Mary Mother of GOD 15 Promises of the Virgin Mary to those who recite the Rosary
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
Пресвятая Богородице спаси нас!  (Santíssima Mãe de Deus, salva-nos!)
RDeo grátias. R.  Thanks be to God.
December is the month of the Immaculate Conception.
2022
22,810 lives saved since 2007

  Goodbye Vern Bartholomew 1917-2017 on All Saints/All Souls day  Requiescat in pace;
Thanks for being such a great Dad


Our Bartholomew Family Prayer List
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

Pope Benedict XVI to The Catholic Church In China {whole article here }

The saints “a cloud of witnesses over our head”, showing us life of Christian perfection is possible.


Humility is the only thing that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angels out of demons. -- St John Climacus

I prayed for eighteen years for her
December 2 – Foundation of the Fraternity of Mary’s Heart at the Church of Notre-Dame des Victoires (Paris, France, 1836)

When faith is strong it works wonders (Mk 16:17).
Its apeal is never refused (Mk 9:23) especially when it asks for forgiveness of sin (Lk 7:50) and for that salvation of which it is the necessary condition (Lk 8:12, Mk 16;16 cf. Ac 3:16 +).

"As a priest, one day I got an urgent call to go see a woman with a brain tumor who was usually unconscious. But when I came to the patient, she was fully awake! Although I asked her if she wanted to confess her sins, she refused. As I was getting ready to leave, she changed her mind and asked for confession and the Holy Viaticum. Moments later, she fell back into a coma...
"I thought when I got home that someone must have been praying a lot for that soul. She regained consciousness just when I arrived—for me to be able to administer the sacraments while she was fully lucid—I don’t see any other explanation... She died soon afterwards.
"Two weeks later, the mother of the deceased arrived. She had come from Budapest to find out about her daughter’s death. Immense joy appeared on her face when she learned that her daughter had accepted the last rites with full knowledge!"
'"My heart felt such relief,"' "the pious woman later said." '"I have been praying for 18 years for her conversion, ever since she lost her faith and fled Hungary with some German soldiers at the end of the war. Thank God, now I know she is saved... "'
An initiative of the Association Mary of Nazareth  
Collection of Marian Stories Story told by Brother Albert Pfleger
In Fioretti de la Vierge Marie, Ephèse Diffusion


December 2 - Our Lady of Didynia (Cappadocia)   A Time of Waiting Unique in World History (I)
While the Blessed Virgin was on earth, all Israel was awaiting "the One to come"

    When she was a little child, the Virgin Mary waited, in the midst of her people Israel, for the coming of the Messiah, who had been heralded not just by only one prophet, but by a long succession of men who, as time went by over the centuries, foretold and kept adding to previous prophecies. She waited in the midst of a small nation, tossed by history, which had survived every confrontation with the empires surrounding it and which was to remain the only nation that was able to resist the break-up of the ancient world and to preserve its identity intact. Israel always held on to the unshakeable knowledge that it was destined to be the instrument of divine providence and have a global significance. The time of the Messiah's coming, clearly yet mysteriously heralded by the prophets, was constantly sought. And this period of expectancy and fulfillment had become so clearly defined and precise at this particular moment in history, that more than 100 Messianic candidates had been identified by the historians. "As the people were in expectation" (Lk 3:15) when John the Baptist appeared, they all asked him, "Are you He who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Lk 7:19). This was an absolutely unique period in history, and, according to many experts, this singular aspect of Christianity is, of itself, sufficient to set it apart in the religious history of the world. Source: Jesus Hypotheses by Vittorio Messori, Saint Paul Pubns. (1978)

December 2 – Establishment of the Fraternity of the Holy Heart of Mary at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church (Paris, France, 1836) 
 
“Anthony, if you win this victory, this crown is for you!”
Anthony Claret was born in 1807 in Spain near Montserrat, a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. As a young child, he already had a strong devotion to the Madonna. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1835.
One day, Anthony was forced to stay in bed with a bad ‘flu. As he shook with fever, impure images came into his mind. So he called on the Blessed Virgin for help. She appeared to him holding in her hands a crown of roses. “Anthony,” she said, “if you win this victory, this crown is for you!” Anthony triumphed over temptation and calm returned to his soul.
His apostolate was particularly effective because of his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Wherever he went, he established the Confraternity of the Holy Heart of Mary and pushed for the recitation of the family Rosary. But his master-achievement was his founding of the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (the Claretian Missionaries) in Catalonia on July 16, 1849.
Appointed Archbishop of Cuba in 1849, to mark his gratitude to the Blessed Virgin, he added the name of Mary to his name. In Cuba, Father Antony Mary Claret founded the "Institute of the Religious of Mary Immaculate, the Claretian Missionaries" for the education of girls.  www.notredamedesvictoires.com

 
When faith is strong it works wonders (Mk 16:17).

 Please pray for those who have no one to pray for them.

Pope Francis  PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR  December 2020
Universal: – For a Life of Prayer
We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ
be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.




December 2
- 650 bc The Holy Prophet Habakkuk (Abbacum) 8th of the Twelve Minor Prophets foresaw destruction of Jerusalem Temple, the Babylonian Captivity and later return of captives
250 Martyr Myrope of Chios; myrrh from Hermione relics, daughter of the holy Apostle Philip, healed the sick; St Isidore appeared surrounded by angels; St Myrope surrendered soul to God
Greek Calendar  Martyr Abibus the New.  St. Ioannicius of Devich, monk.  Venerable Joannicius of Devic
  "One must pass through solitude and dwell in it to receive God’s grace.
It is there that one empties oneself, that one drives before oneself all that is not God,
and that one completely empties this little house of our soul to leave room for God alone. 

Charles de Foucald, founder of the Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus.


- 650 bc The Holy Prophet Habakkuk (Abbacum) 8th of the Twelve Minor Prophets foresaw
        destruction of Jerusalem Temple, the Babylonian Captivity and later return of captives
250 Martyr Myrope of Chios; myrrh from Hermione relics, daughter of the holy Apostle Philip,
       healed the sick; St Isidore appeared surrounded by angels & St Myrope surrendered soul to God
259 St. Pontian  Martyr of Rome
3rd v. Saint Evasius (Italian: Sant'Evasio)
4th v. St. Bibiana Virgin Martyr
4th v. Sts.  John & others of Egypt thebaid Heraclemon, Andrew, &Theophilus of Egypt Also 12 June
406 St. Chromatius Bishop Pope Synod of Aquileia condemned Arianism 381praised by St. Jerome
       ST. CHROMATIUS INVITES US TO ENTER INTO CONTACT WITH GOD
600 St Jesse (Ise), Bishop of Tsilkan in Georgia born Antioch Syria great gifts of prayer wonderworking moved a river
        St. Lupus Bishop of Verona
       
St. Solomon, Archbishop of Ephesus.
        St. Cyril of Phileotes in Greece.

