, and many souls would be enlightened by his teachings. He blessed him and sent him to the great father Euthymius (Otimus), the father of the monks of Palestine. Father Euthymius accepted him with joy and put the garb of the monk on him. He handed him to one of the elders of the monastery who taught him the ways of worship and revealed to him the artifices of Satan. Abba Cyriacus lived a virtuous life with much asceticism besides humility, godliness and devoutness. God bestowed upon him the gift of healing. He healed all those who came to the monastery with all kinds of sicknesses or infirmities. His virtues and his holiness spread everywhere. This holy man accompanied Abba Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, to the Ecumenical council of the hundred and fifty that gathered at Constantinople because of Macedonius, the enemy of the Holy Spirit. Abba Cyriacus opposed his arguments and vanquished him by evidences and proofs. He departed at a good old age. The Lord made manifest from his body after his departure, many signs and miracles. His body still rests in one of the monasteries of the city of Jerusalem, without any change or corruption, to the extent that anyone who sees him today would think that he just died only a short time ago. More than 700 years have passed from the time of his departure till the writing of his biography. He lived at the time of Theodosius the Great in the later part of the fourth Christian century. His intercession be for us. Amen.
St. Athanasius and His
Sister, Irene. Departure of
On this day also, St. Athanasius and his sister, Irene, departed. They suffered many tortures at the hands of Maximianus. When he failed to turn them away from their faith in Christ, he ordered to cast them into an empty pit, and to shut over them, wherein they departed. |
150 St. Patiens
Patron saint of Metz, France fourth diocesecan bishop. |
2nd v. Aurelius and
Publius bishops who wrote against the Montanists or Cata-Phrygians BM (RM)
In Asia pássio sanctórum Aurélii et Públii Episcopórum. In Asia, the martyrdom of the holy bishops Aurelius and Publius. Aurelius and Publius were bishops who wrote against the Montanists or Cata-Phrygians. They were martyred, probably in Asia, though others place the site in North Africa (Benedictines). |
200 St. Rufus and Avignon first bishop of Avignon
France Avenióne sancti Rufi, qui éxstitit primus ejúsdem civitátis Epíscopus. At Avignon, St. Rufus, the first bishop of that city. It is certain that he did live, although biographies written about him are considered unreliable. |
430
St. Nilus the Elder Bishop and friend of St. John Chrysostom Constantinópoli sancti Nili Abbátis, qui, sub Theodósio junióre, ex Præfécto ejúsdem civitátis factus Mónachus, doctrína et sanctitáte cláruit. At Constantinople, St. Nilus, abbot, who resigned as prefect of the city to become a monk, and during the reign of Theodosius the Younger became distinguished for his learning and sanctity. He was reputedly a member of the imperial
court at Constantinople, modern Istanbul, who gave up his family
and, with his son, Theodulus, took up the life of a monk on Mount Sinai.
Theodulus was kidnapped by Arab raiders, and Nilus set out to find
him. They were reunited, and both were ordained by a bishop at Eleusa.
They then returned to Sinai. Nilus also became the bishop of Ancyra
and was the reputed author of ascetical treatises and many letters. There
is a possibility that he may be confused with the monk of Ancyra
called “the Wise,” who wrote
the various treatises.
Saint Nilus the Faster of Sinai, a native of Constantinople. He lived during the fifth century and was a disciple of St John Chrysostom. Having received a fine education, the saint was appointed to the important post of prefect of the capital while still a young man. During this period, Nilus was married and had children, but the pomp of courtly life bothered the couple. St John Chrysostom exerted a tremendous influence upon their lives and their strivings. The spouses decided to separate and devote themselves to the monastic life. <Nilus and John The wife and daughter of Nilus went to one of the women's monasteries in Egypt, and St Nilus and his son Theodulus went to Sinai, where they settled in a cave dug out by their own hands. For forty years this cave served as the dwelling of St Nilus. By fasting, prayer and works, the monk attained a high degree of spiritual perfection. People began to come to him from every occupation and social rank from the emperor down to the farmer, and each found counsel and comfort from the saint. At Sinai, St Nilus wrote many soul-profiting works to guide Christians on the path of salvation. In one of his letters there is an angry denunciation of the emperor Arcadius, who had exiled St John Chrysostom. The ascetic works of the venerable Nilus are widely known: they are perfectly executed in form, profoundly Orthodox in content, and are clear and lucid in expression. His Ascetic Discourse is found in Volume I of the English PHILOKALIA. St Nilus suffered many misfortunes in the wilderness. Once, Saracens captured his son Theodulus, whom they intended to offer as a sacrifice to their pagan gods. Through the prayers of the saint the Lord saved Theodulus, and his father found him with the Bishop of Emessa, who had ransomed the young man from the barbarians. This bishop ordained both of them as presbyters. After ordination they returned to Sinai, where they lived as ascetics together until the death of St Nilus. 430 ST NILUS THE ELDER AMONG the disciples of St John Chrysostom was a certain Nilus, who was an official at Constantinople and is said even to have been prefect of the city. He was married and had two children, some years after the birth of whom Nilus was seized by a great craving after solitude. He eventually agreed with his wife that they should withdraw from the world, he taking his son Theodulus with him. They went to reside with the monks of Mount Sinai, from whence Nilus wrote two letters of protest and rebuke to the Emperor Arcadius after the banishment of Chrysostom from Constantinople. After a few years the monastery suffered a raid from Arabs, when many monks were slaughtered and the young Theodulus was carried off. His father followed up the raiders with the intention of ransoming the boy, and at last traced him to Eleusa, south of Beersheba, where Theodulus had been bought by the local bishop out of charity and given employment in the church. Before sending them back to Sinai this bishop ordained both Nilus and his son priests. By the letters and other writings attributed to him Nilus was well known as a writer, theological, Biblical and especially ascetic. In his treatise on prayer he recommends that we beg of God in the first place the gift of prayer, and entreat the Holy Ghost to form in our hearts those desires which He has promised always to hear, and continually to ask of God that His will maybe done in the most perfect manner. To persons in the world he inculcates temperance, meditation on death and the obligation of giving alms, and he was always ready to communicate to others his spiritual science. What proficiency he had attained in an interior life and in the study of the Holy Scriptures, and how much he was consulted by persons of all ranks, appear from the number of his letters which are still in existence. One of these was in reply to the prefect Olympiodorus, who had built a church and wanted to know if he might adorn its walls with mosaics not only of sacred subjects but also of hunting scenes, birds, beasts and the like. St Nilus makes short work of this suggestion, and then says that the walls should be painted with scenes from the Old and New Testaments for the instruction of those who could not read, but only one cross should be displayed, and that in the sanctuary. St Nilus wrote a special treatise to show the life of hermits to be preferable to that of religious who live in communities in cities, but that hermits have their particular difficulties and trials. These he himself had experienced by violent temptations, troubles of mind and assaults of evil spirits. To a certain monk living on a pillar he writes that his lofty position is due to pride: Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled." It would seem, however, that the story of St Nilus, accepted by Tillemont and Alban Butler on the authority of the Narrationes (printed in Migne, PG., vol. lxxix, pp. 583-694), is open to the gravest doubt. We have no reason to believe that Nilus was a high court official, that he was married, betook himself to Sinai and underwent alarming experiences in the search for his captive son.This is, no doubt, the tale perpetuated in synaxaries, but it cannot be made to agree with the data furnished in Nilus's authentic letters. Nilus the writer would appear to have been another person, a monk of Ancyra in Galatia (modern Ankara), and the two contemporaries seem to have been confused into one. See the reference in Migne, PG.,
given above; K. Heussi, Untersuchungen
zu Nilus dem Asketen in Texte und Untersuchungen (1917);
F. Degenhart, Des hl. Nilus
Sinaita (1925) and Neue
Beitrage zur Nilusforschung (1918); and also DTC., vol.
xi (1931), cc. 661-674, which includes a full bibliography.
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422 St. Renatus
First bishop of Angers, France, and Sorrento, Italy.
also listed as Rend. Owing to the unlikelihood of his having held both positions, scholars Believe that there are actually two bishops who have been placed under the same name. |
6th v.
Machar of Iona B (AC). (also known as Macharius or Mochumma
of Iona or Aberdeen) An Irishman by birth, he was baptized by Saint Colman
{676} and became a disciple of Saint Columba {Born in Garton, County Donegal,
Ireland, c. 521; died June 9, 597} at Iona. Afterwards he was sent with 12
disciples to convert the Picts, and fixed his episcopal residence at Old
Aberdeen, of which he is said to have been the first bishop. The water from
his well was at one time used for baptisms in Aberdeen cathedral (Benedictines,
Montague).
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560 Saint Evodius Bishop
of Le Puy B (AC) Bishop of Le Puy, France (Benedictines). |
574 St. Emilian Cucullatus
shepherd hermit priest patron saint of Spain favoured with many miracles.
Turiasóne, in Hispánia Tarraconénsi, beáti Æmiliáni Presbyteri, qui innúmeris miráculis cláruit; cujus admirábilem vitam sanctus Bráulio, Cæsaraugustánus Epíscopus, descrípsit. At Tarazona in Aragon, blessed Emilian, a priest favoured with many miracles. His admirable life was recorded by St. Braulio, bishop of Saragossa. ST EMILIAN CUCULLATUS, ABBOT THIS St Emilian, under the name of San Millán
de la Cogolla, i.e. “with the Hood”, was a
famous early saint of Spain and is regarded as a patron of that country.
The Roman Martyrology refers to the fact that his life was written
by St Braulio, Bishop of Saragossa, about fifty years after his death.
Emilian's birthplace has for centuries been a matter in dispute between
Aragon and Castile.
As a youth he was a shepherd. At the
age of twenty he heard a call from God to His direct service and for
a time he attached himself to a hermit. Then he returned to
his home, but so many people importuned him that he wandered off into
the mountains above Burgos. He lived there for forty years-according
to tradition on the mountain where the abbey of San Milldn was afterwards
built--till the bishop of Tarazona insisted on his receiving holy orders
and becoming a parish priest.
But the heroic virtues that the
hermit had learned in the wilderness were not understood by his fellow
clergy, and he was accused to the bishop of wasting the goods of the
church, which he had given away in charity. He was therefore
deprived of his cure, and with some disciples returned to solitude
and contemplation, and so spent the rest of his life. St Emilian is sometimes
called the first Spanish Benedictine, but the monastery of La Cogolla,
of course, did not have Benedictine Rule till long after his time.
The Latin biography by Braulio
is printed by Mabillon, vol. i, pp. 198-207. In Florea, España Sagrada, vol. I, will
also be found an account of the saint's translation and of the miracles
wrought at his shrine. See further T. Minguella, S. Millan de La Cogolla, estudios historicos
(1883), and V. de Ia Fuente, San
Millian, presbitero
secular (1883). A new critical edition of the vita, ed. L. Vazquez de Parga, was
published at Madrid in 1943.
One of the patron saints of Spain, called
La Cogalla, “the Cowled.” A shepherd from La Rioja, in Navarre, Spain,
he was ordained a priest after many years as a hermit. He was made
pastor of the parish in Berceo but became a hermit again. In time so
many joined him that he founded a hermitage that became the Benedictine
Abbey of La Cogalla. Emilian Cucullatus, Abbot (RM) (also
known as Aemilian, Emilianus or Millan of Cucullatus or La Cogolla or
de la Gogolla). A shepherd at La Rioja, Navarre, Spain, he
became a hermit when 20. After a brief stay at home, he spent the next
40 years in extreme solitude as a hermit in the mountains around Burgos
when at the insistence of the bishop of Tarazona, he was ordained.
He became a parish priest at Berceo but because of
his excessive charity was forced to leave and with several disciples resumed
his eremitical life. He died at the age of 100. Tradition says the mountain
hermitage he occupied near Burgos became the site of the Benedictine monastery
of La Cogolla. He is a minor patron of Spain, where he is known as San
Millan de la Cogolla--the cowled Saint Emilian (Benedictines, Delaney,
Encyclopedia).
Saint Millan is represented
as a monk on horseback fighting the Moors, and sometimes as a Benedictine
on horseback holding a banner and sword. Abbot of La Cogolla, Tarazona.
Minor patron saint of Spain (Roeder).
|
6th v. St. Machar founder
of Aberdeen, Scotland companion of St. Columba
ST MACHAL BISHOP
THE diocese of Aberdeen today keeps the feast of St Machar (Mochumma), but nothing certain is known about him except that he was an Irish missionary who came to Scotland with St Columba. He is said to have evangelized the isle of Mull, and been consecrated bishop before being sent to preach to the Picts in what is now Aberdeenshire. It is likely that he was a missionary in that neighbourhood, and the establishment of what became the see of Aberdeen is attributed to him. Water from St Machar's well at Old Aberdeen used always to be used for baptisms in the cathedral. Little is known of St Machar beyond
what we find in the Aberdeen Breviary. Forbes in KSS., treats of
him (pp. 393-394) under the heading “Mauritius,
Macbar or Mocumnia”. In the Aberdeen Martyrology
he is described as “Archbishop of Tours”.
We are further told that “Mr Bradshaw has discovered
in the University Library at Cambridge a metrical Life of this saint,
which he supposes to have been composed by Barbour in his extreme old
age”. This metrical life, written about
1390, has since been printed by Horstmann in his Altenglische Legenden (1881). And cf.
an article by Professor A. S. Ferguson in Scottish Gaelic Studies, vol. vi, pp.
58 seq.
Also called Macharius and Mochuemna, he was
baptized by St. Colman and joined Columba on lona. Machar evangelized
the island of Mull. Consecrated a bishop, he became the Apostle to the
Picts in the Aberdeenshire region. |
610 Imerius of Immertal
monk-hermit and a missionary in the district of the Swiss Jura
Abbot (AC). (also known as Himerius, Imier)
A monk-hermit and a missionary in the district of the Swiss Jura,
now called after him Immertal, Val-Saint-Imier (Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
In art Imerius is depicted as an old hermit among twigs or branches.
Venerated at Immertal, Switzerland (Roeder).
|
616-620
Saint John the Merciful, monk,
Patriarch of Alexandria His spiritual
exploits won him honor among men, even the emperor; charitable to all; ransomed prisoners,
Wed & Fri he received everyone
in need; settled quarrels, helped the wronged, distributed alms.
3x's times a week visited the sick-houses, rendered assistance to the
suffering.
Born on Cyprus in the seventh century into
the family of the illustrious dignitary Epiphanius. At the wish of
his parents he entered into marriage and had children. When the wife
and the children of the saint died, he became a monk. He was zealous
in fasting and prayer, and had great love for those around him.
His spiritual exploits won him
honor among men, and even the emperor revered him. When the Patriarchal
throne of Alexandria fell vacant, the emperor Heraclius and all the
clergy begged St John to occupy the Patriarchal throne.
The saint worthily assumed his archpastoral service, concerning himself with the moral and dogmatic welfare of his flock. As patriarch he denounced every soul-destroying heresy, and drove out from Alexandria the Monophysite Phyllonos of Antioch. He considered his chief task to be charitable and to give help all those in need. At the beginning of his patriarchal service he ordered his stewards to compile a list of all the poor and downtrodden in Alexandria, which turned out to be over seven thousand men. The saint ordered that all of these unfortunates be provided for each day out of the church's treasury. Twice during the week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, he emerged from the doors of the patriarchal cathedral, and sitting on the church portico, he received everyone in need. He settled quarrels, helped the wronged, and distributed alms. Three times a week he visited the sick-houses, and rendered assistance to the suffering. It was during this period that the emperor Heraclius led a tremendous army against the Persian emperor Chosroes II. The Persians ravaged and burned Jerusalem, taking a multitude of captives. The holy Patriarch John gave a large portion of the church treasury for their ransom. The saint never refused suppliants.
One day, when the saint was visiting the sick, he met a beggar and
commanded that he be given six silver coins. The beggar changed his
clothes, ran on ahead of the Patriarch, and again asked for alms. St
John gave him six more silver coins. When, however, the beggar sought
charity a third time, and the servants began to chase the fellow away,
the Patriarch ordered that he be given twelve pieces of silver, saying,
"Perhaps he is Christ putting me to the test." Twice the saint gave money
to a merchant that had suffered shipwreck, and a third time gave him
a ship belonging to the Patriarchate and filled with grain, with which
the merchant had a successful journey and repaid his obligations.
