Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Saint Judith the Patron of Prussia


Memorial: May 5th

Patron Saint: Prussia, Female Saint of the Teutonic Knights, Single Mothers

Born: Late 1100's Prussia, modern day Germany

Died: May 12th 1260 in Prussia

Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church: Husband was killed in the Crusades. She sold all of her property to provide for her children. She then left her children with a relative who was the highest ranking officer of the Teutonic Knights. Right afterward, she left to a cave and spent the rest of her life in prayer as a hermit.

Saint Julia Charm Medal

Patrick
www.apostle.com

Saturday, April 14, 2012

abitadeacon: Patron Saint of ice skaters

abitadeacon: Patron Saint of ice skaters

Abbey of Saint Walburga: The Grace of Community Life links

Abbey of Saint Walburga: The Grace of Community Life links

Saint Joan of Arc (Patron of France)


"About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter."

- Saint Joan of Arc, as recorded at her trial

Patron Saint: France

Saint Joan of Arc was born to a peasant family of five children, which she was the youngest. Joan was an unusually pious child never formally educated. Saint Joan deeply loved praying and the poor.

During her teenage years, Joan experienced what was later believed to be Divine or supernatural voices guiding her. She never answered back to these voices, and authorities were never able to determine that she was insane. Saint Joan vehemently denied that she heard voices but on one account, she stated that at one point she did see some sort of supernatural being like she could see the average person. One of the supernatural beings that she had seen was written to be Saint Michael the Archangel.

Saint Joan of Arc in and around the year 1430 A.D. was receiving voices ever more intense. The voices were telling her to ride against the forces that would threaten France. The King of France at this time was Charles and his military situation was grim. Through the persistant effort of Joan to convince Charles to allow her to join his army (Joan would be the only woman in his army) he agreed. Joan donned a male outfit to protect her chastity in rough war camps. Saint Joan had one final request to the King as he handed her a sword. That she would be allowed to salvage an ancient sword that the visions had instructed her to find. Given the exact location by her Divine guides, it was found behind alter of the Chapel St. Catherine de Fierbois. The sword had the inscription "Jesus, Maria and God the Father"

St. Joan of Arc did not single-handedly defeat the English but her presence was strogly felt by the outnumbered soldiers who miraculously were able take over the English forts that had encircled them. The French at this point were able to push back the English outside a strategic position they had lined up to attack Paris. The English attacked Paris in vein anyway but suffered a staggering defeat on their way there as Joan was in the battle and could not seem to lose. In the battle, Joan was shot in the leg by a crossbow shortly before the English retreated.

Partly because of English loses and partly because of Patron Saint Joan of Arc, a peace treaty was signed between the Kings of Enland and France. Inside of this treaty however was the handover of Joan. King Charles quickly agreed and now Joan of Arc was a war prisoner by England. The King of England, now realizing Joan was a woman, could not have put Joan of Arc to death because it would have been a great embarressment to have had his great army bested by a single woman. Instead, the King had her labeled as a heretic and witch. Saint Joan of Arc was Martyred by being burned on a stake, holding her Crucifix and saying the name of Jesus continually until she could speak no more.

Memorial: May 30th

Born: January, 1412 - France

Died: May, 1431 - France

Beautified: April, 1905 - Pius X

Canonized: May, 1920 - Pope Benedict XV

Additional Patronages: Women of the Military

Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:

Mystic

Visions of several Saints

Holy Protector of France

Zealot of the Church and Jesus Christ

Martyred by burning at the stake

Saint Joan of Arc Charm Medal

Patrick
www.apostle.com

Saint Jennifer (Patron of Protection from Disasters)



Patron Saint: Protection from Disasters

Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:

Helped care for Jesus Christ and the Apostles during their time in King Herod's home

One of the three women that found the Tomb of Jesus empty on Easter Morning

Saint Jennifer Pendant Medal

Patrick
www.apostle.com

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Saint Jane (Patron of Nursing the Sick)


Also known as: Saint Jane Antide Thouret

Patron Saint: Caring for the sick

Born: November, 1765 in France

Died: 1828 in Naples, Italy

Canonized: 1934 by Pope Pius XI

Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:

Sister of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul

Known for her exceptional work with the sick. Was forced out of France due to an anti-Catholic society. Fled to Germany where she continued her work

Founded a school an hospital in the name of the Sisters of Charity named the Institute of the Daughters of St. Vincent De Paul. The Institute expanded all over Europe

Saint Jane Charm Medal

Patrick
www.apostle.com

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Saint Isabella (Patron of the sick)


Patron Saint: Sick People

Memorial: February 26th

Also Known as: St. Isabella of France

Died: 1270 AD of Natural Causes

Beautified: 1520

Canonized: Pending

Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:

Holy See Confirmed Stigmatic, Mystic, Visionary and Ecstatic

Stigmatic and Mystic: Suffered all the wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ during the Crucifixion

The Mystical Crown of Thorns actually grew out of her head

Visionary: Had dozens of visions of the Blessed Saints throughout her life

Ecstacy: Very deep visions of Jesus Christ and the Passion, so intense that she nearly killed herself

Though many of her Ecstacy Visions were quite painful, toward the end of her life they were quite pleasant. These pleasant visions related to Heaven and the Risen Christ

Saint Isabella Pendant Medal

Patrick
www.apostle.com

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Saint Helen (Patron of Converts)


Patron Saint: Converts

Also Known as: Saint Helena

O God, Who, in the miraculous finding of the saving cross, didst revive the miracles of Thy passion, grant that, by the ransom paid on the wood of life, we may obtain the suffrages of life eternal. Who livest and reignest

Born: 250 AD

Died: 330 AD - Natural Causes

Canonized: 1164

Additional Patronages: Archiologists, difficult marriages and divorced women

Why she is venerated by the Holy Roman Catholic Church:

Mother of Constantine the Great

Used her position to help the poor and those in need

Found the true cross of Christ, and used it to cure the sick

Saint Helen Charm Medal

Patrick
www.apostle.com