1176 Saint Athanasius, hermit of the Near Caves of Kiev contemporary of archimandrite St Polycarp miracles; relics
        are in the Near Caves

1314 St Stephen Urosh, King of Serbia faithful to Lord provided for widows orphans pacified quarrels maintained
        peace charitable to  poor defended downtrodden
1381 Saint John [Jan] of Ruysbroeck, priest First Prior of Groenendaal and Mystic
1741 Blessed Rafal Chylinski Franciscan
Apud Forum Cornélii, in Æmília, natális sancti Petri, Epíscopi Ravennátis, Confessóris et Ecclésiæ Doctóris, cognoménto Chrysólogi, doctrína et sanctitáte célebris.  Ipsíus tamen festum prídie Nonas hujus mensis recólitur.
    At Imola, St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop of Ravenna, confessor and doctor of the Church, celebrated for his learning and sanctity.  His feast is celebrated on the 4th of this month.

December 2 - Our Lady of Consolation and Providence (1749) -
Fraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Notre Dame of Victories Church (Paris, 1836)

Consecrate Your Parish to the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary (I)
The parish of Notre Dame of Victories, located in the business center of Paris, near the Stock Exchange,
is surrounded by theatres and nightclubs and had become the central point for political demonstrations,
agitating Paris for many years. The parish had seen almost all feeling and religious inclination die out in its midst;
its church was deserted, even on days of important solemnities; sacraments and other religious practices had been given up, and nothing seemed able to put an end to this deplorable state of affairs,
which had existed for more than ten years.
On December 3, 1836, the feast day of Saint Francis Xavier at 9:00 a.m., I began Holy Mass at the foot of the altar of the Blessed Virgin; I was reciting the first verse of the psalm, when terrible thoughts assailed my mind.
I started thinking about the uselessness of my ministry in that parish; it was not unusual for me to have these thoughts, I had had so many different occasions to notice and remind myself of the fact.
I felt that I had failed in my ministry and I wanted to resign my functions at Notre Dame of Victories.

Despite all my efforts to dispel these unhappy thoughts, I was so overwhelmed that my mental faculties were boggled;
I began reading and reciting the prayers without understanding what I was saying. After reciting the Sanctus,
I stopped for a moment, seeking to recollect myself; so frightened had I become by my strange state of mind,
I said to myself, "Dear God, what is happening to my mind? How can I offer the Divine Sacrifice?
My mind is not in a normal state to consecrate.
Oh my God, deliver me from this unhappy distraction!" Hardly had I uttered this prayer in my heart
when I very distinctly heard these words spoken to me in a clear and solemn way,
"Consecrate your parish to the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary."
Father Desgenettes, priest at Notre Dame of Victories Church (Paris, d. 1860)
In Sanciáno, Sinárum ínsula, item natális sancti Francísci Xavérii, Sacerdótis e Societáte Jesu et Confessóris, Indiárum Apóstoli, géntium conversióne, donis et miráculis clari; qui plenus méritis et labóribus obdormívit in Dómino.  Ipsum beátum virum Pius Décimus, Póntifex Máximus, cæléstem sodalitáti et óperi Propagándæ Fídei Protectórem elégit atque constítuit; Pius vero Papa Undécimus peculiárem ómnibus Missiónibus Patrónum dedit et confirmávit.  Ejus autem festívitas, jussu Alexándri Papæ Séptimi, sequénti die celebrátur.
   

In Sanchan, an island of China, the birthday of St. Francis Xavier, priest of the Society of Jesus, confessor and Apostle of the Indies.  He was renowned for his conversion of the heathen, his gifts and miracles, and he was filled with merits and good works when he fell asleep in the Lord.  Pope Pius X chose and appointed him the heavenly protector of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and of the work for the same object.  Pope Pius XI confirmed this and appointed him the special patron of all the Foreign Missions.  His feast, by decree of Pope Alexander VII, is kept on the following day.

  Greek Calendar  Martyr Abibus the New.  St. Ioannicius of Devich, monk.  Venerable Joannicius of Devic
  "One must pass through solitude and dwell in it to receive God’s grace.
It is there that one empties oneself, that one drives before oneself all that is not God,
and that one completely empties this little house of our soul to leave room for God alone. 
In doing this, do not fear being unfaithful toward creatures. 
On the contrary, that is the only way for you to serve them effectively"
Charles de Foucald, founder of the Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus  (Raphael Brown, Franciscan Mystic, p. 126).

406 St. Chromatius Bishop Synod of Aquileia condemned Arianism 381 praised by St. Jerome
"The answers to many of life's questions can be found by reading the Lives of the Saints. They teach us how to overcome obstacles and difficulties, how to stand firm in our faith, and how to struggle against evil and emerge victorious."  1913 Saint Barsanuphius of Optina
God calls each one of us to be a saint in order to get into heaven.
The more "extravagant" graces are bestowed NOT for the benefit of the recipients so much as FOR benefit of others.
Apud Forum Cornélii, in Æmília, natális sancti Petri, Epíscopi Ravennátis, Confessóris et Ecclésiæ Doctóris, cognoménto Chrysólogi, doctrína et sanctitáte célebris.  Ipsíus tamen festum prídie Nonas hujus mensis recólitur.
    At Imola, St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop of Ravenna, confessor and doctor of the Church, celebrated for his learning and sanctity.  His feast is celebrated on the 4th of this month.

In Sanciáno, Sinárum ínsula, item natális sancti Francísci Xavérii, Sacerdótis e Societáte Jesu et Confessóris, Indiárum Apóstoli, géntium conversióne, donis et miráculis clari; qui plenus méritis et labóribus obdormívit in Dómino.  Ipsum beátum virum Pius Décimus, Póntifex Máximus, cæléstem sodalitáti et óperi Propagándæ Fídei Protectórem elégit atque constítuit; Pius vero Papa Undécimus peculiárem ómnibus Missiónibus Patrónum dedit et confirmávit.  Ejus autem festívitas, jussu Alexándri Papæ Séptimi, sequénti die celebrátur.
    In Sanchan, an island of China, the birthday of St. Francis Xavier, priest of the Society of Jesus, confessor and Apostle of the Indies.  He was renowned for his conversion of the heathen, his gifts and miracles, and he was filled with merits and good works when he fell asleep in the Lord.  Pope Pius X chose and appointed him the heavenly protector of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and of the work for the same object.  Pope Pius XI confirmed this and appointed him the special patron of all the Foreign Missions.  His feast, by decree of Pope Alexander VII, is kept on the following day.
November 19 / December 2, Tuesday
Prophet Obadiah (Abdias). Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea in Cappadocia. (services combined) St. Barlaam and St. Ioasaph, prince of India, and St. Abenner the king, father of St. Ioasaph. Martyr Azes of Isauria and with him 150 soldiers. Martyr Heliodorus in Pamphylia. St. Barlaam, abbot of the Kiev Caves. St. Hilarion, monk, Wonderworker of Thessalonica.
(Greek Calendar: Martyr Agapius. Martyrs Anthimus, Thalalaeus, Christopher, Euphemia and her children. Martyr Pancharius.) Repose of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow (1867).
230  Pope Saint Pontian or Pontianus, was pope from July 21, to September 28, 235
ST PONTIAN, POPE AND MARTYR
PONTIAN, who is said to have been Roman, followed St Urban I as bishop of Rome about the year 230. The only known event of his pontificate is the synod held at Rome that confirmed the condemnation already pronounced at Alexandria of certain doctrines attributed to Origen. At the beginning of the persecution by the Emperor Maximinus the pope was exiled to Sardinia, an island described as nociva, "unhealthy“, whereby perhaps the mines were meant; here he resigned his office. How much longer he lived and the manner of his death are not known: traditionally life was beaten out of him with sticks. Some years later Pope St Fabian translated his body to the cemetery of St Callistus in Rome, where in 1909 his original epitaph was found: PONTIANOC EPICK MPT, the last word having been added later. 