St John the Merciful was known for his gentle attitude towards people. Once, the saint was compelled to excommunicate two clergymen for a certain time because of some offense. One of them repented, but the other fellow became angry with the Patriarch and fell into greater sins. The saint wanted to summon him and calm him with kind words, but it slipped his mind. When he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, the saint was suddenly reminded by the words of the Gospel: if you bring your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar ... first, be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Mt. 5:23-24). The saint came out of the altar, called the offending clergyman to him, and falling down on his knees before him in front of all the people he asked forgiveness. The cleric, filled with remorse, repented of his sin, corrected himself, and afterwards was found worthy to be ordained to the priesthood. There was a time when a certain citizen insulted George, the Patriarch's nephew. George asked the saint to avenge the wrong. The saint promised to deal with the offender so that all of Alexandria would marvel at what he had done. This calmed George, and St John began to instruct him, speaking of the necessity for meekness and humility. Then he summoned the man who insulted George. When St John learned that the man lived in a house owned by the church, he declared that he would excuse him from paying rent for an entire year. Alexandria indeed was amazed by such a "revenge," and George learned from his uncle how to forgive offenses and to bear insults for God's sake. St John, a strict ascetic and man of prayer, was always mindful of his soul, and of death. He ordered a coffin for himself, but told the craftsmen not to finish it. Instead, he would have them come each feastday and ask if it was time to finish the work. St John was persuaded to accompany
the governor Nicetas on a visit to the emperor in Constantinople.
While on his way to visit the earthly king, he dreamed of a resplendent
man who said to him, "The King of Kings summons you."
He sailed to his native island
of Cyprus, and died at Amanthos, the saint peacefully fell asleep
in the Lord (616-620).
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633 Cunibert
of Trèves untiring builder of churches and monasteries B (RM) Colóniæ
Agrippínæ deposítio sancti Cunibérti
Epíscopi At Cologne, the death of St. Cunibert,
bishop.
663 ST CUNIBERT, BISHOP OF COLOGNE THE fine church of St Cunibert at Cologne was founded by this bishop, who dedicated it in honour of St Clement; when his own relics were enshrined therein it was renamed after its founder. He was undoubtedly a great and holy prelate, but the authorities for details of his life are not very reliable or full. He is said to have been brought up at the court of Clotaire II, received holy orders, and was made archdeacon of the church of Trier. About 625 he was advanced to the bishopric of Cologne, and wielded such influence that he is commonly referred to as archbishop, though there was no actual metropolitan of that city till thc end of the eighth century. He was a royal counsellor and assisted at several important synods, and when Dagobert I made his four-year-old son Sigebert king of Austrasia, Cunibert was appointed one of his two guardians. St Cunibert was concerned for the evangelization of the Frisians, as we learn from a letter of St Boniface and in his later years he left the court to devote himself entirely to his diocese. He died in an uncertain year, leaving a great reputation for holiness. Medieval lives of St Cunibert are
numerous, belonging to two different types. Fr M. Coens in the
Analecta Bollandiana, vol. xlvii
(1929), pp. 338-367, has discussed the whole question very thoroughly, and
published one particular text, adding abundant references to the more recent
literature of the subject. On the church of St Cunibert see the Festschrijt Anton Ditges gewidmet (1911),
and also P. Clemen in Kunstdenkmahler der
Rheinprovinz, vol. vi, pt 4(1916), pp. 231-313; relics of The Two
Ewalds (October 3) are preserved there.
Cunibert, a Frankish courtier, was successively
archdeacon of Trèves (Trier) and archbishop of Cologne. He
filled the office of chief minister during the minority of King Sigebert
of Austrasia. He was an untiring builder of churches and monasteries
(Benedictines, Encyclopedia). Saint Cunibert is always shown with a dove
on his head or at his ear. Sometimes he holds Cologne Cathedral (Roeder). |
650 St. Livinus
Martyred Irish bishop IEschæ, in Bélgio, sancti Livíni, Epíscopi et Mártyris; qui, cum plúrimos ad Christi fidem convertísset, a Pagánis necátus est. Ipsíus vero corpus ad Portum Gandæ póstea translátum fuit. At Eschen in Belgium, St. Livinus, bishop and martyr. After converting many to the faith he was slain by heathens. His body, however, was afterwards translated to Ghent. ordained by St. Augustine of Canterbury, England {D. 607?}.
ST LIVINUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR THE Church in Ireland today keeps the feast of St Livinus, who is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology as having been martyred in Belgium and who, like several other Irish missionaries on the continent, is credited with having been bishop in Dublin. His medieval life states that he was the son of a noble Scottish father and a royal Irish mother, and that he was baptized by St Augustine of Canterbury, who also ordained him. He later became a bishop and with three companions left Ireland for Flanders, where they were received by the abbot St Floribert at Ghent. Then he went preaching among the heathen in Brabant, was hospitably received by a lady, and eventually killed by pagans, who cut off his head at Eschen, near Alost. His relics finally found a resting-place at the abbey of St Peter in Ghent. The Life of St Livinus professes to have been written from information received from his personal disciples, but it is not heard of before the eleventh century, and the resemblance of the above story to that of St Lebuin (see below) is obvious. It is now generally received among scholars that this bishop had no independent existence, that the St Livinus commemorated in the Roman Martyrology, in Ireland and at Ghent is the same as the St Lebuin who was certainly a missionary in Holland and is venerated in that country. A medieval life, purporting to
have been written by a certain " Bonifacius peccator and at one time
ascribed to the great St Boniface, is printed in Mabillon, vol. ii,
pp. 449-461. Its worthlessness has been demonstrated by 0. Holder-Egger
in Historische Aufsätze an
G. Waltz gewidmet (1886), pp. 622-665. J. Kenney, Sources for the Early History of Ireland,
says, p. 509 “It is probable that Livinus is a doublet of
the English St Liafwin or Lebuin of Deventer in Holland”
on which cf. Analecta Bollandiana,
vol. lxx (1952), pp. 285-308.
He was the son of a Scottish noble and an Irish princess. Livinus and three companions went to Flanders, Belgium, where they evangelized the area. He was martyred near Clost, in Brabant. Also called Lebwin, he is identified by some scholars with St. Lebuinus. Livinus of Alost BM (RM) (also
known as Lebwin). An Irishman by birth, he was ordained a priest
by Saint Augustine of Canterbury, and sailed to Flanders, where for
some years he preached the gospel with great success. At some time during
this period he is said to have been consecrated bishop in Ireland. He
was martyred with several companions near Alost, Brabant, Belgium. His
relics are enshrined and venerated at Ghent. He is perhaps to be identified
with as Saint Lebuinus (Benedictines, Montague). Saint Lebwin is shown
as a bishop holding his tongue with a pair of tongs (because it was plucked
out). Venerated at Alost (Roeder).
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655 Pope St. Martin I defender
of the faith; buried in the
church of Our Lady, called Blachernæ, near Cherson, many miracles
are related wrought by St Martin in life and after death
Martin, born at Todi on the Tiber, son of Fabricius; elected Pope at Rome, 21 July, 649, to succeed Theodore I; died at Cherson in the present peninsulas of Krym, 16 Sept., 655, after a reign of 6 years, one month and twenty six days, having ordained eleven priests, five deacons and thirty-three bishops. 5 July is the date commonly given for his election, but 21 July (given by Lobkowitz, "Statistik der Papste" Freiburg, 1905) seems to correspond better with the date of his death and reign (Duchesne "Lib. Pont.", I, 336); his feast is on 12 November.The Greeks honor him on 13 April and 15 September, the Muscovites on 14 April. In the hymns of the Office the Greeks style him infallibilis fidei magister because he was the successor of St. Peter in the See of Rome (Nilles, "Calendarium Manuale", Innsbruck, 1896, I, 336). Martin, one of the noblest figures in a long line of Roman pontiffs (Hodgkin, "Italy", VI, 268) was, according to his biographer Theodore (Mai, "Spicil. Rom.", IV 293) of noble birth, a great student, of commanding intelligence, of profound learning, and of great charity to the poor. Piazza, II 45 7 states that he belonged to the order of St. Basil. He governed the Church at a time when the leaders of the Monothelite heresy, supported by the emperor, were making most strenuous efforts to spread their tenets in the East and West. Pope Theodore had sent Martin as apocrysiary to Constantinople to make arrangements for canonical deposition of the heretical patriarch, Pyrrhus. After his election, Martin had himself consecrated without waiting for the imperial confirmation, and soon called a council in the Lateran at which one hundred and five bishops met. Five sessions were held on 5, 8, 17, 119 and 31 Oct., 649 (Hefele, "Conciliengeschichte", III, 190). The "Ecthesis" of Heraclius and the "Typus" of Constans II were rejected; nominal excommunication was passed against Sergius, Pyrrus, and Paul of Constantinople, Cyrus of Alexandria and Theodore of Phran in Arabia; twenty canons were enacted defining the Catholic doctrine on the two wills of Christ. The decrees signed by the pope and the assembled bishops were sent to the other bishops and the faithful of the world together with an encyclical of Martin. The Acts with a Greek translation were also sent to the Emperor Constans II. The pope appointed John, Bishop
of Philadelphia, as his vicar in the East with necessary instructions
and full authority . Bishop Paul of Thessalonica refused to recall
his heretical letters previously sent to Rome and added others,—he
was, therefore, formally excommunicated and deposed. The Patriarch of
Constantinople, Paul, had urged the emperor to use drastic means to force
the pope and the Western Bishops at least to subscribe to the "Typus".
The emperor sent Olympius as exarch to Italy, where he arrived while the
council was still in session. Olympius tried to create a faction among
the fathers to favor the views of the emperor, but without success. Then
upon pretense of reconciliation he wished to receive Holy Communion from
the hands of the pontiff with the intention of slaying him. But Divine
Providence protected the pope, and Olympius left Rome to fight against the
Saracens in Sicily and died there. Constans II thwarted in his plans, sent
as exarch Theodore Calliopas with orders to bring Martin to Constantinople.
Calliopas arrived in Rome, 15 June, 653, and, entering the Lateran Basilica
two days later, informed the clergy that Martin had been deposed as an unworthy
intruder, that he must be brought to Constantinople and that another was
to be chosen in his place. The pope, wishing to avoid the shedding of human
blood, forbade resistance and declared himself willing to be brought before
the emperor. The saintly prisoner, accompanied by only a few attendants,
and suffering much from bodily ailments and privations, arrived at Constantinople
on 17 Sept., 653 or 654, having landed nowhere except the island of Naxos.
The letters of the pope seem to indicate he was kept at Naxos for a year.
Jaffe, n. 1608, and Ewald, n 2079, consider the annum fecimus an interpolation
and would allow only a very short stop at Naxos, which granted the pope
an opportunity to enjoy a bath. Duchesne, "Lib. Pont.", I, 336 can see no
reason for abandoning the original account; Hefele,"Conciliengeschichte"
III, 212, held the same view (see "Zeitschr. für Kath. Theol.", 1892,
XVI, 375).
From Abydos messengers were sent to the imperial city to announce the arrival of the prisoner who was branded as a heretic and rebel, an enemy of God and of the State. Upon his arrival in Constantinople Martin was left for several hours on deck exposed to the jests and insults of a curious crowd of spectators. Towards evening he was brought to a prison called Prandearia and kept in close and cruel confinement for ninety-three days, suffering from hunger, cold and thirst. All this did not break his energy and on 19 December he was brought before the assembled senate where the imperial treasurer acted as judge. Various political charges were made, but the true and only charge was the pope's refusal to sign the "Typus". He was then carried to an open space in full view of the emperor and of a large crowd of people. These were asked to pass anathema upon the pope to which but few responded. Numberless indignities were heaped upon him, he was stripped of nearly all his clothing, loaded with chains, dragged through the streets of the city and then again thrown into the prison of Diomede, where he remained for eighty five days. Perhaps influenced by the death of Paul, Patriarch of Constantinople, Constans did not sentence the pope to death, but to exile. He was put on board a ship, 26 March, 654 (655) and arrived at his destination on 15 May. Cherson was at the time suffering from a great famine. The venerable pontiff here passed the remaining days of his life. He was buried in the church of Our Lady, called Blachernæ, near Cherson, and many miracles are related as wrought by St Martin in life and after death. The greater part of his relics are said to have been transferred to Rome, where they repose in the church of San Martino ai Monti. Of his letters seventeen are extant in P.L., LXXXVII, 119. 656 ST MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR ST MARTIN was a native of Todi in Umbria, renowned among the clergy of Rome for his learning and holiness. Whilst he was deacon he was sent by Pope Theodore I as apocrisiarius or nuncio to Constantinople, and upon the death of Theodore Martin himself was elected pope in July 649. In the October following he held a council at the Lateran against Monothelism (the denial that Christ had a human will), in which the orthodox doctrine of the two wills was affirmed and the leaders of the heresy anathematized. Two imperial edicts, the “Ekthesis” of Heraclius and the “Typos” of Constans, were likewise censured: the first because it contained an exposition of faith entirely favourable to the monothelites, the second because it was a formulary by which silence was imposed on both parties and it was forbidden to mention either one or two wills and energies in Christ. “The Lord”, said the Lateran fathers, “has commanded us to shun evil and do good, but not to reject the good with the evil. We are not to deny at the same time both error and truth”.-which sounds like a reference to Pope Honorius I, though he is not mentioned. These decrees were published throughout the West, Martin invoking the energy of the bishops of Africa, Spain and England for the putting down of Monothelism, and in the East he appointed a vicar to enforce the synodal decisions in the patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem. The emperor, Constans II, was infuriated. He had already sent an exarch to Rome who had failed in his mission of sowing dissension among the bishops at the synod, and he now sent another, Theodore Kalliopes, with orders to bring the pope to Constantinople. Martin, who was sick, took refuge in the Lateran basilica, where he was lying on a couch in front of the altar when Kalliopes and his soldiers broke in; he refused to make any resistance, and was taken secretly out of Rome to be put on board ship at Porto. The voyage was long and Martin suffered greatly from dysentery. He arrived in Constantinople in the autumn of 653 and was there left in jail for three months; he wrote in a letter : “I have not been allowed to wash, even in cold water, for forty-seven days. I am wasted away and frozen through, and have had no respite from dysentery...The food that is given me makes me feel sick. I hope that God, who knows all things, will bring my persecutors to repentance after He will have taken me out of this world ”. The pope was eventually arraigned before the senate on a charge of treason and condemned unheard (His real offence, as St Martin pointed out to his accusers, was his refusal to sign the theological “ Typos ”); then, after shameful public indignities and ill-treatment, which aroused indignation of the people, he was returned to prison for another three months. His life, however, was spared (at the intercession of the dying patriarch Paul) and in April 654 he was taken into exile at Kherson in the Crimea. From there St Martin wrote an account of the famine, his own difficulty in getting food, the barbarism of the inhabitants, and the neglect with which he was treated. “I am surprised at the indifference of all those who, though they once knew me, have now so entirely forgotten me that they do not even seem to know whether I am in the world. I wonder still more at those who belong to the church of St Peter for the little concern they show for one of their body. If that church has no money, it wants not corn, oil or other provisions out of which they might send us a small supply. What fear has seized all these men that it hinders them from fulfilling the commands of God in relieving the distressed? Have I appeared such an enemy to the whole Church, or to them in particular ?” “However, I pray God, by the intercession of St Peter, to preserve them steadfast and immovable in the orthodox faith. As to this wretched body, God will have care of it. He is at hand; why should I trouble myself? I hope in His mercy that He will not prolong my course.” St Martin was not disappointed in his hope, for he died perhaps about two years later, the last of the popes so far to be venerated as a martyr. His feast is celebrated in the West on November 12 and in the East on various dates, the Byzantine liturgy acclaiming him as a glorious defender of the true faith “and an ornament of the divine see of Peter”. A contemporary wrote of Pope St Martin I as being a man of great intelligence, learning and charity. For sources we have in this case
the letters of the pope, though these have not always come to us
in a very satisfactory form. There is also a contemporary account in
the Liber Pontificalis-see
Duchesne's edition, vol. i, pp. 336 seq. with his admirable notes-and
the Commemoratio, a narrative
written by an ecclesiastic who had accompanied St Martin In his exile.