- 650 bc The Holy Prophet Habakkuk 8th of the Twelve Minor Prophets foresaw destruction of Jerusalem Temple, the Babylonian Captivity and later return of captives to their native land.
descended from Tribe of Simeon he prophesied  650 B.C.

During the war with the Babylonians the prophet withdrew to Arabia, where the following miracle occurred.
When he was bringing dinner to the reapers, he met an angel of the Lord, and instantly by the strength of his spirit he was transported to Babylon, where at the time the Prophet Daniel was languishing in prison.
The food intended for the reapers assuaged the hunger of the exhausted Prophet Daniel (Dan. 14:33-37).


After the end of the war with the Babylonians, the Prophet Habakkuk returned to his homeland and died at a great old age. His relics were found at the time of Emperor Theodosius he Younger (408-450), together with the relics of the Prophet Micah (August 14).
The Fourth Ode of the Psalter ("O Lord, I have heard thy report, and was afraid...") is based on Habakkuk 3:2-19.
Habakkuk
    The short Book of Habakkuk is very carefully constructed. It opens with a dialogue between the prophet and his God; twice the prophet complains, twice the divine oracle answers, 1:2-2:4. The second oracle calls down five curses on the wicked oppressor, 2:5-20. Next, in a psalm, the prophet celebrates the final triumph of God, ch. 3. The authorship of this last chapter has been disputed, but without it the composition would lose its symmetry. The musical instructions that precede, punctuate and follow the psalm merely prove that it was used liturgically. That the whole book was so used is doubtful; the liturgical quality of its style was probably more imitative than functional.
    The historical context of the prophecy and the identification of the oppressor are both doubtful. The Assyrians, the Chaldaeans, and even Jehoiakim, king of Judah, have been suggested. It seems most likely that the book refers throughout to the Chaldaeans, named in 1:6. God has made use of them to punish his people but they in their turn will be punished for their excessive cruelty, since Yahweh is on the march to save his people; the prophet awaits this intervention with an anxiety that finally gives way to joy. If this interpretation is correct, the book should be dated between the battle of Carchemish in 605 (which made Nebuchadnezzar master of the Middle East) and the first siege of Jerusalem in 597. Thus Habakkuk would be very little later than Nahum and, like him, a contemporary of Jeremiah.

Habakkuk sounds a note new to the teaching of the prophets; he has the temerity to demand an account from God of his ordering of the world. Judah indeed has sinned, but why should a God of holiness, 1:12, with eyes too pure to look at evil, 1:13, choose the savage Chaldaeans to wreak his vengeance? Why must the bad be punished by the worse? Why should he appear to strengthen the arm of injustice?
This is the problem of evil posed at international level and Habakkuk’s dismay is felt by many people today. To them as to him comes the divine answer: by paradoxical ways almighty God prepares the final triumph of justice; trusting in God, the virtuous man’s life will be secure, cf. 2:4, a precious maxim of Habakkuk’s which St Paul will later incorporate into his teaching on faith, Rm 1:17; Ga 3:11; Heb 10:38.
250 Martyr Myrope of Chios; myrrh from Hermione relics, daughter of the holy Apostle Philip, healed the sick; St Isidore appeared surrounded by angels and St Myrope surrendered her soul to God

The Holy Martyr Myrope was born in the city of Ephesus at the beginning of the third century. She lost her father at an early age, and her mother raised her in the Christian Faith. St Myrope frequently visited the grave of the Martyr Hermione (September 4), daughter of the holy Apostle Philip, took myrrh from her relics, and healed the sick with it.

During the persecution by Decius (249-251), Myrope went with her mother to the island of Chios, where they spent their time in fasting and prayer. Once, by order of the cruel governor of the island, the soldier Isidore (May 14), a man of deep faith and great piety, was martyred. St Myrope secretly removed the body of the martyr and buried it. The soldiers, who had been ordered not to allow the Christians to take Isidore's body, were sentenced to death.

St Myrope took pity on the condemned, and she told the soldiers and then the governor what she had done. At the trial she confessed herself a Christian. For this they gave her a fierce beating and then threw her in prison. At midnight, while she was praying, a light shone in the prison. St Isidore appeared surrounded by angels, and St Myrope surrendered her soul to God. The prison was immediately filled with a sweet fragrance. The pagan guard, trembling at the vision, told this to a priest. Later, he accepted Baptism and a martyric death for his confession of Christ.
St. Lupus Bishop of Verona Italy
Verónæ sancti Lupi, Epíscopi et Confessóris.    At Verona, St. Lupus, bishop and confessor.
In Africa natális sanctórum Mártyrum Sevéri, Secúri, Januárii et Victoríni; qui ibídem martyrio coronáti sunt.
    In Africa, the birthday of the holy martyrs Severus, Securus, Januarius, and Victorinus, who were there crowned with martyrdom.

Romæ sanctórum Mártyrum Eusébii Presbyteri, Marcélli Diáconi, Hippólyti, Máximi, Adriæ, Paulínæ, Neónis, Maríæ, Martánæ et Auréliæ; qui omnes in persecutióne Valeriáni, sub Secundiáno Júdice, martyrium complevérunt.
    At Rome, the holy martyrs Eusebius, a priest, Marcellus, a deacon, Hippolytus, Maximus, Adria, Paulina, Neon, Mary, Martana, and Aurelia, who fulfilled their martyrdoms under the judge Secundian in the persecution of Valerian.

259 St. Pontian  Martyr of Rome
Item Romæ sancti Pontiáni Mártyris, cum áliis quátuor.    Also at Rome, St. Pontian, martyr, with four others.
He was put to death with four other Christians during the persecutions of the Church under Emperor Valerian.
3rd v. Saint Evasius (Italian: Sant'Evasio)
Bríxiæ sancti Evásii Epíscopi.    At Brescia, St. Evasius, bishop.
Believed a missionary and bishop of Asti, in north-west Italy. He was forced to flee to the great Padan forest known as the Selva Cornea, where he and numerous followers were beheaded by pagan, or alternatively by Arian, enemies in the area of what is now Casale Monferrato. He is venerated as a saint and patron of a number of towns in Piedmont and Lombardy. His cult is liveliest at Casale, where his remains are conserved in the cathedral dedicated to him.
Evasio_e_Pietro_martire.jpg

No account of Evasius’s life is regarded by scholars of hagiography as reliable. According to the Historia e vita di Sant'Evasio Vescovo e Martire by the Augustinian Fulgenzio Emiglio, published in 1708, he was born in Benevento, moved to Rome in 260 and was sent as a bishop to Asti in 265. There he suffered persecution at the hands of pagan opponents of Christianity and was forced to leave the town. The earliest account of the story, the anonymous Passio Sancti Evasii, which has been variously dated at early eleventh-century, tenth-century and ninth-century, sets it in the times of the Lombard king Luitprand, who reigned during the years 712–744.
In the versions deriving from the latter Evasius’s opponents were Lombard adherents of Arian Christianity, rather than pagans. Still other accounts place his life during the fourth century and have him consecrated as Asti’s first bishop around 330. Carbon dating of his relics (assuming that they are genuine) favours the third-century hypothesis.

It is said that following his flight from Asti, Evasius took refuge in the forest known as Selva Cornea along with two companions Proietto and Maliano and probably a third, Natale. At the site of today’s Pozzo Sant’Evasio, near Casale, a miracle occurred. The bishop, tired from his journey, pushed his crozier into the ground and lay down to sleep. The pastoral staff set root and blossomed and a spring appeared at its foot.

Evasius continued his work of conversion in Casale (then perhaps known as Sedula, or Sedulia), founded a small church dedicated to Lawrence the Deacon and attracted numerous followers. (The remains of such a church exist beneath the current cathedral.) In some accounts he is identified as the first bishop of Casale.

Again, however, the saint attracted fierce opposition and he was beheaded along with Proietto, Maliano and 143 companions, on the orders of the prefect (or duke or sculdascio) Atubolo. Skeletal analysis of his remains suggests that Evasius died at about the age of 60.

In the version of his life which sets it in the third century the date of Evasius’s martyrdom is given as 1 December 292, during the reign of Diocletian whose later persecution of Christians is well-known. For the version of the story which places it in the first part of the eighth century, the context is that of the struggle between those Lombards who remained attached to their Arian beliefs and the soon-to-be-victorious Trinitarian new guard, associated particularly with the Catholic Theodolinda who had been Lombard queen from 588 to 628, and to which King Luitprand belonged.
4th v. St. Bibiana Virgin Martyr
Romæ pássio sanctæ Bibiánæ, Vírginis et Mártyris, quæ, sub Juliáno Imperatóre sacrílego, ob Christum támdiu plumbátis cæsa est, donec rédderet spíritum.
    At Rome, the martyrdom of the saintly virgin Bibiana, under the sacrilegious Emperor Julian.  For the sake of our Lord she was scourged with leaded whips until she expired.
ST BIBIANA, OR VIVIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
THE church of St Bibiana in the city of Rome existed in the fifth century and is said by the Liber Pontificalis to have been dedicated by Pope St Simplicius {468-483} and to have contained her body. But of the time at which she suffered and the circumstances of her passion nothing certain is known. The notices of her and her family in the Roman Martyrology, and the lessons of her feast in the Roman Breviary, are taken from a late legend which is a quite untrustworthy compilation. According to it St Bibiana suffered under the Emperor Julian the Apostate {331-363}.
   She was a native of Rome, and daughter to Flavian, exprefect of the city, and his wife, Dafrosa, who were both zealous Christians. Flavian was apprehended, burned in the face with a hot iron, and banished to Acquapendente, as the Roman Martyrology asserts on the twenty-second of this month. After his death his wife, Dafrosa, being equally faithful to Christ, was on the same account confined to her house for some time, and at length beheaded. Bibiana and her sister, Demetria, were stripped of all they had in the world and suffered much from poverty for five months, but spent that time in their own house in fasting and prayer. At length, brought into court, Demetria fell down dead in the presence of the judge, who gave orders that Bibiana should be put into the hands of a woman named Rufina, who was extremely artful and undertook to bring her to another way of thinking. But Rufina’s blandishments were tried in vain on St Bibiana, and when they failed to tempt her from the way of faith and chastity blows were found to be just as fruitless.
   She was tied to a pillar and whipped with scourges loaded with lead: and so she died. Her body was left in the open air that it might be eaten by scavenging dogs. But they would not touch it, and, having lain exposed two days, it was buried in the night near the palace of Licinius by a priest called John, in the same house where lay her mother and sister.

   This John is associated with St Pimenius who was the tutor of the Emperor Julian before he apostatized. When Julian began persecuting, Pimenius escaped to Persia and thus survived all the other personages in the story. Returning at length to Rome he met Julian in the street, whereupon the emperor said, Glory be to my gods and goddesses because I see you. To which the saint replied, Glory be to my Lord Jesus Christ, the Nazarene who was crucified, because I see you not. Whereupon Julian ordered him to be thrown off the bridge into the Tiber.
But the whole legend, as Delehaye shows, has been evolved from slightly older hagiographical fictions of the same character,
   particularly those connected with the story of SS John and Paul. It is possible that the name Pimenius is simply an adaptation
   of the Greek word Ποιμην, which means “shep­herd”, and that thus we get into touch with “ St Pastor . The story of St
   Bibiana has been very fully discussed by Delehaye in his Étude suret legendier romain (1936), pp. 124-143 and in an
   appendix (pp. 259—268) he has edited the two texts which are of particular importance. These respectively bear the headings
   Passia Sancti Pygmenii and Vita Sancti Pastoris. Pimenius or Pygmenius is in fact the central figure of this setting of the
   legend, and it is his name, not that of Bibiana, which is com­memorated in the Hieronymianum. See further M. E. Donckel’s
   article
Studien uber den Kultus der hl. Bibiana in the Römische Quartalschrift, vol. xliii (1935), pp. 23—33, and Quentin,
   Les martyrologes historiques, pp. 494—495. Because St Bibiana is represented in her story as having been locked up with
   mad people she was widely honoured as a patron of the insane and epileptics.


 We have the following account from a later tradition.
In the year 363, Julian the Apostate made Apronianus Governor of Rome. St. Bibiana suffered in the persecution started by him. She was the daughter of Christians, Flavian, a Roman knight, and Dafrosa, his wife. Flavian was tortured and sent into exile, where he died of his wounds. Dafrosa was beheaded, and their two daughters, Bibiana and Demetria, were stripped of their possessions and left to suffer poverty. However, they remained in their house, spending their time in fasting and prayer.Apronianus, seeing that hunger and want had no effect upon them, summoned them. Demetria, after confessing her Faith, fell dead at the feet of the tyrant. St. Bibiana was reserved for greater sufferings. She was placed in the hands of a wicked woman called Rufina, who in vain endeavored to seduce her. She used blows as well as persuasion, but the Christian virgin remained faithful.
4th v. Sts.  John and others of Egypt.  
Saint John lived in Egypt in the fourth century, and is mentioned in the Life of St Onuphrius.

St Heraclemon of Egypt Saint Heraclemon lived in Egypt in the fourth century, and is mentioned in the Life of St Onuphrius.
St Andrew of Egypt Saint Andrew lived in Egypt in the fourth century, and is mentioned in the Life of St Onuphrius.

After he had buried St Onuphrius, St Paphnutius came upon an oasis which impressed him with its beauty and abundance of fruit-bearing trees.