This, with the letters, maybe found in Migne, PL., vols, lxxxvii and
cxxix. The Life of St Eligius by St Ouen, and the Greek biography of
St Maximus the Confessor, supply some further details. From these materials
Mgr Mann compiled a tolerably complete history of the pontificate Lives of the Popes, vol. i. pt 1, pp.
385-405. But since he wrote in 1902 other valuable contributions have
been made to the subject, notably the publication by Fr P. Peeters
in the Anaecta Bollandiana
vol. 1i (1933), pp. 225-262, of a previously unknown Greek life of St
Martin. See also R. Devreesse, “La Vie de
St Maxime le Confesseur”, in Analecta Bollandiana, vol. xlvi (1928),
pp. 5-49, and in vol. liii (1935), pp. 49 seq. W.Peita in the Historischesjahrbuch,
vol. xxxviii (1917), pp. 213-236 and 428-458 Duchesne, L'Église au VIeme siècle (1925), pp. 445-453; E.
Amann in DTC,, vol. x, cc. 182-194, etc.
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665 St. Cummian
Fada Irish monastic founder defender of Roman liturgical customs.
665 ST CUMIAN, ABBOT CUIMINE FOTA, that is to say
“ the Tall ”, was born about the year 590,
a son of Fiachna, King of West Munster. While he was young he became
a monk, and later presided over the school and district of Clonfert, whcre
he is said to have been bishop. He is often identified
with the Cumian who founded a house at Kilcummin in Offaly,
where he introduced the Roman computation of Easter.
This gave offence in many quarters and the abbot of lona rebuked Cumian for abandoning the Celtic computation, which had been hallowed by the observance of St Columcille. Cumian replied in a letter known as the Paschal Epistle, in which he learnedly defends the Roman reckoning, citing synods, Western fathers and the paschal cycles of antiquity. This epistle, as Alban Butler remarks, alone suffices to give us a high idea of the learning, eloquence and virtue of the writer. But the eloquence and learning of St Cumian had no effect on the intransigent monks of Jona. He also wrote a hymn, the last three stanzas of which are found as part of a liturgical office in the Book of Mulling in Trinity College, Dublin. There seems to be no proper life
of St Cumian in either Latin or Irish. The Felire of Oengus, however,
under November 12 has the entry: “”here
has been given with wisdom, science and much prudence,
to my Cumian of beautiful warfare, the fair tall (Fota) son of Fiachna”.
See especially Kenney, Sources
for the Early History of Ireland, vol. i, pp. 220-221,
and 324-325. Whether this Cumian was the author of a penitential sometimes
attributed to him seems very doubtful. On this
consult J. T. McNeill in the Revue Celtique for 1922
and 1923, and other authorities referred to by L. Gougaud, Christianity in Celtic Lands, p. 285 and passim. Forbes in his KSS. states (p.
317) that Fort Augustus is in the vulgar language called
“Kilichuimin”,
i.e. “the church of Cumian”
but Cumians were numerous and their identities are very
tangled.
The son of the king of West Munster, Ireland,
he entered Clonfert Monastery and headed the school there. He later
became abbot of Kilcummin Monastery, which he founded. Cummian was
a stout defender of the Roman liturgy against the Celtic school. His
Paschal Epistle is still extant. Called “Fada,” Cummian received the name
“tall” because of his height. Cumian the Fada, Abbot (AC) (also
known as Cummian, Cummin) Born in Ireland, c. 590; died c. 665. Son of King
Fiachna of West Munster, Ireland, Cumian became a monk and was placed in
charge of the abbey school at Clonfert. Later he was the abbot-founder of
Kilcummin Monastery. He was noted for his learning and ably defended the Roman
liturgical practices against the abbot of Iona, who was a stalwart defender
of the Celtic practices. Cumian's defense is still available, the Paschal
Epistle, and he also wrote a hymn, some of which is still extant. The surname
Fada or Fota means "the tall" (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia).
|
689
St. Cadwallader king of Saxon peoples.
He is also called Cadwalla and
Ceadwalla. Born circa 659, Cadwallader became king of the West Saxons
in 685 or 686. He expanded his kingdom to Sussex, Surrey, as well as
Kent, In 668, he resigned and went to Rome, where he was baptized on
Easter eve, by Pope Sergius I. He died a few days later and was
entombed in St. Peter's.
Cadwallador, King (AC). A chieftain in Wales of ancient British race, not to be confused with the Anglo-Saxon Saint Ceadwalla, who is also known as Cadwallader. Both are on the Roman calendar. Even Delaney has confused the two (Benedictines). |
726 St. Paternus
Benedictine monk of Saint Pierre le Vif. Apud óppidum Sergíniam, in território Senonénsi, sancti Patérni, Mónachi et Mártyris; qui, dum eídem occurréntes in ipsíus óppidi silva latrónes ad emendándam vitam incitáret, ab illis trucidátus est. In the neighbourhood
of Sens, St. Paternus, monk and martyr. He had met some robbers
in a nearby forest, and for attempting to persuade them to amend their
lives, they slew him near Sens, France:
slain by evildoers whom he severely chastised.
|
773 St. Lebuin
Benedictine called Leaf Wine in his native England.
who worked with St. Boniface. He was a monk at Ripon, England,
who went to Germany in 754. There he worked with St. Marchelm among the Frisians. Lebuin went
to a pagan gathering at Marklo, where he won the respect of the Westphalian
Saxons.
ST LEBUIN, OR LIAFWINE THIS saint was by birth an Englishman, called in his own tongue Liafwine, and became a monk in the monastery of Ripon where he was promoted to priest's orders. That he might employ his talent for the salvation of souls, he went over into lower Germany sometime after 754 where several English missionaries were planting the gospel, and he addressed himself to St Gregory, vicar at Utrecht for that diocese. This holy man received him with joy, and sent him with St Marchelm (Marculf) to carry the gospel into the country now called Overyssel. St Lebuin was joyfully received by a lady named Ahachilda and, many being converted, they built a chapel on the west bank of the river near Deventer ; later a church and residence were built on the other bank, at Deventer itself. But many shut their ears to the truth, from whom the saint had much to suffer he seemed to gather greater courage from persecutions and continued his work until his enemies allied themselves with the Westphalian Saxons, burned down his church, and scattered his Frisian converts. These Saxons used to hold
a yearly assembly at Marklo, upon the river Weser, to deliberate
on the affairs of their nation, and St Lebuin determined to brave
them thereat. Clothed in his priestly vestments,
he entered the assemhly, holding a cross and a gospel-book.
And he cried out to them with a loud voice, saying,
“Hear me, all of you! Listen to
God who speaks to you by my mouth. Know that the Lord,
the Maker of the heavens, the earth and all things, is the only true
God.” They stopped to listen,
and he went on, affirming that their gods were powerless
dead things and that he had been sent by the Lord of Heaven to promise
them His peace and His salvation if they would acknowledge
Him and receive baptism. But if they refused he threatened
(perhaps a little tactlessly) that they should he speedily
destroyed by a prince whom God in His wrath would raise up against
them. Whereupon many of the Saxons ran to the hedges and plucked
up sharp stakes to murder him. But one in authority
cried out that they had often received with respect
ambassadors from men much more ought they to honour an ambassador
from a god who was so powerful that his messenger had escaped
from their hands, as Lebuin had done. This impressed
the barbarians and it was agreed that he should be
permitted to travel and preach where he pleased.
Lebuin of Deventer, OSB (AC) (also known as
Lebwin, Leafwine, Liafwine, Livinius). An English Benedictine monk
of Ripon, who crossed over to the Netherlands and partook of the missionary
work inaugurated by Saint Boniface{680}; died at Dokkum, Friesland,
in 755. He worked with Saint Marchelm{D. 762} under Saint Gregory of Utrecht(780}
and established the first church of Deventer. From there he preached
to the Saxons and Frisians (Attwater, Benedictines). Sometimes he is
shown with Saint Marchelm (Roeder). He is patron of Daventer (Husenbeth).
Medieval Sourcebook: The Life of Lebuin, 10th CenturySt Lebuin after this heroic venture returned to Deventer and continued his work till he died. The paper contributed in 1916 by
Hofmeister to the volume Geschichtliche
Studien Albert Hauck dargebracht, pp. 85-107, is of
special importance. Besides the life by Hucbald of Enone
(in Migne, PL., vol. cxxxii, cc. 877-894) see that edited by Hofmeister
in MGH., Scriptores,
vol. xxx, pt 2, pp. 789-795. This had been previously printed
by Fr M. Coens in the Analecta Bollandiana, vol. xxxix (1921),
pp. 306-330. There is an account by F. Hesterman, Der hl. Lebuin (1935). The second
life mentioned above is translated by C. H. Talbot in Anglo-Saxon
Missionaries in Germany (1954).
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800 St.
Namphasius Hermit monk Soldier and friend of Charlemagne. also known as Nauphary, Namphrase, and Namphisius. A one-time Soldier and friend of Charlemagne {742-814}, he embraced the life of a recluse at Marcillac, France. Namphasius, OSB (AC) (also known
as Namphisius, Namphosius, Nauphary, Namphrase). A friend of Charlemagne,
and fought against Saracens in southern France. He afterwards became
a monk-recluse near Marcillac (Lot) (Benedictines).
|
830 St. Ymar Benedictine
martyred by marauding Danes of England.
Ymar (d.c. 830) +. A monk in Reculver Abbey, Kent, England, he was put to death by marauding Danes. |
1005 St. Benedict
Companions Italian Benedictine martyrs
Apud Casimíriam, in Polónia, sanctórum Mártyrum Eremitárum Benedícti, Joánnis, Matthæi, Isaac et Christiáni; qui a prædónibus, divíno inténti servítio, dire vexáti sunt et gládiis occísi. At Gnesen in Poland, the holy hermits and martyrs Benedict, John, Matthew, Isaac, and Christian. They were savagely attacked by robbers and slain by the sword while there were at prayer. SS. BENEDICT AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS ST BENEDICT of Benevento was a friend of St Bruno of Querfurt, they having shared a cell at a monastery near Ravenna, under the direction of St Romuald. When the Emperor Otto III wished to evangelize the Slays of Pomerania, Benedict and other monks were sent to engage in the work. They first went into western Poland, where they were well received at the court of Duke Boleslaus I and teachers were appointed to instruct them in the Slavonic speech. The monks established themselves at Kazimierz, near Gniezno, where on November 11, 1003, St Benedict and four others were murdered by pagan robbers. They were venerated as martyrs, their relics solemnly translated to Olomuc, and their names added to the Roman Martyrology: “ the holy martyred hermits Benedict, John, Matthew, Isaac and Christian who, intent upon the service of God, were grievously troubled by robbers and by them slain with the sword ”, as their notice now runs. These martyrs, who are venerated in Poland as the Five Polish Brothers, although they were neither Poles nor (apart from Matthew and Isaac), other than spiritually, brothers, are accounted to the glory of the Camaldolese Order, though in fact they were dead some years before St Romuald founded Camaldoli. When St Bruno of Querfurt learned of the fate of his friend Benedict and his four fellows, he collected evidence from Poland and wrote down an account of what had happened. There are two main sources for
the history of these martyrs. The first is the narrative of
St Bruno of Querfurt, of which the text may be read in MGH., Scriptores, vol. xv, pp. 716-738, and
in the German annotated translation of H. G. Voigt, Bruno von Querfurt (1907). The second account,
of later date, is that of Cosmas of Prague. It is printed in
Migne, PL., vol. clxvi, cc. 109-113. See also the Neues Archiv, vol. viii, pp. 365 seq.
Benedict, with John, Matthew,
Isaac, and Christinus, went with St. Adalbert of Prague to a mission
among the Slavic peoples. Robbers attacked their monastery near Gnesen
and slew them. Pope Julius II canonized them. They are revered in Poland
as "the Five Polish Brothers;' although they were not Poles and not related.
Benedict, John, Matthew, Isaac, & Christinus, OSB MM (RM); canonized by Pope Julius II. Italian Benedictines who followed Saint Adalbert of Prague in the mission among Slavs; massacred by robbers at their monastery near Gnesen (Benedictines). Benedict of Benevento & Companions MM (RM) This may be the Benedict of the group of martyrs above. |
1040 St. Anastasius XIX first Archbishop of Hungary
companion of St. Stephen. ST ASTRIK, OR ANASTASIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF THE HUNGARIANS IT is agreed that the first archbishop
in Hungary was called Astrik, but there is a great deal of uncertainty
about his identity. There are three “ candidates ”,
all associated with St Adalbert of Pragud: viz. Anastasius,
the first abbot of Brevnov in Bohemia, Astericus, one of Adalbert's
clergy, and Radla, Adalbert's fellow student at Magdeburg
and his close friend. The first two of these may be really one
person. On the whole it seems likely to have been Radla,
a Czech or Croat from Bohemia who is known to have been
a monk in Hungary.
He probably received the habit at Brevnov, taking the name of Anastasius, of which Astrik seems to be an equivalent. Then, when St Adalbert failed to consolidate his position in Bohemia, and left Prague, Astrik Radla went to help the missionaries among the Magyars. He is known to have been in the service of the wife of Duke Geza in 997; and he was almost certainly the first abbot of St Martin's (Pannonhalma), the first ecclesiastical institution of Hungary, founded by Geza. On the duke's death and the accession of his son St Stephen I the evangelization of the Magyars was taken seriously in hand, and St Astrik was active in the work of preaching the gospel and establishing an ecclesiastical organization. In connection with this Stephen sent him to Rome to confer with Pope Silvester II, and soon after his return the sovereign was crowned with a royal crown, granted no doubt at the instance of the Emperor Otto III, in 1001. There is a good case for Radla being the Astrik who was now promoted to be archbishop of the new Hungarian church. When Astrik attended a synod at Frankfurt in iooó he was styled simply Ungarorum epicopus, and it seems that his seat was not at Esztergom, which before long became the primatial see; Vesprem is the first Hungarian diocese for which there is documentary evidence, but Astrik's see may have been at Kalocsa. Throughout the remainder of his long life he worked hand in hand with King St Stephen for the proper settlement of the Church in his dominions and for the conversion of the fierce Magyars to the faith of Christ. He died soon after his royal master, about the year 1040. Of the personality and personal life of St Astrik nothing is known; but it is significant that St Adalbert of Prague had so much affection for and trust in him Adalbert wrote to Geza's wife asking her to send “ his master ” back to him in Poland; and to Astrik Radla himself he wrote saying that if the duchess would not release him, he should slip away secretly and rejoin “your Adalbert”. But to Astrik his duty was clear that he must stay among the Magyars. The best examination of the problem
is doubtless that of F. Dvornik in his Making of Central and Eastern Europe
(1949), pp. 159-166, which shows clearly how confused and uncertain
is the history of the conversion of Hungary, even for scholars who
are natives of eastern Europe. Cf. C. Kadlec in the Cambridge Medieval History, vol.
iv, p. 214. See also St Bruno's Life of St Adalbert in Fontes rerum Bohemicarum (1871), vol.
i the Life of St Stephen in MGH., Scriptores, vol. xi, and cf vol. iv, pp. 547, 563 and
Lexikon fur Theologie und Kirche,
vol. i (1930), c. 394.
The archbishop, he started as
a monk originally named Radla. In 997, he served as a missionary
among the Magyars, becoming abbot of the abbey founded by the duke
and duchess of Geza in Hungary. St. Stephen was the son and heir of
the duke. He succeeded his father and aided Anastasius in missionary
efforts among the Magyars. Pope Sylvester II recognized Stephen as king
of the Hungarians and sent him a crown through Anastasius. The archbishop
supported Stephen's enlightened rule, dying two years after the king's
passing. Astrik of Pannonhalma, OSB B (AC) (also known as
Anastasius, Astericus, Ascrick, Astricus) Born in
Bohemia; died c. 1030-1040. Radla, probably a Croat or a Czech from Bohemia,
took the name Anastasius when became a monk of SS Boniface and Alexius
at Rome. He accompanied Saint Adalbert
to the Bohemian mission. He became the first abbot of Brevnov, but
had to flee to Hungary. There he engaged in missionary
work among the Magyars, was in the service of the wife of Duke Geza
in 997, and was named first abbot of Saint Martin's in Pannonhalma,
the first monastery in Hungary, which was founded by the duke. When
Saint Stephen succeeded his father Geza as duke, Anastasius set
up a hierarchy, renewed his evangelization efforts among the Magyars,
to which he devoted the rest of his life, and was appointed the first
archbishop of the Hungarian Church with his see probably at Kalocsa.
Anastasius was the king's ambassador, sent to negotiate
the recognition of the new Hungarian kingdom by the Pope Sylvester II.
This trip probably was responsible for Stephen receiving papal recognition
as King of the Hungarians and his crowning by Emperor Otto III in 1001
with a crown sent by the Pope to him through Anastasius. He worked closely
with Stephen the rest of his life and died two years after him (Benedictines,
Delaney).
|
1035 St. Astericus
Benedictine bishop ambassador to King Stephen Hungary the one who brought the Holy Crown to St. Stephen. Astericus was born in Bohemia. After becoming a Benedictine, he accompanied St. Adalbert to the missions. Appointed the first abbot of Brevnov, he was also named abbot of Pannonhalma in Hungary. As the king's ambassador, he went to Rome to negotiate the recognition of Hungary by Pope Sylvester II. In some lists he is called Anastasius. Astericus (Astricus, Ascrick) Nov 12 + c 1035. Born in Czechia, he became a monk and accompanied St Adalbert in the Czech mission. He became the first Abbot of Brevnov but had to flee to Hungary where he became the first Abbot of Pannonhalma, recently founded by King Stephen, and Archbishop of Kalocsa. Anastasius was the King's ambassador and brought the holy crown of Hungary to St Stephen. |
1304 BD RAINERIUS OF AREZZO town had an altar set up in his honour and record kept
of attributed Miracles. INFORMATION is lacking about
the details of the life of this early Franciscan beatus. He was born at Arezzo, of
the Mariani family, and gave up a secular career to join the Friars Minor.
He was a companion of Bd Benedict of Arezzo, who had been received
into the order by St Francis himself. Miracles were attributed
to Bd Rainerius during his life, and immediately after
his death, at Borgo San Sepoicro on November I, 1304,
the municipality of the town had an altar set up in his honour
and record kept of his miracles. His cultus was confirmed in 1802.
Bd Rainerius is dealt with
by the Bollandists on November 1. They found no record of
his life beyond such brief notices as were supplied by Wadding and
other annalists, but they print from manuscript sources
a record of miracles worked at his tomb. See further Mazzara,
Leggendario Francescano
(1680), vol. iii, pp. 295-296 and Leon Auréole Séraphique
(Eng. trans.), vol. iv, pp. 34-35.
|
1332 BD JOHN DELLA PACE founder of the Fraticelli
delta Penitenza at Pisa was at one time a hermit
A confirmatio cultus may, or at any rate used, in former days, to be accorded with very little knowledge of the life of the servant of God to whom honour was paid. When Pope Pius IX in 1856 approved the celebration of this feast for the Franciscan Order, it was supposed that Bd John died in the first half of the fifteenth century. Since then it has come to light, through the indefatigable researches of the archivist S. Earsotti, that there were two Johns at Pisa who have become confused. He who died in 1433 was a furrier who lived in matrimony all his days; but the founder of the Fraticelli delta Penitenza at Pisa was at one time a hermit, and his death took place about 1332. See the two books of S. Barsotti,
Pro memoria sul B. Giovanni
della Pace (1901) and Un
muovo fiore serafico (1906) and the notice of the confirmation
of cult in the Analecta Juris Pontificii,
vol. iii (1858), cc. 378-380. The confusion has been perpetuated
in other works, e.g. Leon, Aureole
Séraphique (Eng. trans.), vol. iv, p. 60.
|
1433
Blessed John Cini "della Pace," bred to arms. In 1396 he became
a Franciscan tertiary and founded several charitable organizations
and a confraternity of flagellants OFM Tert. (AC) Born in Pisa, Italy; cultus approved in 1856. Surnamed 'the Soldier' or 'Stipendario,' or from his domicile, 'de Porta pacis,' 'della pace.' John Cini was bred to arms. In 1396 he became a Franciscan tertiary and founded several charitable organizations and a confraternity of flagellants (Benedictines). |
1456 Blessed Gabriel
Ferretti the scion of the counts Ferretti OFM (AC) BD GABRIEL OF ANCONA ST JAMES DELLA Marca, whose feast is kept on the 28th of this month, was instructed by Pope Callistus III to draw up an account of the life of this holy Franciscan. Unfortunately the document could not be found when his cultus came up for confirmation in 1753, and particulars of his career are few. He belonged to the Ferretti of Ancona and became a friar minor of the Observance when he was eighteen. He was a missioner for fifteen years in the March of Ancona, where he was conspicuous by his holiness and miracles, and was then appointed guardian of the Observants in his native town, It is said that he greatly encouraged among his young friars the use of the devotion called the Franciscan or Seraphic Crown, a rosary in honour of the joys of our Lady, and that her approval of this was marvelously demonstrated. On one occasion Bd Gabriel was reported to St James for some small dereliction of duty. St James, looking rather to the quality of the doer than the smallness of the fault, ordered him to accuse and discipline himself before his community. This Gabriel did cheerfully, and sent a sugar-loaf and a carpet for his church to St James as a token of goodwill. He died at Ancona on November 12, 1456. Pope Pius IX (Mastai-Ferretti) belonged to another branch of Bd Gabriel's family. Most of the older collections of
Franciscan lives provide some account of Bd Gabriel for example, we find a
tolerably full notice in Mazzara, Leggendario
Francescano (1680), vol. ii, pt 2, pp. 425-427. In particular
a certain authority attaches to the information furnished by Wadding,
Annales Ordinis Minorum,
vol. xii, nn. 206-214. Short sketches were published separately
by V. M. Ferretti in and by S. Melchiori in 1846. See also
Leon, Auréole Séraphique
(Eng. trans.), vol. iv, pp. 61-66.
Born in Ancona, Italy, 1385; cultus confirmed
in 1753. Gabriel was the scion of the counts Ferretti. He became a
Friar Minor at Ancona, and eventually provincial of Piceno in the Marches
(Benedictines). Blessed Gabriel is represented as a Franciscan with
a book on the ground before him, and a pool containing ducks. The Virgin
and Child in glory appear in the heavens. Venerated at Ancona and the
Marches (Roeder). |
1500 Blessed Christopher
of Portugal beheaded for the faith by the Islamic prince of Ceylon
M (PC). Christopher, a Portuguese knight of the Order of Christ (under the Cistercian Rule), was beheaded for the faith by the Islamic prince of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) (Benedictines). |
1580 Blessed
John the Merciful of Rostov (also known as "the Hairy") Living in humility, patience and unceasing prayer,
he spiritually nourished many people Struggled at Rostov in the exploit of holy foolishness, enduring much deprivation and sorrow. He did not have a permanent shelter, and at times took his rest at the house of his spiritual Father, a priest at the church of the All-Holy, or with one of the aged widows. Living in humility, patience and unceasing prayer, he spiritually nourished many people, among them St Irenarchus, Hermit of Rostov (January 13). After a long life of pursuing asceticism, he died on September 3, 1580 and was buried, according to his final wishes, beside the church of St Blaise beyond the altar. He had "hair upon his head abundantly," therefore he was called "Hairy." The title "Merciful" was given to Blessed John because of the many healings that occurred at his grave, and also in connection with the memory of the holy Patriarch John the Merciful (November 12), whose name he shared. |
1623 St. Josaphat of
Polotsk an Eastern Rite bishop martyr to church unity because he died trying to bring
part of the Orthodox Church into union with Rome
Vitépsci, in Polónia, pássio sancti Jósaphat, e sancti Basilíi Ordine, Epíscopi Polocénsis et Mártyris; qui a schismáticis, in ódium cathólicæ unitátis et veritátis, crudéliter interféctus est, et a Pio Papa Nono inter sanctos Mártyres adscríptus. Ejus tamen festívitas recólitur décimo octávo Kaléndas Decémbris. At Witebsk in Poland, the martyrdom of St. Josaphat, of the Order of St. Basil, a Polish archbishop and martyr, who was cruelly slain by schismatics through hatred of Catholic unity and truth. He was canonized by Pope Pius IX, and his feast is observed on the 16th of November. In 1054, a formal split called a schism took place between the Eastern Church centered in Constantinople and the Western Church centered in Rome. Trouble between the two had been brewing for centuries because of cultural, political, and theological differences. In 1054 Cardinal Humbert was sent to Constantinople to try and reconcile the latest flare up and wound up excommunicating the patriarch. The immediate problems included
an insistence on the Byzantine rite, married clergy,
disagreement on whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son. The split only grew worse from there, centering mostly on whether to except the authority of the Pope and Rome. More than five centuries later, in what is now known as Byelorussia and the Ukraine but what was then part of Poland-Lithuania, an Orthodox metropolitan of Kiev and five Orthodox bishops decided to commit the millions of Christians under their pastoral care to reunion with Rome. Josaphat Kunsevich who was born in 1580 or 1584 was still a young boy when the Synod of Brest Litovsk took place in 1595-96, but he was witness to the results both positive and negative. Many of the millions of Christians did not agree with the bishops decision to return to communion with the Catholic Church and both sides tried to resolve this disagreement unfortunately not only with words but with violence. Martyrs died on both sides. Josaphat was a voice of Christian peace in this dissent. After an apprenticeship to a merchant, Josaphat turned down a partnership in the business and a marriage to enter the monastery of the Holy Trinity at Vilna in 1604. As a teenager he had found encouragement in his vocation from two Jesuits and a rector who understood his heart. And in the monastery he found another soulmate in Joseph Benjamin Rutsky. Rutsky who had joined the Byzantine Rite under orders of Pope Clement VIII after converting from Calvinism shared the young Josaphat's passion to work for reunion with Rome. The two friends spent long hours making plans on how they could bring about that communion and reform monastic life. The careers of the two friends parted physically when Josaphat was sent to found new houses in Rome and Rutsky was first made abbot at Vilna. Josaphat replaced Rutsky as abbot when Rutsky became metropolitan of Kiev. Josaphat immediately put into practice his early plans of reform. Because his plans tended to reflect his own extremely austere ascetic tendencies, he was not always met with joy. One community threatened to throw him into the river until his general compassion and his convincing words won them over to a few changes. Josaphat faced even more problems when he became first bishop of Vitebsk and then Polotsk in 1617. The church there was literally and figuratively in ruins with buildings falling apart, clergy marrying two or three times, and monks and clergy everywhere not really interested in pastoral care or model Christian living. Within three years, Josaphat had rebuilt the church by holding synods, publishing a catechism to be used all over, and enforcing rules of conduct for clergy. But his most compelling argument was his own life which he spent preaching, instructing others in the faith, visiting the needy of the towns. But despite all his work and the respect he had, the Orthodox separatists found fertile ground with they set up their own bishops in the exact same area. Meletius Smotritsky was named his rival archbishop of Polotsk. It must have hurt Josaphat to see the people he had served so faithfully break into riots when the King of Poland declared Josaphat the only legitimate archbishop. His former diocese of Vitebsk turned completely against the reunion and him along with two other cities. But what probably hurt even more was that the very Catholics he looked to for communion opposed him as well. Catholics who should have been his support didn't like the way he insisted on the use of the Byzantine rite instead of the Roman rite. Out of fear or ignorance, Leo Sapiah, chancellor of Lithuania, chose to believe stories that Josaphat was inciting the people to violence and instead of coming to his aid, condemned him. Actually his only act of force was when the separatists took over the church at Mogilev and he asked the civil power to help him return it to his authority. In October 1623, Josaphat decided to return to Vitebsk to try to calm the troubles himself. He was completely aware of the danger but said, "If I am counted worthy of martyrdom, then I am not afraid to die." The separatists saw their chance to get rid of Josaphat and discredit him if they could only stir Josaphat's party to strike the first blow. Then they would have an excuse to strike back. Their threats were so public that Josaphat preached on the gospel verse John 16:2, "Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God." He told the people, "You people want to kill me. You wait in ambush for me in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, in the marketplace, everywhere. Here I am; I came to you as a shepherd. You know I would be happy to give my life for you. I am ready to die for union of the Church under St. Peter and his successor the Pope." But aside from words, Josaphat insisted that his party not react in anyway that did not show patience and forbearance. When the separatists saw that they were not getting the violent response they had hoped for they decided to wear Josaphat and the others down as they plotted more direct action. A priest named Elias went to the house where everyone was staying and shouted insults and threats to everyone he saw, focusing on calumniating Josaphat and the Church of Rome. Josaphat knew of the plot against him and spent his day in prayer. In the evening he had a long conversation with a beggar he had invited in off the streets. When Elias was back the next morning of November 12, the servants were at their wits' ends and begged Josaphat's permission to do something. Before he went off to say his office he told them they could lock Elias away if he caused trouble again. When he returned to the house he found that the servants had done just that and Josaphat let Elias out of the room. But it was too late. The mistake had been made. Elias had not been hurt in anyway but as soon as the mob saw that Elias had been locked up they rejoiced in the excuse they had been waiting for. Bells were rung and mobs descended on the house. By the time they reached the house, Elias had been released but the mob didn't care; they wanted the blood they had been denied for so long. Josaphat came out in the courtyard to see the mob beating and trampling his friends and servants. He cried out, "My children what are you doing with my servants? If you have anything against me, here I am, but leave them alone!" With shouts of "Kill the papist" Josaphat was hit with a stick, then an axe, and finally shot through the head. His bloody body was dragged to the river and thrown in, along with the body of a dog who had tried to protect him. The unsung heroes of this horrible terrorism were the Jewish people of Vitebsk. Some of the Jewish people risked their own lives to rush into the courtyard and rescue Josaphat's friends and servants from the bloodthirsty mobs. Through their courage, lives were saved. These same Jewish people were the only ones to publicly accuse the killers and mourn the death of Josaphat while the Catholics of the city hid in fear of their lives. As usual violence had the opposite affect from that intended. Regret and horror at how far the violence had gone and the loss of their archbishop swung public opinion over toward the Catholics and unity. Eventually even Archbishop Meletius Smotritsky, Josaphat's rival, was reconciled with Rome. And in 1867 Josaphat became the first saint of the Eastern church to be formally canonized by Rome. Josaphat of Poland BM (RM) (also known as Joseph Polotsk) Born at Vladimir, Volhynia, Poland, 1584; died at Vitebsk, 1623; canonized 1867; feast day formerly on November 14. John Kunsevich was born at a time when the attempts of some Christians to bring about a reunion between Rome and the Russian Orthodox Christians were causing deep dissension. Poland had annexed the Ruthenian countries--Byelorussia and the Ukraine-- during the 14th century. In 1595, with the approval of Clement VIII and the Polish government, a synod at Brest-Litovsk, Lithuania, agreed on the unification of the schismatic Greek bishops with the Latin bishops, and on their joint union with Rome. But the decisions of leaders in isolation from those affected means little. The union failed to take root in the hearts of the 10 million Ruthenians and, instead of union between two churches, a third arose--the Ruthenian Catholic Church that affiliated itself with Rome but kept the oriental rites. Of these three churches it was the Ruthenian Catholic Church that, being the most recent and therefore also the most revolutionary, aroused the greatest anger on the part of those who, either from principle or calculating interest, were conservatives. The familiar cries arose of indignation, the same cries we hear even today from those who are bound by routine. And, of course, there was the normal squabble for power over appointments. Only the blood of a martyr can overcome such differences by converting even the hardest of hearts. And so Ruthenia, which was just one example of the eternal problem of minorities, was awaiting its martyr. A rare sort of man was needed, one who was sufficiently dedicated to God not to swear allegiance to anyone else, and sufficiently involved in events to be able to change their course. Such a man was Josaphat, who was baptized John. Josaphat's father was a Catholic
burger of a good family. He sent young John to the local school and
then apprenticed him to a merchant at Vilna. John wasn't terrible successful
because his interests were in the church. Instead of pursuing the
trade, he learned church Slavonic, the language of the Byzantine liturgy,
so that he could assist more ably at divine worship and recite some of
the lengthy Byzantine office each day. He refused a partnership in the
business and marriage to his master's daughter.