Four youths inhabiting this place came to him from out of the wilderness. The youths told Abba Paphnutius that in their childhood they had lived in the city of Oxyrhynchus (Upper Thebaid) and they had studied together. They had burned with the desire to devote their lives to God.
Making their plans to go off into the desert, the young men left the city and after several days' journey, they reached this place.

A man radiant with heavenly glory met them and led them to a desert Elder. "We have lived here six years already," said the youths. "Our Elder dwelt here one year and then he died. Now we live here alone, we eat the fruit of the trees, and we have water from a spring." The youths gave him their names, they were Sts John, Andrew, Heraclemon and Theophilus (Dec. 2).

The youths struggled separately the whole week long, but on Saturday and Sunday they gathered at the oasis and offered up common prayer. On these days an angel would appear and commune them with the Holy Mysteries. This time however, for Abba Paphnutius' sake, they did not go off into the desert, but spent the whole week together at prayer. On the following Saturday and Sunday St Paphnutius together with the youths was granted to receive the Holy Mysteries from the hands of the angel and to hear these words,
"Receive the Imperishable Food, unending bliss and life eternal, the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, our God."
St Paphnutius made bold to ask the angel for permission to remain in the desert to the end of his days. The angel replied that God had decreed another path for him. He was to return to Egypt and tell the Christians of the life of the desert-dwellers.

Having bid farewell to the youths, St Paphnutius reached the edge of the wilderness after a three day journey. Here he found a small skete, and the brethren received him with love. Abba Paphnutius related everything that he had learned about the holy Fathers whom he had encountered in the desert. The brethren wrote a detailed account of what St Paphnutius said, and deposited it in the church, where all who wished to do so could read it. St Paphnutius gave thanks to God, Who had granted him to learn about the exalted lives of the hermits of the Thebaid, and he returned to his own monastery.
Saint John is also commemorated on June 12 with St Onuphrius .
406 St. Chromatius Bishop Synod of Aquileia condemned Arianism 381 praised by St. Jerome
Aquiléjæ sancti Chromátii, Epíscopi et Confessóris.    At Aquileia, St. Chromatius, bishop and confessor.
407 ST CHROMATIUS, BISHOP OF AQUILEIA
CHROMATIUS was brought up in the city of Aquileia, of which he was probably a native, and lived there with his widowed mother (of whom St Jerome’s good opinion is seen in a letter written to her in the year 374) his brother, who also became a bishop, and unmarried sisters. After his ordination to the priesthood St Chro­matius took part in the synod of Aquileia against Arianism in 381, baptized Rufinus in his early manhood, and soon acquired a great reputation. On the death of St Valerian in 388 he was elected bishop of Aquileia, and in that office became one of the most distinguished prelates of his time. He was a friend and correspondent of St Jerome (who dedicated several of his works to him), at the same time pre­serving his association with Rufinus, and trying to act as peace-maker and moderator in the Origenistic dispute. It was owing to the encouragement of St Chromatius that Rufinus undertook the translation of the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius and other works, and at his suggestion St Ambrose commented on the prophecy of Balaam; he helped St Heliodorus of Altino to finance St Jerome’s translation of the Bible. Chromatius was an energetic and valued supporter of St John Chrysos­tom, who had a high opinion of him; he wrote to the Emperor Honorius protesting against the persecution of Chrysostom, and Honorius forwarded the protest to his brother, Arcadius, at Constantinople. But the efforts of Chromatius were without effect. He was himself a capable commentator of the Holy Scriptures; seventeen of his treatises on parts of St Matthew’s gospel are extant and a homily on the Beatitudes. St Chromatius died about the year 407, and is named in the Roman Martyrology; his feast is observed in the churches of Gorizia and Istria, formerly parts of the Aquileian province.

There seems to be no formal biography; but some attention has been directed to St Chromatius of late years on account of the writings attributed to him. See Bardenhewer, Geschichte der altkirchilchen Literatur, vol. iii, pp. 548—551; P. de Puniet in the Revue d’histoire ecclésiastique, vol. vi (1905), pp. 15—32, 304—318 P. Paschini in the Revue Bénédictine, vol. xxvi (1909), pp. 469—475. The works attributed to Chromatius are printed in Migne, PL., vol. XX, CC. 247—436, but the state of the text is very unsatisfactory to him most probably be attributed the “Expositio de oratione dorninica printed by M. Andrieu in Lea Ordines romani du haut moyen âge, vol. ii (1948), pp. 417—447.
St. Chromatius Bishop of Aquileia, died about 406-407. He was probably born at Aquileia, and in any case grew up there.
He became a priest of that church and about 387 or 388, after the death of Valerianus, bishop of that important city. He was one of the most celebrated prelates of his time and was in active correspondence with his illustrious contemporaries, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, and Rufinus. Himself a scholarly theologian, he urged these three friends to the composition of many learned works. St. Ambrose was encouraged by him to write exegetical works; St. Jerome dedicated to him different translations and commentaries, which he had written at his suggestion (translations of the Books of Paralipomenon, Tobias, the books of Solomon, commentaries on the Prophecy of Habacuc {Habakuk}). In the bitter quarrel between St. Jerome and Rufinus concerning Origenism, Chromatius, while rejecting the false doctrines of Origen, attempted to make peace between the disputants.
He always maintained ecclesiastical communion with Rufinus and induced him not to answer the last attack of St. Jerome, but to devote himself to new literary works, especially to the translation of the "Ecclesiastical History" of Eusebius. Chromatius opposed the Arian heresy with much zeal and rooted it out in his diocese. He gave loyal support to St. John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, when unjustly oppressed, and wrote in his favour to Honorius, the Western emperor, who sent this letter to his brother, Arcadius. This intercession, however, availed nothing. Chromatius was also active as an exegete. There are preserved seventeen treatises by him on the Gospel according to St. Matthew (iii, 15-17; v-vi, 24), besides a fine homily on the Eight Beatitudes (counted as an eighteenth treatise). His feast is celebrated 2 December

He was a native of Aquileia, Italy, and participated in the Synod of Aquileia that condemned Arianism in 381. Seven years later he became the bishop of the see. A friend of St. Jerome, Chromatius also encouraged Rufinus to translate Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History. He was known and revered as a scholar and was described by St. Jerome as “a most learned and most holy man.” Chromatius was also a friend of St. John Chrysostom.

Part of Chromatius’ commentary on St. Matthew is extant.
ST. CHROMATIUS INVITES US TO ENTER INTO CONTACT WITH GOD
VATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2007 (VIS) - In today's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall, Benedict XVI dedicated his remarks to the figure of St. Chromatius, bishop of Aquileia in northern Italy, "a dynamic center of Christian life located in the 'Decima regione' of the Roman empire, 'Venetia et Histria'."  "Between the middle of the third century and the early years of the fourth," said the Pope, "the persecutions of Decius, Valerian and Diocletian had produced a large number of martyrs." At the same time, the Church of Aquileia was facing "the threat of the Arian heresy."
  In 381 Chromatius, then a priest and the expert assistant of Bishop Valerian of Aquileia, participated in a synod "to eliminate the last residues of Arianism in the West."