At this time he became acquainted with Peter Arcudius, rector of the Basilian college and Vilna, and two Jesuits, Valentine Fabricius and Gregory Gruzevsky, who encouraged his liturgical studies. John soon realized that the quarrel between the three churches was more in need of good men than good arguments. Though inexperienced in life, John's heart was devoted to God. His main idea was to reconcile the best of both parties; the rest would follow naturally. In 1604 John persuaded his friend Joseph Benjamin Rutsky (a convert from Calvinism who had been induced by Pope Clement VIII to join the Byzantine rite against his personal wishes) to enter with him the Order of Saint Basil at Holy Trinity monastery in Vilna. At this time John took the name Josaphat. In 1609 he was ordained a priest and soon had a reputation as a compelling preacher and a leading advocate for the union of the Ukrainian Church with Rome. Together the two young monks devised schemes for promoting union and reforming Ruthenian monastic observance. Josaphat lived simply and engaged in such extreme mortifications that he was chastised by even the most austere monks. The abbot held separatist views, so Josaphat's studies were cut short and he was sent to found new houses in Poland at Byten and Zyrowice. His friend Joseph Rutsky became abbot of Holy Trinity, and when Rutsky was named metropolitan of Kiev in 1614, Josaphat returned to Holy Trinity as abbot of the monastery. Josaphat accompanied Rutsky to his new cathedral and visited the monastery of The Caves at Kiev. The monks threatened to throw Josaphat, a reformer, into the river, because they were content under their relaxed rule. He was unable to reform them, but his character generated their goodwill. In 1617 he was elected first bishop of Vitebsk, Russia, with the right of succession to Polotsk (in modern Lithuania or Byelorussia), and a few months later became archbishop at age 39 when Archbishop Brolnitsky (who favored the dissident Greeks) died. He found the diocese in deplorable
condition--there was widespread opposition to Rome, married clergy,
lax discipline, churches in a rundown state. The more religious people
were inclined to schism through fear of arbitrary Roman interference
with their worship and customs. To put into effect his reforms, Josaphat
sent for some of his brethren from Vilna to help him, called synods, wrote
a catechism, set down rules for his clergy, fought the interference of
laymen in ecclesiastical affairs, and preached and tended his flock as
personally as he could. By 1620 the reforms had some effect. Josaphat's
virtues and reasonableness gained him much support.
The dispute between East and West, however, was breaking his see asunder; there was much bitterness and violence on both sides. The laity was confused. The secular rulers were causing havoc in church affairs. Around 1620 Metetius Smotritsky was appointed archbishop of Polotsk by a group of dissident bishops and began to sow the seeds of dissension, claiming that Josaphat was really a Latin priest, declaring that his people would be forced to become Latins, too, and that Roman Catholicism was not the traditional Christianity of the Ruthenian people. Returning from Warsaw, Poland, Josaphat found that some of his support was becoming shaky; the monk Silvester had persuaded Vitebsk, Mogilev, and Orcha to the side of Metetius. The nobility and many of the people, especially those of the episcopal city who knew Josaphat well, adhered strongly to the union. But Josaphat could do little with these three cities. Riots broke out and people chose sides, when the king of Poland proclaimed that Josaphat was the legitimate archbishop of Polotsk. Josaphat was falsely accused of fomenting trouble and using force against the dissidents by the chancellor of Lithuania, Leon Sapieha, a Roman Catholic, thus stirring up further dissent. Leon was afraid of the potential for political unrest due to these disturbances, and lent to willing an ear to the heated charges of the dissidents outside of Poland. In 1622, Sapieha wrote that Josaphat had caused the violence in the maintenance of the union and put the kingdom in peril from the Zaporozhsky Cossacks by stirring up discord among the people. The accusations were made in general terms and demonstrated to be false by contemporary testimony from both sides. Josaphat was, however, guilty of invoking civil power to recover the church at Mogilev from the dissidents. Thus, Josaphat met opposition and misunderstanding on both sides. He was not given the support he should have received from the Latin bishops of Poland because of his insistence on maintaining Byzantine rites and customs, and accused by the Orthodox of being Roman. He stoically held firm and determined to appear personally in Vitebsk, the hotbed of opposition, in 1623 to meet it head on despite threats of violence against him. He declined a proffered military escort and strived instead to bring order knowing that some of his opponents hated him enough to kill him if they could do so. He once addressed an angry mob with the words, "I, your shepherd, am happy to die for you." On Nov. 12, 1623, this is precisely what happened. A priest named Elias, who had harassed Josaphat several times previously, was locked up by one of Josaphat's deacons when Elias again abused the archbishop. A mob assembled demanding Elias's release, and though Josaphat released Elias with a warning, they broke into his home and beat Josaphat's attendants. Saint Josaphat went outside to
beg them not to harm his servants and was murdered by the mob crying 'Kill
the papist!' He was beaten over the head with a halberd and shot
to death by the mob, and his body thrown into the Dvina River at Vitebsk,
Russia. Jesus had said that this is how those who offended little children
should be punished. Josaphat had only offended little spirits. He
wanted to make his contemporaries see a world in which there were no
longer Ruthenians, Poles, Russians, Greeks, Latins, Schismatics, or
Uniates but only Christians, children of the same Father, belonging to
the same faith.
Saint Josaphat was the first of the Oriental Catholics to be formally canonized in Rome (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Walsh, White). In art Saint Josaphat is depicted
as a Polish bishop with an axe (Roeder), or with a chalice, crown,
or as a winged deacon (White).
Would we be ready to die like this for the
supremacy of the pope over Christ's church? A frank question!
--Father Robert F. McNamara(1580-1620) Since many of the children of St. Thomas the Apostle parish have attended St. Josaphat School, one of our parishioners has suggested that I devote a "Saints Alive" column to the story of the Ukrainian archbishop and martyr. The older of Rochester's two Catholic Ukrainian Churches is St. Josaphat's, on Ridge Road East. This parish is rightly proud of its patron saint. An archbishop of the Greek-Ruthenian Rite, he died in defense of the union of his people with the Holy See. Most American Catholics belong to the Latin Rite which follows the liturgy common in the church in western Europe. But even before the Latin Rite was fully formed, there were several Catholic churches in eastern Europe, Asia and Africa that followed a somewhat different but still authentic way of offering Mass, and used other languages than Latin. One of the tragedies of Christian history is that certain of these great churches broke off their connection with the pope during the Middle Ages. By now, there are Catholic branches of each of these fragmented communities. The Catholic branches continue their own Eastern liturgical practices, but acknowledge the Holy Father as head of the total church. But most of these Catholic branches are relatively small, and have often suffered much to maintain their union with both the Holy See and the Greek Rite. That brings us to St. Josaphat. Christianity was introduced into Russia by St. Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kiev, in 989. Since the missionaries to Kiev came from Constantinople, the type of liturgy adopted was both Greek and Slavonic. Constantinople and Ukraine at that time acknowledged the pope. The Greek Rite, in the Old Slavonic language, was used. After 1054, however, Constantinople, for political as well as religious reasons, declared its independence of the Holy See, and gradually the other Eastern Orthodox churches followed suit, especially Moscow. Efforts were not wanting on the part of the popes and some Eastern churchmen to reestablish union with the Holy See. Thus, in 1595, the Orthodox bishop of Kiev and five other Ukrainian bishops sought official reunion with Rome. However, this partial reunion aroused great opposition on the part of the Russian Orthodox majority of the country, and much violence followed. John Kunsevich was born in 1580 to a prominent Catholic of the city of Vladimir. A thoughtful and devout young man, John entered a monastery in 1604, taking the name Josaphat. He became noted for his holiness as a monk, and for his ability as a preacher. Since there was so much opposition to reunion with Rome, Father Josaphat devoted much of his preaching to defending Catholic unity. In 1617 he became archbishop of Polotsk. Here he struggled manfully but successfully to bring about a reform among his clergy and laity. In 1620, however, the opponents of union with Rome set up a non-Roman archbishop of Polotsk to serve as a rival. Soon they had won a number of Catholic Ukrainians away from the pope. As Josaphat battled to bring back his straying sheep, personal opposition against him became increasingly intense. Surrounded one day by an angry mob, he said, "You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death . . . I am ready to die for the holy union, for the supremacy of St. Peter and of his successor, the Supreme Pontiff." Sometime later a gang entered his church. Crying out, "Kill the papist," they shot the archbishop, crushed his skull, and threw his body into the river. St. Josephat's death served only to encourage the Ukrainians in their loyalty to the pope. In our own more ecumenical days, the Catholic Church is striving to reestablish unity with all the Orthodox churches through loving dialogue. To this work of reconciliation, we may be sure, St. Josaphat is adding his own powerful prayers. 1623 ST JOSAPHAT, ARCHBISHOP Of Polotsk, MARTYR IN the month of October 1595, at Brest-Litovsk in Lithuania (a town which three hundred and twenty-two years later again became talked of throughout Europe but in a quite different connection), the dissident Orthodox metropolitan of Kiev and five bishops, representing millions of Ruthenians (to-day called Byelorussians and Ukrainians), decided to seek communion with the Holy See of Rome. The controversies which followed this event were disfigured by deplorable excesses and violence, and the great upholder of Christian unity whose feast is kept today was called on to shed his blood for the cause, whence he is venerated as the protomartyr of the reunion of Christendom. At the time of the Union of Brest he was still a boy, having been
born at Vladimir in Volhynia in 1580 or 1584, and baptized John.
His father, a Catholic, was a burgess of a good family called Kunsevich,
who sent John to school in his native town and then apprenticed him
to a merchant of Vilna. John was not particularly interested in trade,
and employed his spare time in mastering Church Slavonic in order that
he might assist more intelligently at divine worship and recite some of
the long Byzantine office every day; and he got to know Peter Arcudius,
who was then rector of the oriental college at Vilna, and the two Jesuits,
Valentine Fabricius and Gregory Gruzevsky, who took an interest in him
and gave him every encouragement. At first his master was not favourably disposed towards John’s religious
preoccupations, but he did his work so well that eventually the merchant
offered him a partnership and one of his daughters in marriage. Both offers
were refused, for John had decided to be a monk and in 1604 he entered the
monastery of the Holy Trinity at Vilna. He induced to join him there Joseph
Benjamin Rutsky, a learned convert from Calvinism who had been ordered by
Pope Clement VIII to join the Byzantine rite against
his personal wishes, and together the two young monks concerted schemes for
promoting union and reforming Ruthenian monastic observance. John Kunsevich, who had now taken the name of Josaphat, was ordained deacon and priest and speedily had a great reputation as a preacher, especially on behalf of reunion with Rome. He led a most austere personal life and added to a careful observance of the austerities of eastern monastic life such extreme voluntary mortifications that he was often remonstrated with by the most ascetic. At his beatification the burgomaster of Vilna testified that, “there was not a better religious in the town than Father Josaphat”. Meanwhile, the abbot of Holy Trinity having developed separatist views, Rutsky was promoted in his place and the monastery was soon full, so Father Josaphat was taken away from his study of the Eastern fathers to help in the foundation of new houses in Poland. In 1614 Rutsky was made metropolitan of Kiev and Josaphat succeeded him as abbot at Vilna. When the new metropolitan went to take possession of his cathedral Josaphat accompanied him and took the opportunity of visiting the great monastery of The Caves at Kiev. The community of two hundred monks was relaxed, and they threatened to throw the Catholic reformer into the river Dnieper. He was not successful in his efforts to bring them to unity, but his personality and exhortations brought about a somewhat changed attitude and a notable increase of good-will. The
archbishop of Polotsk at this time was a very old man and a favourer
of the dissidents, and in 1617
Abbot Josaphat was ordained bishop of Vitebsk with right
of succession to Polotsk. A few months later the old archbishop died
and Josaphat was confronted with an eparchy, which was as large in extent
as it was degraded in life. The more religious people were inclined to
schism through fear of arbitrary Roman interference with their worship
and customs; churches were in ruins and benefices in the hands of laymen;
many of the secular clergy had been married two and three times and
the monks were decadent. *{*Though according to Eastern Canon law a
married man may be ordained to the priesthood, if his wife dies he cannot
marry another and if ordained a bachelor he must remain single.}
Josaphat sent for some of his
brethren from Vilna to help him and got to work. He held synods in
the central towns, published a catechism and imposed its use, issued
rules of conduct for the clergy, and fought the interference of the
“squires” in the affairs of the local churches. At the same time setting
a personal example of assiduous instructing and preaching, administration
of the sacraments and visiting of the poor, the sick, prisoners and
the most remote hamlets. By i 6w the eparchy was
practically solidly Catholic, order had been restored, and the example
of a few good men had brought about a real concern for Christian life.
But in that year a dissident hierarchy of bishops was set up in the territory
affected by the Union of Brest, side by side with the Catholic one; and
one Meletius Smotritsky was sent as archbishop to Polotsk, who began
with great vigour to undo the work of the Catholic archbishop. He zealously
spread a report that St Josaphat had “turned Latin ”, that all his flock
would have to do the same, and that Catholicism was not the traditional
Christianity of the Ruthenian people. Leo
Sapieha, the chancellor of Lithuania and a Catholic, was fearful
of the possible political results of the general unrest, and lent
too willing an ear to the heated charges of dissidents outside of
Poland that Josaphat had caused it by his policy. Accordingly in 1622
Sapieha wrote accusing him of violence in the maintenance of the union,
of putting the kingdom in peril from the Zaporozhsky Cossacks by making
discord among the people, of forcibly shutting-up non-Catholic churches,
and so on. These and similar accusations were made in general
terms, and their unjustifiability was amply demonstrated by contemporary
ad hoc testimony from both sides the only actual fact of the sort is
the admitted one that Josaphat invoked the aid of the civil power to
recover the church at Mogilev from the dissidents. Thus the archbishop
had to face misunderstanding, misrepresentation and opposition from
Catholics as well. In 1874 Dom Alphonse
Guépin published two stout octavo volumes, amounting altogether to
more than a thousand pages, under the title Saint Josaphat, archevéque
martyr, et l’Église Grecque unie en Pologne. In the preface he
speaks of the sources upon which his work is based. He thanks Father J. Martynov
in particular for placing at his disposition a copy of the beatification
process and a number of other papers transcribed from the Roman archives.
He also makes appeal to a vast collection of documents formed by the Basilian
hieromonk Paul Szymansky, and to another great manuscript library of similar
character, which Bishop Naruszewicz had accumulated, with a view to his own
work as a historian. All these had been entrusted to Dom Guépin, and
they were put to such good use that most of the Western writers who have
since then touched upon the subject have been largely dependent upon
his researches. Attention should, however, be called to the very useful little
books of Father G. Hofmann, nos. 6 and 12 of the series “Orientalia Christiana”.
When St Josaphat was put to death the news spread quickly throughout Europe,
and the British Museum possesses a copy of a tract, Relacion verdadera
de la Muerte y Martirio de… Josafat; it was printed at Seville in 1625.
See also 0. Kozanewyc, Leben des hl. Josaphat (1931); and
the periodical Roma e l’Orient, vol. x (1920),
pp. 27—34. The background of the events narrated above
may be read in the Cambridge History of Poland, vol. i (1950),
pp. 507 seq. St Josaphat and the Metropolitan Rutsky were
the initiators of that movement in Ruthenian monasticism, which eventually
became the organized Order of St Basil, and accordingly these monks have
been officially known since 1932 as the Basilians of St Josaphat. In 1952 they published at Rome the first volume
of Latin text of the beatification documents of St Josaphat.
|
1651 Saint Nilus the Myrrh-Gusher
of Mt Athos predicted telephone, airplane, submarine warned that people's
minds would be clouded by carnal passions, "and dishonor and lawlessness
will grow stronger." Men would not be distinguishable from women because
of their "shamelessness of dress and style of hair." St Nilus lamented that
Christian pastors, bishops and priests, would become vain men, and that the
morals and traditions of the Church would change. Few pious and God-fearing
pastors would remain, and many people would stray from the right path
because no one would instruct them.
Born in Greece, in a village
named for St Peter, in the Zakoneia diocese. He was raised by his
uncle, the hieromonk Macarius. Having attained the age of maturity,
he received monastic tonsure and was found worthy of ordination to hierodeacon,
and then to hieromonk.
The desire for greater monastic struggles brought uncle and nephew to Mt Athos, where Macarius and Nilus lived in asceticism at a place called the Holy Rocks. Upon the repose of St Macarius, the venerable Nilus, aflame with zeal for even more intense spiritual efforts, found an isolated place almost inaccessible for any living thing. Upon his departure to the Lord in 1651, St Nilus was glorified by an abundant flow of curative myrrh, for which Christians journeyed from the most distant lands of the East. St Nilus has left a remarkably accurate prophecy concerning the state of the Church in the mid-twentieth century, and a description of the people of that time. Among the inventions he predicted are the telephone, airplane, and submarine. He also warned that people's minds would be clouded by carnal passions, "and dishonor and lawlessness will grow stronger." Men would not be distinguishable from women because of their "shamelessness of dress and style of hair." St Nilus lamented that Christian pastors, bishops and priests, would become vain men, and that the morals and traditions of the Church would change. Few pious and God-fearing pastors would remain, and many people would stray from the right path because no one would instruct them. |
THE
PSALTER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
MARY PSALM 114
I rejoiced in thee, O Queen of Heaven: because under thy leadership we shall go into the house of the Lord. Jerusalem the heavenly city: may we attain to the rewards of Mary. Obtain for us, O Lady, peace and pardon: and the victory over our enemies, and triumph., Strengthen and console our hearts: by the sweetness of thy piety. So, Lady, pour into us thy mercy: that we may devoutly die in the Lord. For thy spirit is kind: thy grace fills the whole world. Thunder, ye heavens, from above, and give praise to her: glorify her, ye earth, with all the dwellers therein. Rejoice, ye Heavens, and be glad, O Earth: because Mary will console her servants and will have mercy on her poor. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning and will always be.
God
loves
variety.
He doesn't
mass-produce
his saints.
Every
saint
is unique,
for each
is
the result
of a new
idea.
As the
liturgy
says:
Non
est
inventus
similis
illis--there
are no
two exactly
alike.
It is
we with
our lack
of imagination,
who paint
the
same haloes
on
all the saints.
Dear Lord, grant us a spirit
that is not bound by our own ideas and preferences. Grant that we may be able to appreciate in others what we lack in ourselves. O Lord, grant that we may understand that every saint must be a unique praise of Your glory. Catholic saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary lives. Each saint the Church honors responded to God's invitation to use his or her unique gifts. God calls each one of us to be a saint in order to get into heaven: only saints are allowed into heaven. The more "extravagant" graces are bestowed
NOT for the benefit of the recipients so much as FOR the benefit of
others.
There
are over 10,000 named saints beati
from
history
and Roman Martyology Orthodox sources Patron_Saints.html Widowed_Saints html Indulgences The Catholic Church in China LINKS: Marian Shrines India Marian Shrine Lourdes of the East Lourdes 1858 China Marian shrines 1995 Kenya national Marian shrine Loreto, Italy Marian Apparitions (over 2000) Quang Tri Vietnam La Vang 1798 Links to Related MarianWebsites Angels and Archangels Saints Visions of Heaven and Hell Widowed Saints html Doctors_of_the_Church Acts_Of_The_Apostles Roman Catholic Popes Purgatory Uniates Chalcedon |
|
Mary the
Mother
of
Jesus
Miracles_BC Lay Saints
Miraculous_Icons
Miraculous_Medal_Novena
Patron
Saints
Miracles by Century 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 Miracles 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 Lay Saints |
|
The
great
psalm
of
the
Passion,
Chapter
22,
whose
first
verse
“My
God,
my God,
why
hast
thou
forsaken
me?”
Jesus pronounced on the cross, ended with the vision: “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him” For kingship belongs to the LORD, the ruler over the nations. All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage. And I will live for the LORD; my descendants will serve you. The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought. |
|
Pope
Benedict
XVI
to
The
Catholic
Church
In China
{whole
article
here}
2000 years of the Catholic Church
in
China The saints “a cloud of witnesses over our head”, showing us life of Christian perfection is possible. Join us on CatholicVote.org. Be part of a new
movement
committed
to using
powerful
media
projects
to create
a Culture
of Life.
We can help
shape
the movement
and
have
a voice
in its
future.
Check
it
out at
www.CatholicVote.org
3. Do daily spiritual reading for at least 15 minutes, if a half hour is not possible. 4. Say the rosary every day. 5. Also daily, if at all possible, visit the Blessed Sacrament; toward evening, meditate on the Passion of Christ for a half hour, 6. Conclude the day with evening prayer & an examination of conscience over all the faults & sins of the day. 7. Every month make a review of the month in confession. 8. Choose a special patron every month & imitate that patron in some special virtue. 9. Precede every great feast with a novena that is nine days of devotion. 10. Try to begin & end every activity with a Hail Mary My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love
Thee.
I beg
pardon
for those
who do
not believe,
do not
adore,
do not
O most Holy trinity, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly.
I offer Thee the most
precious
Body,
Blood,
Soul
and
Divinity
of
Jesus
Christ,
present
in all
the
Tabernacles
of the
world, in reparation
for
the outrages,
sacrileges
and
indifference
by
which
He is
offended,
and by the
infite
merits
of the
Sacred
Heart
of Jesus
and
the
Immaculate
Heart
of Mary.
I beg the conversion
of poor sinners, Fatima Prayer,
Angel of Peace
The
voice
of
the Father
is heard,
the
Son
enters
the
water,
and
the
Holy
Spirit
appears
in the
form
of a dove.
THE
spirit
and example
of
the world
imperceptibly
instil
the
error
into
the minds
of many
that
there
is a kind
of
middle
way
of going
to Heaven;
and so,
because
the
world
does
not live
up to
the gospel,
they
bring
the gospel
down
to the
level
of the world.
It is not
by this
example
that we
are to
measure
the
Christian
rule,
but words
and life
of Christ.
All His
followers
are
commanded
to labour
to become
perfect
even as
our heavenly
Father
is perfect,
and
to bear His
image
in our hearts
that we
may be His
children.
We are obliged
by the gospel
to die
to ourselves
by fighting
self-love
in our
hearts,
by the mastery
of
our passions,
by taking
on the
spirit
of our Lord.
These
are
the conditions
under
which
Christ
makes
His
promises
and
numbers
us among
His
children,
as is
manifest
from
His
words
which
the apostles
have
left
us in
their
inspired
writings.
Here is
no distinction
made
or foreseen
between
the
apostles
or clergy
or religious
and
secular
persons.
The
former,
indeed,
take
upon themselves
certain
stricter
obligations,
as
a means
of accomplishing
these
ends
more
perfectly;
but
the law
of holiness
and of disengagement
of the
heart
from
the world
is general
and binds
all
the followers
of
Christ.
|
|
God loves variety.
He doesn't
mass-produce
his
saints.
Every
saint
is
unique
each
the result
of a new
idea.
As the liturgy says: Non
est inventus similis illis--there are no two exactly alike.
It is we with our lack of imagination, who paint the same haloes on all the saints. Dear Lord, grant us a spirit not bound by our own ideas and preferences. Grant that we may be able to appreciate in others what we lack in ourselves. O Lord, grant that we may understand that every saint must be a unique praise of Your glory. Catholic saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary lives. Each saint the Church honors
responded
to
God's
invitation
to use
his
or her
unique
gifts.
|
|
The 15 Promises of the Virgin Mary to those who recite
the
Rosary
)
Revealed
to
St. Dominic
and
Blessed
Alan)
1. Whoever
shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive
signal
graces. 2.
I promise
my special protection
and the greatest
graces to all those who
shall recite the Rosary.
3.
The Rosary
shall be a powerful
armor against hell,
it will destroy vice,
decrease sin, and
defeat heresies. 4.
It
will cause virtue and
good works to flourish; it
will obtain for souls the abundant
mercy of God; it will withdraw
the hearts of people from
the love of the world
and its vanities, and will
lift them to the desire of
eternal things.
Oh, that soul would sanctify
them by this means.
5.
The soul that recommends
itself to me by the
recitation of the Rosary
shall not perish. 6.
Whoever shall
recite the Rosary devoutly,
applying themselves to
the consideration of its Sacred
Mysteries shall never be conquered
by misfortune.
God will not chastise them
in His justice, they shall
not perish by an unprovided
death; if they be just,
they shall remain in the grace
of God, and become worthy
of eternal life. 7.
Whoever shall have
a true devotion for the Rosary
shall not die without the
Sacraments of the Church.
8.
Those who are faithful to recite
the Rosary shall have during
their life and at their death
the light of God and the plentitude
of His graces; at the moment of
death they shall participate in
the merits of the Saints in Paradise.
9.
I shall deliver from purgatory
those who have been devoted
to the Rosary. 10.
The faithful children
of the Rosary shall merit
a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11.
You shall obtain all
you ask of me by the recitation
of the Rosary. 12.
I shall aid all
those who propagate the Holy
Rosary in their necessities.
13.
I have obtained from my Divine
Son that all the advocates
of the Rosary shall have for
intercessors the entire celestial
court during their
life and at the hour of death.
14.
All who recite the Rosary are my children,
and brothers and sisters
of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15.
Devotion to my Rosary
is a great sign of predestination.
|
|
His Holiness Aram I, current (2013)
Catholicos of Cilicia of Armenians,
whose
See
is located
in Lebanese
town
of Antelias.
The Catholicosate
was founded
in Sis,
capital
of Cilicia,
in the year
1441
following
the move
of the
Catholicosate
of All Armenians
back
to its
original
See of Etchmiadzin
in Armenia.
The
Catholicosate
of Cilicia
enjoyed
local
jurisdiction,
though
spiritually
subject
to the
authority
of
Etchmiadzin.
In
1921 the
See was transferred
to
Aleppo
in Syria,
and in
1930 to
Antelias.
Its
jurisdiction
currently
extends
to Syria,
Cyprus,
Iran
and
Greece. |
|
Aramaic dialect of Edessa, now known as Syriac
The exact date of the introduction
of
Christianity
into
Edessa
{Armenian
Ourhaï
in Arabic
Er Roha,
commonly
Orfa
or Urfa,
its present
name}
is
not
known.
It is certain,
however,
that
the
Christian
community
was at first
made
up from
the
Jewish
population
of
the city.
According
to an ancient
legend,
King
Abgar
V, Ushana,
was
converted
by
Addai,
who
was
one of the
seventy-two
disciples.
In fact,
however,
the
first
King of
Edessa
to embrace
the Christian
Faith
was
Abgar
IX (c.
206)
becoming
official
kingdom
religion.
Christian
council
held
at
Edessa
early
as 197
(Eusebius,
Hist.
Ecc7V,xxiii).
In 201 the city was devastated
by a great
flood,
and
the
Christian
church
was
destroyed
(“Chronicon
Edessenum”,
ad.
an.
201).
In 232 the relics of the
Apostle St. Thomas were
brought
from India,
on which
occasion
his Syriac
Acts
were
written.
Under Roman domination martyrs suffered at Edessa: Sts. Scharbîl and Barsamya, under Decius; Sts. Gûrja, Schâmôna, Habib, and others under Diocletian. In the meanwhile Christian
priests from Edessa evangelized Eastern Mesopotamia and Persia, established
the first Churches
in the kingdom of the Sassanides.
Atillâtiâ,
Bishop of Edessa,
assisted
at the
Council
of
Nicæa
(325).
The
“Peregrinatio
Silviæ”
(or
Etheriæ)
(ed.
Gamurrini,
Rome,
1887,
62 sqq.)
gives
an account
of the
many
sanctuaries
at
Edessa
about
388.
Although Hebrew had been
the
language
of the
ancient
Israelite
kingdom,
after
their
return
from
Exile
the Jews
turned
more
and
more
to Aramaic,
using
it for
parts
of the
books
of Ezra
and Daniel
in the
Bible.
By the
time
of
Jesus,
Aramaic
was the
main
language
of Palestine,
and quite
a number
of texts
from the
Dead
Sea Scrolls
are also
written
in
Aramaic.
Aramaic
continued
to be
an
important
language
for
Jews,
alongside
Hebrew,
and
parts
of the
Talmud
are
written
in it.
After Arab conquests of
the seventh century, Arabic quickly replaced Aramaic as the main language
of those
who converted to Islam,
although in out
of the way places,
Aramaic continued as
a vernacular language
of Muslims.
Aramaic, however, enjoyed
its greatest
success
in Christianity.
Although
the New
Testament
wins
written
in
Greek,
Christianity
had come
into
existence
in
an Aramaic-speaking
milieu,
and it
was the
Aramaic
dialect
of Edessa,
now known
as
Syriac,
that became
the literary
language
of
a large
number
of Christians
living
in
the eastern
provinces
of
the Roman
Empire
and in
the Persian
Empire,
further
east.
Over the
course
of the
centuries
the influence
of the
Syriac
Churches
spread
eastwards
to China
(in
Xian,
in western
China,
a
Chinese-Syriac
inscription
dated
781
is
still
to be seen);
to
southern
India
where
the state
of Kerala
can
boast
more
Christians
of Syriac
liturgical
tradition
than anywhere
else in
the world.
680 Shiite saint Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad Known as Ashoura and observed by Shiites across the world, the 10th day of the lunar Muslim month of Muharram: the anniversary of the 7th century death in battle of one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints. Imam Hussein died in the 680 A.D. battle fought on the plains outside Karbala, a city in modern Iraq that's home to the saint's shrine. The battle over a dispute about the leadership of the Muslim faith following Muhammad's death in 632 A.D. It is the defining event in Islam's split into Sunni and Shiite branches. The occasion is the source of an enduring moral lesson. "He sacrificed his blood to teach us not to give in to corruption, coercion, or use of force and to seek honor and justice." According to Shiite beliefs, Hussein and companions were denied water by enemies who controlled the nearby Euphrates. Streets get partially covered with blood from slaughter of hundreds of cows and sheep. Volunteers cook the meat and feed it to the poor. Hussein's martyrdom recounted through a rich body of prose, poetry and song remains an inspirational example of sacrifice to many Shiites, 10 percent of the world's estimated 1.3 billion Muslims. |
|
Meeting
of
the
Saints
walis
(saints
of Allah) Great men covet to embrace
martyrdom
for
a cause
and principle.
So
was
the
case
with
Hazrat
Ali.
He
could
have
made
a compromise
with
the
evil
forces
of his
time
and,
as a result,
could
have led a very comfortable,
easy
and luxurious
life.
But he
was
not a person
who
would
succumb
to such
temptations.