  The Holy Father recalled how Chromatius was born in Aquileia in the year 345, "he was ordained a deacon then a priest and finally elected as pastor of that church in 388. Having received episcopal consecration from St. Ambrose, he dedicated himself courageously and energetically to a task of immense proportions because of the vastness of the lands entrusted to his care: the ecclesial jurisdiction of Aquileia stretched to what is currently the territory of Switzerland, Bavaria, Austria and Slovenia, even reaching as far as Hungary."
The saintly bishop died an exile in Grado in 407, the same year as St. John Chrysostom.

  The Holy Father indicated that of St. Chromatius' works, more than 40 sermons and over 60 commentaries on the Gospel of St. Mark survive. "He was wise master and a zealous pastor," said the Pope. "In his teaching he always began from the Word of God and to that he always returned. Among subjects particularly dear to him were, primarily, the Trinitarian mystery which he considered in its revelation throughout the history of salvation, the theme of the Holy Spirit, ... and the mystery of Christ. The incarnate Word is true God and true man: He fully assumed the human condition so as to give it His own divinity." 

  His "insistence on the human nature of Christ led Chromatius to speak of the Virgin Mary," said the Pope, pointing out how the saint described Mary in various ways such as "the evangelical virgin capable of accepting God," and compared her with the Church, both being "virgins and mothers." The Holy Father then explained that "Chromatius' ecclesiology is developed above all in his commentary on Matthew," where he writes that "the Church is unique, she is born from the blood of Christ." 

  Chromatius "knew how to address his people using a fresh, vivacious and incisive language." As a "good pastor, in troubled times such as his own marked by the barbarian incursions, he stood alongside the faithful to comfort them and open their souls to faith in God, Who never abandons His children." 

  In off-the-cuff remarks at the end of his talk, the Pope noted how "St. Chromatius reminds us that Advent is a time of prayer, in which we must enter into contact with God. God knows us, He knows me, He knows each of us. He loves me, He does not abandon me. Thus trustingly, let us proceed into the liturgical time that has just begun." AG/ST. CHROMATIUS/...   VIS 071205 (560)
600 St Jesse the Bishop of Tsilkan in Georgia born Antioch in Syria great gifts of prayer and wonderworking moved a river
Saint Jesse, Bishop of Tsilkan, was born at Antioch in Syria to a pious Christian family. While still a child he felt drawn to the spiritual life, and when he reached maturity he entered one of the monasteries in Antioch, with the blessing of his parents, where at the time ascetic Jesse the Monk John Zedazeni (May 7).

St Jesse was included among the number of the Thirteen holy Syrian (Cappadocian) Fathers (their general commemoration is May 7), who were chosen by lot by the Monk John Zedazeni (as commanded him by the Mother of God). St Jesse arrived in Georgia with them, and with them he taught and instructed the people in the pious life, providing an example of sanctity and healing the sick.

The reports of the deeds of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers spread about among the people so that Eulabius the Katholikos of Georgia (533-544) proposed having a council of bishops meet and choose certain of these ascetics to fill vacant episcopal Sees. Because of the difficulty of whom to choose, since all of them were worthy of the office of bishop, they proposed to go to the city of Zaden, where the ascetics dwelt, and to select those who were celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the time.

In this manner they became bishops: the hieromonk Habib (the account about him is located under November 29) and the hierodeacon Jesse, appointed to the See of Tsilkan. Having arrived in his diocese, Jesse was astonished by the rampant pagan rites, customs and superstitions. He zealously concerned himself with the restoration of piety, preaching constantly and frequently celebrating the church services. His work bore fruit -- in the Tsilkan diocese Orthodox piety was affirmed, and with it also was affirmed the Church of Christ.

Continuing also his ascetic efforts, St Jesse attained to great gifts of prayer and wonderworking. Through his prayer, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ there separated off from the River Xana a stream of water, which -- in following the course that the saint intended, formed the bed of a canal and stretched to the church of the Most Holy Theotokos (near Tsilkan). Having put his diocese in good order, St Jesse set off preaching to the Ossetians and other mountain peoples of the great Caucasus mountain range. He made the rounds of he ravines and the rocky crags with the Gospel and cross in hand, everywhere affirming the teaching of God's revelation.

St Jesse learned about his approaching death through a revelation from above. Gathering his flock and clergy, he preached a spiritual instruction, received the Holy Mysteries, and with hands upraised to Heaven he offered up his soul to the Lord. This transpired at the end of the sixth century. (The exact day of the saint's death is August 18). The venerable relics of St Jesse, already glorified by healing at the time of his burial, were consigned to earth in the church of the Most Holy Theotokos at Tsilkan, between the altar table and the table of oblation. The Church subsequently numbered St Jesse among the saints and established his day of commemoration as December 2.

1176 Saint Athanasius, hermit of the Near Caves of Kiev contemporary of archimandrite St Polycarp miracles
(July 24) of the Kiev Caves.
St Athanasius was grievously ill for a long time. When he died, the brethren prepared him for burial, and on the third day the igumen came to bury him. However, they all saw the dead man alive. He was sitting up and weeping. To all their questions he replied only:

"Seek salvation, obey the igumen in everything, repent each hour and pray to our Lord Jesus Christ,
to His All-Pure Mother and to Sts Anthony and Theodosius, to allow you to end your life here. Do not ask me anything else, for I must pray"
(There is a similar story of St Hesychius [October 3] in THE LADDER of St John Climacus, Step 6).
After this he lived for twelve years more in solitude in a cave. During that time he spoke not a word to anyone. He wept day and night, and partook of a little bread and water only every other day. Just before his death, he assembled the brethren, and repeated his earlier words to them, and then he peacefully departed unto the Lord (in about the year 1176).

The monk Babylas, who had suffered illness and an infirmity of the legs for many years, was healed at his relics. "As I lay there," he related told the brethren, " I cried out in pain. Suddenly, St Athanasius appeared to me and said, 'Come to me, and I shall heal you.' I wanted to ask him how and when he had returned here, but he became invisible. I believed his words and asked to be taken to his relics. And indeed, I have been healed." St Athanasius was buried in the Antoniev Cave. His memory is celebrated also on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
Venerable Athanasius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves

Saint Athanasius, Recluse of the Far Caves of Kiev is mentioned in the Fourth Ode of the general Canon of the Monastic Fathers of the Far Caves. The "Sayings and Lives of the Saints Who Repose in the Cave of St Theodosius," says that St Athanasius had no need of candles in the cave, since a heavenly light shone for him. He grants healing to all who approach him with faith.
The memory of St Athanasius is celebrated also on August 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
1314 St Stephen Urosh, King of Serbia faithful to Lord provided for widows orphans pacified quarrels maintained peace charitable to  poor defended downtrodden.

Saint Stephen Urosh, King of Serbia, was son of King Dushan Nemany. Dushan sought the daughter of the French king for his son, but the Roman Pope insisted that the princess not change from the Latin confession. Dushan did not want to see a Catholic in his family, and because of this St Stephen Urosh entered into marriage with the daughter of Vlad, Prince of Walachia.