His
upbringing,
his
education
and his
training
in the
lap
of the holy
Prophet
made
him
refuse
such
an offer.Rabia Al-Basri (717–801 C.E.) She was first to set forth the doctrine of mystical love and who is widely considered to be the most important of the early Sufi poets. An elderly Shia pointed out that during his pre-Partition childhood it was quite common to find pictures and portraits of Shia icons in Imambaras across the country. Shah Abdul Latif: The Exalted Sufi Master born 1690 in a Syed family; died 1754. In ancient times, Sindh housed the exemplary Indus Valley Civilisation with Moenjo Daro as its capital, and now, it is the land of a culture which evolved from the teachings of eminent Sufi saints. Pakistan is home to the mortal remains of many Sufi saints, the exalted among them being Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a practitioner of the real Islam, philosopher, poet, musicologist and preacher. He presented his teaching through poetry and music - both instruments sublime - and commands a very large following, not only among Muslims but also among Hindus and Christians. Sindh culture: The Shah is synonymous with Sindh. He is the very fountainhead of Sindh's culture. His message remains as fresh as that of any present day poet, and the people of Sindh find solace from his writings. He did indeed think for Sindh. One of his prayers, in exquisite Sindhi, translates thus: “Oh God, may ever You on Sindh bestow abundance rare! Beloved! All the world let share Thy grace, and fruitful be.” Shia Ali al-Hadi, died 868 and son Hassan al-Askari 874. These saints are the 10th and 11th of Shia's 12 most revered Imams. Baba Farid Sufi 1398 miracle, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki renowned Muslim Sufi saint scholar miracles 569 A.H. [1173 C.E.] hermit gave to poor, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti greatest mystic of his time born 533 Hijri (1138-39 A.D.), Hazrat Ghuas-e Azam, Hazrat Bu Ali Sharif, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Sufi Saint Hazrath Khwaja Syed Mohammed Badshah Quadri Chisty Yamani Quadeer (RA) 1236-1325 welcomed people of all faiths & all walks of life. |
|
801 Rabi'a
al-'Adawiyya
Sufi
One of
the most
famous
Islamic
mystics
(b. 717). This 8th century saint was an early Sufi who had a profound influence on later Sufis, who in turn deeply influenced the European mystical love and troubadour traditions. Rabi'a was a woman of Basra, a seaport in southern Iraq. She was born around 717 and died in 801 (185-186). Her biographer, the great medieval poet Attar, tells us that she was "on fire with love and longing" and that men accepted her "as a second spotless Mary" (186). She was, he continues, “an unquestioned authority to her contemporaries" (218). Rabi'a began her ascetic life in a small desert cell near Basra, where she lost herself in prayer and went straight to God for teaching. As far as is known, she never studied under any master or spiritual director. She was one of the first of the Sufis to teach that Love alone was the guide on the mystic path (222). A later Sufi taught that there were two classes of "true believers": one class sought a master as an intermediary between them and God -- unless they could see the footsteps of the Prophet on the path before them, they would not accept the path as valid. The second class “...did not look before them for the footprint of any of God's creatures, for they had removed all thought of what He had created from their hearts, and concerned themselves solely with God. (218) Rabi'a was of this second kind. She felt no reverence even for the House of God in Mecca: "It is the Lord of the house Whom I need; what have I to do with the house?" (219) One lovely spring morning a friend asked her to come outside to see the works of God. She replied, "Come you inside that you may behold their Maker. Contemplation of the Maker has turned me aside from what He has made" (219). During an illness, a friend asked this woman if she desired anything. "...[H]ow can you ask me such a question as 'What do I desire?' I swear by the glory of God that for twelve years I have desired fresh dates, and you know that in Basra dates are plentiful, and I have not yet tasted them. I am a servant (of God), and what has a servant to do with desire?" (162) When a male friend once suggested she should pray for relief from a debilitating illness, she said, "O Sufyan, do you not know Who it is that wills this suffering for me? Is it not God Who wills it? When you know this, why do you bid me ask for what is contrary to His will? It is not well to oppose one's Beloved." (221) She was an ascetic. It was her custom to pray all night, sleep briefly just before dawn, and then rise again just as dawn "tinged the sky with gold" (187). She lived in celibacy and poverty, having renounced the world. A friend visited her in old age and found that all she owned were a reed mat, screen, a pottery jug, and a bed of felt which doubled as her prayer-rug (186), for where she prayed all night, she also slept briefly in the pre-dawn chill. Once her friends offered to get her a servant; she replied, "I should be ashamed to ask for the things of this world from Him to Whom the world belongs, and how should I ask for them from those to whom it does not belong?" (186-7) A wealthy merchant once wanted to give her a purse of gold. She refused it, saying that God, who sustains even those who dishonor Him, would surely sustain her, "whose soul is overflowing with love" for Him. And she added an ethical concern as well: "...How should I take the wealth of someone of whom I do not know whether he acquired it lawfully or not?" (187) She taught that repentance was a gift from God because no one could repent unless God had already accepted him and given him this gift of repentance. She taught that sinners must fear the punishment they deserved for their sins, but she also offered such sinners far more hope of Paradise than most other ascetics did. For herself, she held to a higher ideal, worshipping God neither from fear of Hell nor from hope of Paradise, for she saw such self-interest as unworthy of God's servants; emotions like fear and hope were like veils -- i.e., hindrances to the vision of God Himself. The story is told that once a number of Sufis saw her hurrying on her way with water in one hand and a burning torch in the other. When they asked her to explain, she said: "I am going to light a fire in Paradise and to pour water on to Hell, so that both veils may vanish altogether from before the pilgrims and their purpose may be sure..." (187-188) She was once asked where she came from. "From that other world," she said. "And where are you going?" she was asked. "To that other world," she replied (219). She taught that the spirit originated with God in "that other world" and had to return to Him in the end. Yet if the soul were sufficiently purified, even on earth, it could look upon God unveiled in all His glory and unite with him in love. In this quest, logic and reason were powerless. Instead, she speaks of the "eye" of her heart which alone could apprehend Him and His mysteries (220). Above all, she was a lover, a bhakti, like one of Krishna’s Goptis in the Hindu tradition. Her hours of prayer were not so much devoted to intercession as to communion with her Beloved. Through this communion, she could discover His will for her. Many of her prayers have come down to us: "I have made Thee the Companion of my heart, But my body is available for those who seek its company, And my body is friendly towards its guests, But the Beloved of my heart is the Guest of my soul." [224] |
|
To Save
A Life is Earthly; Saving A Soul is Eternal Donation
by mail, please send check or money order to:
Catholic Television Network Supported entirely by donations from viewers help spread the Eternal Word, online Here
Colombia
was
among
the
countries
Mother
Angelica
visited.
In Bogotá, a Salesian priest - Father Juan Pablo Rodriguez - brought Mother and the nuns to the Sanctuary of the Divine Infant Jesus to attend Mass. After Mass, Father Juan Pablo took them into a small Shrine which housed the miraculous statue of the Child Jesus. Mother Angelica stood praying at the side of the statue when suddenly the miraculous image came alive and turned towards her. Then the Child Jesus spoke with the voice of a young boy: “Build Me a Temple and I will help those who help you.” Thus began a great adventure that would eventually result in the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, a Temple dedicated to the Divine Child Jesus, a place of refuge for all. Use this link to read a remarkable story about The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Father Reardon, Editor of The Catholic
Bulletin
for
14
years Lover of the poor;
“A very Holy Man of
God.”
Monsignor
Reardon
Protonotarius
Apostolicus Pastor 42 years BASILICA OF SAINT MARY Minneapolis MN America's First Basilica Largest Nave in the World
August 7, 1907-ground broke for the foundation
by Archbishop
Ireland-laying cornerstone May 31, 1908
Brief History of our Beloved Holy Priest Here and his published books of Catholic History in North America Reardon, J.M. Archbishop Ireland; Prelate, Patriot, Publicist, 1838-1918. A Memoir (St. Paul; 1919); George Anthony Belcourt Pioneer Catholic Missionary of the Northwest 1803-1874 (1955); The Catholic Church IN THE DIOCESE OF ST. PAUL from earliest origin to centennial achievement 1362-1950 (1952); The Church of Saint Mary of Saint Paul 1875-1922; (1932) The Vikings in the American Heartland; The Catholic Total Abstinence Society in Minnesota; James Michael Reardon
Born
in Nova
Scotia,
1872;
Priest, ordained by Bishop
Ireland;
Affiliations
and
Indulgences
Litany of Loretto in Stained glass
windows
here.
Nave
Sacristy
and
Residence
Here
Member -- St. Paul Seminary
faculty.
Sanctuary spaces between them filled with grilles of hand-forged wrought iron the life of our Blessed Lady After the crucifixon Apostle statues Replicas of those in St John Lateran--Christendom's
earliest
Basilica.
Ordered by Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, Popes' cathedral and official residence first millennium of Christian history. The only replicas ever made: in order from
west
to east
{1932}.
Saints Simon (saw),
Bartholomew
(knife),
James
the
Lesser
(book),
John
(eagle),
Andrew
(transverse
cross),
Peter
keys),
Paul
(sword), James
the Greater (staff), Thomas (carpenter's
square),
Philip
(serpent),
Matthew
(book),
and Jude
sword
It Makes No Sense Not To Believe In GOD |
|
THE BLESSED
MOTHER
AND
ISLAM
By Father
John
Corapi.
June 19, Trinity Sunday, 1991: Ordained Catholic Priest under
Pope
John
Paul
II;
By Father John Corapithen 2,000,000 miles delivering the Gospel to millions, and continues to do so. THE BLESSED MOTHER AND ISLAM By Father John Corapi.
June 19, Trinity Sunday, 1991: Ordained Catholic Priest under
Pope
John
Paul
II;
By Father John Corapithen 2,000,000 miles delivering the Gospel to millions, and continues to do so.
Among
the
most
important
titles
we have
in
the Catholic
Church
for
the Blessed
Virgin
Mary
are
Our Lady
of
Victory
and
Our Lady
of
the Rosary.
These
titles
can
be traced
back to
one of
the most
decisive
times
in the
history
of the
world and
Christendom.
The
Battle
of Lepanto
took place
on October
7 (date
of feast
of Our
Lady
of Rosary),
1571.
This
proved
to be the most
crucial
battle
for the Christian
forces
against
the radical
Muslim
navy
of Turkey.
Pope
Pius
V led a procession
around
St.
Peter’s
Square
in Vatican
City
praying
the Rosary.
He showed
true
pastoral
leadership
in
recognizing
the
danger
posed to
Christendom
by
the radical
Muslim
forces,
and
in using
the means
necessary
to defeat
it. Spiritual
battles
require spiritual
weapons,
and this
more than
anything
was a battle
that
had
its origins
in the spiritual
order—a
true battle
between
good and
evil. Today we have a similar spiritual battle in progress—a battle between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, life and death. If we do not soon stop the genocide of abortion in the United States, we shall run the course of all those that prove by their actions that they are enemies of God—total collapse, economic, social, and national. The moral demise of a nation results in the ultimate demise of a nation. God is not a disinterested spectator to the affairs of man. Life begins at conception. This is an unalterable formal teaching of the Catholic Church. If you do not accept this you are a heretic in plain English. A single abortion is homicide. The more than 48,000,000 abortions since Roe v. Wade in the United States constitute genocide by definition. The group singled out for death—unwanted, unborn children. No other issue, not all other issues taken together, can constitute a proportionate reason for voting for candidates that intend to preserve and defend this holocaust of innocent human life that is abortion. As we watch the spectacle of the world seeming to self-destruct before our eyes, we can’t help but be saddened and even frightened by so much evil run rampant. Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Somalia, North Korea—It is all a disaster of epic proportions displayed in living color on our television screens. These are not ordinary times and this is not business as usual. We are at a crossroads in human history and the time for Catholics and all Christians to act is now. All evil can ultimately be traced to its origin, which is moral evil. All of the political action, peace talks, international peacekeeping forces, etc. will avail nothing if the underlying sickness is not addressed. This is sin. One person at a time hearts and minds must be moved from evil to good, from lies to truth, from violence to peace. Islam, an Arabic word that has often been defined as “to make peace,” seems like a living contradiction today. Islam is a religion of peace. As we celebrate the birthday of Our Lady, I am proposing that each one of us pray the Rosary for peace. Prayer is what must precede all other activity if that activity is to have any chance of success. Pray for peace, pray the Rosary every day without fail. There is a great love for Mary among Muslim people. It is not a coincidence that a little village named Fatima is where God chose to have His Mother appear in the twentieth century. Our Lady’s name appears no less than thirty times in the Koran. No other woman’s name is mentioned, not even that of Mohammed’s daughter, Fatima. In the Koran Our Lady is described as “Virgin, ever Virgin.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen prophetically spoke of the resurgence of Islam in our day. He said it would be through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Islam would be converted. We must pray for this to happen quickly if we are to avert a horrible time of suffering for this poor, sinful world. Turn to our Mother in this time of great peril. Pray the Rosary every day. Then, and only then will there be peace, when the hearts and minds of men are changed from the inside.
|
|
Father John Corapi
goes to the heart of the contemporary world's
many
woes
and wars,
whether
the wars
in Afghanistan,
Iraq,
Lebanon,
Somalia,
or the
Congo,
or
the natural
disasters
that
seem
to be increasing
every
year,
the
moral
and spiritual
war is
at the basis
of
everything.
“Our
battle
is not
against
human
forces,”
St.
Paul asserts,
“but
against
principalities
and powers,
against
the world
rulers
of this
present
darkness...”
(Ephesians
6:12).
The “War to end all wars” is the moral and spiritual combat that rages in the hearts and minds of human beings. The outcome of that unseen fight largely determines how the battle in the realm of the seen unfolds. The title talk, “With the Moon Under Her Feet,” is taken from the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation, and deals with the current threat to the world from radical Islam, and the Blessed Virgin Mary's role in the ultimate victory that will result in the conversion of Islam. Few Catholics are aware of the connection between Islam, Fatima, and Guadalupe. Presented in Father Corapi's straight-forward style, you will be both inspired and educated by him. About Father John Corapi. Father Corapi is a Catholic
priest
.