Upon the death of his father (+ 1355), St Stephen Urosh became the independent and actual ruler of Serbia. He was faithful to the Lord, like a father he provided for widows and orphans, he pacified quarrels and maintained peace, he was charitable to the poor, and defended the downtrodden.

In the interests of peace in Serbia and indeed for the preservation of his own life, St Stephen was obliged to flee to his kinsman, Prince Lazar. St Stephen's uncle, Vulkashin, immediately seized the throne, but his fear of rivals gave him no peace. Through his sister, St Stephen's mother, he invited his nephew to come to the city of Skopje, on the pretext of a reconciliation. Greeting him with honor, as Tsar, he invited him to go hunting. When St Stephen, weary from the hunt, went off with his horse to a well and bent over to take a sip of water, Vulkashin struck him a mortal blow on the head with a mace.

1381 Saint John [Jan] of Ruysbroeck, priest First Prior of Groenendaal and Mystic
John Ruysbroeck, whose name derives from his birthplace in Belgium, was Chalplain of the Church of St. Gudula in Brussels, and wrote a number of books dealing with the spiritual life. When he was fifty, feeling the need to be more free for the service of God, he retired with a few companions to Groenendaal. He built a Monastery and founded a Congregation of Canons Regular of which he was the Prior. He lived in constant prayer and meditation, and helped a large number of people who came to him for teaching and advice. He died, aged nearly ninety, in 1381.

BD JOHN RUYSBROECK (A.D. 1381)
JAN VAN RUYSBROECIC, Joannes Rusbrochius, or as he is generally called in English, John Ruysbroeck, was born at the place of that name near Brussels in 1293. In those days it was a small village, and John was certainly of humble birth, though of his father nothing is known, and of his mother only her goodness and love for her son. At the age of eleven he went to live with his uncle, John Hinckaert, who was a minor canon of the collegiate church of St Gudula at Brussels, and attended the schools of the city. Some years later his mother joined him there, living in a béguinage, and soon after her death John was ordained priest at the age of twenty-four.
Subsequently, in consequence of a sermon preached in St Gudula’s, Canon Hinckaert’s way of life underwent considerable modification. He gave away his superfluous goods and income and, in company with another canon, Franco van Coudenberg, a younger man, undertook to join a life of contemplation to his canonical activities. Bd John associated himself with these two. Between 1330 and 1335 he wrote some polemical pamphlets, which have perished, but soon after he wrote the Book of the Kingdom of God’s Lovers. This work like all his others was written in Flemish that it might reach people at large, and is a refutation of false mysticism and an exposition of the true way to God. The Spiritual Espousals, and several other mystical works of a practical kind followed it.
Some commentators claimed that John was illiterate and ignorant, thus adding an adventitious interest and merit to his writings. But in fact there is every evidence that he was a capable philosopher and theologian, well read both in the works of the contemporary scholastics and of the masters of the past. The claim was made in his own time and answered by Gerson at Paris, who accused him of pantheistic ideas in the third book of the Spiritual Espousals: “It has been said that the man who wrote this book was illiterate and uneducated, and consequently an attempt has been made to regard it as inspired by the Holy Ghost. But it gives evidence rather of human scholarship than of divine inspiration and the style is somewhat laboured. Besides, in order to deal with such a subject, piety is not enough: one must be a scholar as well.”

Between 1340 and 1343 John was writing the first part of the Book of the Spiritual Tabernacle, an allegory of the mystical life, and in the spring of the latter year the three priests left Brussels. They were called to a complete dedication of themselves to God in a life of uninterrupted contemplation; in the city they were hampered by a clergy many of whom were debased and worldly, and, moreover, while John had raised hostility by his vigour against heresy, Canon van Coudenberg got into trouble with his prince.
With the permission of this John III, Duke of Brabant, they received an assignment from the hermit Lambert of the hermitage of Groenendael in the forest of Soignes, where they built a larger chapel and established themselves. But their first six years were not peaceful, troubled in particular on the one hand by the criticism of the chapter of Sainte-Gudule and of neighbouring monks, and on the other by the ducal hunt and its followers: not being associated with any religious order they had no protection against these nuisances. Accordingly, in 1349, being then increased by five disciples, they formed themselves into a community of canons regular of St Augustine and made
their vows before the bishop of Cambrai. The aged Hinckaert dying the following year, Franco van Coudenberg was nominated to govern the new monastery as provost, aided by John Ruysbroeck as prior. It was Franco who “made” Groenendael in a material and administrative sense, and John’s presence there was a great attraction to the numerous aspirants who offered themselves to the com­munity. He was an exemplary religious, docile, patient, obedient, fond of manual labour (at which he was rather clumsy), and a better subject than superior.

Gerard Naghel, a Carthusian of Hérinnes, speaks of Ruysbroeck making a visit to that monastery: “How much might be said of his strong manly face, alight with joy, of his humble and affectionate speech, of the spirituality radiating from him, of a religious bearing that showed itself even in his way of wearing his clothes…Though we wanted to hear him talk about himself he never would, but just drew lessons from the sacred epistles…He showed himself as free from conceit as if he had never written his own books.”

 Bd John would spend hours in the forest, which surrounded the monastery, listening, as it were, where no human distractions came between his ear and the voice of God. He made notes on waxed tablets, and elaborated and arranged them at his leisure in his cell. Once when he was missing at supper a canon went out to look, and found him sitting in ecstasy under a lime tree, surrounded by unearthly light. Thus he completed the Spiritual Tabernacle and undertook the other books which have given him an assured place among the greater contemplatives of the middle ages.* {* It is curious that in Ruysbroeck, as in other mystics of that age, notably the Englishman Richard Rolle of Hampole, there was a marked tendency to pass from ordinary prose into a rhythmical cadence, and even into whatever was then the prevailing form of poetic diction whether it was rhyme or alliteration. The tendency is noticeable even in the Latin of Thomas a Kempis’s “Imitation of Christ”, which was sometimes known for this reason as the Musica ecclesiastica.}

It is often urged that Ruysbroeck said nothing that had not been said by other mystics before him, that his originality lay in the way the matter was presented. But to say something in a new way is emphatically to say something new, and, standing between the thirteenth century and the Renaissance, he effected a combination between philo­sophical elements drawn from Scholasticism on the one hand and Neoplatonism on the other. It has been well said that if Ruysbroeck’s voice had not possessed an altogether new accent, if his doctrine had contained nothing original, his extra­ordinary influence would be unexplainable.

   The attraction of personal sanctity is sufficient to account for the heterogeneous crowds that made pilgrimages to see him at Groenendael. But there were others, doctores ac clerici non mediocres, on whom he is known to have had a strong direct influence. Chief among them was Gerard Groote, founder of the Brothers of the Common Life, through whom Bd John’s teaching had its effect on the school of Windesheim and on Thomas a Kempis; while the pattern of monastic life at Groenendael was responsible for Windesheim becoming not Carthusian or Cistercian but Augustinian.