The pillars of father's
preaching
are
basically:
Love
for
and
a relationship
with
the
Blessed
Virgin
Mary
Leading a vibrant and loving relationship with Jesus Christ Great love and reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist from Holy Mass to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament An uncompromising love for and obedience to the Holy Father and the teaching of the Magisterium of the Church God Bless
you
on your
journey
Father
John
Corapi
|
|
Records on life of Father Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, presented at Vatican Jul 23, 2019 - 03:01 am .- The cause for canonization of Servant of God Edward Flanagan, the priest who founded Nebraska's Boys Town community for orphans and other boys, advanced Monday with the presentation of a summary of records on his life. Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified Jul 6, 2019 - 04:00 am .- Pope Francis approved the miracle attributed to Archbishop Fulton Sheen Friday, making possible the American television catechist's beatification. Brooklyn diocese advances sainthood cause of local priest Jun 25, 2019 - 03:01 am .- The Bishop of Brooklyn accepted last week the findings of a nine-year diocesan investigation into the life of Monsignor Bernard John Quinn, known for fighting bigotry and serving the African American population, as part of his cause for canonization. Fr. Augustus Tolton, former African American slave, advances toward sainthood Jun 12, 2019 - 05:03 am .- Fr. Augustus Tolton advanced along the path to sainthood Wednesday, making the runaway slave-turned-priest one step closer to being the first black American saint. Pope Francis will beatify these martyred Greek-Catholic bishops in Romania May 30, 2019 - 03:01 pm .- On Sunday in Blaj, Pope Francis will beatify seven Greek-Catholic bishops of Romania who were killed by the communist regime between 1950 and 1970. Woman who served Brazil’s poorest to be canonized May 14, 2019 - 06:53 am .- Pope Francis Tuesday gave his approval for eight sainthood causes to proceed, including that of Bl. Dulce Lopes Pontes, a 20th-century religious sister who served Brazil’s poor. Seven 20th-century Romanian bishops declared martyrs Mar 19, 2019 - 12:01 pm .- Pope Francis declared Tuesday the martyrdom of seven Greek-Catholic bishops killed by the communist regime in Romania in the mid-20th century. Pope advances sainthood causes of 17 women Jan 15, 2019 - 11:12 am .- Pope Francis approved Tuesday the next step in the canonization causes of 17 women from four countries, including the martyrdom of 14 religious sisters killed in Spain at the start of the Spanish Civil War. Nineteen Algerian martyrs beatified Dec 10, 2018 - 03:08 pm .- Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, were beatified Saturday during a Mass in Oran. The Algerian martyrs shed their blood for Christ, pope says Dec 7, 2018 - 10:02 am .- Ahead of the beatification Saturday of Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, Pope Francis said martyrs have a special place in the Church. Algerian martyrs are models for the Church, archbishop says Nov 16, 2018 - 03:01 am .- Archbishop Paul Desfarges of Algiers has said that Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, are “models for our lives as disciples today and tomorrow.” Francesco Spinelli to be canonized after healing of a newborn in DR Congo Oct 9, 2018 - 05:01 pm .- Among those being canonized on Sunday are Fr. Franceso Spinelli, a diocesan priest through whose intercession a newborn was saved from death in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Algerian martyrs to be beatified in December Sep 14, 2018 - 06:01 pm .- The Algerian bishops' conference has announced that the beatification of Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in the country between 1994 and 1996, will be held Dec. 8. Now a cardinal, Giovanni Angelo Becciu heads to congregation for saints' causes Jun 28, 2018 - 11:41 am .- Newly-minted Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu will resign from his post as substitute of the Secretariat of State tomorrow, in anticipation of his appointment as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints later this summer. Pope Francis creates new path to beatification under ‘offering of life’ Jul 11, 2017 - 06:22 am .- On Tuesday Pope Francis declared a new category of Christian life suitable for consideration of beatification called “offering of life” – in which a person has died prematurely through an offering of their life for love of God and neighbor. Twentieth century Polish nurse among causes advancing toward sainthood Jul 7, 2017 - 06:14 am .- Pope Francis on Friday approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Hanna Chrzanowska, a Polish nurse and nursing instructor who died from cancer in 1973, paving the way for her beatification. Sainthood causes advance, including layman who resisted fascism Jun 17, 2017 - 09:22 am .- Pope Francis on Friday recognized the heroic virtue of six persons on the path to canonization, as well as the martyrdom of an Italian man who died from injuries of a beating he received while imprisoned in a concentration camp for resisting fascism. Solanus Casey, Cardinal Van Thuan among those advanced toward sainthood May 4, 2017 - 10:47 am .- Pope Francis on Thursday approved decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints advancing the causes for canonization of 12 individuals, including the American-born Capuchin Solanus Casey and the Vietnamese cardinal Francis Xavier Nguen Van Thuan. Pope clears way for canonization of Fatima visionaries Mar 23, 2017 - 06:44 am .- On Thursday Pope Francis approved the second and final miracle needed to canonize Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto, two of the shepherd children who witnessed the Fatima Marian apparitions. Surgeon and father among sainthood causes moving forward Feb 27, 2017 - 11:03 am .- Pope Francis recognized on Monday the heroic virtue of eight persons on the path to canonization, including an Italian surgeon and father of eight who suffered from several painful diseases throughout his life. Records on life of Father Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, presented at Vatican Jul 23, 2019 - 03:01 am .- The cause for canonization of Servant of God Edward Flanagan, the priest who founded Nebraska's Boys Town community for orphans and other boys, advanced Monday with the presentation of a summary of records on his life. Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified Jul 6, 2019 - 04:00 am .- Pope Francis approved the miracle attributed to Archbishop Fulton Sheen Friday, making possible the American television catechist's beatification. Brooklyn diocese advances sainthood cause of local priest Jun 25, 2019 - 03:01 am .- The Bishop of Brooklyn accepted last week the findings of a nine-year diocesan investigation into the life of Monsignor Bernard John Quinn, known for fighting bigotry and serving the African American population, as part of his cause for canonization. Fr. Augustus Tolton, former African American slave, advances toward sainthood Jun 12, 2019 - 05:03 am .- Fr. Augustus Tolton advanced along the path to sainthood Wednesday, making the runaway slave-turned-priest one step closer to being the first black American saint. Pope Francis will beatify these martyred Greek-Catholic bishops in Romania May 30, 2019 - 03:01 pm .- On Sunday in Blaj, Pope Francis will beatify seven Greek-Catholic bishops of Romania who were killed by the communist regime between 1950 and 1970. Woman who served Brazil’s poorest to be canonized May 14, 2019 - 06:53 am .- Pope Francis Tuesday gave his approval for eight sainthood causes to proceed, including that of Bl. Dulce Lopes Pontes, a 20th-century religious sister who served Brazil’s poor. Seven 20th-century Romanian bishops declared martyrs Mar 19, 2019 - 12:01 pm .- Pope Francis declared Tuesday the martyrdom of seven Greek-Catholic bishops killed by the communist regime in Romania in the mid-20th century. Pope advances sainthood causes of 17 women Jan 15, 2019 - 11:12 am .- Pope Francis approved Tuesday the next step in the canonization causes of 17 women from four countries, including the martyrdom of 14 religious sisters killed in Spain at the start of the Spanish Civil War. Nineteen Algerian martyrs beatified Dec 10, 2018 - 03:08 pm .- Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, were beatified Saturday during a Mass in Oran. The Algerian martyrs shed their blood for Christ, pope says Dec 7, 2018 - 10:02 am .- Ahead of the beatification Saturday of Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, Pope Francis said martyrs have a special place in the Church. Algerian martyrs are models for the Church, archbishop says Nov 16, 2018 - 03:01 am .- Archbishop Paul Desfarges of Algiers has said that Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, are “models for our lives as disciples today and tomorrow.” Francesco Spinelli to be canonized after healing of a newborn in DR Congo Oct 9, 2018 - 05:01 pm .- Among those being canonized on Sunday are Fr. Franceso Spinelli, a diocesan priest through whose intercession a newborn was saved from death in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Algerian martyrs to be beatified in December Sep 14, 2018 - 06:01 pm .- The Algerian bishops' conference has announced that the beatification of Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in the country between 1994 and 1996, will be held Dec. 8. Now a cardinal, Giovanni Angelo Becciu heads to congregation for saints' causes Jun 28, 2018 - 11:41 am .- Newly-minted Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu will resign from his post as substitute of the Secretariat of State tomorrow, in anticipation of his appointment as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints later this summer. Pope Francis creates new path to beatification under ‘offering of life’ Jul 11, 2017 - 06:22 am .- On Tuesday Pope Francis declared a new category of Christian life suitable for consideration of beatification called “offering of life” – in which a person has died prematurely through an offering of their life for love of God and neighbor. Twentieth century Polish nurse among causes advancing toward sainthood Jul 7, 2017 - 06:14 am .- Pope Francis on Friday approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Hanna Chrzanowska, a Polish nurse and nursing instructor who died from cancer in 1973, paving the way for her beatification. Sainthood causes advance, including layman who resisted fascism Jun 17, 2017 - 09:22 am .- Pope Francis on Friday recognized the heroic virtue of six persons on the path to canonization, as well as the martyrdom of an Italian man who died from injuries of a beating he received while imprisoned in a concentration camp for resisting fascism. Solanus Casey, Cardinal Van Thuan among those advanced toward sainthood May 4, 2017 - 10:47 am .- Pope Francis on Thursday approved decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints advancing the causes for canonization of 12 individuals, including the American-born Capuchin Solanus Casey and the Vietnamese cardinal Francis Xavier Nguen Van Thuan. Pope clears way for canonization of Fatima visionaries Mar 23, 2017 - 06:44 am .- On Thursday Pope Francis approved the second and final miracle needed to canonize Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto, two of the shepherd children who witnessed the Fatima Marian apparitions. Surgeon and father among sainthood causes moving forward Feb 27, 2017 - 11:03 am .- Pope Francis recognized on Monday the heroic virtue of eight persons on the path to canonization, including an Italian surgeon and father of eight who suffered from several painful diseases throughout his life. |
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8
Martyrs
Move
Closer to
Sainthood
8 July,
2016
Posted by ZENIT Staff on 8 July, 2016 The angel appears to Saint Monica This morning, Pope Francis received Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato. During the audience, he authorized the promulgation of decrees concerning the following causes: *** MIRACLES: Miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Luis Antonio Rosa Ormières, priest and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Guardian Angel; born July 4, 1809 and died on Jan. 16, 1890 MARTYRDOM: Servants of God Antonio Arribas Hortigüela and 6 Companions, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart; killed in hatred of the Faith, Sept. 29, 1936 Servant of God Josef Mayr-Nusser, a layman; killed in hatred of the Faith, Feb. 24, 1945 HEROIC VIRTUE: Servant of God Alfonse Gallegos of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, Titular Bishop of Sasabe, auxiliary of Sacramento; born Feb. 20, 1931 and died Oct. 6, 1991 Servant of God Rafael Sánchez García, diocesan priest; born June 14, 1911 and died on Aug. 8, 1973 Servant of God Andrés García Acosta, professed layman of the Order of Friars Minor; born Jan. 10, 1800 and died Jan. 14, 1853 Servant of God Joseph Marchetti, professed priest of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles; born Oct. 3, 1869 and died Dec. 14, 1896 Servant of God Giacomo Viale, professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor, pastor of Bordighera; born Feb. 28, 1830 and died April 16, 1912 Servant of God Maria Pia of the Cross (née Maddalena Notari), foundress of the Congregation of Crucified Sisters Adorers of the Eucharist; born Dec. 2, 1847 and died on July 1, 1919 |
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Sunday,
November
23
2014 Six
to Be Canonized
on Feast
of Christ
the King. On the List Are Lay Founder of a Hospital and Eastern Catholic Religious VATICAN CITY, June 12, 2014 (Zenit.org) - Today, the Vatican announced that during the celebration of the feast of Christ the King on Sunday, November 23, an ordinary public consistory will be held for the canonization of the following six blesseds, who include a lay founder of a hospital for the poor, founders of religious orders, and two members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See: -Giovanni Antonio Farina (1803-1888), an Italian bishop who founded the Institute of the Sisters Teachers of Saint Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts -Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805-1871), a Syro-Malabar priest in India who founded the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate -Ludovico of Casoria (1814-1885), an Italian Franciscan priest who founded the Gray Sisters of St. Elizabeth -Nicola Saggio (Nicola da Longobardi, 1650-1709), an Italian oblate of the Order of Minims -Euphrasia Eluvathingal (1877-1952), an Indian Carmelite of the Syro-Malabar Church -Amato Ronconi (1238-1304), an Italian, Third Order Franciscan who founded a hospital for poor pilgrims |
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CAUSES
OF SAINTS
July
2015. Pope Recognizes Heroic Virtues of Ukrainian Archbishop Recognition Brings Metropolitan Archbishop Andrey Sheptytsky Closer to Beatification By Junno Arocho Esteves Rome, July 17, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Pope Francis recognized the heroic virtues of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archbishop Andrey Sheptytsky. According to a communique released by the Holy See Press Office, the Holy Father met this morning with Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The Pope also recognized the heroic virtues of several religious/lay men and women from Italy, Spain, France & Mexico. Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky is considered to be one of the most influential 20th century figures in the history of the Ukrainian Church. Enthroned as Metropolitan of Lviv in 1901, Archbishop Sheptytsky was arrested shortly after the outbreak of World War I in 1914 by the Russians. After his imprisonment in several prisons in Russia and the Ukraine, the Archbishop was released in 1918. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic prelate was also an ardent supporter of the Jewish community in Ukraine, going so far as to learn Hebrew to better communicate with them. He also was a vocal protestor against atrocities committed by the Nazis, evidenced in his pastoral letter, "Thou Shalt Not Kill." He was also known to harbor thousands of Jews in his residence and in Greek Catholic monasteries. Following his death in 1944, his cause for canonization was opened in 1958. * * * The Holy Father authorized the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees regarding the heroic virtues of: - Servant of God Andrey Sheptytsky, O.S.B.M., major archbishop of Leopolis of the Ukrainians, metropolitan of Halyc (1865-1944); - Servant of God Giuseppe Carraro, Bishop of Verona, Italy (1899-1980); - Servant of God Agustin Ramirez Barba, Mexican diocesan priest and founder of the Servants of the Lord of Mercy (1881-1967); - Servant of God Simpliciano della Nativita (ne Aniello Francesco Saverio Maresca), Italian professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor, founder of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts (1827-1898); - Servant of God Maria del Refugio Aguilar y Torres del Cancino, Mexican founder of the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (1866-1937); - Servant of God Marie-Charlotte Dupouy Bordes (Marie-Teresa), French professed religious of the Society of the Religious of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1873-1953); - Servant of God Elisa Miceli, Italian founder of the Rural Catechist Sisters of the Sacred Heart (1904-1976); - Servant of God Isabel Mendez Herrero (Isabel of Mary Immaculate), Spanish professed nun of the Servants of St. Joseph (1924-1953) |
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October
01,
2015
Vatican
City,
Pope Authorizes
following
Decrees (ZENIT.org) By Staff Reporter Polish Layperson Recognized as Servant of God Pope Authorizes Decrees Pope Francis on Wednesday authorised the Congregation for Saints' Causes to promulgate the following decrees: MARTYRDOM - Servant of God Valentin Palencia Marquina, Spanish diocesan priest, killed in hatred of the faith in Suances, Spain in 1937; HEROIC VIRTUES - Servant of God Giovanni Folci, Italian diocesan priest and founder of the Opera Divin Prigioniero (1890-1963); - Servant of God Franciszek Blachnicki, Polish diocesan priest (1921-1987); - Servant of God Jose Rivera Ramirez, Spanish diocesan priest (1925-1991); - Servant of God Juan Manuel Martín del Campo, Mexican diocesan priest (1917-1996); - Servant of God Antonio Filomeno Maria Losito, Italian professed priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (1838-1917); - Servant of God Maria Benedetta Giuseppa Frey (nee Ersilia Penelope), Italian professed nun of the Cistercian Order (1836-1913); - Servant of God Hanna Chrzanowska, Polish layperson, Oblate of the Ursulines of St. Benedict (1902-1973). |
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March
06
2016 MIRACLES
authorised
the Congregation
to promulgate
the following
decrees:
Pope Francis received in a private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees: MIRACLES – Blessed Manuel González García, bishop of Palencia, Spain, founder of the Eucharistic Missionaries of Nazareth (1877-1940); – Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity (née Elisabeth Catez), French professed religious of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (1880-1906); – Venerable Servant of God Marie-Eugène of the Child Jesus (né Henri Grialou), French professed priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, founder of the Secular Institute “Notre-Dame de Vie” (1894-1967); – Venerable Servant of God María Antonia of St. Joseph (née María Antonio de Paz y Figueroa), Argentine founder of the Beaterio of the Spiritual Exercise of Buenos Aires (1730-1799); HEROIC VIRTUE – Servant of God Stefano Ferrando, Italian professed priest of the Salesians, bishop of Shillong, India, founder of the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (1895-1978); – Servant of God Enrico Battista Stanislao Verjus, Italian professed priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, coadjutor of the apostolic vicariate of New Guinea (1860-1892); – Servant of God Giovanni Battista Quilici, Italian diocesan priest, founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Crucified (1791-1844); – Servant of God Bernardo Mattio, Italian diocesan priest (1845-1914); – Servant of God Quirico Pignalberi, Italian professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (1891-1982); – Servant of God Teodora Campostrini, Italian founder of the Minim Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Sorrows (1788-1860); – Servant of God Bianca Piccolomini Clementini, Italian founder of the Company of St. Angela Merici di Siena (1875-1959); – Servant of God María Nieves of the Holy Family (née María Nieves Sánchez y Fernández), Spanish professed religious of the Daughters of Mary of the Pious Schools (1900-1978). April 26 2016 MIRACLES authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees: Here is the full list of decrees approved by the Pope: MIRACLES – Blessed Alfonso Maria Fusco, diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. John the Baptist (1839-1910); – Venerable Servant of God John Sullivan, professed priest of the Society of Jesus (1861-1933); MARTYRDOM – Servants of God Nikolle Vinçenc Prennushi, O.F.M., archbishop of Durres, Albania, and 37 companions killed between 1945 and 1974; – Servants of God José Antón Gómez and three companions of the Benedictines of Madrid, Spain, killed 1936; HEROIC VIRTUES – Servant of God Thomas Choe Yang-Eop, diocesan priest (1821-1861); – Servant of God Sosio Del Prete (né Vincenzo), professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor, founder of the Congregation of the Little Servants of Christ the King (1885-1952); – Servant of God Wenanty Katarzyniec (né Jósef), professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (1889-1921); – Servant of God Maria Consiglia of the Holy Spirity (née Emilia Paqualina Addatis), founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Addolorata, Servants of Mary (1845-1900); – Servant of God Maria of the Incarnation (née Caterina Carrasco Tenorio), founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of the Flock of Mary (1840-1917); – Servant of God , founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Family of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1851-1923); – Servant of God Ilia Corsaro, founder of the Congregation of the Little Missionaries of the Eucharist (1897-1977); – Servant of God Maria Montserrat Grases García, layperson of the Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei (1941-1959). |
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LINKS: Marian Apparitions (over 2000) India Marian Shrine Lourdes of the East Lourdes Feb 11- July 16, Loreto, Italy 1858 China Marian shrines May 23, 1995 Zarvintisya Ukraine Lourdes Kenya national Marian shrine Quang Tri Vietnam La Vang 1798 Links to Related Marian Websites Angels and Archangels Doctors_of_the_Church Acts_Apostles Roman Catholic Popes Purgatory Uniates, 114 2023 |