The last few years of his life Bd John was unable to leave the cell, which he shared with Provost Franco, who was even older than himself. One night he dreamed that his mother came to him and said that God would call him before Advent. The next day he asked to be taken to the common infirmary, where, wasted by a fever, he prepared for death with devotion and a ready mind. It came on December 2, 1381, in his eighty-eighth year. Once a year, on the second Sunday after Pentecost, the chapter of Sainte-Gudule came in procession to Groenendael in honour of John Ruysbroeck; and when the monastery was suppressed in 1783 his relics were translated to Brussels, only to be lost at the Revolution. The often-interrupted efforts to secure his beatification were successful only in 1908, when St Pius X confirmed his cultus and allowed his feast to the Canons Regular of the Lateran and the diocese of Malines. In Abbot Cuthbert Butler’s opinion there has probably been no greater contemplative than Ruysbroeck, “and certainly there has been no greater mystical writer”.
Groenendael in honour of John Ruysbroeck; and when the monastery was suppressed in 1783 his relics were translated to Brussels, only to be lost at the Revolution. The often-interrupted efforts to secure his beatification were successful only in 1908, when St Pius X confirmed his cultus and allowed his feast to the Canons Regular of the Lateran and the diocese of Malines. In Abbot Cuthbert Butler’s opinion there has probably been no greater contemplative than Ruysbroeck, “and certainly there has been no greater mystical writer”.
What we know of the history of John Ruysbroeck is almost entirely derived from a Latin biography written by a Certain Henry Pomerius (the name is a latinization of Bogaerts, Van den Bogaerde). This biography seems certainly to have been composed between 1429 and 1431 and consequently some fifty years after the death of Bd John. But the biographer had before him an earlier life by John van Schoonhoven, which has perished. The text of Pomerius may be found printed with a valuable introduction in the Analecta Bollandiana, vol. iv (1885), pp. 257-334. See also A. Auger, Étude sur les mystiques des Pays-Bas au moyen âge (1892); W. De Vreese in the Biographie nationale de Belgique, vol. xx, cc. 507-591 J. Van Mierlo in Dietsche Warande en Belfort (1910), vols. i and ii; C. S. Durrant, Flemish Mystics and English Martyrs (1925), pp. 3-14; F. Van Ortroy in the Analecta Bollandiana, vol. xxxi (1912), pp. 384-387; J. Kuckhoff, Johannes von Ruysbroeck (1938); and S. Axters, Spiritualité des Pays-Bas (1948). Although Ruysbroeck undoubtedly knew Latin, all his works were written in the Flemish of the period. This, we are told, readily lends itself to misinterpretation by those who are not experts, and translations are often unreliable. The Latin version of his works made by Surius is in many cases no better than a loose paraphrase. On the other hand a very scholarly and careful rendering of all the authentic writings into French, under the general title of oeuvres de Ruysbroeck l’Admirable, has been brought out by the Benedictines of Saint-Paul de Wisques (6 vols., 1912-38). A life of the beatus was written in English by D. Vincent Scully (1910); Evelyn Underhill wrote a study, Ruysbroeck (1915); R. F. Sherwood Taylor translated the Seven Steps of the Ladder of Spiritual Love (1944) and E. Colledge The Spiritual Espousals (1952), previously known in English as “The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage”. The hook by Fr Axters, above, published in English 1954.   
1741 Blessed Rafal Chylinski Franciscans
Born 1694  near Buk in the Poznan region of Poland, Melchior showed early signs of religious devotion; family members nicknamed him "the little monk." After completing his studies at the Jesuit college in Poznan, Melchior joined the cavalry and was promoted to the rank of officer within three years.

Against the urgings of his military comrades, in 1715 Melchior joined the Conventual Franciscans in Kraków, receiving the name Rafal, and was ordained two years later. After pastoral assignments in nine cities, he came to Lagiewniki (central Poland), where he spent the last 13 years of his life, except for 20 months ministering to flood and epidemic victims in Warsaw. In all these places, Rafal was known for his simple and candid sermons, for his generosity as well as his ministry in the confessional. People of all levels of society were drawn to the self-sacrificing way he lived out his religious profession and priestly ministry.

Rafal played the harp, lute and mandolin to accompany liturgical hymns. In Lagiewniki he distributed food, supplies and clothing to the poor. After his death, the Conventual church in that city became a place of pilgrimage for people throughout Poland. He was beatified in Warsaw in 1991.
Comment:  The sermons preached by Rafal were powerfully reinforced by the living sermon of his life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation can help us bring our daily choices into harmony with our words about Jesus’ influence in our life.
Quote: During the beatification homily, Pope John Paul II said, "May Blessed Rafal remind us that every one of us, even though we are sinners, has been called to love and to holiness" (L'Osservatore Romano, 1991, vol. 25, number 19).


THE PSALTER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PSALM 212

O Lady, hear my prayer: incline thine ear to my supplication.

The spiteful enemy hath persecuted my life: he hath cast on to the ground my ways.

He hath blackened me with his darkness: and my spirit is exceedingly troubled.

Turn not thy face away from me: that I may not fall together with them that tumble into the abyss.

Send forth thy light and thy grace: and repair anew my life and my conscience.

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 heavenonly 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 htmIndulgences 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 2000Quang 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  UniateChalcedon

Mary the Mother of Jesus Miracles_BLay Saints  Miraculous_IconMiraculous_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.

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Saint Frances Xavier Seelos  Practical Guide to Holiness
1. Go to Mass with deepest devotion. 2. Spend a half hour to reflect upon your main failing & make resolutions to avoid it.
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]

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Mother Angelica saving souls is this beautiful womans journey  Shrine_of_The_Most_Blessed_Sacrament
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
James M. Reardon Publication History of Basilica of Saint Mary 1600-1932
James M. Reardon Publication  History of the Basilica of Saint Mary 1955 {update}

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;
Member -- St. Paul Seminary faculty.
Affiliations and Indulgence Litany of Loretto in Stained glass windows here.  Nave Sacristy and Residence Here
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}.
Every Christian must be a living book wherein one can read the teaching of the gospel
 
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;
then 2,000,000 miles delivering the Gospel to millions, and continues to do so.
By Father John Corapi
THE BLESSED MOTHER AND ISLAM By Father John Corapi
  June 19, Trinity Sunday, 1991: Ordained Catholic Priest under Pope John Paul II;
then 2,000,000 miles delivering the Gospel to millions, and continues to do so.
By Father John Corapi
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.
Talk is weak. Prayer is strong. Pray!  God bless you, Father John Corapi

Father Corapi's Biography

Father John Corapi is what has commonly been called a late vocation. In other words, he came to the priesthood other than a young man. He was 44 years old when he was ordained. From small town boy to the Vietnam era US Army, from successful businessman in Las Vegas and Hollywood to drug addicted and homeless, to religious life and ordination to the priesthood by Pope John Paul II, to a life as a preacher of the Gospel who has reached millions with the simple message that God's Name is Mercy!

Father Corapi's academic credentials are quite extensive. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace University in the seventies. Then as an older man returned to the university classrooms in preparation for his life as a priest and preacher. He received all of his academic credentials for the Church with honors: a Masters degree in Sacred Scripture from Holy Apostles Seminary and Bachelor, Licentiate, and Doctorate degrees in dogmatic theology from the University of Navarre in Spain.

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.

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
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

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)
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).
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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